Comprehensive Efficiency Research Articles

Impact of newer climate data for technical analysis of residential building energy use in the United States

In this study, we describe an analysis indicating the relative importance of newer hourly weather files for simulation analysis of the energy use of residential buildings in North America.Results show that older TMY3 (ending 2005) data compared with newer TMY2021 (2007–2021) data are less appropriate for the best prediction of low-energy buildings. The balance of heating and cooling is significantly altered in the more recent TMY files with potential impacts on best performing energy efficiency measures. With 64 high profile North American locations evaluated, we found heating to be approximately 11% lower with the newer data, while cooling was increased by a similar amount percentage wise. However, the dominance of space heating in North America made decreases to heating considerably larger in an absolute sense so that overall space conditioning energy fell.Small changes in annual temperature can have large impacts. For all electric homes with air source heat pumps, we found that a change of 1 °C to outdoor temperature can produce about a 19 % change in space conditioning energy. The newer data also shows increased average solar electric output from simulated rooftop photovoltaic systems, likely due to more sophisticated solar irradiance data. Water heating was about 3 % lower given rising groundwater temperatures and inlet water temperatures to water heating systems. Results also showed that the newer data tended to increase savings from comprehensive building efficiency efforts in all electric buildings. This largely takes place because higher temperatures in winter allow air source heat pumps to meet heating needs more efficiently. Generally, the direction of these influences ease pathways to reach zero energy buildings in North America.

The clinical value of applying diffusion-weighted imaging combined with T2-weighted imaging to assess diagnostic performance of muscularis propria invasion in mid-to-high rectal cancer.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of combining diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) for detecting muscularis propria invasion in rectal cancer. We conducted a retrospective analysis of MR images from 76 patients with pathologically confirmed rectal cancer between January 2018 and June 2022. Patients were categorized into invasion and non-invasion groups. the present of muscularis propria invasion. The examination regimen included T2WI, dynamic enhanced scanning and DWI.The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values from DWI were compared between the groups, and the diagnostic performance of combining ADC with T2WI was assessed. There were differences in ADCmean, ADCmsi, and ADCmin values between the non-invasion group and theinvasion group, and the t values were 3.949, 2.221 and 2.978, respectively. The P values were 0.000, 0.029 and 0.004, respectively. Using an ADCmean threshold of 1.07 × 10- 3 mm²/s, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting muscularis propria invasion were 82.22% and 61.29%, respectively, with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 89.5%. For ADCmsi, with a threshold of 0.996 × 10- 3 mm²/s, the sensitivity and specificity were 62.75% and 73.33%, respectively, yielding a diagnostic accuracy of 82.9%. The ADCmin, with a threshold of 0.854 × 10- 3 mm²/s, demonstrated sensitivity and specificity of 78.43% and 66.67%, respectively, with a diagnostic accuracy of 85.5%. T2WI combined ADC value has a good predictive value for judging the degree of musculature invasion of medium-to-high rectal cancer, while ADC mean has a higher comprehensive diagnostic efficiency. Our finding may provide reference for increasing accuracy in mid-to-high rectal cancer diagnosis.

Research on Input-Output Efficiency and Influencing Factors of Listed Logistics Enterprises

This paper mainly analyzes the input-output efficiency of 25 listed logistics enterprises from 2012 to 2020, and draws the following conclusions: 1) From the perspective of the change of comprehensive technical efficiency, the comprehensive technical efficiency change index of most enterprises is less than 1, which indicates that the improper management mode and decision-making of these enterprises hinder the improvement of enterprise efficiency. The comprehensive technical efficiency of listed logistics enterprises is analyzed by using the BCC model, and the conclusion is that the comprehensive technical efficiency of most listed logistics enterprises is less than 1 during 2012-2020, which indicates that the input-output of most listed logistics enterprises is not optimal. 2) Regional GDP, the proportion of employees with bachelor's degree or above and the total asset turnover have no significant influence on the input-output efficiency of listed logistics enterprises; The total assets of enterprises are negatively correlated to the input-output efficiency.

DMSeqNet-mBART: A state-of-the-art Adaptive-DropMessage enhanced mBART architecture for superior Chinese short news text summarization

Mandarin Chinese, a globally prevalent language, boasts an abundance of regularly refreshed short news texts accessible online. Consequently, devising concise summaries of these texts has emerged as a pivotal challenge for enhancing information dissemination and comprehension efficiency. To tackle this issue, we introduce DMSeqNet-mBART, an innovative model grounded in the mBART framework, positioning it as a state-of-the-art solution for Chinese short news summarization. DMSeqNet-mBART incorporates the Adaptive-DropMessage technique, an innovative methodology that intelligently discards or retains information contingent upon the attention mechanism’s output. Furthermore, the model integrates several enhanced technologies, such as dynamic convolutional layers, gated residual connections, customized feed-forward networks enhanced with batch normalization, self-attention, and cross-attention, all aimed at bolstering the performance and robustness of Chinese short news summarization. Rigorous comparative experiments, conducted across six recognized Chinese short news summary datasets, demonstrate that DMSeqNet-mBART significantly surpasses industry-leading models like T5, MLC, PLCC, and GPT-4 in terms of fluency, completeness, robustness, and accuracy. These results, as validated by benchmarks including BERTScore, BLEU, and ROUGE metrics, underscore the model’s superiority across diverse evaluation standards.

Thermodynamic modeling and analysis of a Carnot battery system integrating calcium looping thermochemical energy storage with coal-fired power plant

Long-term energy storage and carbon capture technologies are pivotal in managing renewable energy surpluses and achieving carbon neutrality. This paper proposes a Carnot battery system integrating calcium-looping thermochemical energy storage with a coal-fired power plant. The system utilizes excess electricity from the grid for energy input, facilitating long-term energy storage, achieving carbon capture, and reducing coal consumption in the power plant. An optimization framework is developed, incorporating component thermodynamic models and optimization algorithms, to maximize the coal savings in plants and energy efficiencies of the Carnot battery system. During the energy release process, the carbonator partially replaces the reheat load of the boiler, necessitating retrofitting of the boiler’s heating surface to ensure normal operation. The base system demonstrates a CO2 capture capacity of 3.23 MJ/kg and a reduction in coal consumption by 7.07 %. The round-trip efficiency and comprehensive efficiency of the base system are 36.93 % and 37.91 %, respectively. The relatively low energy efficiency is primarily due to the deactivation of circulating adsorbents and the limited efficiency of the subcritical coal-fired power plant. By incorporating an additional recarbonation step to mitigate adsorbent deactivation, the system’s comprehensive efficiency is improved to 42.20 %. Further improvements in system efficiency can be achieved by using modified adsorbents with high cycling stability instead of natural limestone and by coupling the system with more efficient ultra-supercritical units instead of the investigated subcritical units. This study offers valuable insights into the development of long-term energy storage solutions and multifunctional Carnot battery technology.

An intelligent droplet sorter using optimized liquid-metal electrodes for droplet sorting under a low voltage

The sorting of target droplets is an essential function in droplet microfluidics. Previous dielectrophoresis-based droplet sorters were often designed based on experience and required ultrahigh driving voltages of more than 1 kV. In this study, an intelligent droplet sorter (IDS) using optimized liquid-metal electrodes was developed for droplet sorting at a low voltage of 80 V. To explore the optimal structure, we carried out numerical simulations to optimize the dimensions, shapes, and layouts of the electrodes. The optimized IDS with a square active electrode and two pairs of shielding triangular electrodes was obtained based on the normalized dielectrophoresis force ξ and comprehensive efficiency η. Subsequently, the optimized electrodes made of liquid metal were used to deflect droplets under a low driving voltage of 80 V. Finally, we integrated our IDS with an intelligent droplet detection system and successfully applied the system for the sorting of target-encapsulated and empty droplets with encapsulation and collection efficiencies of over 90 %. Our IDS offers the advantages of low voltage, easy fabrication, and excellent performance and thus shows significant potential in sorting target droplets.

Efficiency evaluation and influencing factors of Industrial Internet enabling manufacturing industry

Abstract The industrial Internet is an important support for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. In the present work, a non-oriented SBM-DEA super-efficiency model is constructed. It takes Jiangsu Province in China as an example to estimate the efficiency of industrial Internet enabling manufacturing transformation and upgrading and further analyzes the influencing factors of enabling efficiency by using the Tobit model. It shows that the efficiency level of the transformation of the industrial Internet-enabling manufacturing industry varies greatly from place to place, the distribution is unstable, and there is a big contrast with the level of economic development in different places. The number of supporting service institutions, policy support, and the proportion of secondary industry have a significant positive influence on the enabling efficiency of the industrial Internet, while the degree of opening to the outside world has a significant inhibitory effect on the comprehensive efficiency of the industrial Internet.

استخدام طريقة Scramble لترقية كفاءة فهم النصوص العربية عند طلاب الفصل الثاني (أ) بالمدرسة العالية الإسلامية الحكومية 5 فيدي

This research aims to know the use of Scramble method to improve the comprehension efficiency of Arabic texts among second grade "A" students at the State Islamic High School 5 Pidie. The research method used by the researcher in this research is the procedural research method. The research tools used by the researcher in collecting data are observation, testing and documents. As for the research results, they are based on the procedural research conducted by the researcher to implement the Scramble method to improve the comprehension efficiency of Arabic texts among second grade "A" students. Its application in teaching reading Arabic texts in both terms of gaining the average value of the students' learning results in the first term means 62.4 and requires the application of the second term and the average score is 75.6. The teaching and learning process was effective and the students were active and enthusiastic in education.

Energy hub management for integrated energy systems: A multi-objective optimization control strategy based on distributed output and energy conversion characteristics

To improve the comprehensive utilization efficiency of energy, a multi-objective optimization control strategy applied to the energy hub (EH) within the system is proposed to address the electrical and thermal load distribution of the integrated energy system (IES) and the low-carbon economic operation. First, a model of the electrical and thermal energy outputs is established based on the characteristics of the IES network and the multidimensional “load parameter” evolution law. Moreover, a distributed control strategy is proposed that utilizes the information interaction between neighboring EHs to accurately share the electrical and thermal loads, which reduces the communication burden of the system while avoiding overloads. Furthermore, to coordinate the optimal operation of the devices within the hub, based on the energy conversion characteristics of the EH, a multi-objective optimization model is proposed that considers low-carbon and economic aspects to realize efficient energy use. Simulation results show that the proposed strategy effectively improves the robustness of the system while realizing proportional load distribution and low-carbon economic operation. Under the same load, when focusing on system economics, the operating cost is 2.182/¥ lower than when focusing on low-carbon systems, but carbon emission is 1.6753/kg CO2 higher.

Evaluation of regional comprehensive development efficiency under low-carbon policy: based on optimized DDF-GML combined with unsupervised clustering method

In the study of urban development, it is very important to evaluate the influence of production factors reasonably and efficiently for the region to achieve efficient development. The principal aim of this investigation is to amalgamate the conventional measurement model characterized by robust interpretability with the non-parametric model characterized by limited interpretability, thereby enhancing the precision of research outcomes. Towards this objective, the study employs an optimized directional distance function integrated with a global Malmquist–Luenberger index to formulate a comprehensive total factor productivity measurement framework. In elucidating the homogeneous attributes of regions, departing from prior methodologies reliant on manual or direct algorithmic partitioning, this paper employs the K-means clustering algorithm for index discernment, abstracting the concept of K-means clustering centroids to encapsulate regional homogeneity, thereby delineating results through the visualization of regional development potential maps and the evolution of centroid-based clustering trend maps. The findings of the investigation illuminate common patterns of change across disparate regions, proposing a strategy for leveraging regional resource endowments towards a cohesive framework, thereby transcending constraints imposed by production efficiency limitations. Amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study draws upon provincial-level data spanning from 2000 to 2018 in China. The conclusive analytical outcomes underscore the pivotal role of energy factors in regional development efficiency, particularly within high-potential development regions, followed by the capital and labor factors. Concurrently, the study discerns a discernible hierarchical pattern among areas of development potential, which exhibits correlation with factor mobility dynamics.

Developing A Semantic Ontology to Represent Knowledge About Thai Amulets

This study aims to construct a comprehensive ontology for Thai amulets that accurately encapsulates the scope of knowledge, structure, and concepts pertaining to this subject. The ontology development process encompasses three primary stages. The initial stage involves gathering expertise from specialists and relevant literature on Thai amulets. The subsequent stage examines individuals interested in amulets' behavior and information requirements. The final stage entails the creation of the ontology using the Protege program. This process is subdivided into three main tasks: 1) defining the objectives of the ontology, 2) constructing the ontology, and 3) evaluating the ontology. The development of the amulet knowledge ontology resulted in the establishment of 17 main classes and 20 subclasses. Structural efficiency was assessed using the OntOlogies Pitfall Scanner (OOPS!). Understanding the structural integrity of the amulets facilitates their dissemination and community utilization. Expert evaluations indicate that the ontology achieved a comprehensive efficiency rating of 4.63. Additionally, creating a semantic search system is deemed suitable for further development.

Comparative analysis of amine-functionalized silica for direct air capture (DAC): Material characterization, performance, and thermodynamic efficiency

Direct air capture (DAC) technology faces challenges due to energy-intensive processes and limited CO2 capture capacity under atmospheric concentration. Utilizing adsorption techniques with solid sorbents offers a sustainable solution. This study investigates the performance, efficiency, and regeneration energy of various amines (TEPA, low and high molecular weights PEI and APTES) functionalized mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for DAC. Comprehensive investigations, including characterization and thermodynamic efficiency evaluation, are conducted for CO2 adsorption under dry and humid conditions (50 % RH). Functionalizing SBA-15 with TEPA, PEI-L and PEI-H, and TEPA significantly improves CO2 adsorption, increasing capacities to 2.1, 1.36, and 1.11 mmol/g, respectively, and introduction of humidity further increases CO2 capacities to 3.17, 2.87, and 1.68 mmol/g, respectively. However, there’s a trade-off in thermodynamic efficiency due to energy consumed in desorbing water molecules. S-TEP exhibits the highest thermodynamic efficiency in dry conditions, while S-PEI-L achieves the highest efficiency in humid conditions. Stability tests of all material in addition to, the commercial material, lewatit demonstrate robust regenerability over 10 cycles under both dry and humid conditions (50 % RH). This study provides insights into functionalized SBA-15 performance in CO2 adsorption, with implications for efficient and sustainable indoor DAC processes.

Heat Transfer Performance and Operation Scheme of the Deeply Buried Pipe Energy Pile Group

This paper describes a study on the heat transfer properties of the deeply buried pipeline energy pile group, which is an efficient and convenient geothermal development technology. Through in situ experiments and a simulation algorithm, the research investigated the heat transmission characteristics of the deeply buried pipe energy pile group and optimized different intermittent operation schemes. The findings suggest that prolonged operation of the pile cluster intensifies heat buildup within the pile foundation, thereby adversely affecting the system’s overall heat exchange efficiency. Employing an intermittent operating mode can alleviate this heat accumulation phenomenon, thereby promoting sustained heat exchange performance of the piles over time. To evaluate the comprehensive thermal interaction and energy efficiency ratio of the energy pile heat exchange system, various intermittent operation strategies were compared in the study. Among them, the intermittent operational scheme with a ratio of n = 5 was found to be optimal, with the total average heat transfer rate of the pile set only 0.51% lower than that of the continuous operational mode, but the overall energy efficiency ratio improved by 19.6%. The intermittent operational mode proposed in this study can achieve the goal of saving energy and efficiently extracting geothermal resources, providing theoretical guidance for the extraction and utilization of subsurface geothermal power by energy piles.

The diffusion path and influencing factors of shrimp farming technology

Aquatic products have played an increasingly important role in residents’ diets, with improved production capacity and living standards in recent years. Accelerating the organic diffusion of aquaculture technology is an effective way to increase production. Taking the example of South American white shrimp aquaculture, this article combines carbon emissions and aquaculture cost benefits. By using data from South American white shrimp aquaculture in Hebei, Shandong, and Jiangsu Province in China from 2016 to 2021, the article innovatively considers aquaculture cycle carbon emissions as non-expected output, constructs a non-expected SBM-DEA super-efficiency model to evaluate the comprehensive efficiency of two aquaculture technologies, and analyzes the influencing factors of the diffusion of shrimp culture technology through case studies. The research results show that the comprehensive efficiency of factory-based aquaculture technology is generally better than pond-based aquaculture, but carbon emissions are higher in the factory model. The main factors affecting the diffusion of factory-based technology are policy support, social networks, farmers’ own situations, and technological attributes.

A comparative investigation of eco-friendly fly ash-based geopolymer mortar produced by using electrical and heat curing: Mechanical properties, energy consumption and cost

This study investigates the eco-friendly fly ash-based geopolymer mortar (GM) production using electrical curing (EC) and heat curing. Within the scope of the study, GM produced using the EC method was compared with GM produced using the heat curing (HC) method in terms of mechanical properties, energy consumption, and cost. The study consists of a preliminary experiment to determine the parameters to be used, mortar experiments using the limited parameters defined in preliminary experiments, and an energy consumption and cost analysis. In the preliminary experiments, different mix designs produced according to different MS modulus and Na2O concentrations were studied to decide an applicable range for temperatures of HC and an applicable range for voltages of EC. In the second stage, EC and HC were compared according to temperature changes in GMs, current changes in GMs, and compressive strength (CS). As a final stage, an energy consumption and cost analysis were performed to compare two curing methods according to the updated dollar-based unit prices for electricity per kWh for industrial uses in various countries in February 2024. Results showed that the MS modulus should be at least 1.2 and the Na2O concentration should be 10 % on average to obtain a workable mortar. The compressive strength of all mortars with any MS modulus increased up to 100 °C and then decreased HC applied samples. Stress values of 20, 25, 30, and 35 volts are applicable and the highest compressive strength values could be obtained with 25 volts, and 6 h of application is sufficient at 25 volts EC. MS module is a key parameter in current and temperature change. In EC application, 30 volts is the threshold value, and when an electrical voltage above 30 volts is applied, the mortar's internal temperature suddenly reaches the peak value and the desired compressive strength results cannot be achieved. According to the cost analysis, it is seen that the HC electricity cost is 6.78 times more than the EC cost. A comprehensive efficiency calculation is strongly recommended for future studies. It has also been concluded that geopolymers could gain strength at much lower voltage values, so they have the potential to consume less electrical energy in comparison to conventional concrete.

Exploration and practice of cleaner production of titanium dioxide by sulfuric acid process

In China, titanium dioxide production is still based on sulfuric acid process which suffers from high energy consumption, serious pollution and long process. For solves the traditional problems, cleaner production is an effective way for the high-quality development and comprehensive green transformation of sulfate titanium dioxide industry. Taking a titanium dioxide company in Panzhihua as an example, this paper expounds the exploration and practice of utilizing advanced process equipment to transform the original specific process and improve the clean production process and equipment. The company has upgraded the continuous acidolysis process, VCE (Vapor-Condense-Evaporate) crystallization process and MVR (Mechanical Vapor Recompression) concentration process for the three core sections with serious waste and energy consumption, and effectively coupled with the other original sections. Through the analysis of production operation, the new process significantly improves the comprehensive resources utilization efficiency of titanium, sulfur and iron, improves the working environment of labors, and reduces the energy consumption, the amount of three wastes and the production cost. Company in the gradual realization of cleaner production, made beneficial exploration.

Examining the Impact of Urban Connectivity on Urban Innovation Efficiency: An Empirical Study of Yangtze River Delta in China

Innovation serves as a vital catalyst for sustainable urban development, with the enhancement of urban innovation efficiency representing a critical strategy to bolster cities’ innovative capacity. Rigorous scientific measurement of urban innovation efficiency and thorough investigation into the key factors influencing it are imperative for advancing urban innovation capacity. Despite this significance, prior research has largely overlooked the impact of urban connections on urban innovation efficiency. Therefore, this paper undertakes the task of measuring the innovation efficiency of 27 cities within China’s Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region using an improved DEA model, while also examining the associated influencing factors. The primary findings are as follows: (1) The comprehensive efficiency of the 27 cities in the YRD remains relatively low, with pure technical efficiency representing a notable constraint, while scale efficiency demonstrates higher overall performance. (2) The cities can be classified into four distinct categories: innovation-leading, innovation-optimizing, innovation-breaking, and innovation-improving cities. (3) The urban innovation efficiency within the YRD exhibits negative spatial spillover effects. (4) And notably, local economic and social characteristics such as human capital and degree of openness play a positive role in enhancing innovation efficiency in YRD cities. Conversely, factors such as economic foundation and government involvement exhibit negative contributions to innovation efficiency enhancement in YRD cities. Additionally, population mobility between cities is identified as a significant contributor to urban innovation efficiency. This study sheds light on the complex dynamics shaping urban innovation efficiency and underscores the importance of leveraging urban connections to bolster innovation capacity in the YRD and beyond.

Effective Automation of End-to-End Testing for OTT Platforms

The rapid evolution of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms has reshaped the digital media landscape, necessitating robust testing strategies to ensure seamless user experiences and service reliability. Effective automation of end-to-end testing for OTT platforms emerges as a crucial strategy to address the complexities associated with diverse content delivery, user interactions, and varying device compatibilities. This paper explores the challenges and best practices in automating end-to-end testing processes for OTT platforms, focusing on integrating various testing tools, frameworks, and methodologies to achieve comprehensive coverage and efficiency. OTT platforms deliver content directly over the internet, bypassing traditional broadcast and cable channels. This direct-to-consumer approach introduces unique challenges in testing, such as ensuring consistent performance across different devices, network conditions, and content types. Additionally, the dynamic nature of content libraries and frequent updates necessitate rigorous testing to identify and rectify potential issues proactively. Automation, with its capacity to simulate real-world usage scenarios, streamline repetitive tasks, and enhance testing accuracy, plays a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. The paper first outlines the primary challenges in end-to-end testing for OTT platforms. These challenges include the need for cross-platform compatibility, performance under varying network conditions, and the ability to handle diverse content formats and streaming protocols. The complexities are compounded by the requirement for real-time performance metrics and user experience evaluations, which demand a sophisticated testing infrastructure.

Analysis of Oxygen Consumption in Lead and Zinc Metallurgy

This article analyzes the role of oxygen in lead zinc metallurgy, including shortening the metallurgical process, promoting energy conservation and environmental protection, improving metallurgical strength, enhancing raw material adaptability, and enhancing comprehensive recovery efficiency. This article introduces different lead zinc metallurgical processes and their oxygen consumption characteristics, including oxygen enriched side blowing lead smelting, oxygen bottom blowing lead smelting, oxygen enriched top blowing lead smelting, flash smelting lead, oxygen pressure leaching zinc smelting, and atmospheric pressure oxygen leaching zinc smelting. It is pointed out that oxygen enhanced metallurgy is the direction for the transformation and upgrading of lead zinc metallurgy.

Economic and Energy Efficiency Analysis of the Biogas Plant Digestate Management Methods

The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive economic and energy efficiency analysis of selected digestate management methods, considering their implications on operational costs and resource management. To achieve this aim, the study focuses on a comparative assessment of different digestate management methods, including land application, mechanical separation, the composting process and pellet production. The economic analysis involves the evaluation of the initial investment, operational expenses, and potential revenue streams associated with each method. The most economical and popular solution of digestate management is direct use as fertilizer, with total costs of 1.98 EUR·Mg−1. All of the other methods involve higher digestate management costs, respectively; for separation it is 2.42 EUR·Mg−1, for composting it is 2.81 EUR·Mg−1. The process that is the most energy-intensive, but profitable, is the production of pellets from digestate, resulting in profits of 334,926 EUR·year−1. It should be noted that the other analyzed methods of digestate management also bring many environmental benefits, affecting sustainability and reducing emissions. The results of this research will contribute unique data on the feasibility of managing the digestate and its fractions. The calculations of economic and energy values for different strategies will allow for the optimization of the overall performance of the biogas plant, thus promoting a circular economy.