The present study has been taken up to emphasize the role of the hybridization process for optimizing a given reinforced concrete (RC) frame. Although various primary techniques have been hybrid in the past with varying degree of success, the effect of hybridization of enhanced versions of standard optimization techniques has found little attention. The focus of the current study is to see if it is possible to maintain and carry the positive effects of enhanced versions of two different techniques while using their hybrid algorithms. For this purpose, enhanced versions of standard particle swarm optimization (PSO) and a standard gravitational search algorithm (GSA), were considered for optimizing an RC frame. The enhanced version of PSO involves its democratization by considering all good and bad experiences of the particles, whereas the enhanced version of the GSA is made self-adaptive by considering a specific range for certain parameters, like the gravitational constant and a set of agents with the best fitness values. The optimization process, being iterative in nature, has been coded in C++. The analysis and design procedure is based on the specifications of Indian codes. Two distinct advantages of enhanced versions of standard PSO and GSA, namely, better capability to escape from local optima and a faster convergence rate, have been tested for the hybrid algorithm. The entire formulation for optimal cost design of a frame includes the cost of beams and columns. The variables of each element of structural frame have been considered as continuous and rounded off appropriately to consider practical limitations. An example has also been considered to emphasize the validity of this optimum design procedure.
Poland belongs to the countries with limited waters intended for drinking resources. To meet this problem, the Management Board of Geotermia Mazowiecka SA carries out activities to determine the possibilities of using exploited geothermal waters other than energy purposes. In addition to energy, the geothermal water is used for recreation and balneotherapy in “Termy Mszczonów” and for the production of drinking water for the local water supply system. Some water needs to be discharged into surface watercourses due to a lack of coherence of heating and water supply needs. For recognizing this problem innovative research project entitled: “The development of a method for injecting after energy-used geothermal waters into selected geological structures” was prepared and implemented as part of the Regional Operational Program of the Mazowieckie Voivodship for 2014–2020 (Priority Axis: Research and development activities of enterprises). This project has resulted in the launch of the installation pumping excess water to the quaternary sandy leyer. Based on the results from the first year of operation of the project, it can be assumed that it is possible to achieve nearly 100% reduction of water discharge and, consequently, the full use of producted geothermal waters. In summary, it can be stated that the geothermal plant in Mszczonów is a unique installation not only on the Polish but also international scale. The proof of this is not only the scale of rational use of water for energy purposes (cooling from 41°C to about 17°C), but also their development in other areas, for example in “Termy Mszczonów” and for the production of waters intended for drinking. The article presents the results of the first year (2019) of operation of the water injection system. During this period, in cooled water discharged into surface watercourse nearly 50% reduction was achieved.
Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the second most common cause of chronic pain in the human musculoskeletal system. The triad of symptoms of TMD includes: pain within the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), limitation of its mobility and crepitations. The aim of the study was to present the methods of physiotherapy and to assess its effectiveness in patients with hypomobility of temporomandibular joints.
Material and Methods: 44 patients (40.2 ± 10.6 years) were examined for signs of TMD using the Manual Functional Analysis of masticatory system (MFA) questionnaire due to DC/TMD. In the above group, 20 patients showed hypomobility of TMJs and myofascial pain. They underwent a 3-week phy-siotherapy consisting of manual therapy and exercises. In the study group, linear measurements of TMJs mobility and palpation of selected masticatory muscles were performed. Pain was assessed before and after 3 weeks of therapy according to Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Statistical processing of the data was done with STATISTICA 13 and was conducted considering significance at a p-value <0.05.
Results: Significant improvement in TMJ’s mobility, which increased on average by 6.6 mm (p = 0.0005) and reducing of pain, a decrease of 3 points on average on the NRS Scale (p = 0.00002) were achieved.
Conclusions: The applied physiotherapy algorithm, including manual therapy and exercises of mas-ticatory muscles, is effective in the case of improvement TMJ’s range of motion and reduction of pain in patients with hypomobility of TMJ’s.