4 research outputs found
A New Integrated FQFD Approach for Improving Quality and Reliability of Solar Drying Systems
Saffron is the most expensive spice and is significantly valuable in non-oil
export. Drying process of saffron is considered as a critical control point
with major effects on quality and safety parameters. A suitable drying method
covering standards and market requirements while it is costlty benefitial and
saves energy is desirable. Solar drying could be introduced as an appropriate
procedure in rural and collecting sites of saffron since major micorobial and
chemical factors of saffron can be preserved and achieved by using a renewable
energy source. So, a precise system taking advantage of management, engineering
and food technology sciences could be developed. Since there was no published
record of integrated methods of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy
Quality Function Deployment (FQFD) applied to solar energy drying systems, in
this paper, Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment as a quality management tool by
emphasizing technical and customer requirements has been implemented in order
to improve quality parameters, optimizing technological expenses and market
expansion strategy. Subsequently, Analytical Hierarchy Process based on survey
from customers and logical pair-wise comparison are employed to decrease costs
and increase the efficiency and the effectiveness of economic indicators. Using
the integrated approach of AHP and FQFD in solar drying systems in saffron
industry will result in cost benefit, quality improvement, the customer
satisfaction enhancement, and the increase in saffron exports
Using Simulation-based Energy Consumption of NIU Engineering Building to Provide Cost-Saving Solutions
In the current global situation where almost all countries need energy to perform their activities, providing energy is a vital demand for modern society. Furthermore, lack of fossil energy draws attention to the utilization of renewable energy, specifically solar energy. Because no specific published record of considering renewable energy solutions applied to the buildings of Northern Illinois University (NIU) have been found already, in this paper, solar energy as an energy solution for Northern Illinois University (NIU) Engineering Building (EB) has been considered. In this case, building envelope model and HVAC system model have been developed in eQUEST software to perform simulation-based energy consumption of EB. This simulation presents annual energy consumption of boiler, chiller plant, and daylighting in EB. Moreover, economic analysis of using solar energy for lighting has been performed to identify the feasibility and savings associated with solar energy which can potentially reduce costs with a reasonable payback time
Risk analysis of geothermal power plants using Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) technique
Ankylosing spondylitis: an autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease?
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology. Unlike other systemic autoimmune diseases, in AS, the innate immune system has a dominant role characterized by aberrant activity of innate and innate-like immune cells, including γδ T cells, group 3 innate lymphoid cells, neutrophils, mucosal-associated invariant T cells and mast cells, at sites predisposed to the disease. The intestine is involved in disease manifestations, as it is at the forefront of the interaction between the mucosal-associated immune cells and the intestinal microbiota. Similarly, biomechanical factors, such as entheseal micro-trauma, might also be involved in the pathogenesis of the articular manifestation of AS, and sentinel immune cells located in the entheses could provide links between local damage, genetic predisposition and the development of chronic inflammation. Although these elements might support the autoinflammatory nature of AS, studies demonstrating the presence of autoantibodies (such as anti-CD74, anti-sclerostin and anti-noggin antibodies) and evidence of activation and clonal expansion of T cell populations support an autoimmune component to the disease. This Review presents the evidence for autoinflammation and the evidence for autoimmunity in AS and, by discussing the pathophysiological factors associated with each, aims to reconcile the two hypotheses.</p