Electric vehicle charging at telco base station and bidirectional charging at hillslope descent technical-commercial cost-benefit study and scheduling-reservation system

© 2018 IEEE. Installing grid-connected photovoltaics (GCPV) at telecommunication company (Telco) base stations along highways, and providing electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities at strategic locations such as highway-side base stations offers a synergistic solution to both 1) displacing engine emissions using electricity from a renewable energy source, and 2) providing more highway EV charging stations for long distance EV driving. Strategically placed hillslope EV discharge stations would also offer EV users travelling downhill for long distances to sell their EV battery energy obtained from regenerative braking to the grid, freeing up the needed battery capacity to continue downhill with regenerative braking rather than losing it due to an already fully charged battery. This paper explores potential cost-benefits for investments in (i) highway-side Telco base stations with GCPV systems and EV charging stations as an additional source of revenue, and (ii) investments in EV discharge stations along hillslopes for EV users to sell battery energy from regenerative braking. The methodology used to gauge annual demand of new EV charge stations was by observation of existing highway-side EV charge station usage rates, estimating growth of EVs and charge stations, and reference to existing literature on EV charging tariffs, local electricity costs, and sizing/costing electrical equipment needed for the base station upgrade. To verify discharge kWh calculations from downhill descent regenerative braking, a downhill test drive of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) was done. To discourage non-charging EVs remaining parked at charger units, a design framework involving remote charger unit monitoring, reservation, messaging and automated financial incentives is also presented

Energy Security within Malaysia’s Water-Energy-Food Nexus—A Systems Approach

While knowledge of energy security has been thorough and elaborate, understanding energy security within the context of the water-energy-food nexus, where substantial inter-sectoral causes and effects exist, is less established, more so for Malaysia. This paper investigates the impact of two energy scenarios on identified key indicators within the context of the water-energy-food nexus. By utilizing a mixed method of qualitative interview and quantitative system dynamics modelling, representative causal loop diagrams and stock-flow diagrams were constructed to predict and allow for the analysis of behaviors of selected key indicators. Key findings include the importance of allowing a reasonable penetration of 20% renewable energy for the long term, and having a proper consideration for nuclear energy to assist in keeping energy costs low for the mid-term

Green Energy and Environment

Energy is a vital element in sustaining our modern society but the future of energy is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous; especially when facing a continuous drive to ensure a sustained and equitable access as well as mounting pressures to reduce its emissions. Traditional approaches in developing energy technologies have always been in isolation with distinct and unique contexts. However, we cannot afford to work in silos any longer. Future energy systems and their relationship with the society and the environment will have to be conceived, designed, developed, commissioned, and operated alongside and within contemporary geo-political, ethical, and socio-economic contexts. This has posed an unprecedented volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), where systemic and holistic approaches are often warranted. This book aims to focus on the VUCA of addressing the future of energy and environment by considering contemporary issues and insights from diverse contexts, viewed as a system, and anchored upon emerging and smart energy technologies

A complex systems analysis of the water-energy nexus in malaysia

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Water security plays a crucial role in maintaining livelihoods, especially emerging economies. In Malaysia, understanding the inter-relationships of water within the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is at its infancy. This paper investigates the interactions of the water sector with energy sector in Malaysia, through the lenses of WEF nexus, using system dynamics. The first part of the research involves qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in the water sectors, which provides validation for the initial causal loop relationships built and qualitative inputs of the water-energy nexus through the lenses of the water sector. The second part of the research is a quantitative simulation of stock and flow based on four carefully designed scenarios revolving around Malaysian water security. Key findings include an apparent disconnect between the states and federal governments in managing water supply, poor economic sustainability of the water supply and services industry, and significant energy use in the water sector. On the other hand, environmental impacts stemming from the water sector is minimal. Streamlining water governance and revising water tariffs have thus been suggested as policy recommendations, where their implementation could propagate into downstream benefits for the energy sector

Conceptualising the Sustainable Energy Security Dimensions of Malaysia: A Thematic Analysis through Stakeholder Engagement to Draw Policy Implications

This study aims to provide established knowledge of the multi-dimensional concept of energy security through engaging stakeholders and experts. Energy security policy implications have been suggested in this study to address and mitigate energy security challenges. A total of seven emerging themes from semi-structured interviews have been discussed in-depth to understand the role of each theme and their interactions with energy policies. There is an urgent need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and to look for alternative fuel options from renewable sources. At the same time, energy-efficient technology plays a significant role in improving overall efficiency and leading to reduced wastage of energy. This would, in turn, improve the availability and affordability of energy in Malaysia. Energy equity gets the most emphasis in the energy trilemma of Malaysia; however, equal importance should be attached to the nation’s energy security alongside environmental sustainability. The final decision of the trilemma balance and the energy policies that govern the energy use framework depends on the ministries and the regulatory bodies. An indicator mapping process has been recommended for these themes to quantify energy security by developing an energy security index. The thematic results discussed in this study have the potential to facilitate policymakers and energy analysts of countries with similar energy outlooks to design data-driven energy security policies.</jats:p

Effect of Covid-19 lockdown on mobility and traffic accidents in Malaysia

With the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Malaysian government implemented a series of lockdown measures to break the chain of COVID-19 within the community. The lockdown measures were separated into three phases, namely movement control order (MCO), conditional movement control order (CMCO), and recovery movement control order (RMCO). Due to limited research conducted, this paper aims to investigate the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on mobility and traffic accidents in Malaysia. Quantitative data were collected from the internet and the government agency. They were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the changes in mobility and the number of traffic accidents in different aspects. Meanwhile, inferential statistics such as simple regression analysis were applied to validate the relationship between mobility and the number of accidents. The results were presented using graphical and tabular methods. The findings show that the mobility dropped by 64% on average during MCO compared to a baseline value computed during the pre-lockdown period. The reduction in mobility during CMCO and RMCO was 40% and 15%, respectively. Next, the regression analysis reveals a strong positive relationship between mobility and the number of traffic accidents. Hence, the reduction in traffic accidents can be concluded as an impact of COVID-19 lockdown. The reduction in the number of accidents during the three lockdown periods was: MCO (73%), CMCO (46%), and RMCO (19%), compared to the average of 2015-2019. Besides, it was found that the reduction in the number of traffic accidents was greater than the reduction in mobility during the lockdown periods. This suggests that traffic reduction has a multiplicative effect on road safety. Moreover, the findings reveal that the reduction in severe and fatal accidents was greater than the reduction in mobility. This suggests a positive effect of COVID-19 lockdown on the severity of traffic accidents. This study provides an insight into the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on traffic patterns in Malaysia. It also provides important implications for traffic management

Race/Ethnicity and gender differences in health intentions and behaviors regarding exercise and diet for adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Self-management is the cornerstone of diabetes control and prevention of complications; however, it is undetermined whether differences in intention to adopt healthy lifestyles and actual healthy behavior exist across race/ethnic groups. This study evaluated the differences across racial-ethnic groups in self-reported medical advice received and health intentions and behaviors among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional analysis of the 2007 SHIELD US survey ascertained self-reported health intentions and behaviors for regular exercise, diet, and weight management among Non-Hispanic Caucasian (n = 2526), Non-Hispanic African-American (n = 706), and Hispanic (n = 179) respondents with type 2 diabetes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A similar proportion of respondents from each race-gender group (43%-56%) reported receiving healthcare advice to increase their exercise (P = 0.32). Significantly more minorities reported an intention to follow the exercise recommendation compared with Non-Hispanic Caucasians (P = 0.03). More Non-Hispanic African-American (29%) and Hispanic (27%) men reported exercising regularly compared with other race-gender groups (P = 0.02). Significantly more Non-Hispanic Caucasian women (74%) and Hispanic women (79%) reported trying to lose weight compared with other groups (P < 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Differences in health intentions and healthy behaviors were noted across race-gender groups. More Non-Hispanic African-American men reported an intention to follow advice on exercising and self-report of exercising regularly was also higher compared with other race-gender groups. More Hispanic men reported high physical activity levels than other groups. Despite an increased willingness to follow healthcare recommendations for diet, >50% of respondents were obese among all race-gender groups.</p

The Myeloid Receptor PILRβ Mediates the Balance of Inflammatory Responses through Regulation of IL-27 Production

Paired immunoglobulin-like receptors beta, PILRβ, and alpha, PILRα, are related to the Siglec family of receptors and are expressed primarily on cells of the myeloid lineage. PILRβ is a DAP12 binding partner expressed on both human and mouse myeloid cells. The potential ligand, CD99, is found on many cell types, such as epithelial cells where it plays a role in migration of immune cells to sites of inflammation. Pilrb deficient mice were challenged with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in two different models of infection induced inflammation; one involving the establishment of chronic encephalitis and a second mimicking inflammatory bowel disease in order to understand the potential role of this receptor in persistent inflammatory responses. It was found that in the absence of activating signals from PILRβ, antigen-presenting cells (APCs) produced increased amounts of IL-27, p28 and promoted IL-10 production in effector T cells. The sustained production of IL-27 led ultimately to enhanced survival after challenge due to dampened immune pathology in the gut. Similar protection was also observed in the CNS during chronic T. gondii infection after i.p. challenge again providing evidence that PILRβ is important for regulating aberrant inflammatory responses

Enumerating Pathways of Proton Abstraction Based on a Spatial and Electrostatic Analysis of Residues in the Catalytic Site

The pathways of proton abstraction (PA), a key aspect of most catalytic reactions, is often controversial and highly debated. Ultrahigh-resolution diffraction studies, molecular dynamics, quantum mechanics and molecular mechanic simulations are often adopted to gain insights in the PA mechanisms in enzymes. These methods require expertise and effort to setup and can be computationally intensive. We present a push button methodology – Proton abstraction Simulation (PRISM) – to enumerate the possible pathways of PA in a protein with known 3D structure based on the spatial and electrostatic properties of residues in the proximity of a given nucleophilic residue. Proton movements are evaluated in the vicinity of this nucleophilic residue based on distances, potential differences, spatial channels and characteristics of the individual residues (polarity, acidic, basic, etc). Modulating these parameters eliminates their empirical nature and also might reveal pathways that originate from conformational changes. We have validated our method using serine proteases and concurred with the dichotomy in PA in Class A β-lactamases, both of which are hydrolases. The PA mechanism in a transferase has also been corroborated. The source code is made available at www.sanchak.com/prism