Organic farming without fossil fuels - life cycle assessment of two Swedish cases

Organic agriculture is dependent on fossil fuels, just like conventional agriculture, but this can be reduced by the use of on-farm biomass resources. The energy efficiency and environmental impacts of different alternatives can be assessed by life cycle assessment (LCA), which we have done in this project. Swedish organic milk production can become self-sufficient in energy by using renewable sources available on the farm, with biogas from manure as the main energy source. Thereby greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the production system can be reduced, both by substituting fossil fuels and by reducing methane emissions from manure. The arable organic farm studied in the project could be self-sufficient in energy by using the residues available in the crop rotation. Because of soil carbon losses, the greenhouse gas emission savings were lower with the use of straw ethanol, heat and power (9%) than by using ley for biogas production (35%). In this research project, the system boundaries were set at energy self-sufficiency at farm or farm-cluster level. Heat and fuel were supplied as needed, and electricity production was equal to use on an annual basis. In practice, however, better resource efficiency can be achieved by making full use of available energy infrastructure, and basing production on resource availability and economic constraints, rather than a narrow self-sufficiency approach

Fuzzy Goal Programming Procedure to Bilevel Multiobjective Linear Fractional Programming Problems

This paper presents a fuzzy goal programming (FGP) procedure for solving bilevel multiobjective linear fractional programming (BL-MOLFP) problems. It makes an extension work of Moitra and Pal (2002) and Pal et al. (2003). In the proposed procedure, the membership functions for the defined fuzzy goals of the decision makers (DMs) objective functions at both levels as well as the membership functions for vector of fuzzy goals of the decision variables controlled by first-level decision maker are developed first in the model formulation of the problem. Then a fuzzy goal programming model to minimize the group regret of degree of satisfactions of both the decision makers is developed to achieve the highest degree (unity) of each of the defined membership function goals to the extent possible by minimizing their deviational variables and thereby obtaining the most satisfactory solution for both decision makers. The method of variable change on the under- and over-deviational variables of the membership goals associated with the fuzzy goals of the model is introduced to solve the problem efficiently by using linear goal programming (LGP) methodology. Illustrative numerical example is given to demonstrate the procedure

A new approach for describing instantaneous line congruence

summary:Based on the E. Study’s map, a new approach describing instantaneous line congruence during the motion of the Darboux frame on a regular non-spherical and non-developable surface, whose parametric curves are lines of curvature, is proposed. Afterward, the pitch of general line congruence is developed and used for deriving necessary and sufficient condition for instantaneous line congruence to be normal. In terms of this, the derived line congruences and their differential geometric invariants were examined

Electricity From Wind for Off-Grid Applications in Bangladesh: a Techno-Economic Assessment

Global GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions are increasing substantially and electricity sector is one of the key contributors to the world\u27s total GHG emissions. GHG emissions cause ozone layer depletion and global warming. Different policy regulation agencies are adopting regulations to reduce GHG emissions in various sectors. People already have started power generation from cleaner sources. Renewable energy sources can provide cleaner electricity. Bangladesh is a densely populated country and most of the country\u27s electricity is produced from natural gas and coal. The Bangladesh government has set a goal to utilize renewable energy for the production of 10% of its electricity by the year 2020. Bangladesh has a lot of isolated coastal areas which are not connected to the national grid which can be electrified by using abundant wind energy. In this study a techno-economic analysis has been conducted for an off-grid island of Bangladesh. The analysis was conducted by developing a data intensive model that calculates the generation cost of electricity from wind energy. The model also estimates the capital cost of the system. The model shows that electricity can be produced from wind energy at a cost of $0.57/kWh. The system\u27s capital cost was calculated to be$63,550.16. Keywords: GHG emission, cost of electricity, off-grid, wind energy, electricity generation.Article History: Received October 15th 2016; Received in revised form January 26th 2017; Accepted February 4th 2017; Available onlineHow to Cite This Article: Rahman, M.M., Baky, M.A.H, and Islam, A.K.M.S. (2017) Electricity from Wind for Off-Grid Applications in Bangladesh: A Techno-Economic Assessment. International Journal of Renewable Energy Develeopment, 6(1), 55-64.http://dx.doi.org/10.14710/ijred.6.1.55-6

Ureterorectostomy as a continent urinary diversion for complicated bladder exstrophy in children by using a modified Duhamel procedure: A case series

AbstractIntroductionWhatever the method and timing of surgery, a high proportion of children with bladder exstrophy will continue to suffer from urinary incontinence. They face the options of urinary diversion to an external stoma or construction of a neobladder from bowel. This study describes a modified Duhamel's rectal pouch with a ureterorectostomy was carried out on 11 children who had a failed repair of bladder exstrophy.Materials and methodsTen boys and one girl, aged from 4 to 7years (mean 5.5), had several unsuccessful operations for bladder exstrophy. All selected to have good renal function and no other anomalies, but were incontinent of urine and had a small contracted or prolapsed bladder. They underwent urinary diversion to the rectum using the Duhamel pullthrough technique, where the sigmoid colon was opened into the back of the anal canal above the dentate line, creating a rectal bladder and making use of the anal sphincter to control urine and stool. All were followed up for 24months (18–27months).ResultsIn this selected group of patients there were no major operative or postoperative complications. Follow-up for 2years revealed no deterioration in renal function, or electrolytes disturbance. They can hold up to 300ml of urine and all patients are continent during the daytime with an emptying frequency of 3–5 times. Nocturnal wetting occur some 4–8 times per month with significant decrease with time. Two cases developed pyelonephritis but this was controlled with medical treatment.ConclusionEleven children achieved effective urinary continence by ureteric diversion to the rectum using a modified Duhamel pullthrough technique. Two years follow up showed no complications, except bed wetting, but long term assessment is warranted

URWARE Wastewater Treatment Plant Models

In this document, a large number of mathematical models describing various physical, biological and chemical processes in a wastewater treatment plant are presented. In most cases, the models are fairly simple as they are inteded for steady-state simulations based on yearly averages of the influent wastewater charteristics. The combination of models forms a software tool namned URWARE (URban WAter REsearch model), which is a tool for substance flow analysis and energy calculations in wastewater treatment systems. All models are based on the MATLAB/Simulink platform. The different models can be combined in any fashion thereby creating various system structures that can be analysed and compared. The models keep track of numerous substances related to wastewater, such as organic substances, nutrients and to some extent heavy metals. Within all models the release of environmentally hazardous substances to water, soil and air are calculated. The results can be used as one (of many) information pathways for strategic decision making related to urban water systems. The individual models are described one by one and their behaviours are exemplified by simulation results. In many cases, comparisons with other available software models are given to validate (or at least make plausible) the results produced by the fairly simple URWARE models. Simulation results based on a combination of models into a complete wastewater treatment plant are also presented. However, details about the underlying theory and hypotheses on which the models are based cannot always be sufficiently described due to space limitations. Moreover, users should always be critical to any results predicted by models and not take them for granted simply because they have been calculated by a computer model. Knowledge about the real processes and comparisons with real data are imperative to evaluate whether the predicted results are reasonable or not. For the interested reader the complete source code to all models is included in an extensive appendix. A modelling task of this magnitude is never completed. The proposed models can always be further developed, improved and refined. Consequently, the models described in this document only represent the first version of the URWARE software. Many issues remain to be solved and further improvements to be done. However, it is the hope of the authors that the presented models are mature enough to be used, evaluated, modified and improved by other users outside the URWARE task group

Kinematic-geometry of lines with special trajectories in spatial kinematics

This paper derives the expressions for kinematic-geometry of lines with special trajectories in spatial kinematics by means of the E. Study map. A particular assurance goes to the 2nd order movement characteristics for extracting a new proof of the Disteli formulae of the axodes. Meanwhile, a new height dual function is defined and utilized to investigate the geometrical properties of the Disteli-axis. Consequently, as an implementation, the spatial equivalent of the cubic of stationary curvature is established and researched. Finally, Disteli formulae of a line-trajectory are extracted and inspected in detail

The control of the drugstore beetle, Stegobium paniceum (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) with high and low temperatures

Botanicals; dried plants, roots, stems, leaves, seeds and flowers, have been used from the dawn of history as drugs or spices (Craker, 2007). Botanicals have been used in the health care system to improve blood circulation, reduce chronic fever and cure chronic constipation (Golob et al., 1999; Samy et al., 2008). The drugstore beetle, Stegobium paniceum (L.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), is a pest of stored medicinal and aromatic plants and one of the most common insects found in botanical warehouses (Abdelghany et al., 2010). Generally, mortality of each stage increased with an increase of temperature and exposure time. Heat tolerance for different stages from highest to lowest was; young larvae, old larvae, eggs, adult and pupae. The mortality after 7 h, at 42ºC for young larvae, old larvae, eggs, adult and pupae respectively was; 16 ± 5, 31 ± 6, 48 ± 3, 63 ± 8 and 86 ± 2% (mean + SEM). Similarly, the lethal time for 90% mortality (LT>sub>90) at 42ºC was; too low to estimate, 773, 144, 12 and 11 h. The LT90 value for young larvae at 42, 45, 50, 55 and 60ºC was 25, 20, 3.9, 0.18 and 0.08 h respectively. The cold tolerance of different stages at 0ºC from highest to lowest was adult, old larva, young larva, pupa, and egg. The LT90 at 0ºC was 298, 153, 151, 89 and 53 h, respectively. The LT90 value for adults at 5, -5, -10 and -15ºC was 792, 58, 2 and 0.8 h, respectively. The supercooling point of adults, young larvae, old larvae and pupae was -15.2 ± 2ºC, -9.0 ± 0.8ºC, -6.5 ± 0.5ºC, and -4.0 ± 1.4ºC respectively. Heat treatments that control young larvae should control all other stages of S. paniceum. Cold treatments that control adults should control all other stages of S. paniceum. Dried plants stored at 5ºC for 45 days or 42ºC for 30 h and then kept below 18ºC throughout the rest of the year, should remain pest-free without any chemical control. The full paper was submitted to Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. Keywords: Anobiidae, Heat, Cold, Supercooling point, Tolerance, Storage, Warehous

Fetus-in-Fetus: Our Case Series and Review of the Literature

Fetus in fetu is a rare condition commonly presenting as an epitomized pedunculated vertebrated fetiform mass in a newborn infant. Different kinds of presentation and locations have been reported in the hosts. Although numbers of instances have been reported the fascination and curiosity about other presentations and genesis of fetus in fetu remains confirmed. In Tabriz pediatric surgery ward we have had five different presentations of fetus in fetu. The aim of this case series and a subtle literature review is gathering these interesting presentations

Antimicrobial resistance pattern and molecular epidemiology of ESBL and MBL producing Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from hospitals in Minia, Egypt

Introduction: Multidrug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumanii (A. baumannii) strains have emerged as novel nosocomial pathogens threatening patients’ lives, especially in intensive-care units (ICUs). This study aims to determine the prevalence of carbapenemase genes and CTX-M-15 and the resistance pattern of carbapenemase producing isolates. Methods: A total of 530 clinical specimens were collected from patients suffering from different infections, antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using kirby-bauer disk diffusion method. ESβL production was detected phenotypically by double-disc synergy test (DDST). Carbapenemase production was tested by Modified Hodge Test (MHT). Then, these isolates were tested for MBL detection by disc potentiation test. Carbapenemase encoding genes (VIM, IMP, GIM and SPM, OXA-51, OXA-23 and OXA-143) and CTX-M-15 were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Out of 530 samples, 20 bacterial isolates were identified as A. baumannii from different infectious cases, 35% of isolates were ESBL-producers. Eleven isolates were resistant to imipenem (4 isolates) and meropenem (7 isolates). All carbapenem resistant isolates were MHT positive. Nine (45%) isolates were confirmed as A. baumannii by OXA-51 (all were carbapenem resistant). Distribution of IMP, VIM, GIM and SPM, OXA-23, OXA-143 and CTX-M-15 by PCR were 55, 50, 50, 25, 35, 45 and 33% respectively. Conclusion: The high prevalence of resistance genes and the resistance pattern of the isolates indicate that the detection of ESBLs and MBLs phenotypically and genotypically with the study of the resistance pattern of the isolates is critically important for the surveillance of drug resistance in the hospital environment