Search Results (274)

Lightning represents a critical danger to facilities such as oil tank farms, with the potential to cause major explosive incidents. To address this risk, Indonesia’s oil and gas industry has adopted the NFPA 780 Standard for lightning protection systems. However, tank explosions and refinery disruptions caused by lightning strikes continue to occur annually, highlighting the need to reassess the standard’s self-protection criteria, particularly in Indonesia’s tropical climate. The NFPA 780 standard was primarily developed based on lightning characteristics in subtropical regions. This study evaluates its effectiveness in tropical environments, where lightning parameters such as peak currents, frequencies, and ground flash densities differ significantly. By analyzing specific incidents of tank explosions in Indonesia, the research reveals that compliance with the NFPA 780 standard alone may not be adequate to protect critical infrastructure. To address these challenges, this study proposes a novel approach to lightning protection by designing solutions tailored to the unique characteristics of tropical climates. By incorporating local lightning parameters, the proposed measures aim to enhance safety and resilience in oil and gas facilities. This research provides a framework for adapting international standards to regional needs, improving the effectiveness of lightning protection in tropical environments. Full article

Firework-related injuries remain a serious public health issue in Germany, especially during New Year’s Eve. While many injuries are minor, the misuse of illegal or homemade fireworks can cause severe trauma resembling military combat injuries and can heavily burden emergency services. Notably, injury rates declined during the COVID-19 firework bans, underscoring the impact of preventive measures. We report two cases of young males with severe injuries from illicit fireworks. The first is a case of a 16-year-old that detonated an illegal Polish firework ball bomb, sustaining 9% total body surface area (TBSA) burns (second- to third-degree), hand fractures, compartment syndrome of the hand, and soft-tissue trauma. He underwent multiple surgeries, including fasciotomy, osteosynthesis, and skin grafting. The other case presented is a 19-year-old man who was injured by a homemade device made of bundled firecrackers, suffering deep facial and bilateral hand burns. He required prolonged ventilation, surgical debridement, and treatment with Kerecis^® fish skin and Epicite^® dressings. Both required intensive ICU care, interdisciplinary management, and lengthy rehabilitation. Total hospital costs amounted to €58,459.52 and €94,230.23, respectively, as calculated according to the standardized German DRG. These cases illustrate the devastating impact of illegal fireworks. The devastating consequences of explosive trauma are often difficult to treat and may lead to long-term functional and psychological impairments. Prevention through public education, stricter regulations, and preparedness is essential. Pandemic-era injury reductions support sustained policy efforts. Full article

Bimetals—materials composed of two metal components with dissimilar standard reduction–oxidation (redox) potentials—offer unique electronic, optical, and catalytic properties, surpassing monometallic systems. These materials exhibit not only the combined attributes of their constituent metals but also new and novel properties arising from their synergy. Although many reviews have explored the synthesis, properties, and applications of bimetallic systems, none have focused exclusively on iron (Fe)- and aluminum (Al)-based bimetals. This systematic review addresses this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of conventional and emerging techniques for Fe-based and Al-based bimetal synthesis. Specifically, this work systematically reviewed recent studies from 2014 to 2023 using the Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and Google Scholar databases, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and was registered under INPLASY with the registration number INPLASY202540026. Articles were excluded if they were inaccessible, non-English, review articles, conference papers, book chapters, or not directly related to the synthesis of Fe- or Al-based bimetals. Additionally, a bibliometric analysis was performed to evaluate the research trends on the synthesis of Fe-based and Al-based bimetals. Based on the 122 articles analyzed, Fe-based and Al-based bimetal synthesis methods were classified into three types: (i) physical, (ii) chemical, and (iii) biological techniques. Physical methods include mechanical alloying, radiolysis, sonochemical methods, the electrical explosion of metal wires, and magnetic field-assisted laser ablation in liquid (MF-LAL). In comparison, chemical protocols covered reduction, dealloying, supported particle methods, thermogravimetric methods, seed-mediated growth, galvanic replacement, and electrochemical synthesis. Meanwhile, biological techniques utilized plant extracts, chitosan, alginate, and cellulose-based materials as reducing agents and stabilizers during bimetal synthesis. Research works on the synthesis of Fe-based and Al-based bimetals initially declined but increased in 2018, followed by a stable trend, with 50% of the total studies conducted in the last five years. China led in the number of publications (62.3%), followed by Russia, Australia, and India, while Saudi Arabia had the highest number of citations per document (95). RSC Advances was the most active journal, publishing eight papers from 2014 to 2023, while Applied Catalysis B: Environmental had the highest number of citations per document at 203. Among the three synthesis methods, chemical techniques dominated, particularly supported particles, galvanic replacement, and chemical reduction, while biological and physical methods have started gaining interest. Iron–copper (Fe/Cu), iron–aluminum (Fe/Al), and iron–nickel (Fe/Ni) were the most commonly synthesized bimetals in the last 10 years. Finally, this work was funded by DOST-PCIEERD and DOST-ERDT. Full article

In response to global concerns about climate change and decarbonization across every sector, pressure has mounted on the maritime industry to reduce its environmental impacts, specifically its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, representing around 2.8% of the global total. As such, it prompts new alternative fuels that align with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s 2050 net-zero target. In recent years, several alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, have been proposed. However, alternative fuels face many challenges regarding cost, safety, and efficiency compared to traditional fossil fuels. Currently, methanol is considered one of the most promising alternatives since it is available, easy to store, and can take full advantage of existing infrastructure in situ. Moreover, methanol has a lower carbon intensity than conventional fossil fuels. However, its usage poses related risks of toxicity and flammability; thus, this area still needs in-depth research regarding hazard control. This study implements a systematic five-step methodology. Through a comprehensive literature review, the predominant hazards are delineated. To systematically analyze these risks, this study introduces a novel hazard-based coding system developed to categorize hazards into three classifications: toxicity, flammability, and explosivity. This system is specifically designed to analyze qualitative reports from thirty methanol accident investigations utilizing MAXQDA software. Subsequently, safety barriers related to methanol are identified, followed by a gap analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of existing safety measures. The findings indicate that physical hazards, including flammability and explosivity, represented the majority of identified risks. Furthermore, tank explosions emerged as a prominent sub-hazard, frequently linked to the highest number of reported fatalities. A gap analysis delineates the identified barriers related to Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Human Error Reduction, the Legal Framework, and First Aid, comparing them against the current measures outlined in IMO Circular 1621 and other legislative frameworks. Consequently, the analysis highlights critical gaps in technical guidelines and operational procedures related to methanol use. The study recommends the development of fuel-specific safety protocols, mandatory training for seafarers, and regulatory updates to address the unique hazards of methanol. These measures are necessary to create higher safety standards and make methanol a viable alternative fuel by ensuring its safe integration into the industry. Full article

This study conducted systematic experimental research on methane safety issues in industrial production environments, with a particular focus on the impacts of high-temperature conditions and complex atmospheres on methane explosion characteristics. The research team designed and constructed a dedicated combustible gas explosion experimental setup, performing in-depth experimental analyses across a broad temperature range from 25 °C to 600 °C. The results demonstrate that elevated temperatures significantly reduced the methane’s lower explosion limit (LEL), with the LEL decreasing to approximately 40% of its room-temperature value at 600 °C. The investigation systematically examined the influence mechanisms of common industrial atmospheric components, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), ammonia (NH₃), oxygen (O₂), and water vapor (H₂O) on methane explosion behavior. Key findings reveal that CO₂ exhibited notable suppression effects, increasing methane’s LEL by approximately 15% per 10% increment in CO₂ concentration. NH₃ demonstrated dual mechanisms, promoting methane explosions at low concentrations (<5%) while inhibiting them at higher concentrations. Increased O₂ concentration significantly expanded the methane’s explosive range, with the LEL decreasing by about 22% when O₂ concentration increased from 21% to 30%. Water vapor manifested differentiated impacts depending on temperature regimes, primarily elevating LEL through dilution effects below 200 °C while reducing LEL via radical reaction promotion above 400 °C. Furthermore, this study reveals synergistic coupling effects between temperature and gas components—for instance, CO₂’s suppression efficacy weakened under high temperatures, whereas NH₃’s promotion effect intensified. These discoveries provide scientific foundations for formulating industrial safety standards, designing explosion-proof equipment, and conducting risk assessments in production processes. Full article

Industrial munition facilities are increasingly manufacturing insensitive high explosives (IHEs) to improve safety. The explosive residues in wastewater from these facilities are treated to meet regulatory standards. However, the resulting effluent contains elevated levels of mineralized nitrogen species. This study evaluated the potential of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), a non-invasive perennial species, to remove high concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium from munition plant wastewater. Vetiver was grown hydroponically in synthetic wastewater containing high levels of nitrogen compounds simulating munitions plant effluents. Vetiver plants were treated with one nitrogen species at a time, with concentrations ranging from 165 to 24,700 mg N/L of nitrate, 100 to 4000 mg N/L of nitrite, and 260 to 39,000 mg N/L of ammonium. Nitrogen concentrations in the media and plant responses were monitored over time. The results showed significant nitrogen removal at lower concentration ranges. When concentrations exceeded 3800 mg N/L of nitrate, 800 mg N/L of nitrite, and 2600 mg N/L of ammonium, the removal rates declined after 7 days. At higher nitrogen levels, vetiver exhibited stress symptoms such as chlorosis and elevated antioxidant enzyme activity. Our study demonstrates the potential of vetiver grass in treating nitrogen-rich wastewater from the munition industry and provides a baseline for future large-scale studies to optimize the technology. Full article

Background: During growth, the reduction in motor control makes core stability training essential, especially in sports involving dynamic jumps. Given the limited training time of adolescent athletes, finding strategies to maximize the effects of core stability training is crucial. This study analyzed the effects of incorporating body-centering techniques (a method that involves conscious modulation of intra-abdominal pressure to enhance postural stability during motor gestures) into a core stability training protocol on balance, trunk control, and lower limb explosive strength in adolescent volleyball players. Methods: Forty-four female volleyball athletes (15.6 ± 1.4 years of age) were randomly divided into three experimental groups: G1 = body-centering + core stability training; G2 = core stability training; and G3 = standard conditioning session. The athletes performed 30 min of differentiated intervention training twice a week for 8 weeks. Balance ability (Berg Balance Scale—BBS and Stork balance stand test—SBST), trunk control (Trunk Control test—TCT), and lower limb explosive strength (broad jump—BJ, squat jump—SJ, and drop jump—DJ) were assessed at the beginning (T0) and the end (T1) of the intervention period, and 12 weeks later (T2). Results: Data showed a significant improvement of BBS, SBST, DJ (p < 0.01), and TCT (p < 0.05) in G1 and G2 at T1 compared to T0, which persisted until T2 except for DJ in both groups. SJ improved only in G1 at T1 compared to T0 (p = 0.016). G1 showed a higher rate of improvement in SBST (T1: +18.2%; T2: +16.8%) and in DJ (T1: +3%) compared to G2 (SBST T1: +7.6%, T2: +5.2%; DJ: +2.5%). In addition, only G1 showed a significant improvement rate in BBS score (+2.2%) compared to G3 (+0.4%) at T1. Conclusions: These results suggested that core training improves balance, trunk control, and explosive strength in young volleyball athletes with and without body-centering. However, integrating body-centering into core exercises leads to better balance and jumping power than core stability training alone. Full article

Human reliability is a key factor in long-term sustainability, especially for tasks that are critical to safety. It is also evident that human behavior is often the main or significant cause of system failures. Identifying human error is challenging, particularly when it comes to determining the exact moment when an error occurred that led to an accident, as errors develop over time. It is essential to understand the causes and mechanisms of human errors. This finding is not new; for over 30 years, it has been recognized that human operations in safety-critical systems are so important that they should be modeled as part of risk assessment in operation. This article discusses various HRA methodologies and argues that further research and development are necessary. An example of selected HRA techniques will be demonstrated through a case study on acetylene filling activities. When filling acetylene into pressure vessels or cylinders, it is critically important to analyze the reliability of the human factor, as this process involves handling a highly explosive gas. Irresponsibility, lack of training, or incorrect decision-making can lead to severe accidents. Any deficiencies in this process can result in not only equipment damage but also endanger the health and lives of people nearby. This case may also suggest potential improvements to existing guidelines, international standards, and regulations, which often require the consideration of a wider range of ergonomic factors in the risk assessment process. Full article

The carbon footprint associated with human activity, particularly from energy-intensive industries such as iron and steel, aluminium, cement, oil and gas, and petrochemicals, contributes significantly to global warming. These industries face unique challenges in achieving Industry 4.0 goals due to the widespread adoption of industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies, which require reliable and efficient power solutions. Conventional wireless devices powered by lithium batteries have limitations, including a reduced lifespan in high-temperature environments, incompatibility with explosive atmospheres, and high maintenance costs. This paper proposes a novel approach to address these challenges by leveraging residual heat to power IIoT devices, eliminating the need for batteries and enabling autonomous operation. Based on the Seebeck effect, thermoelectric energy harvesters transduce waste heat from industrial surfaces, such as pipes or chimneys, into sufficient electrical energy to power IoT nodes for applications like the condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of rotating machinery. The methodology presented standardises the modelling and simulation of Waste Heat Recovery Systems (IoT-WHRSs), demonstrating their feasibility through statistical analysis of IoT-WHRS architectures. Furthermore, this technology has been successfully implemented in a petroleum refinery, where it benefits from the NB-IoT standard for long-range, robust, and secure communications, ensuring reliable data transmission in harsh industrial environments. The results highlight the potential of this solution to reduce costs, improve safety, and enhance efficiency in demanding industrial applications, making it a valuable tool for the energy transition. Full article

This article discusses the safety issues of autonomous vehicles using GNSS when transporting particularly dangerous goods, such as flammable and explosive materials. A method for the special processing of GNSS navigation information is presented, which consists of collecting readings of the relative navigation positions of the vehicle. The novelty of the method lies in the substantiation of the refusal to use a standard speedometer and the study of the minimum permissible vehicle speed, measured exclusively on the basis of the results of processing GNSS data. To confirm the assumptions inherent in the described method, a physical experiment was carried out, the results of which showed that the accuracy of the speedometers of standard vehicles is insufficient to ensure sufficient safety if the required driving speed should not exceed several km/h. The methodological basis for conducting a physical experiment is to measure the sequence of calculations of the coordinates {X_i, Y_i}(t), i = 1, 2, … of the vehicle, continuously calculate the vehicle speed in km/h, and use a speed limiting device set to a certain permissible technical state for the transportation of especially dangerous goods. Full article

The influence of the roughness of porcelain plates on the results of the friction sensitivity test of explosives was investigated. For this purpose, the roughness of selected batches of plates from several manufacturers (Julius Peters, OZM Research s.r.o., Deltima Precision s.r.o.) was determined. Subsequently, according to the standards EN 13631-3:2005 and STANAG 4487 JAIS (edition 2), friction sensitivity tests of PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate, penthrite) and RDX (Royal Demolition Explosive, hexogen) were carried out. No statistically significant correlation was established under the experimental conditions—although sanded plates had the lowest roughness (mean value 5.07 μm) and simultaneously gave the lowest sensitivity results (168 N for RDX and 80 N for PETN according to the EN 13631-3 while 216 N for RDX and 121 N for PETN according to the STANAG 4487), Julius Peters plates with a similar level of roughness (mean value 6.07 μm) did not reflect the pattern and results of the sensitivity tests that were surprisingly high (120 N for RDX and 64 N for PETN according to the EN 13631-3 while 182 N for RDX and 67 N for PETN according to the STANAG 4487). Due to these results, the human factor is indicated as a key factor in the obtained discrepancies; however, further research in this matter may be needed. Full article

Gas distribution stations (GDSs), pivotal nodes in long-distance natural gas transportation networks, are susceptible to catastrophic fire and explosion accidents stemming from system failures, thereby emphasizing the urgency for robust safety measures. While previous studies have mainly focused on gas transmission pipelines, GDSs have received less attention, and existing risk assessment methodologies for GDSs may have limitations in providing accurate and reliable accident probability predictions and fault diagnoses, especially under data uncertainty. This paper introduces a novel dynamic accident probability assessment framework tailored for GDS under data uncertainty. By integrating Bayesian network (BN) modeling with fuzzy expert judgments, frequentist estimation, and Bayesian updating, the framework offers a comprehensive approach. It encompasses accident modeling, root event (RE) probability estimation, undesired event (UE) predictive analysis, probability adaptation, and accident diagnosis analysis. A case study demonstrates the framework’s reliability and effectiveness, revealing that the occurrence probability of major hazards like vapor cloud explosions and long-duration jet fires diminishes significantly with effective safety barriers. Crucially, the framework acknowledges the dynamic nature of risk by incorporating observed failure incidents or near-misses into the assessment, promptly adjusting risk indicators like UE probabilities and RE criticality. This underscores the importance for decision-makers to maintain a heightened awareness of these dynamics, enabling swift adjustments to maintenance strategies and resource allocation prioritization. By mitigating assessment uncertainty and enhancing precision in maintenance strategies, the framework represents a significant advancement in GDS safety management, ultimately striving to elevate safety and reliability standards, mitigate natural gas distribution risks, and safeguard public safety and the environment. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined supplementation with Rhodiola rosea (RHO) and caffeine (CAF) on the explosive power and sustained output capacity of lead and rear straight punches in both untrained and trained volunteers, with a focus on potential synergistic effects. Methods: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design was employed, enrolling 96 participants (48 untrained, 48 trained). Participants were stratified and randomly assigned to the control (CTR), CAF, RHO, or CAF+RHO group. All subjects completed an 8-week standardized boxing training program (twice per week). Punch performance was assessed using professional boxing equipment and a biomechanical testing system, evaluating lead and rear straight punches, ground reaction force (GRF), and a 30 s continuous punching test. Results: the CAF+RHO  group showed significant improvements in both untrained and trained volunteers. Com-pared to the RHO group, this group demonstrated higher lead punch velocity, shorter bi-lateral peak force time during rear punches, and more punches in the 30 s test (p < 0.05). Compared to the CAF group, the CAF+RHO group exhibited greater rear punch force, higher bilateral peak force during lead punches, increased forefoot peak force in rear punches, and improved 30 s power output (p < 0.05). The CAF+RHO group also outperformed the CTR group across all parameters (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Combined supple mentation with CAF and RHO significantly enhances both explosive power and sustained output in boxing performance. This may result from improved energy metabolism efficiency and neuromuscular coordination, providing a promising nutritional strategy for high-intensity intermittent exercise. Full article

The rapid growth of information technology has led to an explosion of data, posing a significant challenge for data processing. Recommendation systems aim to address this by providing personalized content recommendations to users from vast datasets. Recently, multimodal recommendation systems have gained considerable attention due to their ability to leverage diverse data modalities (e.g., images and text) for more accurate recommendations. However, effectively fusing these modalities to accurately represent user preferences remains a challenging task, despite progress made by existing multimodal recommendation approaches. To address this challenge, we propose a novel method which we call GC4MRec (Generative-Contrastive for Multimodal Recommendation). On the one hand, we design a bilateral information flow module using two graph convolutional networks (GCNs). This module captures modal features from two distinct perspectives—standard and generatively augmented—to extract latent preferences. On the other hand, we introduce a novel modality fusion module that dynamically represents user multimodal fusion preferences, enabling the construction of accurate user preference profiles. Finally, we evaluate our proposed method, GC4MRec, on three public real-world datasets and demonstrate its effectiveness compared to the state-of-the-art methods. Full article

Phase change material (PCM) concrete walls represent a new type of energy storage wall. It is of great significance to study the fire resistance of PCM concrete walls to ensure the safety of these kinds of components in service. For this reason, fire resistance tests on eight PCM concrete partition wall specimens under the conditions of the ISO-834 standard fire curve were carried out. The tested wall structures included a solid wall and a double-layer wall with an air gap. The PCM used was paraffin phase change microcapsules, which were replaced with a fine aggregate according to the principle of equal volumes, at replacement proportions of 0%, 7%, 10%, and 14%. The test results showed that explosive spalling of the PCM concrete occurred when the double-layer wall specimen with a 10% replacement proportion was heated for 31 min, and the other seven specimens met the integrity requirements after heating for 90 min. The 100 mm thick ordinary concrete solid partition wall specimen did not meet the thermal insulation requirements after 90 min. The addition of PCM and the use of a double-layer structure with an air gap can both improve the wall’s thermal insulation performance; however, it is not the case that, the greater the amount of PCM used, the better the thermal insulation performance of the wall. The reasons that the PCM concrete spalled in the double-layer wall specimen with a 10% replacement proportion are discussed. This study provides critical insights into optimizing the PCM content and wall design for fire-safe energy-efficient buildings, offering practical guidance for sustainable construction practices. Full article