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This scoping review investigates the extent and nature of existing evidence on the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and related mechanisms of engagement and challenges in issues of caring for older persons through digital technologies. We map research and practice gaps, contributing factors and best practices in NGOs. The rising use of digital technology in health care and the role that NGOs have in supporting older people in this context is relevant to nurses and service development leaders, particularly in the context of a rapidly changing care in the 21stcentury.

The renewable energy sources (RESs) integration into the grid system aims to solve the problem of power shortage and satisfy the increasing demand with the production of surplus energy. However, the intermittent nature of these RESs (solar and wind) is a challenge to integrate with the grid system without the deployment of mitigating solutions. The re-use of first life-end-of-life (FL_EoL) electric vehicle batteries known as second life batteries (SLBs) is therefore proposed as a reliable solution to resolve this problem, satisfying the techno-economic requirements of stationary applications. Though various studies performed on the technical viability evaluation of SLBs, most of them have not considered the field data of existing stationary plants and were found to be limited with simulation-based aging results. On the other hand, few of the studies have performed the second life aging test with limited cycles considering the end of test conditions rather than using the cells reached to their end of first life criteria. Therefore, in this paper, the prolonged cycling aging of SLBs is conducted (both cell-level and module-level aging), focusing on aging characteristics of SLBs by using a real-life renewable power smoothing profile extracted from an existing photovoltaic grid-connected system (PVGCS) installed in Ethiopia. Prior to the aging characterization of SLBs, assessment of the selected stationary application requirement, optimal sizing of the storage battery and cycling profile definition are performed using advanced moving average ramp rate controller (MARRC) algorithm. The proposed method of MARRC is used to determine the optimal SLBs capacity by analyzing the relationship between ramp-rate, initial battery capacity and window sizes of moving average control method in terms of time series. The algorithm addresses the main objectives of reducing unnecessary battery cycling, mitigating ramp-rate violations and meeting minimum storage requirements for the second-life application. From the result of the battery sizing study, the desired optimal battery capacity and the permissible ramp-rate limit below 10 %/minute is achieved. Moreover, the aging characterization and lifetime model validation results with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.5 % shows that, the technical performance of the SLBs is found to be promising with an efficiency of >90 % interpreted in terms of the service year that the SLBs can provide. Therefore, SLBs can be regarded as a viable solution for integrating RESs with the grid system for the power variability smoothing application.

This paper presents the development of a combined lifetime model used to estimate the capacity fade evolution and internal resistance increase of 43 Ah big capacity nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC) cell playing the leading role in the automotive industry. However, these NMC based lithium-ion cells passed through capacity fade uncertainty problems during their cycling and calendaring periods. Therefore, to investigate the nonlinear aging behavior of the NMC cell, an extensive lifetime characterization of the cell was performed with an efficient testing methodology accompanied by large and quality datasets collected for more than two years. According to the analysis result of the experimental dataset, the cycling capacity fade was strongly affected by the depth of discharge (DoD), temperature, C-rate, and slightly affected by middle state of charge (Mid-SoC). On the other hand, the calendar capacity fade was affected by high storage state of charge (SoC), and high temperature. In the previous studies, limitations related to complexity, accuracy, and computational difficulties of aging models are observed. Therefore, to compromise these challenges, in this paper, a semi-empirical fitted equivalent circuit model-based lifetime model is proposed. The validation of the developed model is performed by using a highly dynamic Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test (WLTC) profile and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2% was found. In this study, new knowledge is gained with the developed lifetime model which benefits car manufacturers using big capacity NMC-based cells and hence can utilize the model to estimate the available capacity and lifetime of the battery cells.

•An ECM model prepared using mathematical representation is presented for Li-ion and lead acid batteries.•The ECM model identifies the technical characteristics of batteries.•HOMER-Pro-based model is developed, and techno-economic analysis has been performed.•The model estimates the economic contributions of the two batteries.•Comparative analysis and verifications of batteries advantage were conducted.

We present a decision-making assistant tool for an integrated product and process design environment for manufacturing applications. Specifically, we target microwave modules that use electro-mechanical components and require optimal solutions to reduce cost, improve quality, and gain leverage in time to market the product. This tool will assist the product and process designer to improve their productivity and enable them to cooperate and coordinate their designs through a common design interface. We consider a multiobjective optimization model that determines components and processes for a given conceptual design for microwave modules. This model outputs a set of solutions that the Pareto optimal concerning cost, quality, and other metrics. In addition, we identify system integration issues for manufacturing applications, and propose an architecture that will serve as a building block to our continuing research in virtual manufacturing applications.

ABSTRACTBackground: Failure to attend maternal health services is an intractable challenge for the health-care system in low- and middle-income countries. The use of technology for reminding patients about their appointments has been demonstrated to be an effective (future) tool toward increased health care services utilization in developing countries, such as Ethiopia.Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of enhanced reminders on postnatal care attendance versus usual care (notification of an appointment at discharge).Methods: The study was a cluster randomized controlled trial: out of eligible 86 health centers, 16 health centers in Addis Ababa (AA) were randomized to either the intervention (8) or the control (8) groups; with a total of 350 mothers equally randomized into each arm. Mothers in the intervention group received the SMS (short message service) or a voice call reminder at 48 and 24 hours before the due postnatal appointment, whereas the control group received only the usual notification of appointments provided by health professionals at discharge from the ward following delivery. We recruited participants on wards after delivery at discharge and followed them up to 6 weeks. This study’s primary outcome was postnatal visit compliance. Our assessment consisted of a two-level bivariate and a multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis.Results: The majority (97.7%) of the participants completed the study; 173(98.9%) of women in the intervention group and 169 (96.5%) of women in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in postnatal care (PNC) compliance among women who were in the intervention versus the control group (p-value = 0.005). Higher odds of postnatal compliance was observed among the intervention group (AOR:2.98, 95% CI 1.51–5.8).Conclusions: Mobile phone reminders were effective in terms of enhancing adherence to PNC appointments. This indicates integration of mobile phone reminders in postnatal care could improve postnatal appointment compliance.