Modelling for the operational control of the oxidation ditch process

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Re-thinking functional food development through a holistic approach

Although the interest towards functional food has dramatically increased, several factors jeopardize their effective development. A univocally recognized definition and a dedicated regulation for this emerging food category is lacking, and a gap exists between the technological and the nutritional viewpoints. Involved actors speak different languages, thus impinging the progression towards an integrated approach for functional food development. A holistic approach to rationalize functional food development was here proposed, i.e., the \u201cFunctional Food Development Cycle\u201d. First regulation and definitions were reviewed. The technological approaches for functional food design were then described, followed by the efficacy evaluation ones. Merging the technological and the evaluation viewpoints, by identifying the best compromise between quality and functionality, is pivotal to develop effective functional foods. Finally, delivering functional food on the market requires dedicated communication strategies. These in turn can provide information about consumer needs, thus representing an input for regulatory bodies to drive the development of functional food, feeding it within an iterative and virtuous holistic cycle

Facilitating and Enhancing Biomedical Knowledge Translation: An in Silico Approach to Patient-centered Pharmacogenomic Outcomes Research

Current research paradigms such as traditional randomized control trials mostly rely on relatively narrow efficacy data which results in high internal validity and low external validity. Given this fact and the need to address many complex real-world healthcare questions in short periods of time, alternative research designs and approaches should be considered in translational research. In silico modeling studies, along with longitudinal observational studies, are considered as appropriate feasible means to address the slow pace of translational research. Taking into consideration this fact, there is a need for an approach that tests newly discovered genetic tests, via an in silico enhanced translational research model (iS-TR) to conduct patient-centered outcomes research and comparative effectiveness research studies (PCOR CER). In this dissertation, it was hypothesized that retrospective EMR analysis and subsequent mathematical modeling and simulation prediction could facilitate and accelerate the process of generating and translating pharmacogenomic knowledge on comparative effectiveness of anticoagulation treatment plan(s) tailored to well defined target populations which eventually results in a decrease in overall adverse risk and improve individual and population outcomes. To test this hypothesis, a simulation modeling framework (iS-TR) was proposed which takes advantage of the value of longitudinal electronic medical records (EMRs) to provide an effective approach to translate pharmacogenomic anticoagulation knowledge and conduct PCOR CER studies. The accuracy of the model was demonstrated by reproducing the outcomes of two major randomized clinical trials for individualizing warfarin dosing. A substantial, hospital healthcare use case that demonstrates the value of iS-TR when addressing real world anticoagulation PCOR CER challenges was also presented

Prediction of Flow Field And Oxygen Utilization Rate (Our) In Orbal Biological System (Obs) Using Cfd

Sistem Orbal Biologi (OBS), yang merupakan salah satu daripada parit pengoksidaan yang telah diubah suai, telah direka untuk memberikan proses olahan biologi yang optimum. Oleh kerana reka bentuk strukturnya yang berpotensi besar untuk menggalakkan proses olahan yang optimum, adalah sangat penting untuk kita mengkaji keseluruhan sistem operasinya. Hasrat ini selari dengan permintaan semasa yang mahukan sistem olahan air sisa yang lebih baik yang bukan sahaja fokus kepada pencapaian standard kualiti efluen yang ditentukan, tetapi juga mengambil kira aspek-aspek lain seperti ekonomi dan alam sekitar. Oleh sebab ini, kajian ini dijalankan untuk memahami sistem olahan OBS yang kompleks ini. Model proses awal dan model Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) telah digunakan untuk mendapatkan gambaran yang lebih baik tentang OBS. Model CFD 3 dimensi, 2 fasa yang bersaluran terbuka telah dibangunkan untuk mengkaji mekanisma operasi OBS. Dalam kajian ini, model CFD telah digunakan untuk mewakili OBS untuk mengatasi beberapa limitasi model proses awal. Keputusan simulasi telah digunakan untuk mengkaji corak aliran di seluruh parit, taburan halaju pada kedalaman yang berbeza, agihan halaju untuk keadaan operasi yang berbeza, pecahan isipadu udara dan air di seluruh parit, pengedaran tekanan merentasi saluran dan masa tahanan hidraulik. Keputusan model CFD juga digunakan untuk mengira kadar aliran isipadu yang lebih khusus, nilai Oxygen Utilization Rate(OUR) dalam parit dan penggunaan kuasa yang berkaitan dengan nilai-nilai OUR. Berdasarkan kepada kajian kesan kepelbagaian operasi shaf ke atas prestasi OBS, didapati bahawa bilangan shaf yang beroperasi mempengaruhi jumlah keseluruhan penggunaan kuasa dalam sistem ini. Penutupan kombinasi shaf 2(saluran luar) dan shaf 6 (saluran tengah dan dalam) menyumbang kepada penggunaan kuasa yang kurang tetapi masih mempunyai nila purata OUR yang sama (26,483 kg/d) seperti kes asal (26,594 kg/d). Keputusan menunjukkan, walaupun shaf ini ditutup, tetapi tindakbalas biologi di dalam parit masih berterusan seperti tindakbalas biologi bila kesemua shaf beroperasi. Ramalan penggunaan kuasa di masa hadapan yang dikaitkan dengan peningkatan nilai OUR, yang mungkin berlaku kerana standard kualiti efluen yang lebih ketat, juga telah dibentangkan dan dibincangkan dalam kajian ini. Berdasarkan keputusan, saluran paling luar merekodkan penggunaan oksigen tertinggi secara keseluruhannya, iaitu sebanyak 79% berbanding dengan saluran tengah dengan hanya 9% dan diikuti oleh saluran dalaman dengan 12%. Pada masa akan datang, jika standard kualiti efluen yang lebih ketat dikenakan, kadar penggunaan oksigen juga akan pasti meningkat. Jika kadar penggunaan oksigen pada masa kini iaitu 21109 kg/d meningkat kepada 30%, ia akan menyebabkan peningkatan penggunaan elektrik sebanyak 3,241 MW/tahun (hampir RM 1,092,284 setahun). Melalui kajian ini, peningkatan pemahaman tentang bagaimana simulasi seperti ini dapat digunakan dalam pemodelan proses olahan air sisa berjaya dilaksanakan. Ia amat berguna dalam proses permodelan proses olahan air sisa ddi masa akan datang. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Orbal Biological System (OBS), which is one of the modified oxidation ditches, has been designed to provide an optimized approach of the biological treatment process. Due to the structural design of the OBS that has great potential to promote optimal treatment processes, it is very crucial to study its operating system. This intention is in line with the current demand on wastewater treatment system, which not only focusing on the achievement of specified effluent quality standards, but also taking into consideration other aspects such as economic and environmental. Because of this reason, the study was conducted to understand the complicated process of OBS. The preliminary process model and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model were used to obtain a better picture of the OBS. Three-dimensional, two-phase and an open channel CFD-based model was developed to study the mechanism of OBS. In the study, the CFD model was used to represent the OBS to overcome some of the limitations of the preliminary process model. The simulation results were used to study the flow pattern across the ditch, the velocity distribution at different depths, velocity distribution for different operating conditions, the volume fraction of air and water in the ditch, the pressure distribution across the channels and hydraulic residence time. The results of CFD model were used to calculate more specific volumetric flow rate, the Oxygen Utilization Rate (OUR) of the ditch and the power consumption associated with the values of OUR. Based on the study on the effect of different operating shafts on the performance of OBS, it was found that turning off the combination of shaft 2 (outer channel) and shaft 6 (middle and inner channel) was contributing to less power consumption but still having almost the same average OUR value (26,483 kg/d) like the real case (26,594 kg/d). The results show that although these shafts are turned off, but the biological reactions inside the ditch still occur as the biological reactions when all the shafts are operated. Forecast future power consumption associated with the OUR values, which may occur due to effluent quality standards that are more stringent, was also presented and discussed in this study. Based on the results, the outermost channels recorded the highest overall oxygen consumption, which is 79% compared with the middle channel with only 9%, followed by inner channel with 12%. In the future, if more stringent effluent quality standards imposed, the rate of oxygen consumption will definitely increase. If the rate of oxygen consumption at present, namely 21,109 kg/d increased to 30%, it will lead to increased electricity use by 3,241 MW/year (nearly RM 1,092,284/year). The research provides a better understanding on how this simulation tool will be able to be applied within wastewater process modelling. It can considerably contribute to the further expansion of wastewater treatment process models

Simulated Annealing

The book contains 15 chapters presenting recent contributions of top researchers working with Simulated Annealing (SA). Although it represents a small sample of the research activity on SA, the book will certainly serve as a valuable tool for researchers interested in getting involved in this multidisciplinary field. In fact, one of the salient features is that the book is highly multidisciplinary in terms of application areas since it assembles experts from the fields of Biology, Telecommunications, Geology, Electronics and Medicine

Biomedical applications of polypeptide multilayer nanofilms and microcapsules

The past few years have witnessed considerable growth in synthetic polymer chemistry and physics, biomaterials science, and nano-scale engineering. Research on polypeptide multilayer films, coatings, and microcapsules is located at the intersection of these areas and are promising materials for applications in medicine, biotechnology, environmental science. Most envisioned applications of polypeptide multilayers have a biomedical bent. This dissertation on polypeptide multilayer film applications covers key points of polypeptides as materials, means of polymer production, film preparation, film characterization methods, and key points of current research in basic science. Both commercial and designed peptides have been used to fabricate films for in-vitro applications such as antimicrobial coatings and cell culture coatings and also microcapsules for drug delivery applications. Other areas of product development include artificial red blood cells, anisotropic coatings, enantioselective membranes, and artificial viruses

1st Annual Research Day- Event Proceedings

1st Annual Research Da