Increased demand on electricity calls for newer methods to generate and store energy. Newer methods directly imply cleaner methods, well known as green energy. Therefore micro-grids have known a relatively a higher demand recently. Generating energy is one thing, and using it is another. That is mainly why energy storage systems were introduced. This research is about a technoeconomic assessment of batteries, and reversible fuel cells using the Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS). The research was run on four states and the results show that the LCOS is higher for RFCs compared to 400-kW LIBs, yet lower at the size increases. Sensitivity analysis highlights how heavily the change in the capital cost, the discount rate, roundtrip efficiency, and the lifetime of the system impacts the LCOS. Different current densities and charge rates were applied to test the reliability and resiliency of the grid.
The pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) is important for efficient healthcare delivery and requires efficient planning and optimized distribution to improve quality of life and save lives. In addition, it is considered as a complex supply chain since it involves demand uncertainties, product perishability leading to expiration, and harmful emissions. This paper addresses the optimization of a three-echelon (PSC) for manufacturing and distributing medication products. The proposed robust optimization model considers aspects of demand uncertainty, product perishability, and emission reduction while being able to be scaled in size as desired. Two different models were optimized using the proposed approach to test its effectiveness and the size scalability. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that managers can use the proposed robust approach to perform a quick and easy optimization for their pharmaceutical supply chains in order to make well-informed decisions.
Recently, Additive manufacturing (AM) gained substantial attention as one of the most innovative technologies and one of the most disruptive innovations that impact the global supply chain and logistics industry. This research survey analysis was used to investigate the current spare parts supply chain challenges in the UAE. It evaluates the understanding, expectations, and readiness to adopt additive manufacturing and digital spare parts concept.
Today, millions of people around the world are using portable electronics devices in their daily lives. A lot of these devices are using rechargeable lithium-ion batteries as their main source of power. The current study aims to study the environmental and economic opportunities obtained from recycling of Lithium-ion batteries. The main valuable metals that used on these batteries are Lithium (Li), Cobalt (Co), and Manganese (Mn). The hydrometallurgical recycling method was used to recycle LIBs and recover most of the metals. SEM/EDS characterization method was used and confirmed that the battery sample that we used was NMC battery and that because the combined weight of these three elements is almost ` of the total sample weight. This research would be important for recovery of some valuable metals from spent LIBs, and it can be improved for higher metal recovery in the future.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected all spheres of life, including the healthcare workforce. While the COVID-19 pandemic has started driving organizational and societal shifts, it is vital for healthcare organizations and decision-makers to analyse trends towards a changing workforce. In this study, we aim to identify patterns in healthcare job postings during the pandemic to understand the situation of healthcare job market during COVID-19 pandemic. Content analysis of job postings was conducted using data-driven approach over two time intervals in the pandemic. The topic modelling results clearly show a trend towards increased number of keywords associated with telehealth services in the US job postings. This study also suggests that there has been steady demand for telehealth services in the USA healthcare industry during the pandemic. The results and methods used in the study can help monitor rapid changes in the job market due to pandemics and crises.
Falls initiated by slips or trips are major safety and health concerns to older adults causing fatal and non-fatal injuries. This study analytically overviews the status of research and practices on the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) technology as an advanced exercise method for fall prevention in the elderly. Relevant literature is detected by searching keywords and phrases through the databases of PubMed, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, and ResearchGate to find answers for the major questions on WBV practices. A thorough review analysis recognizes whether the effect of adapting WBV exercises to conventional ones will be beneficial to improve balance and prevent fall incidents amongst independently living community-dwelling elderly people.
Direct solar steam generation-based desalination processes require spontaneous transport of seawater/brine through porous wicks. Herein, we propose a nano/micro-structured wicks to enable unidirectional water propagation by chemically etching titanium meshes. Owing to the superhydrophilic and anti-corrosion nature of as-grown TiO2 nanostructures on titanium mesh, it promises great potential for seawater desalination and brine treatment. By utilizing infrared thermal imaging, we evaluate the wickability of nano/microstructured meshes by characterizing water propagation through its wetting front. Our experimental results confirm the proposed nano/microstructured TiO2/Ti meshes exhibit superior and reliable wicking performance.
This work presents the exploration of the rare earth high entropy oxides based catalysts: 5%Ni-500/CeGdLaPrSmO-CP, 10%Ni-500/CeGdLaPrSmO-CP, 10%Ni-900/CeGdLaPrSmO-CP and 15%Ni-500/CeGdLaPrSmO-CP and shades the light on investigating their catalytic activity for CO2 hydrogenation to methane reaction and explains their performance based on their morphological and textural properties. The high entropy oxide support CeGdLaPrSmO that crystalized into fluorite structure was synthesized by coprecipitation method and the nickel was added to it by the wet impregnation. The nickel loaded high entropy oxide based catalysts exhibited maximum activity that reached up to 51.2 % of converting CO2 at 500 ?C.
Water scarcity is one of the largest global risks to impact humanity in the upcoming decades, especially in the arid and undeveloped regions. The lack of readily available water in dry regions have caused a variety of animals and plants to adapt techniques to efficiently harvest fog and dew as a source of water. In this paper we report the ability of Tamarix aphylla, a desert shrub to efficiently harvest and absorb water from humid conditions in the desert.
In this work, influence of weight percent on the mechanical and physical properties of CNT-reinforced PVC(Poly-VinlyChloride) and Polyethylene/PVC composites has been studied by using Classical Molecular Dynamics simulation with Materials Studio 2017. 5wt.% single walled CNT (10,10) is used as a reinforcing agent with PVC and 9.0wt.% polyethylene were added to 91.0wt.% of PVC matrix. The simulation results i.e. longitudinal young's modulus, shear modulus and bulk modulus in composites support the idea that it is possible to use CNTs and Polyethylene to mechanically enhance the polymer matrix. The results obtained by this simulation are compared with conventional rule of mixtures
