Blending Options Research Articles

Sustainable mined land reclamation: the pujada nickel case study

Decision making is severely challenging in mined-land reclamation where multiple interests of various and often conflicting stakeholders should be satisfied. Thru the use of Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA), sustainable options of reclaiming the mined land in manner that is environmentally sound, technically feasible, economically viable, socially acceptable, culturally sensitive and spiritually rooted are fully explored and considered. Multiple stakeholders like; the indigenous peoples, mining host communities, the non-government organization, the church, the mining company, the Mines Bureau, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the local government units were engaged in the study to determine their interests in mining reclamation. Having full appreciation of the stakeholders’ interests and proposed options, the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee and the Multi-partite Monitoring Team are confident that reclaiming the mined land thru the options-mix of Forestry and Botanical Park Development shall perform better and is more sustainable. The results of MCDA of the Pujada Nickel Project enabled the decision makers to have confidence that the blended options of Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA), Sloping Agro-forestry Land Technology (SALT) and Botanical Park Development in transforming the Pujada Nickel Mine shall satisfy the best interests of the multiple mining stakeholders.

Coupling transport equations to mechanics in the material point method using an approximate full capacity matrix inverse

Coupling solutions of one or more transport equations to mechanics modeling in the material point method (MPM), extends MPM to a platform for solving multi-physics problems. Unfortunately, the standard MPM approach to transport equations using a lumped transport capacity matrix is prone to large oscillations in particle values especially near interfaces, cracks, or rapid changes in transport value. Switching from lumped capacity matrix methods to an approximate full capacity matrix approach can eliminate those oscillations. Although this switch can cause unwanted numerical diffusion, that problem can be suppressed using periodic or blending options. Several examples illustrate the new methods for heat conduction, solvent transport, poroelasticity, and phase field fracture simulations. In thermal calculations, the new methods improve accuracy for tracking thermodynamics state functions.

Effects of syngas and methanol fuel substitution on ammonia counterflow diffusion flames

Ammonia (NH3) is increasingly recognized as a promising alternative fuel. Various blending options have been proposed that are aimed at improving its flammability and applicability across diverse energy systems. This study conducts a comprehensive investigation, employing both experimental and numerical approaches, to understand the impact of blending ammonia with CH3OH or syngas, at various H2:CO ratios, on flame extinction limits, structure, and NOx emissions in counterflow laminar diffusion flames. Concentration profiles of ammonia and intermediate species (O2, CO, CO2, H2, NO, and N2O) were measured using Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) and gas chromatographic (GC) techniques. The findings indicate that increasing the H2:CO ratio in syngas-blended flames increases the extinction limits and reduces NO and N2O emissions. Compared with ammonia/methanol flames the ammonia/syngas flames exhibit higher extinction limits, flame temperatures, and lower NO and N2O emissions. Multiple kinetic models were found to underestimate the extinction strain limits, with Wang et al.’s 2021 model offering the closest predictions. Notably, discrepancies in ammonia dissociation and oxygen leakage to the rich side of stoichiometry impact reaction zone characteristics, extinction limits, and NOx predictions. Further kinetic analyses reveal that reactivity in syngas-blended flames is dominated by heat and radicals-producing reactions, while methanol-blended flames are sensitive to reactions involving ammonia fragments, resulting in decreased reactivity compared to syngas-blended flames. The results and findings from this study yield valuable insights into optimizing ammonia blends for enhanced flame stability and reduced emissions across various energy applications. It also provides data for chemical kinetics model validation in non-premixed diffusion environment where both species chemistry and transport are encountered.

Developing Design Principles for Sustainability-Oriented Blended Learning in Higher Education

Climate change forces higher educational institutions (HEI) to reconsider their traditional ways of teaching and organising education. This implies that they should reduce their impact on the environment and provide sustainability-oriented education. Blended learning (fusion of on-campus and online learning) may provide an appealing solution to achieve both objectives. It may reduce HEI’s climate impact by reducing student travel to and from campus and support the development of students’ sustainability competencies. In this paper, pedagogical design principles and recommendations are developed to design such a sustainability-oriented blended learning configuration. A realist review methodology is used to distil and develop pedagogical principles for blended learning. These principles were mirrored against pedagogical approaches that have been identified as suitable for developing sustainability competencies. This mirroring revealed some overlap but also some notable differences. Common principles include self-regulation, community building, discussion, knowledge management, and collaboration, but some principles identified in sustainability-oriented education are noticeably absent, including self-awareness, orientation towards sustainable change, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The insights guide designing sustainability-oriented blended learning and vice versa can also provide ideas for people working in off-line place-based contexts on sustainability-oriented education, to consider blended options.

Photo-Realistic 3D Models and Animations for Video Games and Films

Realistic 3D objects are challenging to create. A detailed creation requires care if we can make remarkable detail and realism using techniques and a solid reference photo. In this post, we may learn how to construct beautiful, realistic scene objects using comprehensive procedures. This article shows how to use the Pen Tool and Blending Options to create a 3D animated scene. This work teaches simple Layer Styles to create beautiful shadows, lights, textures, and a realistic 3D feel. This work also shows how attractive illumination and rendering options may produce a natural scene. This article also shows how to make photo-realistic 3D models from digital images. This work teaches Illustrator pathways, texturing, essential lighting and rendering, texture application, and building and object parenting. This approach might even reconstruct tiny features or 3D items from 2D images. After a critical art stage, we can present the architecture of an animation design technique in this article. The goal is a conceptual and methodological lesson to approach this topic scientifically and practically. This goal also includes developing a scientifically sound paradigm to help comprehend realistic animation processes.

Do-it-yourself physiology labs: Can hands-on laboratory classes be effectively replicated online?

Laboratory classes are a cornerstone of physiology education, enabling students to develop essential knowledge and skills. Recent moves toward utilizing blended options to support face-to-face classes with online materials are beneficial, but using solely online classes may not produce similar learning gains. During 2020, the global pandemic meant a loss of face-to-face teaching, such that laboratory classes were rapidly transitioned to online delivery. This study explores the impact of this shift on undergraduate students, evaluating their use of the online laboratory classes and the impact this had on their examination performance and their perceptions of learning. Student use of the online laboratory classes varied, with those spending more time performing better on examinations. Students valued the online classes, finding them helpful for their learning, but also felt that the lack of face-to-face laboratory classes and interactions with peers and teaching staff was detrimental to their learning experience. Overall, academic performance of online learners was comparable to previous years but may indicate some underlying deficits.

Pandemic and Academic Publishing in India

Academic publishing must change quickly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In India, where publishing has a close and symbiotic relationship with the educational system, it has the means to do so. There is a young population, an aspirational nation, and a pandemic-induced opportunity to expand publishing’s digital footprint while rebuilding its traditional forms to provide blended learning and format-neutral options. There is no dearth of demand for academic content and expertise and the changing trajectories of learning and access provide opportunities for collaboration and partnerships both within Indian publishing and with the wider educational and technology ecosystem. The resilience of Indian publishing, which celebrates 75 years in 2022, lies in this collaborative spirit and responsive approach.

Conversion of poplar biomass into high-energy density tricyclic sesquiterpene jet fuel blendstocks

BackgroundIn an effort to ensure future energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create domestic jobs, the US has invested in technologies to develop sustainable biofuels and bioproducts from renewable carbon sources such as lignocellulosic biomass. Bio-derived jet fuel is of particular interest as aviation is less amenable to electrification compared to other modes of transportation and synthetic biology provides the ability to tailor fuel properties to enhance performance. Specific energy and energy density are important properties in determining the attractiveness of potential bio-derived jet fuels. For example, increased energy content can give the industry options such as longer range, higher load or reduced takeoff weight. Energy-dense sesquiterpenes have been identified as potential next-generation jet fuels that can be renewably produced from lignocellulosic biomass.ResultsWe developed a biomass deconstruction and conversion process that enabled the production of two tricyclic sesquiterpenes, epi-isozizaene and prespatane, from the woody biomass poplar using the versatile basidiomycete Rhodosporidium toruloides. We demonstrated terpene production at both bench and bioreactor scales, with prespatane titers reaching 1173.6 mg/L when grown in poplar hydrolysate in a 2 L bioreactor. Additionally, we examined the theoretical fuel properties of prespatane and epi-isozizaene in their hydrogenated states as blending options for jet fuel, and compared them to aviation fuel, Jet A.ConclusionOur findings indicate that prespatane and epi-isozizaene in their hydrogenated states would be attractive blending options in Jet A or other lower density renewable jet fuels as they would improve viscosity and increase their energy density. Saturated epi-isozizaene and saturated prespatane have energy densities that are 16.6 and 18.8% higher than Jet A, respectively. These results highlight the potential of R. toruloides as a production host for the sustainable and scalable production of bio-derived jet fuel blends, and this is the first report of prespatane as an alternative jet fuel.

Assessing concerns about fertigation costs with desalinated seawater in south-eastern Spain

Desalinated sea water (DSW) provides a steady agricultural water supply that overcomes climatological and hydrological constraints, fostering food security and socio-economic stability in water-stressed regions. In the last decade, seawater desalination for irrigation has been massively implemented in south-eastern (SE) Spain amid rising pressure and competition for water resources. However, farmers seem reluctant to replace conventional water sources with DSW due to its higher price and the need for additional fertilization. This article assesses how fertigation cost increases can affect farming profitability when integrating DSW for irrigation. The increases in water and fertilizer costs of totally (100 %) and partially (50 %) replacing conventional water with DSW were calculated for the most representative crops of the Segura basin in SE Spain.The results show that the total replacement of conventional resources implies a fertigation cost increase equivalent to 3.2–35.5% of the crop production costs. However, replacing only 50 % of the conventional resources reduces these figures by more than half (1.5–15.7%). This supra-linear decrease comes from the fact that although water blending halves the water cost increase, the fertilizer cost increase is reduced by more than half. Looking at the fertigation cost increase relative to crop profit, remarkable profitability losses were observed for all crops in the total replacement scenario (21.6–129.1%), which only fell to more acceptable levels in the partial replacement scenario (10.3–57.1%). In the scenario with 100 % DSW, the estimated revenue increase required to compensate for the increase in the fertigation cost seems unrealistic for traditional crops (>15 % for melon and >25 % for lemon) whereas substantially more moderate increases are demanded from all crops (<10 %) when only 50 % DSW is used. Overall, this study stresses the need to properly evaluate water blending options to maintain agricultural profitability.

Enhancing waste to hydrogen production through biomass feedstock blending: A techno-economic-environmental evaluation

Concerns related to global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels have propelled the global community to explore alternative renewable energy sources. Biomass is a nonconventional and renewable energy resource that can potentially be utilised for the production of sustainable heat and power. The thermal gasification process is an effective biomass conversion and utilisation method producing syngas as the product gas. This study details a biomass gasification process and subsequent optimisation, considering multiple parameters, including the type of feedstock and gasifying agent (gasifier) to maximise hydrogen production. Aspen Plus software is used to develop three agent-based biomass gasification models considering the characteristics of certain materials from Qatar built environment. The ultimate goal of the study is to optimise the gasification processes to yield different biomass blending options satisfying the maximisation of hydrogen generation through different scenarios. The capabilities of the built-in activated analysis package using Aspen Energy Analyser and Aspen Process Economic Analyser are utilised to evaluate the environmental and economic perspectives. The results demonstrate the excellence of steam-only biomass gasification in providing profitable and cleaner products. The yield of hydrogen production from blending of biomass feedstock achieved a high fraction of 5.23% with the steam-only gasification, while the yield increased from 1.63% to 5.22% for the oxygen/steam gasification when maximising the hydrogen fraction. Moreover, the selective limiting of biomass capacity enhances the quality of syngas through enriching the hydrogen production and lowers the need for subsequent adjustment and the manipulation of gasifying agent quantity and operating energy.

Development of a Blended Time-Domain Program for Predicting the Motions of a Wave Energy Structure

Traditional linear time-domain analysis is used widely for predicting the motions of floating structures. When it comes to a wave energy structure, which usually is subjected to larger relative (to their geometric dimensions) wave and motion amplitudes, the nonlinear effects become significant. This paper presents the development of an in-house blended time-domain program (SIMDYN). SIMDYN’s “blend” option improves the linear option by accounting for the nonlinearity of important external forces (e.g., Froude-Krylov). In addition, nonlinearity due to large body rotations (i.e., inertia forces) is addressed in motion predictions of wave energy structures. Forced motion analysis reveals the significance of these nonlinear effects. Finally, the model test correlations examine the simulation results from SIMDYN under the blended option, which has seldom been done for a wave energy structure. It turns out that the blended time-domain method has significant potential to improve the accuracy of motion predictions for a wave energy structure.

Production of syngas via gasification using optimum blends of biomass

Abstract Considering changes in the global climate, there is an impetus to diversify away from fossil fuels as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biomass, as a source of energy, has the potential to generate sustainable power and fuels and contribute towards a cleaner future. In fact, the utilisation of biomass as a carbon dioxide neutral organic source in an integrated system generates valuable products, and reduces waste and the consumption of non-renewable resources. Gasification, the preferred option for converting biomass to combustible gas, provides higher electrical efficiencies than combustion, whereby the syngas generated from the gasification process can be utilised to generate clean energy. In addition, syngas can be utilised for the production of ammonia and methanol thus reducing their respective dependencies on natural gas. This study will detail an optimised biomass gasification process considering multiple parameters, including the thermodynamic operating conditions, the type of gasifier (gasifying agent) and feedstock. Fundamentally, this study considers the process pathways for the recycling of multiple sources of biomass to generate high energy syngas from the available biomass options when used in combination as blends or individually. To achieve this aim, an Aspen Plus simulation model is developed for four different biomass agent-based gasification techniques using the biomass characteristics of certain Qatar biomass materials, which include date pits, manure and sewage sludge. Outcomes of the study included an optimisation of the gasification processes to yield different blending options of the biomass feedstock satisfying the downstream operations of power and fuels production. The results demonstrate the domination of date pits for two of the considered configurations with over 99% w/w date pit feed composition. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis conducted on the different configurations highlighted specific optimum operation points in terms of temperature, pressure, and oxygen and steam feed ratios. The hydrogen content in the generated syngas, considered important for the downstream production, yields a peak at approximately 850 °C and 1 bar with a modified equivalence ratio of approximately 2.5, and a ratio of oxygen supplied by an air-steam combination of approximately 0.6. The process can be further optimised by considering trade-offs between product purity or yield, profit, operating efficiency, quality of raw materials blends, and carbon footprint.

Executive Education in India: Current State and What Next?

Executive education that has metamorphosed itself as the convergence of technology, rich media and on-the-go learning has created an array of exciting choices before the busy executive to upskill herself at different stages of her career. The range of choices and price points does not necessarily come with a compromise in quality as world-class cutting-edge content is being beamed in on the mobile, in classroom and through the satellite. It is now possible for the executive to take both technical and non-technical courses at a place, time and duration of her choosing. The blended options allow on-campus classroom immersion along with virtual distance learning with a global learning cohort.

Optimal fresh water blending: A methodological approach to improve the resilience of water supply systems

Climate change and socioeconomic factors have increased the complexity of urban water supply systems. Thus, fresh water sources are being gradually diversified to improve the reliability and resilience of the systems. However, as the number of source blending options grows, optimization tools are needed to design drinking water supply systems that comply with indicators of cost, resilience, and water quality. This paper proposes a pioneering methodological approach, based on an ant-colony-optimization (ACO) algorithm, to optimize the blending of drinking water from different sources to minimize operational costs of a given system originating from a number of impaired water sources while complying with water quality standards. To evidence the potential of the ACO algorithm to solve such a system, a virtual case study was designed that considers eight fresh water sources, including seawater desalination and potable reuse. Seven scenarios were developed with different weightings to service outage, water conveyance and treatment costs while complying with water quality goals in regard to total organic carbon, nitrates, and total dissolved solids. It was shown that the cost per volumetric unit of water can vary considerably depending on the weightings of the three cost items. This paper provides a rigorous scientific approach to propose a methodology supporting the decision-making process of selecting a mixture of different sources to achieve the overall lowest system cost. Hence, this work contributes to improving the resilience and sustainability of urban water supplies.

Blended and Flipped: Exploring New Models for Effective Teaching and Learning

The rapid growth in the use of learning technologies, particularly the use of the web based technologies and communications have offered educators with many more opportunities to investigate the most suitable learning environments for their students’ learning. The purpose of the present study was to effective teaching and learning and their views on blended and flipped learning. At the heart of both blended learning and flipped learning is a learner-centered curriculum that changes the traditional roles of instructor and student. In the article, Flipped classrooms replace passive lecturing with active studentcentered learning that enhances critical thinking and application, including information retention. The blended learning option will become a sensible step on the path toward cutting delivery costs, while making graduate education available to increasingly debt-averse students.

BLENDING WAS NOT AN OPTION: VARIATION THEORY AND RELUCTANT INTERNATIONAL DISTANCE LEARNERS

This short paper reflects on experiences gained in designing what was intended to be a blended course. In the event, a blended option was not possible and the paper explores how variation theory was then used to transition international learners, skeptical about distant learning, from in-person to distant learning modalities. The role of variation, in approaching both the content and process of the learning experience, was presented during the two in-person lectures at the outset of the course. While results are preliminary and tentative, the use of variation seems to have positively impacted learner understanding of subject matter and the online learning experience.

Creating photo-realistic works in a 3D scene using layers styles to create an animation

Creating realist objects in a 3D scene is not an easy work. We have to be very careful to make the creation very detailed. If we don't know how to make these photo-realistic works, by using the techniques and a good reference photo we can create an amazing amount of detail and realism. For example, in this article there are some of these detailed methods from which we can learn the techniques necessary to make beautiful and realistic objects in a scene. More precisely, in this paper, we present how to create a 3D animated scene, mainly using the Pen Tool and Blending Options. Indeed, this work is based on teaching some simple ways of using the Layer Styles to create some great shadows, lights, textures and a realistic sense of 3 Dimension. The present work involves also showing how some interesting ways of using the illuminating and rendering options can create a realistic effect in a scene. Moreover, this article shows how to create photo realistic 3D models from a digital image. The present work proposes to present how to use Illustrator paths, texturing, basic lighting and rendering, how to apply textures and how to parent the building and objects components. We also propose to use this proposition to recreate smaller details or 3D objects from a 2D image. After a critic art stage, we are able now to present in this paper the architecture of a design method that proposes to create an animation. The aim is to create a conceptual and methodological tutorial to address this issue both scientifically and in practice. This objective also includes proposing, on strong scientific basis, a model that gives the possibility of a better understanding of the techniques necessary to create a realistic animation.

Spectrophotometric characterization of iron and titanium minerals in sedimentary kaolin deposit

The northern region of Brazil produces kaolin for paper industry. Ipixuna Mine, located in the Pará State, exploits important sedimentary kaolin deposits, which are extracted ROM material blocks that vary in color depending on both the paragenesis and concentration of mineral contaminants. Samples were collected from different mining fronts, which represented the different varieties of ore. Samples were processed in a pilot plant. Both products and tailings were analyzed to define the mineral paragenesis and color data. Specific studies on the iron and titanium minerals and spectrophotometry were performed on the samples. The results indicated that the proportion of goethite, hematite and anatase and the particle size of the last two minerals in the blocks of ore affect their color and mineral processing efficiency. This study defined seven spectral groups of kaolin ore, the relationship of the groups with the paragenesis of mineral contaminants, varieties of ore that can be economically processed and the best blending options between ore varieties to improve the processing operations.

Study of Effect of Ternary-Component Blended Coal on Coal Gasification Reaction at High Temperature

Three typical Chinese individual coals which existed remarkable difference on coal ash chemical composition and ash fusion temperature were selected to carry out coal blending experiments to study the coal gasification reaction at high temperature by means of using ternary-component blended coal technique and TGA-DTA method. According to ternary-component blended coal with a certain proportion, ash chemical composition and coal-char/CO2 gasification reactivity were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and thermogravimetric analysis-derivative thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG), respectively. The results show that the ash chemical components change because ternary-component blended coals change the mineral composition, and hence, the gasification reactivity can be affected as well. Moreover, in accordance with reactivity index R, it indicates that the order of gasification reactivity of three individual coals and four blended coal options is coal x &gt; option B &gt; option A &gt; option D &gt; option C &gt; coal z &gt;coal y. Meanwhile, a new mathematical model called per unit ash alkali index B* was established by using the ash chemical component dates, which has a good corresponding relationship with R for four blending coal options. Utilizing ternary-component blended coal technique could improve the high-temperature coal ash gasification reaction.

Implementation of a Dynamic Mining Strategy Following Changing Conditions in a Multipit, Multielement Blending Iron Ore Mining Operation

The Greater Paraburdoo operation is part of the Pilbara Iron Ore operations comprising of a network of 11 mines, three shipping terminals and a heavy freight railway. The Paraburdoo, Channar and Eastern Range mines are located in close proximity to one another, and are operated as the Greater Paraburdoo operation. Ore is sourced from close to 20 pits and other material is dumped and stockpiled at more than 50 waste dumps and low grade stockpiles. During 2008 to 2009, changing geological conditions, increased quality targets, geotechnical challenges, delays in approvals and assumptions in the mine plan, lead to a delay in developing new mining areas in Eastern Range posing a high risk to achieve future production targets. A new strategy was developed during 2009 to increase the number of independent mining areas in Eastern Range mine and to increase the number of pit accesses. Major changes have been applied to the Section-A development strategy to achieve short to long term production targets and during 2010 five milestones of the development strategy have been implemented. The key benefits were a 9 % increase of forecasted crusher feed from Eastern Range mine, a decrease of batter works and bench turnover delays of 46 % in Section-A and an average increase of 1.5 years of additional time per mining area to utilize independent accesses, enabling multi bench mining and increasing blending options. Although the implementation of the new development strategy for Section-A started in Q4-2009, it will take two years to decrease the production time per mining area by 20 %. In order to avoid high risk production periods it is critical to understand reasons and consequences of nonconformances to the mine plan. Appropriate actions can only be taken when considering impacts from a total system point of view in order to provide sufficient flexibility and buffer to absorb delays and changing conditions without posing a risk to achieve production targets.