574 research outputs found
Wastewater Reclamation in Major Jordanian Industries: A Viable Component of a Circular Economy
Water scarcity remains the major looming challenge that is facing Jordan. Wastewater reclamation is considered as an alternative source of fresh water in semi-arid areas with water shortage or increased consumption. In the present study, the current status of wastewater reclamation and reuse in Jordan was analyzed considering 30 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The assessment was based on the WWWTPs’ treatment processes in Jordan, the flowrates scale, and the effluents’ average total dissolved solid (TDS) contents. Accordingly, 60% of the WWTPs in Jordan used activated sludge as a treatment technology; 30 WWTPs were small scale (<1 × 104 m3/day); and a total of 17.932 million m3 treated wastewater had low TDS (<1000 ppm) that generally can be used in industries with relatively minimal cost of treatment. Moreover, the analysis classified the 26 million m3 groundwater abstraction by major industries in Jordanian governorates. The results showed that the reclaimed wastewater can fully offset the industrial demand of fresh water in Amman, Zarqa, and Aqaba governorates. Hence, the environmental assessment showed positive impacts of reclaimed wastewater reuse scenario in terms of water depletion (saving of 72.55 million m3 groundwater per year) and climate change (17.683 million kg CO2Eq reduction). The energy recovery assessment in the small- and medium-scale WWTPs (<10 × 104 m3/day) revealed that generation of electricity by anaerobic sludge digestion equates potentially to an offset of 0.11–0.53 kWh/m3. Finally, several barriers and prospects were put forth to help the stakeholders when considering entering into an agreement to supply and/or reuse reclaimed water
Hybrid feature selection method based on particle swarm optimization and adaptive local search method
Machine learning has been expansively examined with data classification as the most popularly researched subject. The accurateness of prediction is impacted by the data provided to the classification algorithm. Meanwhile, utilizing a large amount of data may incur costs especially in data collection and preprocessing. Studies on feature selection were mainly to establish techniques that can decrease the number of utilized features (attributes) in classification, also using data that generate accurate prediction is important. Hence, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is suggested in the current article for selecting the ideal set of features. PSO algorithm showed to be superior in different domains in exploring the search space and local search algorithms are good in exploiting the search regions. Thus, we propose the hybridized PSO algorithm with an adaptive local search technique which works based on the current PSO search state and used for accepting the candidate solution. Having this combination balances the local intensification as well as the global diversification of the searching process. Hence, the suggested algorithm surpasses the original PSO algorithm and other comparable approaches, in terms of performance
The adoption of bitcoins technology: The difference between perceived future expectation and intention to use bitcoins: Does social influence matter?
Bitcoin is a decentralized system that tries to become a solution to the shortcomings of fiat and gold-based currencies. Considering its newness, the adoption level of bitcoin is yet understood. Hence, several variables are proposed in this work in examining user perceptions regarding performance expectancy, effort expectancy, trust, adoption risk, decentralization and social influence interplay, with the context of user’s future expectation and behavioral intentions to use bitcoins. Data were gathered from 293 completed questionnaire and analised using AMOS 18. The outcomes prove the sound predictability of the proposed model regarding user’s future expectations and intentions toward bitcoins. All hypotheses were supported, they were significantly affecting the dependent variables. Social influence was found as the highest predictor of behavioral intention to negatively utilize bitcoins. The significant impact of social influence, adoption risk and effort expectancy which affect behavioral intention to use bitcoins the most, are demonstrated in this study. Bitcoins should thus, present an effective, feasible and personalized program which will assist efficient usage among users. Additionally, the impacts of social influence, adoption risk and perceived trust on behavioral intention to utilize new technology were compared, and their direct path was tested together, for the first time in this context
Power transmission lines electromagnetic pollution with consideration of soil resistivity
The alternating current (AC) total interference of power lines may pose a threat to personnel and equipment in its vicinity. The main objective of this work is to determine the electromagnetic distribution and induced voltages on human body, equipment, and houses due to the AC total interference for different soil resistivities. The electromagnetic field and induced voltages may cause health problems to the human body and put it at risk. Two main approaches were used to compute the electromagnetic and induced voltages, namely the field approach, which is based on electromagnetic field distribution, and the circuit approach, which uses the circuit grounding analysis to compute the conductive interference and then uses the circuit based models to compute the inductive interference. Human body, steel houses and 10-km-long transmission line were modelled. The soil resistivity was varied, and the induced voltages obtained from both approaches were compared. Soil resistivity and soil structure are important parameters that affect the AC interference level. The results show that the touch voltage increases when the distance between electromagnetic source and human body increases. For high soil resistivity, the danger of the touch voltage becomes more prominent compared to that for low soil resistivity. Power system voltage level and soil resistivity are two key factors influencing the induced voltage level
Analysis Air Cooling Mechanism for Photovoltaic Panel by Solar Simulator
Measurement the outdoor efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels is essential, but it is not likely an exceptional circumstance at any given moment is always repeating itself. A solar simulator was designed and fabricated for the purpose of analyzing the performance of PV panel with and without an air cooling mechanism in indoor test. Twenty units of 500 W halogen lamps with build-in reflector support by the steel structure holder act as a natural sunlight. The uniformity of the solar radiation was measured in the test area. Two units of PV panel with same characteristics were experimental in three sets of uniformity of solar radiation, which are 620, 821 and 1016 W/m². The operating temperature of PV panel with an air cooling mechanism can be decreased 2-3 ˚C compared to PV panel reference. The PV panel with an air cooling mechanism can be increased in 3-7 % of maximum power output based on solar radiation. An overall method and procedure of the measurement by the solar simulator are discussed and proposed
Narcissistic personality, love styles and love satisfaction as predictors to infidelity
Love without loyalty cannot prove the purity of love, while loyalty without love, on the other hand, does not give happiness nor love pleasure itself to someone. Infidelity affects the overall functionality and stability within a relationship. For individuals who are married, infidelity is among the factors of divorce. This study focused on the predictor factors on infidelity according to narcissistic personality, love styles and love satisfaction. A number of 160 students Malay Muslims from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia took part in this research was selected using purposive sampling method. Inferential statistics were applied to analyze the data which was collected. Results showed that there was a significant correlation between narcissistic personality and Ludus love style with infidelity. Conversely, results showed that love satisfaction was not significantly correlated with infidelity. Findings also indicated that narcissistic personality was a significant predictor to infidelity however, Ludus love style and love satisfaction was not a significant predictor to infidelity. Besides that infidelity associated with a long-distance relationship, relationship problems such as lack of communication between spouses, dissatisfaction in relationship and responsibility problem
Hubungan intergenerasi: Kesan sokongan emosi dan sosial anak dewasa dalam penjagaan warga tua
Kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti sokongan psikologi dan sosial ke atas hubungan intergenerasi dalam kalangan anak dewasa yang menjaga warga tua (ibu bapa) dalam komuniti pelbagai etnik di Sabah. Objektif kajian adalah untuk mengkaji pengaruh sokongan emosi dan sosial ke atas hubungan intergenerasi antara penjaga dengan golongan tua. Reka bentuk penyelidikan kuantitatif telah digunakan dalam kajian ini. Terdapat 200 soal selidik yang boleh digunakan daripada 250 responden yang terdiri daripada orang dewasa muda yang memainkan peranan sebagai penjaga orang tua. Tiga set soal selidik telah digunakan dalam kajian ini iaitu soal selidik Parent-Child Interaction Questionnaire-Revised (PACHIQ-R) (Lange, 2001) bagi mengukur hubungan intergenerasi dan soal selidik The Emotional Support Scale (ESS) yang dibangunkan oleh Hisada, Seng dan Minoguchi (1989) bagi mengukur sokongan psikologi, manakala Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) oleh Sarason, Levine dan Basham (1983) bagi mengukur sokongan sosial telah dijalankan ke atas responden dalam kalangan anak dewasa di Sabah. Analisis perisian smartPLS 2.0, iaitu analisis Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) digunakan untuk menguji pengaruh antara pemboleh ubah. Dapatan ini menunjukkan kedua-dua bentuk sokongan, iaitu psikologi dan sosial memberi sumbangan dalam mempengaruhi hubungan intergenerasi. Selain itu, dapatan kajian turut melaporkan penjaga yang tinggal di luar bandar mempunyai hubungan intergenerasi yang lebih baik berbanding dengan yang tinggal di kawasan bandar. Implikasi kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa terdapat keperluan bagi menghasilkan satu modul atau polisi bagi menjamin kesejahteraan penjaga dan juga warga tua pada masa hadapan yang perlu dilaksanakan secara holistik dan bersepadu berpandukan Dasar Warga Tua Negara (DWEN)
Characterization of bionanocellulose producing bacteria isolated from tapioca wastewater
This study was conducted to explore the potential of isolating bionanocellulose (BNC) producing bacteria from tapioca wastewater. A total of ten bacteria were successfully isolated and only one isolate named BPNC 3 produced white gelatinous materials in Hestrin and Schramm (HS) medium believed to be the BNC. According to 16S rRNA analysis, bacterium BPNC 3 was identified as Asaia sp. The BNC produced by Asaia sp. BPNC3 was characterized via Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The FTIR spectrum showed the presence of two signature peaks at 3276.69 cm-1 and 2923.99 cm-1 indicative of nanocellulosic material. The FESEM micrograph showed characteristics of network fibrils typically present in nanocellulose structure
Penelitian pengaplikasian ciri-ciri keselamatan kemudahan penginapan homestay patuh syariah di destinasi pilihan pelancong di Sabah dan kaitannya dengan maqasid syariah
Industri pelancongan sangat sinonim dengan pelbagai aktiviti menarik seperti mengembara ke destinasi indah, mempelajari kebudayaan masyarakat, membeli-belah serta merasai pengalaman melakukan aktiviti sukan dan rekreasi yang ekstrem. Pelancong dalam negeri dan antarabangsa sentiasa terdedah risiko persekitaran yang dinamik disebabkan oleh tindakan manusia mahupun bencana alam semulajadi. Pelbagai aspek perlu diambil kira dalam memastikan keselamatan sentiasa terpelihara saat melancong ke destinasi yang asing bagi para pelancong seperti pemilihan kemudahan penginapan. Dewasa kini, penginapan jenis homestay semakin mendapat tempat dalam kalangan pelancong terutamanya pelancong domestik. Justeru, kertas kerja ini cuba meneliti ciri-ciri asas yang disediakan oleh pengusaha homestay dalam memastikan keselamatan penginapan terjamin dengan baik. Selain itu, penyediaan kemudahan penginapan homestay patuh syariah perlu menekankan aspek keselamatan yang perlu merujuk perspektif maqasid syariah kerana ianya mempunyai kepentingan yang tersendiri dalam mengukur dan mempertimbangkan sesuatu perkara demi menjamin kemaslahatan dan menolak keburukan. Pertimbangan yang menjadi kayu pengukur ini semestinya berlandaskan kepada nilai-nilai al-Quran dan al-Sunnah yang menjadi asas bagi memastikan ianya berada di dalam kerangka syariat. Penelitian ciri-ciri keselamatan ini juga adalah indikator baru yang dimasukkan dalam ciri-ciri kemudahan homestay patuh syariah selain reka bentuk dan ruang persekitaran (bilik), organisasi dan kakitangan penginapan, etika pelanggan atau penginap dan kemudahan awam yang sedang giat dilaksanakan di tiga destinasi tumpuan pelancong di Sabah iaitu Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang dan Semporna. Kajian ini melibatkan tiga puluh (30) orang pengusaha homestay yang aktif dan penelitian dilaksanakan berpandukan kepada soal selidik serta senarai semak ciri-ciri kemudahan homestay patuh syariah yang disediakan. Hasil analisis mendapati enam daripada tujuh ciri-ciri keselamatan iaitu penyediaan pagar keselamatan, alat pemadam kebakaran, pengurusan sisa pepejal yang sistematik, ruang merokok (khas), persekitaran yang bebas semak samun dan ancaman binatang berbisa dan kit pertolongan cemas yang diteliti mencapai tahap pengaplikasian yang tinggi di homestay yang terlibat kecuali pemasangan kamera litar tertutup di kawasan homestay
Robust power control for PV and battery systems: integrating sliding mode MPPT with dual buck converters
This paper presents a comprehensive exploration of an integrated Buck-Boost converter and Sliding Mode Control (SMC) Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system for optimizing photovoltaic energy conversion. The study focuses on enhancing solar energy extraction efficiency, regulating output currents, and ensuring effective battery utilization. Through a systematic analysis of converter component sizing and operational modes, the paper delves into the intricacies of the Buck-Boost converter. The unique contribution lies in the innovative integration of SMC with the traditional Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm, providing robust and adaptive MPPT under varying environmental conditions. Additionally, the paper introduces a battery management system with three distinct modes, namely, Charging, Direct, and Discharging, offering intelligent control over critical scenarios. Simulation results underscore the robustness of the proposed system under diverse conditions, demonstrating its effectiveness in managing power distribution based on battery charge levels, even in scenarios of insufficient solar power. Overall, this research significantly contributes to advancing the understanding of PV/battery systems and offers a practical, sustainable solution for optimizing energy production, distribution, and storage, marking a substantial stride towards a more efficient and sustainable energy future
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