Statistical Analysis of Wind Speed Distribution Based on Five Weibull Methods for Wind Power Evaluation in Maan, Jordan

Due to the increasing environmental and economic cost of fossil fuels, alternative sources of energy are needed. One of these sources is wind energy. The wind-turbines extract kinetic energy from the wind to convert it to mechanical energy and then transfer to electrical energy. Wind speed is the most important parameter for an efficient wind energy system. In this work the Microsoft excel software used to analysis of wind speed data and evaluate the wind speed distribution. the wind speed probability estimated and analyzed by using five methods of Weibull and Rayleigh distributions and evaluated the best methods to represent the actual data based on monthly mean wind speed data of the Ma'an city site, Jordan. furthermore, from the analysis, it has been found that the energy pattern factor method EPFM is the best method to represent the actual data and the EPFM is the best and most accurate and efficient method to determine the Weibull distribution parameters (k) and (c). In addition, in this work, the annual average shape parameter (k) is 3.4 and the annual average scale parameter (c) is 4.0 m/s. The most probable wind speed is 4.4 m/s in August and the maximum wind speed carrying maximum energy is 5.2 m/s occurs in October. Meanwhile, the maximum power and energy density are 57.5 W/m2, 42.8 kWh/m2 respectively in August. Moreover, the site has annual power density 39.3W/m2 and 345.5 kWh/m2 of energy density. Keywords: Renewable energy, Wind energy, Wind speed, Weibull distributions, Power density, Energy density DOI: 10.7176/JETP/11-4-05 Publication date:September 30th 202

Modelling of Fatigue Failure for Plasma Coated Members Using Artificial Intelligence Technique

Coating materials in form of powder such as Magnesium Zirconate, Aluminum Bronze and Molybdenum were mixed in different portions and sprayed on steel specimen to find the fatigue properties of steel using plasma technique. The effect of coating mixture on the number of cycles needed for failure under different loads was done experimentally. A cyclic loading was applied to it repeatedly until failure occurs. The results were compared with those for the same specimen without coating. The results were then modelled using Artificial Intelligence Technique then optimized for maximum cycles of coated substance failure. The results showed significant improvement to the specimen’s resistance to failure with coating. Further, models were developed out of the experimental data and tested for accuracy and gave satisfactory results. However, the time consumed by the GA method was greater than that consumed by the same software for the ANN model development.Also, sensitivity analysis showed that the key effect for the variables studied was for the load while the least effect was for the Molybdenum mixture. On the other hand, using GA method, the importance of variables was maximum for the load and minimum for Magnesium oxide and Zirconate oxide mixture Further, using the correlation method, there was strong negative (i.e. inverse relationship) correlation between the number of cycles and load and weak with Magnesium oxide and Zirconate oxide mixture   while strong positive correlation was shown with Molybdenum and least positive for  Aluminum Copper Balance. Keywords: Artificial neural network, modeling, Plasma coating, fatigue failure

Access to Care and Prevalence of Hypertension and Diabetes Among Syrian Refugees in Northern Jordan.

Importance: The management of noncommunicable diseases in humanitarian crises has been slow to progress from episodic care. Understanding disease burden and access to care among crisis-affected populations can inform more comprehensive management. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes with biological measures and to evaluate access to care among Syrian refugees in northern Jordan. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study was undertaken from March 25 to April 26, 2019, in the districts of Ramtha and Mafraq, Jordan. Seventy clusters of 15 households were randomly sampled, and chain referral was used to sample Syrian households, representative of 59 617 Syrian refugees. Adults were screened and interviewed about their access to care. Data analysis was performed from May to September 2019. Exposures: Primary care delivered through a humanitarian organization since 2012. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcomes were self-reported prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among adults aged 18 years or older and biologically based prevalence among adults aged 30 years or older. The secondary outcome was access to care during the past month among adults aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes. Results: In 1022 randomly sampled households, 2798 adults aged 18 years or older, including 275 with self-reported diagnoses (mean [SD] age, 56.5 [13.2] years; 174 women [63.3%]), and 915 adults aged 30 years or older (608 women [66.5%]; mean [SD] age, 46.0 [12.8] years) were screened for diabetes and hypertension. Among adults aged 18 years or older, the self-reported prevalence was 17.2% (95% CI, 15.9%-18.6%) for hypertension, 9.8% (95% CI, 8.6%-11.1%) for diabetes, and 7.3% (95% CI, 6.3%-8.5%) for both conditions. Among adults aged 30 years or older, the biologically based prevalence was 39.5% (95% CI, 36.4%-42.6%) for hypertension, 19.3% (95% CI, 16.7%-22.1%) for diabetes, and 13.5% (95% CI, 11.4%-15.9%) for both conditions. Adjusted for age and sex, prevalence for all conditions increased with age, and women had a higher prevalence of diabetes than men (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.3%; 95% CI, 1.0%-1.7%), although the difference was not significant. Complications (57.4%; 95% CI, 51.5%-63.1%) and obese or overweight status (82.8%; 95% CI, 79.7%-85.5%) were highly prevalent. Among adults aged 30 years or older with known diagnoses, 94.1% (95% CI, 90.9%-96.2%) currently took medication. Among adults aged 18 years or older with known diagnoses, 26.8% (95% CI, 21.3%-33.1%) missed a medication dose in the past week, and 49.1% (95% CI, 43.3%-54.9%) sought care in the last month. Conclusions and Relevance: During this protracted crisis, obtaining care for noncommunicable diseases was feasible, as demonstrated by biologically based prevalence that was only moderately higher than self-reported prevalence. The high prevalence of complications and obese or overweight status, however, suggest inadequate management. Programs should focus on reinforcing adherence and secondary prevention to minimize severe morbidity

Adaptation of a community health volunteer strategy for the management of hypertension and diabetes and detection of COVID-19 disease: a progamme for Syrian refugees in northern Jordan.

BACKGROUND: During humanitarian crises and severe epidemics, life-saving care for non-communicable disease must be sustained. Data from a 2019 household survey showed high rates of hypertension (39·5%), diabetes (19·3%), or both conditions (13·5%) in Syrian refugees aged 30 years and older in northern Jordan. Patients with comorbidities are known to be at risk of severe COVID-19 disease and, as refugees, Syrians might be under-detected by current COVID-19 surveillance programmes. Furthermore, refugee health clinics were temporarily closed in March, 2020 because of COVID-19 control measures. Here, we describe how an existing community health volunteer (CHV) strategy was modified during the COVID-19 pandemic to support non-communicable disease care in Syrian refugees with hypertension and diabetes living in northern Jordan. METHODS: In June, 2020, nurses enrolled a cohort of Syrian patients with hypertension, diabetes, or both conditions from clinics in Ramtha and Mafraq, Jordan, to establish their disease stability and medication needs. Jordanian and Syrian CHVs who were originally recruited for a study of non-communicable disease care followed up every patient with a monthly telephone call to provide education on self-management and psychosocial support, ensure sufficient medication, assess adherence to medication, and screen for complications that required urgent referral and COVID-19 symptoms. We undertook a cohort analysis of routine data to analyse monthly trends in adherence as well as incidence of critical incidents such as urgent complications, medication stockouts, and symptoms of COVID-19. FINDINGS: Between June 28 and Oct 1, 2020, we enrolled 1140 patients; 1119 patients (98%) with verified telephone numbers were contacted with at least one telephone call and 953 patients (85%) with three calls. Most patients were female (696 [62·5%]), mean age was 57·5 years (IQR 49·4—65·6); 601 patients (54%) had both hypertension and diabetes, 419 patients (37·7%) had hypertension, and 93 patients (8·4%) had diabetes. Self-reported monthly adherence to medications over the past 5 days and 30 days remained greater than 90% and did not differ between conditions. Of 3143 consults, 159 (5%) were escalated for urgent needs, and 69 (2%) indicated suspected COVID-19 symptoms with two cases meeting the criteria for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing. By month 3, the incidence of urgent complications, medication stockouts, and COVID-19 symptoms remained low (19·9, 68·2, and 12·6, respectively, per 1000 population) and could be responded to rapidly. INTERPRETATION: The CHV programme enabled continuous monitoring of refugees with hypertension and diabetes during severely disrupted clinical services as well as screening for COVID-19 symptoms. Community health volunteers can extend primary care for noncommunicable diseases to refugees and counter poor continuous access to care and service disruptions caused by protracted crises and severe epidemics. FUNDING: Enhanced Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance/Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises

Rapidly adapted community health strategies to prevent treatment interruption and improve COVID-19 detection for Syrian refugees and the host population with hypertension and diabetes in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated community health volunteer (CHV) strategies to prevent non-communicable disease (NCD) care disruption and promote coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) detection among Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, as the pandemic started. METHODS: Alongside medication delivery, CHVs called patients monthly to assess stockouts and adherence, provide self-management and psychosocial support, and screen and refer for complications and COVID-19 testing. Cohort analysis was undertaken of stockouts, adherence, complications and suspected COVID-19. Multivariable models of disease control assessed predictors and non-inferiority of the strategy pre-/post-initiation. Cost-efficiency and patient/staff interviews assessed implementation. RESULTS: Overall, 1119 patients were monitored over 8 mo. The mean monthly proportion of stockouts was 4.9%. The monthly proportion non-adherent (past 5/30 d) remained below 5%; 204 (18.1%) patients had complications, with 63 requiring secondary care. Mean systolic blood pressure and random blood glucose remained stable. For hypertensive disease control, age 41-65 y (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.78) and with diabetes (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.98) had decreased odds, and with baseline control had increased odds (OR 3.08, 95% CI 2.31 to 4.13). Cumulative suspected COVID-19 incidence (2.3/1000 population) was suggestive of ongoing transmission. While cost-efficient (108 US${\$}$/patient/year), funding secondary care was challenging. CONCLUSIONS: During multiple crises, CHVs prevented care disruption and reinforced COVID-19 detection

Impact of Accumulated Dust on Performance of Two Types of Photovoltaic Cells: Evidence from the South of Jordan

This paper examines the impact of accumulated dust on two types of photovoltaic (PV) cells in the performance of solar panels facility located in the southern part of Jordan between January to August 2020.  To determine the performance of the solar PV panel system, two elements have been considered: sun radiation total efficiency and output power generated from the two types of the PV panel. Results of the study revealed that the mass of dust accumulated on the polycrystalline panel accumulated faster than on the cadmium telluride panel at a rate of 10.5 g/m2 for polycrystalline panels and 8.4g/m2 for cadmium telluride panel. Furthermore, results indicated that the projected drop in the efficiency of washed and unwashed polycrystalline panels decreased monthly by 5% and 16% respectively, while the efficiency of washed and unwashed cadmium telluride panels decreased monthly by 5% and 11.5% respectively. In the same context, results indicated that the wind speed, concentration rate, and relative humidity increased by 3%, 5%, and 8% respectively whereas the ambient temperature decreased by 4% monthly. On the other hand, the size and charge of accumulated dust on the cadmium telluride panel surface were larger than the size and charge of dust on the polycrystalline panel surface with a high percent of (Si) and low percent of (Ca) and (Fe). This research contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence for the impact of accumulated dust on PV panels applied on a dusty-weather such as the one in the southern part of Jordan

Modeling the Effect of Magnesium Content on the Electrical Conductivity and Hardness of Technical Aluminum (1050) Alloy

Aluminum alloys use is so profound in many applications such as transportation, construction, energy, defense applications, automotive, aerospace, to name a few. Therefore, investigating the mechanical and electrical properties of the different types for aluminum alloys is vital. The Al–Mg alloy is widely used in the automotive industry because of its optimal properties, for example, corrosion resistance, weldability, and strength-to-weight ratio. This study aims to investigate and model the effect of changing the magnesium percentage content on the hardness and electrical conductivity of Al–Mg alloy with a detailed statistical analysis to validate the results. The microstructure at each Mg percentile content is demonstrated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an optical microscope for validating the Mg content after solidification and tracking the grain size evolutions at different Mg percentiles. Vickers hardness testing is applied for hardness evaluation at each experimental condition. The electrical conductivity is tested using a PCE 20COM electric conductive non-destructive test (NDT). Prediction models are constructed to estimate the hardness and electrical conductivity as a function of Mg percentile by using a nonlinear optimizer. The results indicated that the hardness is significantly increased with increasing the Mg content by three times when comparing 0 Mg wt.% and 5 mg wt.%. In contrast, a 48% reduction in the electrical conductivity is found when Mg wt.% is increased to 5 and a notable decrease in the grain size is observed when the Mg content is increased

Investigation of the Effect of Solar Ventilation on the Cabin Temperature of Vehicles Parked under the Sun

During hot days, the temperature inside vehicles parked under the sun is very high; according to previous studies, the vehicle cabin temperature can be more than 20 °C higher than the ambient temperature. Due to the greenhouse effect, the heating that occurs inside a vehicle while it is parked under the sun has an impact on energy crises and environmental pollution. In addition, the increase in the temperature inside the cabin will have an effect on the dashboard and plastic accessories and the leather on the seats will age rapidly. The ventilation of solar energy from the cabin of a vehicle parked under the blazing sun has received a great deal of attention. The present study was conducted to utilize a renewable energy system to operate the ventilation system through a novel portable ventilation system powered by solar energy. Experimental results were obtained for a vehicle with and without the solar ventilation system. The results indicate that the maximum daily average difference in temperature during the experimental tests between the cabin of the car and the atmospheric temperature with and without the solar ventilation system was 7.2 °C and 20.6 °C, respectively. With and without the usage of the system, the minimum average difference in temperature between the automobile’s cabin and the atmospheric temperature was 6.2 °C and 17.6 °C, respectively. The results indicate that the proposed system is effective and that the thermal comfort inside the vehicle’s cabin improved when the vehicle was parked under the hot sun. Therefore, this system helps to protect human bodies, conserve energy, protect the environment, protect the vehicle’s cabin, and provide a comfortable environment

Investigation of the Effect of Solar Ventilation on the Cabin Temperature of Vehicles Parked under the Sun

During hot days, the temperature inside vehicles parked under the sun is very high; according to previous studies, the vehicle cabin temperature can be more than 20 °C higher than the ambient temperature. Due to the greenhouse effect, the heating that occurs inside a vehicle while it is parked under the sun has an impact on energy crises and environmental pollution. In addition, the increase in the temperature inside the cabin will have an effect on the dashboard and plastic accessories and the leather on the seats will age rapidly. The ventilation of solar energy from the cabin of a vehicle parked under the blazing sun has received a great deal of attention. The present study was conducted to utilize a renewable energy system to operate the ventilation system through a novel portable ventilation system powered by solar energy. Experimental results were obtained for a vehicle with and without the solar ventilation system. The results indicate that the maximum daily average difference in temperature during the experimental tests between the cabin of the car and the atmospheric temperature with and without the solar ventilation system was 7.2 °C and 20.6 °C, respectively. With and without the usage of the system, the minimum average difference in temperature between the automobile’s cabin and the atmospheric temperature was 6.2 °C and 17.6 °C, respectively. The results indicate that the proposed system is effective and that the thermal comfort inside the vehicle’s cabin improved when the vehicle was parked under the hot sun. Therefore, this system helps to protect human bodies, conserve energy, protect the environment, protect the vehicle’s cabin, and provide a comfortable environment

Determination of Carbonyls Compound, Ketones and Aldehydes Emissions from CI Diesel Engines Fueled with Pure Diesel/Diesel Methanol Blends

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of chemical species out of CI engine tailpipe emissions fueled with pure diesel and diesel methanol blends, trapped in dinitro phenylhydrazine (DNPH) solutions, were performed. The formed hydrazine was studied using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) accompanied by a detector for ultraviolet (UV). A set of carbonyl-DNPH derivative standards was developed and compared with engine tailpipe gases produced by both fuel modes. An understanding of carbonyl chemical compounds such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein (HCHO, CH3CHO, and H2 = CHCHO, respectively) is essential for researchers to know how these chemicals affect human health and the environment. In both fuel modes, acetaldehyde was the main combustible product 25 ppm followed by formaldehyde 17 ppm, croton aldehydes 16 ppm, acrolein 12 ppm, and iso-valerdyhyde 10 ppm. In addition to these species, only a few other chemical species were detected in the exhaust gas. According to this study, carbonyl compounds from blended fuel contribute 15–22% of pure diesel fuel emissions. As shown by the results, engine operating conditions and fuel mode have a strong impact on the total amount of carbonyls released by the engine. Engine performance was highly influenced by different fuel modes and engine speeds. Using pure diesel, the regulated emissions, HC, CO, and NOx, registered high concentrations at a lower speed (1500 rpm) and NOx presented with the highest concentration of 4 g/kWh followed by CO with 1 g/kWh and HC with 0.5 g/kWh