Alternative Management Systems Research Articles

Impact of climate changes in the suitable areas for Coffea arabica L. production in Mozambique: Agroforestry as an alternative management system to strengthen crop sustainability

Climate changes (CC) are a main global phenomenon, with a worldwide impact on natural and agricultural ecosystems. The objective of this study was to analyse the potential impact of future CC on the suitability of areas for rainfed coffee growth, both at the Mozambique national scale and in the Gorongosa Mountain, under Agroforestry (AFS) and Full Sun (FS) management systems. The latter study site is part of the Gorongosa National Park (PNG), one of the most biodiverse places and an outstanding case of successful ecosystem restoration, including the rainforest from Gorongosa Mountain. Additionally, coffee cultivation in PNG under AFS is part of a strategy to strengthen the socio-economic sustainability of the local population, and the recovery of biodiversity in a degraded tropical rainforest ecosystem. Future climate assessments were elaborated through bioclimatic and biophysical variables (Elevation), with Coffea arabica L. being modeled under the current conditions and four global climate models (GCMs) using four Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs). Isothermality, annual precipitation, and altitude were the most important variables influencing suitable areas in Mozambique. The analysis revealed that currently suitable areas where C. arabica is grown in Mozambique will be negatively affected under future scenarios (SSP126 to SSP585) in both systems (AFS and FS), although with clear worst impacts for FS. Under AFS, suitable areas will be reduced between about half and two-thirds by 2041–2060, and up to 91% by 2081–2100 (depending on scenarios) at the whole country level. Additionally, in Gorongosa Mountain, almost all scenarios point to a 30% reduction of the suitable area by 2041–2060, reaching 50% by 2081–2100, both in SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios. In sharp contrast, at the whole country level, the FS system is projected to be unsuitable for most of Mozambique, with area losses close to or above two-thirds already in 2021–2040, and greater than 80% by 2061–2080. Under this system, the projections were even more dramatic, pointing to a total absence of adequate areas at Gorongosa Mountain already by 2021–2040. Overall, our study provides clear evidence that the implementation of AFS greatly reduces CC deleterious impacts, being crucial to guarantee the sustainability of the coffee crop in the near future.

Green Energy Optimization in Dinajpur, Bangladesh: A Path to Net Neutrality

Bangladesh has endured a significant power crisis as its economy grows. Hence, it is crucial to investigate the 40% expansion of renewable energy to attain the 2041 renewable energy goal as delineated by the government of Bangladesh. The study explores the current agricultural waste situation in rural areas of the Dinajpur District to propose a feasible alternative and integrated waste management system to meet the energy policy targets for animal waste and crop residues. It analyzed the spatial distribution of feedstocks, identified the optimal sites for the locations of biogas plants based on socioeconomic and environmental criteria and geographic information, and evaluated biogas production to satisfy electricity demand using geographic information system (GIS) suitability analysis and hotspot analysis by proposing six different scenarios. The results show that 2.81 million tons of total agricultural residues are sufficient to produce 11.31 million m3 per year of biogas in the study area. Furthermore, it is found that 21 biogas-based power plants using cattle manure and rice straw are spatially and technically feasible to produce 6389.14 kW of electrical energy per year, which meets 5.73% of the demand of the district in 2019. From the 6 proposed scenarios, number 4 can produce the maximum electricity, 3047.41 kW/year. The findings support the target of achieving a clean, green, sustainable energy system in Bangladesh while improving agricultural residue management. Estimating substrate availability and location is one of the first steps in promoting biogas-based energy from cattle manure and rice straw, which demands comprehensive technical, economic, and social policy reforms. Moreover, bioenergy expansion in Dinajpur District via biogasification represents a commitment to long-term investments in rural areas of Bangladesh.

Experimental investigation of an alternative battery pack thermal management system

Placing the batteries in PCM (Phase Change Material) filled containers causes a thermal imbalance in the pack because the heat can be dissipated from the sides, but it is accumulated in the center. An alternative geometry is proposed and tested to solve this problem. The thermal performance of the proposed battery pack structure employing PCM has been experimentally studied in free convection conditions. The battery pack is formed by placing 12 test batteries in the same size of 26650 LiFePO4 in custom-designed aluminum (Al 6065) chamber. The single-piece chamber consists of three subchambers connected by straight, rectangular, and parallel fins. The cells are positioned in the 4S3P arrangement. Three different PCMs with different melting temperatures are utilized, and their effect on the battery pack temperature is sought under a stagnant air environment (21 °C). The pack has been tested during discharging at 2C (1.3 W), 3C (2.75 W), and 5C (7.83 W). The heat generation values are adopted from the literature. The maximum temperature in the cells and the maximum temperature deviation between the cells are monitored while the cells are being charged or discharged for different test procedures. Instead of placing PCM and cells in a single case like in studies in the literature, a tailor-made finned geometry helped provide a more homogenous temperature in the cells thanks to the finned structure on the air side. In this way, the maximum temperature difference inside the battery pack is kept below 5 °C for all cases except the extreme case of cyclic 5C discharge/charge analysis with CrodaTherm47. The maximum temperature of the battery pack could be kept below the critical value (60 °C) only when CrodaTherm37 was employed for three consecutive cycles at a discharge rate of 5C/7.83 W as the fin temperatures could be kept at the optimum level, and the PCMs latent heat can be exploited the most.

Analysing vessel traffic and ballasting trends in the port of Pago Pago, American Samoa from 2004 to 2021

Commercial shipping has been associated with many introductions of marine invasive species globally. Unintentional transport stowaways in ship ballast water and biofouling account for the most unintentional marine introductions globally. Understanding vessel traffic and ballasting behaviours can aid managers in identifying research and biosecurity gaps. We provide a quantitative baseline assessment of commercial vessel activities in American Samoa between 2004 and 2021. Vessel traffic and ballast water data were downloaded from the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse and examined in R. Since reporting began, vessel arrivals in the territory gradually increased each year, reaching a peak of 229 vessels in 2017. Over a third of all arrivals are container ships. Although commercial vessels arrive from ports all over the world, most come from and remain in the South Pacific. Containers and tankers were responsible for most of the ballast water discharges in the territory. The use of alternative ballast water management systems began in 2015 and increased dramatically in the following years. Though American Samoa's vessel traffic patterns are similar with the United States as a whole, we highlight key differences in this small, yet important, South Pacific port. This article highlight the importance of assessments at individual ports to better inform biosecurity decisions with an emphasis on regional biosecurity measures and communication among the Pacific Islands.

Fine tuning of farmers’ plant protection practices to develop an alternative safer pest management system for cabbage

Fine tuning of farmers’ plant protection practices to develop an alternative safer pest management system for cabbage

The main categories of NewSQL databases and their features

In the modern world, the problem of working with big data and workloads is becoming more and more acute. For more than forty years, relational databases have been the main leading systems for storing, searching and managing data. However, despite their great popularity, application experience and universality, traditional relational DBMS, due to the growing needs for scalability and performance, often cannot meet modern requirements. This has led to the emergence of new alternative data management systems, including NewSQL systems. NewSQL is a class of modern relational database management systems that provide performance comparable to NoSQL systems while maintaining the data consistency guarantees inherent in traditional database systems. The growing interest in NewSQL technology in recent times has led to an increase number of evaluations and comparisons among competing NewSQL technologies. However, today there is still a certain lack of work devoted to the study of the features of NewSQL solutions and their capabilities in comparison with other technologies. This paper discusses the main features of the most famous NewSQL products of different categories and the identified problems associated with them. To overcome the certain ambiguity in the names and translations of some terms related to the subject area under consideration, which takes place in numerous relevant sources, additional explanations are given. For comparison, the paper presents the values of important characteristics inherent in NewSQL, traditional relational and NoSQL database systems. This paper can help researchers and people from the industry choose the best storage solutions for their needs.

Agroecological and agroforestry strategies to improve organic hibiscus productivity in an Indigenous non-governmental organization from Mexico

Abstract La Montaña region, in southern Mexico, is characterized as a highly human-modified landscape with a rough topography, extreme poverty and structural violence. In this region, Xuajin Me'Phaa, an Indigenous non-governmental organization conformed by ca. 300 peasants, implements productive restoration projects and trades organic hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) as its main monetary income. Nonetheless currently, organic hibiscus yield is low compared to the potential yields in the region. Thus, it is necessary to explore alternative sustainable land management systems which enable farmers to increase hibiscus crop productivity, while halting land degradation. This study assessed the impact of six different agroecological fertilization protocols (AFPs) on hibiscus productivity planted in an alley cropping system with Calliandra houstoniana trees. The AFPs were based on the combination of three local plant amendments: C. houstoniana mulch, Mucuna pruiriens var. utilis green manure and hibiscus stover, and a commercial bio-fertilizer (Azospirillum + Rhizophagus). Simultaneously, the performance of C. houstoniana trees was assessed. The AFPs were applied in the alley cropping system and evaluated from 2016 to 2018. After 3 years, in the AFPs which included C. houstoniana mulch, hibiscus yielded significantly more (419 ± 27 kg dry calyxes ha−1 in average) than AFPs which did not include this species (264 ± 15 kg ha−1). The 18-month-old C. houstoniana trees yielded 0.6 t ha−1 of dry biomass and 1.12 t ha−1 of wooden stakes, a relatively low production. In conclusion, our results show that alley cropping with a denser arrangement of C. houstoniana trees in combination with mulching of this tree species, and use of mucuna green manure represent a promising agroforestry system for organic hibiscus production.

Al Lathif Islamic School Principal Performance Analysis In Balanced Scorecard Perspective

This study aims to analyze and assess the performance of principals who have implemented school-based management (SBM). An alternative management system tool to measure the work efficiency of the institution in measuring the performance of Al Lathif Islamic School in the city of Bandung using the Balanced scorecard model. A balanced scorecard is a management tool that translates the vision, mission, and organizational strategy of the Al lathif Islamic School into a set of four perspectives, namely the financial, customer, and internal business processes, as well as learning and growth perspectives. This study uses a quantitative approach with descriptive analysis. Primary data in the form of a questionnaire is used to measure the performance of the financial perspective and the perspective of learning and growth, while the measurement of the performance of the financial perspective and internal business process perspective uses secondary data. Sources of data were obtained from Educators, Education Personnel, Students, and Parents, EDS Documents, The Education Unit Accreditation Instrument (2021), Principal's Annual Work Assessment, School Financial Accountability Reports, and School Alumni Documents. The results showed that the performance of Al Lathif Islamic International School was in the very good category. Based on the financial perspective, obtaining good performance, namely meeting the economic requirements, effectiveness, and efficiency. Based on the perspective of the customer get a very good value by applying five dimensions (tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy). Based on the internal business process perspective, the measurement results can be shown from the innovation aspect, operation aspect, and alumni service that has shown very good value results. Based on the learning and growth perspective, four indicators, namely the range of employee satisfaction, training, employee loyalty, and employee performance productivity are in the very good category

Mediation as an Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve interpersonal conflicts in Hong Kong universities

PurposeThis paper aims to provide insight into mediation as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to resolve interpersonal conflicts for undergraduate students in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approachMixed methods research approach was utilised to examine university students' understanding of dispute resolution at their respective universities in Hong Kong, and factors that may influence their decision to utilize ADR on campus.FindingsThe tendency for university students in Hong Kong to voice criticisms was low due to: (1) unawareness of proper grievance channels; and (2) fear of potential academic retribution from the institution. This may be the result of inadequate promotion and transparency in the existing higher education dispute resolution framework. Academic staff acknowledged the limitation of the existing closed-door dispute resolution system and the need for an alternative conflict management system which emphasises on restoration of harmony in the university community.Originality/valueAs there is a lack of study focusing on ADR practices in Hong Kong universities, this paper provides insight into the feasibility of integrating ADR into the existing dispute resolution processes in resolving interpersonal conflicts at universities in Hong Kong.

Management Effects on the Performance of Double Cropping Systems—Results from a Multi-Site Experiment

Traditional (silage) maize production often has negative side-effects related to unprotected soil surface. There are several possibilities to enhance system sustainability through reducing soil disturbance. However, implementation may be hindered due to reduced nitrogen availability and increased weed infestation, especially in organic agriculture. A field experiment to evaluate yield potential of 18 silage maize cropping systems under organic management was conducted at three distinct locations. Examined parameters were first crop, maize and total harvested dry matter yield (DMY), and maize dry matter content (DMC). Treatment factors included first crop (FC—winter pea, hairy vetch, and their mixtures with rye, control (SCS), management—incorporating FC use and tillage (double cropping system no-till (DCS NT), double cropping system reduced till (DCS RT), double cropped, mulched system terminated with roller-crimper (DCMS Roll), SCS control), fertilization, mechanical weed control—and row width (75 cm, 50 cm). A high variation among environments occurred, but similar patterns manifested across locations: Number of crops in the rotation had a high influence, followed by management and FC. Row width had only marginal and inconsistent effect. FC mixtures generally yielded higher than pure legumes. Maize DMY in DCS, DCMS was lower than or comparable to SCS. Maize DMC were environment-specifically below acceptable range, especially under DCMS. Total harvested DMY in DCS were similar to or greater than SCS. Results suggest differences from the optimization of farming operations for one (SCS) or two crops (DCS, DCMS) with strong effects at early maize development and on the length of season. FC use and tillage factors possibly altered the soil water, temperature, and mineralization dynamics, resulting in modified maize growth. DCS RT and DCMS Pure performed with the best maize yields, improved soil protection, and tillage reduction in the silage maize part of the rotation under organic management. However, alternative management systems, especially under DCS NT and DCMS (Mix) with studied maize maturity classes are less suited, particularly in cool and wet spring conditions, because of a potentially slower development of FC, a later establishment of maize plants and therefore, a shorter growing season for the maize crop.

Reducing donor-site complications in DIEP flap breast reconstruction with closed incisional negative pressure therapy: A cost-benefit analysis

Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps are considered the gold standard for autologous breast reconstruction but create large abdominal incisions that risk donor-site morbidity during harvest. Closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) is emerging as an effective alternative to standard postoperative dressings, but there is a paucity of data in DIEP flap donor sites. We conducted a retrospective case-control study investigating the use of ciNPT in DIEP flap donor sites at a single institution between March 2017 and September 2021. Patients who underwent microsurgical autologous breast reconstruction with DIEP flaps were included. Patients were divided into those with donor incision sites managed with ciNPT (n=24) and those with conventional postoperative wound dressings (n=20). We compared patient demographics, wound drainage volumes and postoperative outcomes between the two groups. A cost-benefit analysis was employed to compare the overall costs associated with each complication and differences in length of stay between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference in age, body mass index (BMI), comorbidity burden or smoking status between the two groups. Both groups had similar lengths of stay and wound drainage volumes with no readmissions or reoperations in either group. There was a statistically significant reduction in donor-site complications (p=0.018), surgical site infections (p=0.014) and seroma formation (p=0.016) in those with ciNPT. Upon cost-benefit analysis, the ciNPT group had a mean reduction in cost-per-patient associated with postoperative complications of £420.77 (p=0.031) and £446.47 (p=0.049) when also accounting for postoperative length of stay CONCLUSION: ciNPT appears to be an effective alternative incision management system with the potential to improve complication rates and postoperative morbidity in DIEP flap donor sites. Our analysis demonstrates improved cost-benefit outweighing the increase in costs associated with ciNPT. We recommend a multicentre prospective trial with formal cost-utility analysis to strengthen these findings.

Biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for ecological intensification in cereal-based cropping systems.

The demand for nitrogen (N) for crop production increased rapidly from the middle of the twentieth century and is predicted to at least double by 2050 to satisfy the on-going improvements in productivity of major food crops such as wheat, rice and maize that underpin the staple diet of most of the world’s population. The increased demand will need to be fulfilled by the two main sources of N supply – biological nitrogen (gas) (N2) fixation (BNF) and fertilizer N supplied through the Haber-Bosch processes. BNF provides many functional benefits for agroecosystems. It is a vital mechanism for replenishing the reservoirs of soil organic N and improving the availability of soil N to support crop growth while also assisting in efforts to lower negative environmental externalities than fertilizer N. In cereal-based cropping systems, legumes in symbiosis with rhizobia contribute the largest BNF input; however, diazotrophs involved in non-symbiotic associations with plants or present as free-living N2-fixers are ubiquitous and also provide an additional source of fixed N. This review presents the current knowledge of BNF by free-living, non-symbiotic and symbiotic diazotrophs in the global N cycle, examines global and regional estimates of contributions of BNF, and discusses possible strategies to enhance BNF for the prospective benefit of cereal N nutrition. We conclude by considering the challenges of introducing in planta BNF into cereals and reflect on the potential for BNF in both conventional and alternative crop management systems to encourage the ecological intensification of cereal and legume production.

Natural disturbance regimes as a guide for sustainable forest management in Europe.

In Europe, forest management has controlled forest dynamics to sustain commodity production over multiple centuries. Yet over-regulation for growth and yield diminishes resilience to environmental stress as well as threatens biodiversity, leading to increasing forest susceptibility to an array of disturbances. These trends have stimulated interest in alternative management systems, including natural dynamics silviculture (NDS). NDS aims to emulate natural disturbance dynamics at stand and landscape scales through silvicultural manipulations of forest structure and landscape patterns. We adapted a "Comparability Index" (CI) to assess convergence/divergence between natural disturbances and forest management effects. We extended the original CI concept based on disturbance size and frequency by adding the residual structure of canopy trees after a disturbance as a third dimension. We populated the model by compiling data on natural disturbance dynamics and management from 13 countries in Europe, covering four major forest types (i.e., spruce, beech, oak, and pine-dominated forests). We found that natural disturbances are highly variable in size, frequency, and residual structure, but European forest management fails to encompass this complexity. Silviculture in Europe is skewed toward even-aged systems, used predominately (72.9% of management) across the countries assessed. The residual structure proved crucial in the comparison of natural disturbances and silvicultural systems. CI indicated the highest congruence between uneven-aged silvicultural systems and key natural disturbance attributes. Even so, uneven-aged practices emulated only a portion of the complexity associated with natural disturbance effects. The remaining silvicultural systems perform poorly in terms of retention compared to tree survivorship after natural disturbances. We suggest that NDS can enrich Europe's portfolio of management systems, for example where wood production is not the primary objective. NDS is especially relevant to forests managed for habitat quality, risk reduction, and a variety of ecosystem services. We suggest a holistic approach integrating NDS with more conventional practices.

Using the CERES-Maize Model to Simulate Crop Yield in a Long-Term Field Experiment in Hungary

Precision crop production requires accurate yield prediction and nitrogen management. Crop simulation models may assist in exploring alternative management systems for optimizing water, nutrient and microelements use efficiencies, increasing maize yields. Our objectives were: (i) to access the ability of the CERES-Maize model for predicting yields in long-term experiments in Hungary; (ii) to use the model to assess the effects of different nutrient management (different nitrogen rates—0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 kg ha−1). A long-term experiment conducted in Látókép (Hungary) with various N-fertilizer applications allowed us to predict maize yields under different conditions. The aim of the research is to explore and quantify the effects of ecological, biological, and agronomic factors affecting plant production, as well as to conduct basic science studies on stress factors on plant populations, which are made possible by the 30-year database of long-term experiments and the high level of instrumentation. The model was calibrated with data from a long-term experiment field trial. The purpose of this evaluation was to investigate how the CERES-Maize model simulated the effects of different N treatments in long-term field experiments. Sushi hybrid’s yields increased with elevated N concentrations. The observed yield ranged from 5016 to 14,920 kg ha−1 during the 2016–2020 growing season. The range of simulated data of maize yield was between 6671 and 13,136 kg ha−1. The highest yield was obtained at the 150 kg ha−1 dose in each year studied. In several cases, the DSSAT-CERES Maize model accurately predicted yields, but it was sensitive to seasonal effects and estimated yields inaccurately. Based on the obtained results, the variance analysis significantly affected the year (2016–2020) and nitrogen doses. N fertilizer made a significant difference on yield, but the combination of both predicted and actual yield data did not show any significance.

Public attitude toward and perceptions of dairy cattle welfare in cow-calf management systems differing in type of social and maternal contact

Early cow-calf separation followed by individual housing of calves is standard practice on dairy farms. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that as awareness grows the public will oppose these practices, which could compromise the dairy industry's social license. Despite disagreement among different stakeholders over weighting and evaluations of effects of early separation (e.g., distress response, disease risk), recent systematic reviews indicate that there is little scientific evidence supporting this practice. The acceptability of alternative cow-calf management systems is unknown. We used a mixed methods survey with a convenience sample of 307 Canadians plus a representative sample of 1,487 Americans to investigate perceptions of these systems, examining the effects of providing social or foster cow contact following early separation or not separating cow-calf pairs. Attitudes and perceptions of animal welfare were more positive (on a 7-point scale where 1 is most negative, 7 is most positive, and 4 is a neutral midpoint) toward the system where calves were not separated from the cow (mean ± SE; 5.8 ± 0.07; 5.7 ± 0.07), compared with systems in which the calf was separated and individually housed (3.6 ± 0.07; 3.4 ± 0.07), separated and group housed (3.7 ± 0.07; 3.4 ± 0.07), or separated and kept with a foster cow (3.8 ± 0.07; 3.6 ± 0.07). Participants were consistent in their attitudes toward and perceptions of animal welfare within the system, suggesting that participants took a holistic and value-oriented approach to cow-calf management regarding separation. These results, in combination with many participants' concern for the importance of the mother cow-calf relationship and perceptions that severing of this bond was a breach of standard of care, suggest that there may be low acceptance of any cow-calf management system involving early separation as such systems are unlikely to resonate with underlying values.

An Exploration of Environmentally Sustainable Practices Associated with Alternative Grazing Management System Use for Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and Mules in the UK.

Simple SummaryEquestrian land could be a potentially important environmental resource, given that pastureland can help to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, prevent soil erosion and provide diverse ecosystems for native plant and wildlife species. However, equestrian land has been overlooked in environmental research and policy. This study reports on the ways which horse, pony, donkey and mule keepers in the UK described environmental practices as part of their equid care. Through an analysis of survey responses (N = 758) from equid keepers using alternative grazing systems, we report on three very different management approaches which resulted in keepers aiming to promote healthy pastures and healthy animals. This study provides the basis for future research exploring attitudes to sustainability in equid keepers, as well as evaluating the impact of their efforts.Equestrian grazing management is a poorly researched area, despite potentially significant environmental impacts. This study explored keepers’ use of alternative grazing systems in the care of UK horses, donkeys and mules through an internet survey. The survey was available during the summer of 2020 and comprised closed and open questions, which were analysed with descriptive statistics and iterative thematic analysis, respectively. A total of 758 responses was incorporated into the analysis; the most popular system used were tracks (56.5%), Equicentral (19%), “other” (e.g., non-grass turnout) (12.5%), rewilding (7.5%) and turnout on either moorland (0.7%) or woodland (2.5%). The thematic analysis highlighted that equid keepers across the systems were highly engaged in exploring sustainable practices. Their approaches varied according to each system, yet all aimed to fulfil practices in three major categories, i.e., supporting diverse plant life (usually through restricting equid access to certain areas), supporting wildlife (through the creation of biodiverse environments) and sustainably managing droppings and helminths. Additionally, proponents of the Equicentral systems declared to be aiming to support soil health. These data provide a promising insight into equid keepers’ behaviour and attitudes to sustainability.

Combined Use of Biochar and Alternative Management Systems May Reduce the Risk of Water Contamination by Imazamox in Rice Growing Environments

Combined Use of Biochar and Alternative Management Systems May Reduce the Risk of Water Contamination by Imazamox in Rice Growing Environments

A Case Study of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) as a Data Acquisition Tool for PV Energy Forecasting

This article describes problems related to the operation of a virtual micro power plant at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEE), Czestochowa University of Technology (CUT). In the era of dynamic development of renewable energy sources, it is necessary to create alternative electricity management systems for existing power systems, including power transmission and distribution systems. Virtual power plants (VPPs) are such an alternative. So far, there has been no unified standard for a VPP operation. The article presents components that make up the VPP at the FEE and describes their physical and logical structure. The presented solution is a combination of several units operating in the internal power grid of the FEE, i.e., wind turbines, energy storage (ES), photovoltaic panels (PV) and car charging stations. Their operation is coordinated by a common control system. One of the research goals described in the article is to optimize the operation of these components to minimize consumption of the electric energy from the external supply network. An analysis of data from the VPP management system was carried out to create mathematical models for prediction of the consumed power and the power produced by the PVs. These models allowed us to achieve the assumed objective. The article also presents the VPP data processing results in terms of detecting outliers and missing values. In addition to the issues discussed above, the authors also proposed to apply the Prophet model for short-term forecasting of the PV farm electricity production. It is a statistical model that has so far been used for social and business research. The authors implemented it effectively for technical analysis purposes. It was shown that the results of the PV energy production forecasting using the Prophet model are acceptable despite occurrences of missing data in the investigated time series.

Environmental impact assessment of the current, emerging, and alternative waste management systems using life cycle assessment tools: a case study of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Proper information regarding the performance of waste management systems from an environmental perspective is significant to sustainable waste management decisions and planning toward the selection of the least impactful treatment options. However, little is known about the environmental impacts of the different waste management options in South Africa. This study is therefore aimed at using the life cycle assessment tool to assess the environmental impact of the current, emerging, and alternative waste management systems in South Africa, using the city of Johannesburg as a case study. This assessment involves a comparative analysis of the unit processes of waste management and the different waste management scenarios comprising two or more unit processes from an environmental view. The lifecycle boundary consists of unit processes: waste collection and transportation (WC&T), material recycling facilities (MRF), composting, incineration, and landfilling. Four scenarios developed for the assessment are S1 (WC&T, MRF, and landfilling without energy recovery), S2 (WC&T, MRF, composting, and landfilling with energy recovery), S3 (WC&T and incineration), and S4 (WC&T, MRF, composting, and incineration). Based on the result of this study, MRF is the most environmentally beneficial unit operation while landfill without energy recovery is the most impactful unit operation. The result further revealed that no scenario had the best performance across all the impact categories. However, S3 can be considered as the most environmentally friendly option owing to its lowest impact in most of the impact categories. S3 has the lowest global warming potential (GWP) of 33.19 ×106kgCO2eq, ozone depletion potential (ODP) of 0.563 kgCFC-11e, and photochemical ozone depletion potential (PODP) of 679.46 kgC2H2eq. Also, S4 can be regarded as the most impactful option owing to its highest contributions to PODP of 1044 kgC2H2eq, acidification potential (AP) of 892073.8 kgSO2eq, and eutrophication potential (EP) of 51292.98 MaxPO4-3eq. The result of this study will be found helpful in creating a complete impression of the environmental performance of waste management systems in Johannesburg, South Africa which will aid sustainable planning and decisions by the concerned sector.

Assuring data quality in investigator-initiated trials in dutch hospitals: Balancing between mentoring and monitoring

ABSTRACT The complexity of regulations governing investigator-initiated trials (IITs) places a great burden on hospitals. Consequently, many hospitals seek to alleviate regulatory pressures by seeking an alternative quality management system (QMS). This paper takes the Netherlands as a case. To investigate how QMSs for IITs are organized in Dutch hospitals, we adopted the theoretical concepts of mentoring and monitoring in a mixed methods study in the period 2014–2018. In clinical practice and international guidelines, monitoring is seen as the standard quality assurance for ongoing trials. However, hospitals have implemented monitoring programs that resemble mentoring. The contrast between these ideal types is less pronounced in practice as both combine elements of compliance and feedback for learning in practice. In a monitoring setting, learning is one-way, from monitor to researcher; whereas mentoring focuses on mutual support and learning. To tackle problems in each system, the authority of the Board of Directors (BoD) and the BoD’s relationship with staff members are crucial. We discuss the challenges that BoD and staff face in keeping an integrated view of the various components of QMSs.