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In this study, the technical and economic feasibility of employing pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES) systems at potential locations in Jordan is investigated. In each location, a 1 MWp off-grid photovoltaic (PV) system was installed near the dam reservoir to drive pumps that transfer water up to an upper reservoir at a certain distance and elevation. PVsyst (Version 7.3.4) is implemented to simulate the water flow rate pumped to the upper reservoir at each location. The water in the upper reservoir is presumed to flow back into the dam reservoir through a turbine during peak hours at night to power a 1 MW load. Based on the water volume in the upper reservoir, the power generated through the turbine was estimated using HOMER Pro® (Version 3.15.3), and the power exported to the grid (when the power generated from the turbine is more than the power required by the driven load) was also determined. It is worth mentioning that scaling up the size of PV and hydropower systems is a straightforward approach considering the modular nature of such systems. However, the quantity of water in the dam reservoir that is allowed to be pumped is the main determinant for the size of a PHES system. The technical and economic results show that the potential of employing these locations to implement PHES systems is great. In addition, a study was conducted to estimate how much CO2 emissions were reduced by generating renewable energy compared to generating the same amount of energy from fossil fuels. These systems increase renewable energy in the energy mix in Jordan, stabilize the grid, and balance the loads, especially during peak periods. More importantly, PHES systems contribute to making the energy sector in Jordan more sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the impact of lead pipes on livelihood security in Roman cities. A pressure test was conducted on a lead pipe excavated in the Roman town of Salona (Croatia), and its results are presented and analyzed. These pipes could withstand internal water pressures of up to four bar, which was four times higher than the working pressure in the Roman water delivery system. This strength was necessary owing to the load on the pipe during installation and use. The results indicate that Roman lead pipes are safe and reliable and provide appropriate leak tightness in Roman water pressure systems. This is attributed to the open and low-pressure natural concept of water supply, in which water constantly flows through a pipe system and has serpentine paths similar to rivers. However, lead negatively affects human health and the environment during production and processing, as well as soil and water during disposal and installation. Roman lead pipes could have very slightly increased the lead levels in tap water. However, the effect was unlikely to have been truly harmful owing to the constant and rapid exchange of water in the pipe network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and emissions reduction are crucial global issues that require transformations in the energy and transportation sectors. This has increased Electric Vehicles (EVs) adoption in various countries, including emerging economies like Colombia. The government in Colombia has implemented incentives and regulations to promote sustainable mobility, increasing the number of EVs and hybrids. However, beyond governmental incentives, factors such as range, availability of charging stations, and acquisition costs impact EV adoption. Therefore, vehicle owners must evaluate total ownership costs over time and technical aspects to understand EVs financial and performance advantages. In this context, a methodology is proposed to facilitate decision-making by comparing technical, economic, and environmental aspects of vehicle technologies in a specific urban transportation context. A case study for individual public transportation in Pasto, an intermediate city in Colombia (Pasto), is presented, which can be extrapolated to other cities with similar characteristics. This methodology supports governmental efforts for transport decarbonization and aims to inform cab owners about the economic benefits of new technological adoptions. The case study constructs a spatial model for individual public transportation simulated in SUMO (Simulation of Urban Mobility). By evaluating technical, economic, and environmental aspects with a realistic approach based on simulation results that considered traffic conditions and network operational parameters, helpful benchmarking is obtained to promote EVs among owners of public vehicles in the city and concludes that EV adoption for individual public transportation in Pasto is notably advantageous from a financial perspective.

Businesses must find a balance between productivity and product quality due to the industrial landscape's changing expectations and growing complexity. The manufacturing of cement at Company X, a well-known cement company in Indonesia, depends on four main raw ingredients, with clay playing a critical role in the raw mix. According to recent statistics, clay's Al2O3 composition has decreased to about 18%, which means that clay capacity needs to be adjusted in order to maintain quality requirements. A comprehensive technical evaluation of plant revealed that 17 critical machines exhibited mechanical availability below 70%, and utility analysis confirmed a shortage in meeting the required clay tonnage. This analysis identified the machines in need of retrofitting. The procurement of these vital upgrades required a substantial investment of Rp28,556,784,462.84. Additionally, the operational costs following retrofitting amounted to Rp2,087,333,957 in the first year. However, these investments translated into a significant profit of Rp11,674,480,782 in the inaugural year of operation. Critical feasibility parameters further support the viability of this project. The Net Present Value (NPV) stands at Rp252,784,069,179.53, while the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) demonstrates a robust 74.64%. The Payback Period (PP) is swift, with a mere 2.02 years required to recoup the initial investment. The Profitability Index (PI) records a substantial 8.85. These findings, derived from a comprehensive analysis, unequivocally affirm the feasibility and potential benefits of the planned investment for retrofitting production machinery at a cement company plant.

The aim of the study was the systematic search of information to develop the comparative analysis of several research articles through information sources, journal databases and indexed papers whose authors have experience and are related to the subject, such as Scopus, Scielo, Latindex and described with a qualitative approach. A review of 30 national and international authors was conducted to identify the technical factors necessary to apply them in technical evaluations of governmental entities and to obtain favorable results in good administration within public management. The deductive method was used to obtain results of positive impact with the elaboration of the article in order to prioritize elementary knowledge of a technical nature that allows technical evaluations with the use of standards, elaboration of projects and executions with professional experts in the field and to avoid constructive technical deficiencies. The results during the evaluation determined that all scientific articles related to technical evaluations are necessary and significant for the knowledge of all public officials to achieve good management within the administration, hiring professionals with ethics, responsibility and efficiency. The indexed article will be submitted to the indexed journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The social perspectives of the system on how users treat the system, their performance, and their behaviors with the system evaluation are essential for program managers seeking to augment the quality of their programs and improve outcomes. This study reviewed the sociotechnical effects of exchanging and sharing medical images. Method: In March 2018 (updated September 2019), a literature review was conducted on PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. In the final stage of the study, the articles that were examined in detail were those that focused on evaluating and assessing Picture Archiving and Communication Systems, Radiology Information Systems, and Teleradiology, with a view to enhancing sociotechnical knowledge. The changes and effects on healthcare settings, particularly within hospital environments, were also considered. Results: The study extracted a total of 55 relevant articles, which covered three main themes: comparing methods or instruments, economic evaluation, and technical evaluation. These evaluations focused significantly on financial issues, such as the cost-effectiveness of these systems, their impact on clinicians' workload, and comparisons between teleradiology and conventional picture-sharing methods. The evaluations primarily compared Picture Archiving and Communication Systems and Radiology Information Systems with Teleradiology systems. Discussion: The results indicated that most of the articles published on teleradiology often compared the latest methods of teleradiology with conventional methods to evaluate the quality of transmitted images, compression types, and alternative tools in a radiology department. Settings of any healthcare system are essential; thus, we are encouraged to evaluate systems from a sociotechnical perspective. Conclusions: PACS, RIS, and teleradiology can be helpful for clinicians and consumers of health information technology. The disadvantages of such systems are mainly concerned with managerial problems or technical issues.

This study aimed to assess the economic and engineering feasibility of a large-scale biodiesel manufacturing operation from edible oil waste. The edible oil model used for economic analysis in this study is palm oil waste. Several economic parameters (i.e., gross profit margin (GPM), payback period (PBP), break-even point (BEP), cumulative net present value (CNPV), profitability index (PI)), and internal rate return (IRR) were examined to inform the potential production of biodiesel from edible oil waste in ideal condition. To confirm the feasibility of a manufacturing project, the project is estimated from ideal to worst-case conditions in production activities such as analysis of changing raw material, labor, tax, utility, and selling price costs. Based on an engineering perspective, the result indicated that biodiesel production from edible and non-edible oil is feasible. From an economic perspective, economic analysis shows that biodiesel production from edible oil waste is promising because the economic parameters as analyzed show positive results. Our findings are expected to provide an industrial-scale picture of economic evaluation and layout, particularly in the production of biodiesel, which is commonly used as a renewable energy source for fuel in trucks, trains, ships, and barges.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the technical evaluation of cervicovaginal smears as well as the correlation of the technical quality of the smear with the patient's age. Materials and methods: The study included a group of 43,696 women who underwent exfoliative cytology. The smears were stained according to the Papanicolaou method and then underwent cytological evaluation based on the Bethesda system. Results: The technical quality of the cytology smears was found to be satisfactory (AI) in 80.6% of cases, acceptable for cytological evaluation (AII) in 19% mainly as a result of poor readability of the smear due to numerous inflammatory cells (35.5%), whereas not suitable for evaluation (AIII) was in 0.4% of cases. Moreover, there was a high proportion of smears without cells from the cervical canal in women under 50 years of age. In women over 50, the most common cause of conditional evaluation of the smear was its excessive dryness. Conclusions: In all age groups, an abundance of inflammatory cells was a factor that hindered cytologic evaluation of the smear. Only representative material containing cells from the cervical canal should be collected. It is of utmost importance to pay special attention to the correct and quick fixation of smears taken from women over 50 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creative narration is a structured ideation technique based on storytelling. It has the potential to enhance the initial design process of ideation in terms of collaboration and creativity. People from various disciplines, following specific steps, collaborate to create a story. Afterward, inspired by their stories, they create products and services. In this paper, two case studies are presented and compared, where the technique of creative narration was used in the contexts of two creative workshops. An initial assessment of this process, highlighting the strong and weak points of the technique, is discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Implementation of standard laboratory practices towards accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is challenging in resource-constrained settings. Efforts to improve AST are required to address knowledge and practice gaps in such settings. In this study, we aimed to address these gaps through external quality assurance surveys and mentoring of laboratories in Pakistan. Methods: This prospective study (May 2017–September 2019) included 10 consenting laboratories. External quality assessment (EQA) was conducted quarterly and performance scored. Each EQA cycle was followed by an on-site technical visit during which AST methodology, quality procedures and laboratory safety were evaluated using a questionnaire developed for this study. Cumulative scores of performance in the EQA and in the technical evaluation were designated "Composite Laboratory Performance Score; CLPS". During on-site visits, feedback provided was to each participating laboratory towards addressing gaps identified. Results: Over the course of the study, our data show significant improvement in CLPS amongst the laboratories included. While improvement in the CLPS scores varied between laboratories, a linear regression model showed improvement within the cohort from 21.37 (May 2017) to 91.5 (September 2019); a significant overall increase of 70.13 points (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Interventions to improve AMR surveillance include quality assured reporting of antimicrobial resistance. Our data show that in resource-limited settings EQA surveys and on-site evaluations followed by guidance contribute towards such improvement. We propose that this model would be a useful tool for laboratory strengthening in such settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal purpose of this study is to examine the changes in process conditions that might be needed to achieve up to 99% capture levels in amine post-combustion capture (PCC) plants for combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) flue gases. This information is of interest since, while 95% capture is adequate for current market and regulatory conditions, net zero fossil emissions (99% capture for a CCGT plant) will be required to deliver global climate mitigation targets and is increasingly a target for national climate policies. The conventionally-configured plant in the study is based on FEED studies carried out by Bechtel Corporation and uses MEA at 35% w/w. Performance modelling is undertaken using the Aspen Plus CCSI MEA Steady State Model. The results show that efficient operation at higher capture levels appears to be feasible with minimal adjustments to the plant configuration, provided that the absorber has a sufficient packing height and the stripper is capable of operation at pressures above 2 bar. The study primarily focuses on operation at low lean loadings (0.09–0.15 molCO2/molMEA) and correspondingly low L/G ratios (

[Display omitted] • The 0.14–0.2% oil content of treated cuttings qualified the environmental standards. • The temperature difference between device and cuttings became less than 5 K. • The recovered oil was recyclable C 9 -C 23 alkanes. • Through technical evaluation, the oil removal efficiency score of this technology was high. Oil-based drilling cuttings are hazardous wastes in shale gas exploitation and need careful treatments to reduce environmental pollution and waste of resources. One of most widely employed waste-treatment technologies is the thermal desorption due to its high oil recovery efficiency. However, it usually suffers low heat exchange efficiency, thus leveraging operation costs and equipment instability. Toward the end of alleviating limitation, this study rationally designs the structure of the heating component under the guidance of the flat wall heat conduction theory, and uses numerical simulation to analyze the heat transfer of the structure. A rotary thermal desorption technology was thus developed and evaluated. The simulation results showed that given a short time of 800 s the temperature difference between device and cuttings became less than 5 K, indicating good heat exchange efficiency. Large inlet radius of device and high inlet velocity of heat transfer oil were critical parameters to maintain high heat transfer rate. Through industrial experiments verification, the 0.14–0.2 % oil content of treated cuttings qualified the environmental standards. The components of the recovered oil were recyclable C 9 -C 23 alkanes, and the dichromate oxidizability of recovered water was less than 500 mg/L limit. Comparing with other technologies, the scores suggested that this technology was a promising candidate for treating oil-based drilling cuttings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility study in the production of sieve shaker for teaching particle size to students with visual impairment. The sieve shaker is important as a tool for understanding the definition of particles and their sizes, while this equipment has been well developed for engineering purposes. Different from other sieve shakers that are expensive, the present sieve shaker is just for educational goals only (especially for being used in developing countries), making the design of this equipment simpler, user friendlier, and more portable. The feasibility study was done from the engineering and economic perspectives. Engineering analysis was performed based on a simple mass balance analysis, adding it to the calculation of scale-up production from commercially available apparatuses. Economic evaluation was carried out using a number of economic parameters, including gross profit margin, payback period, and net profit value, in which all calculations were done under ideal and nonideal conditions (labor conditions, sales and raw materials, utilities, and external conditions and environmental uncertainties (competition, taxes and subsidiaries)) in 20 years (y) of project. All prices, utilizing components, and specifications for the apparatuses used in the scale-up production were taken based on the available online shopping web. The results of the engineering confirmed that the project was potentially conducted, even in small-scale industries because all processing steps could be carried out using simple equipment that is commercially available in the market. Economic evaluation results showed positive values for all economic parameters with a few exceptions. This research was complemented by some basic theories to support the definition of sieve shaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 is an emerging manufacturing paradigm that relies on high-speed connectivity and myriad sensors for real-time data collection, defect detection, and cycle time reduction among other things. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is one technology within this paradigm that has reliably and affordably enabled Industry 4.0 initiation and eventual adoption by manufacturing facilities owing to its proven ability to track inventory and such. Despite the maturation of the RFID technology, relatively little is known about its overall economic impact on a firm. A paucity of such economic information—that can otherwise be overcome through techno-economic analysis (TEA) based on simulation—on RFID serves as a detriment to its adoption by smaller firms with limited capital, especially in developing countries where the cost of capital is high. That, in turn, delays the advancement of supply chains and ecosystems to the Industry 4.0 paradigm causing inefficiencies and imabalnced development. Ex-Ante TEA simulation affords a holistic approach to compute the cost/benefit ratio of the implementation of new technology. Further, it allows the estimation of critical parameters that helps minimize the risk of investment failure. In this study, we propose System Dynamics (SD) modeling as the basis for such ex-ante TEA. SD simulation confirms that the adoption of RFID, despite its initial capital requirements and availability, is economically feasible and beneficial because of RFID's potential to reduce operation costs considerably over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creative narration is a structured ideation technique based on storytelling. It has the potential to enhance the initial design process of ideation in terms of collaboration and creativity. People from various disciplines, following specific steps, collaborate to create a story. Afterward, inspired by their stories, they create products and services. In this paper, two case studies are presented and compared, where the technique of creative narration was used in the contexts of two creative workshops. An initial assessment of this process, highlighting the strong and weak points of the technique, is discussed in this paper.

Self-sustaining off-grid energy systems may require both short-term and seasonal energy storage for year-around operation, especially in northern climates where the intermittency in both solar irradiation and energy consumption throughout the year is extreme. This paper examines the technical feasibility of an off-grid energy system with short-term battery storage and seasonal hydrogen storage, comprising a water electrolyzer and a fuel cell. The study is based on data from a currently grid-connected residential single-family house in Finland with an existing 21 kWp photovoltaic (PV) installation and a ground source heat pump based heating system. Energy system performance is simulated using real PV power generation data as well as data on grid electricity import and export from the house over a three-year period to find the minimum combination of battery and hydrogen storage system capacities capable of year-round off-grid operation. It is concluded that technically feasible solutions are available for the proposed setup. The most significant factor affecting the system dimensioning is found to be high peak electric power demand during times of low PV power generation, indicating a need for smart power control. Demand for battery storage capacity is found to be significant only to about 20 kWh. Fuel cell and electrolyzer nominal powers of at least 4 kW and 5 kW to 7 kW, respectively, were found to be sufficient for off-grid operation with the studied system. The storage capacity demand for 170–190 kg of hydrogen annually is, however, impractically large for residential houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper presents different prediction models for a grid‐connected photovoltaic (GCPV) system based on long‐term data sets. A 1.4 kW GCPV installed in Sohar, Oman, where measurements of the electrical and environmental parameters are taken every second for 5 years (from May 2014 to April 2019) to reduce uncertainty and improve the proposed model's accuracy. The highest power and energy measured from the GCPV are 1180 W and 245.8 kWh, respectively. Mathematical regression and cascade‐feed forward propagation (CFNN) models for PV current, voltage, and power were proposed in terms of environmental impact. A NeuroSolutions package was used to propose GCPV models for electrical quantities. An evaluation criterion is defined, in this study, to assess the system's performance. The proposed models show excellent agreement with the measured experimental data. However, CFNN shows a superior accuracy compared with empirical and regression proposed models. The two models have proposed a dispute, but the model relating the solar irradiation and ambient temperature to GCPV current is more accurate. To evaluate and validate the proposed CFNN models, mean square error, MAE, root mean square error, and R2 metrics have been used as a criterion and compared with different artificial neural networks models in the literature. The proposed CFNN is found to give the most accurate results in terms of MSE = 0.0007, MAE = 0.4310, and RMSE = 0.0290 and highest accuracy R2 = 0.9999, which shows the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a technical and economic evaluation of the application of phase change material (PCM) in the cooling and thermal regulation of photovoltaic (PV) panels. The technical study is performed based on experimental tests carried out on two identical 3.99 kWp PV systems for one full year at the Hashemite University, Jordan. The backside of the first system was integrated with BioPCM. It is a safe, environmentally friendly, and economically sustainable product that is typically employed in the building industry to save energy in HVAC. This PCM has the potential to answer the many concerns associated with the traditional PCMs. The second PV system is used as a reference for performance comparison purposes. The actual performance results show there is an increase of 3.4% in the annual power production due to the application of BioPCM. The annual conversion efficiency is 12.50% for the PV/BioPCM system, while it is 12.08% for the reference PV system. The economic study investigates the viability of the inclusion of PCM in terms of the payback period, net present value, and internal rate of return. These parameters indicate that the PCM investment is economically unattractive at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study in the first instance is to evaluate objectively, with data provided by latest-generation inertial sensors, the dynamic qualities of the technical-sporting gestures such as serve in tennis. Furthermore, the possible correlation between the aforementioned data and the evaluation monitoring of the specialized technical staff (Italian Tennis Federation qualified Coach) was assessed, in essence, a comparison between objective instrumental data and quality technical analysis. The study is not based on probative statistical numbers, five athletes, but the interest of the research is focused on establishing the validity, reliability and reproducibility of the information deriving from the acquisition with inertial instrumentation in the sport of tennis. The work seemed useful also by virtue of the fact that in the literature not many works have been produced on the subject at the moment, and in any case not with the latest technologies as in our case (K-Track, K-Sport Universal, Stats Perform, Montecchio PU, Italy). As mentioned, the research took into consideration the technical fundamental of the serve, an element that has taken on more and more importance in modern tennis in the achievement of the point and therefore in the result of the game. The serve is the stroke that marks the beginning of each point and that can influence the continuance of the same. Moreover, due to the speed of the surfaces of the fields and the game, the serve became in effect a substantial percentage of the final victory of the match. This is the basic motivation that led us to analyse this fundamental and its biomechanical composition, however, highlighting those elements that best qualify the gesture in a performative sense, trying to establish parameters that can be considered helpful for the technical staff and for the tennis player, in order to improve their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coke Oven Gas (COG) is highly rated as a valuable by-product of coke production used in the steel industry. The production of methanol from COG-derived syngas has been investigated in the last period due to its practicality as well as to the recent interest in methanol over the past years. Two case studies, using COG and CO2 as raw-materials, are simulated and compared in the present study. In the first case the intermediate step is the dry methane reforming (DMR) while in the second case the intermediate step is steam methane reforming (SMR). The syngas obtained is furthermore converted to methanol. Beside the transformation of COG into methanol, the present study deals also with the CO2 emissions reduction, the CO2 generated in the COG combustion is captured using amine based gas-liquid absorption technology (e.g. methyl diethanolamine - MDEA)). ChemCAD process flow-modelling software was used as a tool to produce 250 t/day of methanol with purities higher than 99%. The results showed that the most advantageous technological route of COG and CO2 utilization is DMR, in which, a lower quantity of raw material (COG) and lower number of equipment is required to obtain the same amount of final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There was no relationship between accuracy and the number of model parameters. • The new SMRC models can be developed based on power law and exponential functions. • Brutsaert, Mualem, Dexter and GG3 had high flexibility in soil textural classes. • Brutsaert can be used as a user-friendly model in hydrological modeling. Numerous mathematical equations have been formulated in the literature of different researchers for describing soil moisture retention curve (SMRC), which can be applied to simulate and solve soil hydraulic modeling problems. The primary concern lies in selecting an efficient model to simulate accurately the S-shaped curve or sigmoid-type of the SMRC for soils with different textures. Therefore, the objective of this study was a comprehensive and technical evaluation of 50 developed models of the SMRC based on the influence of parameters on the behavior of the curve and the ability of their fitting accuracy on 728 soil samples of the UNSODA dataset, that has not been investigated so far. Statistical criteria including corrected Akaike's information criterion (AICc), root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R 2) together with Duncan's multiple range test and cluster analysis were employed to assess the fitting accuracy of SMRC models to measured data. Results from fitting accuracy on the UNSODA dataset indicated that Brutsaert model provided the best fit to the measured data compared to other models in 14.6% of the soil samples with RMSE = 0.0125 and AICc = -94.18. This model was classified in the same cluster with Groenevelt and Grant (GG 1 , GG 2 and GG 3), Dexter, Mualem, and Fredlund and Xing models and did not have a significant difference in terms of RMSE. Also, Brutsaert model had the highest fitting accuracy in 67% of different soil textural classes compared to other models. Finally, the technical evaluation in terms of accuracy, flexibility and simplicity of the fitting process showed that the Brutsaert, Mualem, Dexter and GG 3 models can be selected for better simulation of the SMRC in water and soil research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the results of quantitative analysis of the karate jump technique. The aim of the study is to investigate the correlation (r) between kinematic and kinetic parameters of the jump from the Unsu Kata. These parameters were identified during the initial phase of the jump (performance indicators), and critical elements were detected during the final phase of the jump (error indicators). The study involved an athlete with the Kata specialty. A six-camera opto-electronic system and two force platforms were used. Statistical correlation was determined between performance indicators and error indicators. The analysis and interpretation of the data reveal that contributions of the forces (ground reaction force and torque) are the most influential parameters on the other variables, which are involved in the evaluation of the jump during its final phase. It appears that the search for the adequate balance between the force components during the take-off phase, in particular the effects of the forces generated by the torque of the limbs on the body, can be considered as one of the most influential conditions for the success of the jump. The performed analysis of the only participant of the study and the complexity of the technique constitute a starting point for a future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors want to publish their work as soon as possible. However, the manuscript processing time increases if the manuscript does not meet the journal requirements. Our analysis of manuscripts submitted to Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering from November 2018 to July 2019 shows that the processing time was increased up to 33 days because the manuscripts: (1) had inconsistent formatting of citations, references, and units, (2) exceeded the word limit, (3) were missing information such as the graphical abstract, (4) plagiarized other papers, and (5) had too many tables and figures. Herein, we explain how authors can avoid these issues and decrease the manuscript processing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remote laboratory experiments in engineering education became a useful tool as a great challenge for specialists. Setting up a new educational platform with remote laboratory experiments, many students from many countries can access them in order to complete, enhance their education in engineering. This paper presents a new and full functionally remote laboratory in electronic engineering field and some criteria for technical evaluation in order to be integrated in engineering education

The environment friendly development of mining applications progressed significantly due to the rapid increase in environmental awareness and requirement of available land. The reclamation studies of those lands, ruined during mining activities, should be evaluated and regained in the most effective and rational way. In recent years, especially in open pit coal mining, reclamation applications become crucial due to rapid spreading of mining companies on extensive lands. These applications were taken into account in feasibility studies and included in mining operations. The reclamation systematics of dump sites formed by stripping of open pit coal mines and depleted coal pits are investigated. In this study, the rehabilitation studies subsequent to mining activities are dealt technically and parameters affecting the success of these studies are determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To establish an optimized ultralow-dose digital pulsed fluoroscopy (FP) protocol for upper gastrointestinal tract examinations and to investigate the radiation dose and image quality. Materials and methods: An Alderson-Rando-Phantom with 60 thermoluminescent dosimeters was used for dose measurements to systematically evaluate the dose-area product (DAP) and organ doses of the optimized FP protocol with the following acquisition parameters: 86.7 kV; 77 mA; 0.9 mm, automatic image noise and contrast adaption. Subjective image quality, depiction of contrast agent and image noise (5-point Likert scale; 5 = excellent) were assessed in 41 patients, who underwent contrast-enhanced FP with the aforementioned optimized protocol by two radiologists in consensus. A conventional digital radiograph (DR) acquisition protocol served as the reference standard for radiation dose and image quality analyses. Results: Phantom measurements revealed a general dose reduction of approximately 96% per image for the FP protocol as compared to the DR standard. DAP could be reduced by 97%. Significant dose reductions were also found for organ doses, both in the direct and scattered radiation beam with negligible orbital (FP 5.6 × 10 vs. DR 0.11; p = 0.02) and gonadal dose exposure (female FP 2.4 × 10 vs. DR 0.05; male FP 8 × 10 vs. DR 0.03; p ≤ 0.0004). FP provided diagnostic image quality in all patients, although reading scores were significantly lower for all evaluated parameters as compared to the DR standard ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Ultralow-dose FP is feasible for clinical routine allowing a significant reduction of direct and scattered dose exposure while providing sufficient diagnostic image quality for reliable diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote experiments in engineering education have appeared as another option after the traditional laboratories and simulations. These laboratories are some kind similar to simulation techniques in that they require minimal space and time, because the laboratory experiments can be fast configured and run over the Internet. From functional point of view these remote labs can be seen as software products and specific standards can be adapted in order to evaluate their main characteristics. The remote laboratory experiments provide real data, the simulations don’t. This paper presents a model for technical evaluation of the remote laboratories in engineering education that takes account both technical and pedagogical factors. The proposed model was applied on an educational network build in the European Tempus project called “eSience”. The main objectives of this project were to build a network of working remote laboratoriess in the Maghrebian countries, to investigate and implement the state-of-the art solutions. The main goal of the proposed evaluation model is to identify measurable educational parameters in order to estimate the functionality of remote laboratories and simulations, according to specific standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of large volumes of olive mill wastewater is presently a challenge. This study reports the technical and economical feasibility of a sequential treatment of olive mill wastewater comprising a dissolved air flotation pre-treatment and nanofiltration. Different pilot nanofiltration assays were conducted in a concentration mode up to different volume reduction factors (29, 45, 58, and 81). Data attained demonstrated that nanofiltration can be operated at considerably high volume reduction factors and still be effective towards the removal of several components. A flux decline of approximately 50% was observed at the highest volume reduction factor, mainly due to increase of the osmotic pressure. Considerably high rejections were obtained across all experiments for total suspended solids (83 to >99%), total organic carbon (64 to 99%), chemical oxygen demand (53 to 77%), and oil and grease (67 to >82%). Treated water was in compliance with European legal limits for discharge regarding total suspended solids and oil and grease. The potential recovery of phenolic compounds was evaluated and found not relevant. It was demonstrated that nanofiltration is economically feasible, involving operation costs of approximately 2.56-3.08 €/m, depending on the working plan schedule and volume reduction factor, and requiring a footprint of approximately 52 m to treat 1000 m of olive mill wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed cultivation in Iran is growing rapidly while this product has been facing specific problems. Every year a significant portion of edible oil is imported to the country from other countries. Despite this deficit, a great amount of canola is being lost every year. Therefore, in compliance with technical points, adding a suitable platform to the exisiting machineries may reduce the losses. A field study was conducted in Moghan Agricultural Research Centre to study the technical and economical characteristics of harvesting machineries and evaluate Canola harvesting losses in different maturity stages, using three different combine harvester heads. The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized split split plot design with four replications. The main plot included seed maturity stage at three levels: A) 60%, B) 70% and C) 80%, and the subplot was the harvester’s ground speed at three levels: A) 1.5, B) 2.5 and C) 3.5 km h-1. The sub-subplot was combine head type with three forms: A) Mechanical, B) Hydraulically Joybar and C) Hydraulically Biso's Head. The results of ANOVA showed that maximum cutter bar losses occurred with Mechanical Head (5.36%) while the loss of Hydraulically Joybar's and Biso's head were 4.28 and 4.13 %, respectively. The results also showed that the maximum cutter bar losses occurred when 80% of seeds were matured and adequate time for canola harvesting was 70% of seeds maturity. The results of analysing the effects of harvesting ground speeds showed that the maximum cutter bar losses occurred with the speed of 3.5 km h-1. Finally, the results showed that the minimum cutter bar loss was obtained with Hydraulically Joybar's head considering the benefit per cost ratio. The cost for Mechanical head and Hydraulically Biso's head were 13500 and 262500 Rial ha-1, respectively.

Introduction: Optical restriction genome mapping is a technology in which a genome is linearized on a surface and digested with specific restriction enzymes, giving an arrangement of the genome with gaps whose order and size are unique for a given organism. Current applications of this technology include assisting with the correct scaffolding and ordering of genomes in conjunction with whole-genome sequencing, observation of genetic drift and evolution using comparative genomics and epidemiological monitoring of the spread of infections. Here, we investigated the suitability of genome mapping for use in clinical labs as a potential diagnostic tool. Materials and Methods: Using whole genome mapping, we investigated the basic performance of the technology for identifying two bacteria of interest for food-safety (Lactobacilli spp. and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli). We further evaluated the performance for identifying multiple organisms from both simple and complex mixtures. Results: We were able to successfully generate optical restriction maps of four Lactobacillus species as well as a strain of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli from within a mixed solution, each distinguished using a common compatible restriction enzyme. Finally, we demonstrated that optical restriction maps were successfully obtained and the correct organism identified within a clinical matrix. Conclusion: With additional development, whole genome mapping may be a useful clinical tool for rapid invitro diagnostics.

Water smart metering enables the measurement and reporting of water consumption at sub-daily intervals. However, assuming that increased availability of consumption information will necessarily result in changed behaviour is simplistic. The main scientific challenges for iWIDGET project are the management and extraction of useful information from vast amounts of high-resolution consumption data, the development of customized information to influence awareness and support behavioral change, and the integration of iWIDGET concepts into a set of decision-support tools for water utilities and consumers. In this paper, it is described the evaluation general framework, the iWIDGET system's technical evaluation system and stakeholders involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is undeniable that coal is still the main resource for production and consumption in China and will likely remain so in the coming decades. This paper proposes a new method based on rough set theory to effectively evaluate clean coal technology (CCT). Firstly a rough-set information system is built after the filtration of CCT evaluation indexes, and then we discuss the calculations of the weight of every index and evaluation result for each technology. This new method reduces the correlation among different attributes, which makes the results more precise. This data collection approach improves reliability and rationality of evaluation. The results highlight advantages and defects in each technology. This will guide entrepreneurs and scholars to improve Chinese CCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]