Cost-effective System Research Articles

Novel approaches in developing sustainable and cost-effective semi-active suspension systems for smart vehicles—A review

The dynamic evolution of automotive technology necessitates integrating intelligent systems in suspension systems to enhance vehicle dynamic performance and environmental sustainability. The major challenge in the vehicle suspension design is to achieve an optimum tradeoff between riding comfort and ground holding with the available rattle space. Semi-active suspension systems (SASSs), which meet these requirements more effectively than passive and active systems, have gained prominence for their potential. Different SA control strategies and dampers have been developed to enhance dynamic performance. The optimal control strategies and design parameters improve the responsiveness of SASSs in the vehicle dynamic performance. The algorithms attempt to avail the full potential of various dampers controlled electronically. The accurate representation of nonlinearities in mathematical modeling with noise mitigation enhances the practical implementation of novel controllers in SASSs. This review investigates the forefront of research and development in SASSs, focusing on innovative strategies to make these systems more sustainable, adaptive, and cost-effective for smart vehicles. Semi-active magnetorheological dampers have more commercial applications than other dampers, but the high cost makes them unaffordable for economical cars. Several researchers have attempted to develop inexpensive, high-performance dampers that can vary damping coefficients precisely for different road conditions. Real-time energy harvesting-based dampers for sustainable electric mobility are under development. Commercially available SASSs are less expensive than active suspensions but they have limited applications than passive suspensions. The low market share of existing SASSs and their regenerative inability are the major drawbacks in making it a sustainable suspension system. The novel strategies attempted to develop an effective smart suspension system and its limitations are discussed in this review. The next generation of SASSs that aligns with the global drive towards smarter, greener, and economical vehicles is identified.

Ti3C2Tx MXene Electrode‐Electrolyte Interface Reactions at Different Stages of Charge/Discharge in Lithium and Sodium Half‐Cells

AbstractEnergy storage technologies necessitates efficient, cost effective, and durable storage systems like Li‐ion batteries (LIBs), with high energy density. Emerging 2D materials like MXenes have become significant for battery applications. Herein, titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) synthesized and lattice engineered via ‐OH surface terminations removal by thermal processing is well explained. The synthesized samples were subjected to annealing at 250 and 500 °C. All the samples were characterized using XRD, TEM, XPS, etc. Subsequently, they were tested in the half‐cell configuration for both lithium and sodium ion batteries (NIBs). It is observed that the best performance for lithium‐ion storage capacity was 200 mAh/g at 50 mA/g and 125 mAh/g at the same specific current for sodium‐ion storage for the 500 °C processed sample. However, for both the systems the cycling stability was exceptional maintaining high retention till the end of 1000 cycles. To establish the performance, electrochemical impedance and ex situ XPS results at different voltage of 1st charge/discharge were correlated for the best sample. Thus, providing information that is unavailable in the literature on MXene‐electrolyte interactions, kinetics and the chemical nature of solid‐electrolyte interface layer for both lithium and sodium‐ion batteries.

Measuring nearshore waves at break point in 4D with Stereo-GoPro photogrammetry: A field comparison with multi-beam LiDAR and pressure sensors

Measuring nearshore waves remains technically challenging despite wave properties are being used in a variety of applications. With the promise of high-resolution and remotely-sensed measurements of water surfaces in four dimensions (spatially and temporally), stereo-photogrammetry applied to video imagery has grown as a viable solution over the last ten years. However, past deployments have essentially used costly cameras and optics, requiring fixed deployment platforms and hindering the applicability of the method in the field.Focusing on close-range measurements of nearshore waves at break point, this paper presents a detailed evaluation of a field-oriented and cost-effective stereo-video system composed of two GoProTM(Hero 7) cameras capable of collecting 12-megapixel imagery at 24 frames per second. The so-called ‘Stereo-GoPro’ system was deployed in the surf zone during energetic conditions at a macrotidal field site using a custom-assembled mobile tower. Deployed concurrently with stereo-video, a 16-beam LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and two pressure sensors provided independent data to assess stereo-GoPro performance. All three methods were compared with respect to the evolution of the free-surface elevation over 25 min of recording at high tide and the wave parameters derived from spectral analysis. We show that stereo-GoPro allows producing digital elevation models (DEMs) of the water surface over large areas (250 m2) at high spatial resolution (0.2 m grid size), which was unsurpassed by the LiDAR. From instrument inter-comparisons at the location of the pressure transducers, free-surface elevation root-mean square errors of 0.11 m and 0.18 m were obtained respectively for LiDAR and stereo-GoPro. This translated into a maximum relative error of 3.9% and 12.5% on spectral wave parameters for LiDAR and stereo-GoPro, respectively. Optical distortion in imagery, which could not be completely corrected with calibration, was the main source of error. Whilst stereo-video processing workflow remains complex, cost-effective stereo-photogrammetry already opens new opportunities for deriving wave parameters in coastal regions, as well as for various other practical applications. Further tests should try to address specifically challenges associated to variable ambient conditions and acquisition configurations, affecting measurement performance, to guarantee a larger uptake of the technique.

Comprehensive honey authentication in Bangladesh: Profiling physicochemical and bioactive compounds to distinguish floral sources and detect adulteration

This study aims to advance honey authentication in Bangladesh by developing a reliable, cost-effective, and user-friendly system capable of distinguishing floral sources and purity. We analyzed various physicochemical parameters and bioactive compounds in honey samples from diverse floral sources across Bangladesh during different floral seasons, including deliberately adulterated samples. Results showed clear distinctions among the tested parameters. Notably, moisture content exhibited considerable variability, with the highest levels found in kholisha (24.07%–24.99 %) and the lowest in black cumin honey (17.80%–27.46 %). Jujube honey exhibited the highest protein content at 10 % adulteration, whereas mustard honey showed the least at 20 % adulteration. Generally, adulterated honey samples showed a considerable deviation in protein content compared to known standards for pure honey, suggesting adulteration significantly impacts protein levels. Black cumin honey showed the highest electrical conductivity, followed by jujube. Antioxidant levels were highest in litchi honey, followed by ayurvedic and kholisha. Multivariate analysis revealed that two principal components explained 65 % of total variances and could separate the various clusters of honey samples. The pH values, total phenolic, total flavonoid, protein content, electrical conductivity, color intensity at 360 nm and 635 nm, and antioxidant properties of all tested honey samples showed a strong positive correlation. Overall, the manuscript strategically combines experimental findings with detailed analyses to explore the complex nature of honey composition, adulteration issues, and the significance of authenticating honey to maintain quality and ensure consumer trust in the market. This study is the first to employ a comprehensive set of physicochemical and bioactive indicators with multivariate analysis for honey authentication in Bangladesh, offering a novel and systematic approach to identifying purity and floral sources.

Low-Cost IoT-Based Sensors Dashboard for Monitoring the State of Health of Mobile Harbor Cranes: Hardware and Soft-ware Description

A cost-effective IoT-based real-time data acquisition and analysis hardware system was developed to enhance the performance of the mobile harbor cranes using a combination of a cost-effective quality control monitoring sensor dashboard (proximity sensors, angle position sensor, weight sensor, vibration sensor, and wind sensor), embedded microcontroller (Arduino), and embedded computer (Raspberry Pi). Hardware was operated using a specially developed novel Quality Control and Data Acquisition Multiprocessing software (QC-DAS). The QC-DAS can automatically collect and save real-time data of the sensors in a large-capacity SD card, monitor the state of health of the hardware, and transmit the real-time data of the sensors and the working state of the crane to an IoT server. The novelty of the QC-DAS design is that each function is encapsulated in a predefined module that is "immersed" in a message transmission medium. Modules interact by sending and receiving various signals through this medium. Modularity makes system design simpler, faster, and flexible. Thanks to modularity, users may incorporate their data processing modules when new sensors are added to match the system's needs. Thanks to modularity the DC-DAS can operate quality control hardware for any mobile cranes. There are several constraints in the quality control data acquisition system used by the Damietta Port Authority in Damietta, Egypt, SESCO TRANS company which cause the loading and unloading process to be slowed down. As a result, the SESCO TRANS company upgraded its quality control data acquisition system using the QC-DAS. The hardware was deployed for six months, during which the collected data was used to verify the crane's performance. The vibration produced by the slewing of the crane was monitored and compared with the bearing fault frequency limits, during the operation the wind speed was monitored and compared with the critical wind speed to stop the crane operation automatically, and the payloads data of the six months was collected and was used to calculate the working efficiency of the load and unload process of the crane. The results demonstrated that while maintenance costs were decreased, the crane load/unload procedure was improved. The SESCO TRANS company crane operators approved the developed approach and appreciated the achieved results.

Effects of Green Manure Cover Crops on Weed Suppression at Mashare and Liselo, Namibia

Small-scale farming communities in northern Namibia often encounter poor soil fertility and financial constraints. They don’t afford buying mineral fertilizers and herbicides, thus highlighting the need for cost-effective cropping systems that enhance productivity. While green manure cover crops (GMCCs) have been extensively studied elsewhere and shown to boost productivity, information on their use remains limited in Namibia. Experiments were conducted over two seasons (2016/2017-2017/2018) at Mashare Irrigation Training Center (MITC) and Liselo Research Station (LRS), which have different soil types, to explore the effects of rotating Pearl millet and maize with various GMCCs on crop weed populations. The experiments compared the effects of rotating nine different GMCCs with Pearl millet and maize separately against monocropping of Pearl millet and maize. Results showed that weed density varied across treatments and locations, with the highest densities observed in certain rotations, such as Pearl millet-pigeon pea and maize-pigeon pea, while the lowest densities were found in rotations involving lablab and velvet bean. This is indicative that lablab and velvet bean suppressed weeds better than all other GMCCs, while pigeon pea was vulnerable to weed infestation. Lablab exhibited the highest biomass yields. Overall, rotating Pearl millet and maize with cover crops demonstrated greater benefits compared to monocropping, emphasizing the need to identify suitable cover crops for specific niches to optimize productivity.

A One Health approach to pastoral (im)mobility, health, and disease: A qualitative participatory study in Plateau State, Nigeria.

In Plateau State, pastoralism has historically been a cost effective and resilient economic system well-suited to the ecological context. However, changes in land use and conflict have increasingly changed patterns of mobility. Pastoralist movement is now often associated with zoonotic disease transmission, environmental degradation and conflict, increasingly resulting in forced sedentarisation. Rather than a direct outcome of population movement however, animal, human and zoonotic disease drivers are complex and influenced by a range of socio-economic and environmental factors. The interlinkages of (im)mobility and health requires better understanding of underlying vulnerabilities to disease, which we aim to address in this study. Using a multisite case study methodology we investigated pastoralists' animal and human health concerns and priorities in Plateau State, Nigeria. We deployed participatory tools, including open-ended Focus Group Discussions, transect walks, mapping exercises, calendars and matrices. Data were analysed using a One Health conceptual framework. We interviewed 105 participants, from transhumance, migratory and sedentary households, dependent on livestock and small-scale crops. While transhumance was often preferred, participants had become sedentary as a result of insecurity, loss in livestock, and household characteristics. Humans and animals suffered from several endemic diseases, including zoonoses, however veterinary and human health services are only available in larger towns, and people mostly rely on community (animal) health workers and self-medication. Both transhumance and sedentary livestock keepers face challenges around forage grazing, regularly blocked by landowners, sometimes escalating into conflict. While conflict and changes in land use affected animal and human disease patterns, underlying political, social and economic risk factors were important determinants of health. There is a need for more inclusive, transdisciplinary, multilevel approaches to address animal and human disease, based on better contextualization of the challenges, through the participation of affected communities.

Wazuh SIEM for Cyber Security and Threat Mitigation in Apparel Industries

Security of IT infrastructure is critical in the modern digital environment, particularly for industries that manufacture clothing. The application of the Wazuh Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system to improve security monitoring and compliance for an IT system in the apparel industry is the main topic of this study. To improve the apparel industry cyber threat monitoring system in real-time monitoring, detecting the threat vectors that support the centralized management system, to meet these objectives of the company, an SIEM security management system has been installed and configured with the components of Wazuh manager, indexer, Wazuh agent, and Wazuh dashboard as well. An Oracle virtual lab environment was created to install and configure the Wazuh system a robust Linux operating system was installed at the server level and Windows 10 was installed on the client end to the authenticity failure of the security system. To implement the Wazuh system, the project management guideline was followed which ensured the planning and implementation of the project, testing phases, and along with review and maintenance. Wazuh security management system successfully identified the authentical failure reports and vulnerabilities and generated automated reports from the system that showed the result of 1 critical, 19 high, and 5 medium levels of vulnerabilities shown in Figure 6, and the necessary patch recommended to solve the critical issues. On the other hand, the system also generated security events as well as integrity monitoring system reports. The deployment of the Wazuh security management system ensured the robust cost-effective security management system with high quality for detecting cyber threats which supports the regulatory and compliance requirements and is a viable tool for the apparel industry to protect the stakeholders’ interest.

Removal of moisture from air by cooling method

Moisture removal from air is a critical aspect of climate control in various industrial and residential applications. The cooling method, which relies on the condensation of water vapor by lowering air temperature below its dew point, is one of the most commonly used techniques for dehumidification. This study investigates the principles, effectiveness, and limitations of the cooling method in different environmental conditions. By examining the impact of factors such as ambient temperature, humidity levels, and cooling system design, this research aims to identify strategies for optimizing energy efficiency in dehumidification processes. Experimental results highlight the correlation between cooling temperature and condensation rates, emphasizing the need for advanced cooling technologies to reduce energy consumption. The findings contribute to the development of more sustainable and cost-effective dehumidification systems, offering valuable insights for enhancing HVAC performance and reducing environmental impact.

Secure low-cost photovoltaic monitoring system based on LoRaWAN network and artificial intelligence

The advanced study will focus on developing a secure and cost-effective photovoltaic monitoring system using Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) and Artificial Intelligence technologies for highly risky missions. With the world shifting to using renewable energy, the development of secure and efficient cost-effective monitoring systems for photovoltaic installations becomes very important. However, most of the solutions in use for PV installation monitoring are characterized by high costs, hence their limited use, especially in developing regions. In this regard, the present work presents country-specific protocols designed for the country of Turkey. The proposed system in this study is expected to offer real-time monitoring and data collection at a very meager cost by utilizing inexpensive microcontrollers and sensors. The accuracy rate demonstrated by the research is highly above board: 97.65%. It costs $210, with a very low power consumption of 0.5W and a range of 10 km. The major features underpin real-time monitoring with wide area coverage for effectiveness and efficiency in PVs monitoring. Test results in many places around Turkey have turned out reliable and accurate to justify a possible reduction in operational costs without compromising the quality of data received. This design is reinforced by a detailed mathematical model that assures one of its thorough analysis in performance. There is custom-built firmware that enhances communication efficiency and ensures data integrity in implementation. Comparative studies carried out with existing technologies indicate that the proposed system is cost-effective and operationally sound. This work gives a scalable, low-cost solution that probably might raise the uptake of PV systems in economically constrained areas.

Hydrogen production from energetic poplar and waste sludge by electrohydrogenesis using membraneless microbial electrolysis cells

Membraneless microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are potentially considered to produce biohydrogen (bioH2) in a green manner and simultaneously minimize agricultural and wastewater facility wastes. However, effective, sustainable, and cost-effective system configuration and improvement of operating variables, working at ambient conditions, are needed to make the MEC a sustainable process. Therefore, this study investigates the bioH2 production from poplar leaves and anaerobic sludge mixture by incorporating nanomaterials comprising Al2O3, MgO, and Fe2O3 metal oxides at various dosages. Moreover, the effects of applied cell voltage (0.5–1.5 V) and inoculum amount (20–40 mL) on bioH2 production and organic matter removal performance are evaluated. The maximum bioH2 production value is 417 mL at an applied voltage of 1.5 V with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 37.6 % under operating times of 5 min using 40 ml of inoculum. The bioH2 production of the MEC system is reduced with the decrease in inoculum amount. The highest bioH2 production of 828 mL is obtained at improved conditions in the presence of 1 g of Fe2O3 metal oxide. Overall, this study provides the potentiality of simultaneous waste minimization and bioH2 production under ambient conditions that highlight the waste-to-energy pathway for membraneless and green bioelectrochemical process.

Financial inclusion, ICT development and economic growth in WAEMU countries: evidence of governance

PurposeThe main objective of this paper is to examine how short- and long-term dynamics can be promoted through economic growth policies, financial inclusion initiatives, institutions and ICT infrastructure development. The study focuses on West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) member countries over for the period 2000–2020 and the empirical evidence is based on the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method. Our empirical results show that the synthetic index variables of financial inclusion, ICT infrastructure development and individual or composite governance institutions indicators are positively and significantly interrelated in both the short and long runs. A dynamic combination of variables is essential for WAEMU countries to achieve long-term economic development. Policy implications are discussed.Design/methodology/approachConsistent with our goal of testing the dynamics of financial inclusion, governance and ICT on economic growth, we will estimate our equations using the ARDL panel method. ARDL models or autoregressive models with staggered or distributed delays are dynamic models. The particularity of these models is that they take into account temporal dynamics (i.e. expectations, adjustment delays and inter alia), so we adopted a lagged autoregressive model (ARDL). The popularity of the ARDL approach also stems from the fact that the cointegration of nonstationary variables is equivalent to an error correction (EC) process.FindingsThe empirical results simultaneously depict strong endogenous associations between these variables in the short and long run. The short-run analysis indicates that economic growth, financial inclusion, institutional quality and ICT infrastructure development are strongly interdependent. These union states, in their economic growth policies, encourage the financial inclusion (access and penetration of bank branches) of disadvantaged communities. However, efficient institutional policies reinforce this sustainable growth. The efficient use of telecommunications infrastructure requires the regulation of informal employment in WAEMU countries for the better deployment of efficient, secure and cost-effective digital financial payment systems (fintech).Research limitations/implicationsThe findings in this study evidently leave space for future research, especially as it concerns considering how composite governance can be employed as a moderating indicator for financial inclusion. In conclusion, there is an interdependence between financial inclusion, ICT, institutions and economic growth. An effective combination of these elements can create an ecosystem conducive to economic development by promoting access to financial services, harnessing the benefits of ICT and building robust institutions. However, challenges can also arise, such as the need for appropriate regulations and security guarantees for electronic transactions.Practical implicationsGovernments should strengthen financial inclusion and promote policies aimed at improving access to financial services, such as microcredits, mobile banking and initiatives for the unbanked. Financial education is crucial for enhancing financial inclusion. Educational programs that teach citizens how to use financial services can increase participation and stimulate economic growth. Moreover, policies should focus on improving digital infrastructure, such as broadband networks and data centers, to facilitate access to the internet and other technologies and to promote innovation and startups. Governments should strive to create a balanced regulatory framework that encourages investment and innovation while avoiding excessive regulation that could hinder growth. Implementing targeted regulatory reforms to improve efficiency and transparency can enhance investor confidence and support a more dynamic economic environment.Originality/valueThis work constitutes a considerable contribution to the literature on finance, institutions and growth in WAEMU countries and in terms of methodology. The findings in this study evidently leave space for future research, especially as it concerns considering how composite governance can be employed as a moderating indicator for financial inclusion. In conclusion, there is an interdependence between financial inclusion, ICT, institutions and economic growth. An effective combination of these elements can create an ecosystem conducive to economic development by promoting access to financial services, harnessing the benefits of ICT and building robust institutions.

An actuator-disk model augmentation for low-pressure axial fan simulation

Abstract Actuator-disk rotor models are important simulation tools for cost-effective industrial axial fan system analysis. Actuator-disk fan model performance, however, is constrained by the conventional use of 2D airfoil coefficient input data which limits the accuracy of the models to a narrow operating range free from significant secondary radial blade flow effects. Radial blade flow is characteristic of off-design fan operation which is often unavoidable within typical industrial fan system environments, so the enhancement of actuator-disk model performance for these conditions is desired. This paper accordingly presents a new means of robustly determining actuator-disk model coefficient inputs that are suitable for a wide range of fan operating conditions. The proposed Augmented Actuator-disk Method (AADM) capitalizes on new insights on the unique aerodynamic behavior of low-pressure axial fan rotors. The performance of the AADM is evaluated for two different industrial cooling fans and is shown to outperform existing actuator-disk coefficient formulations through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The AADM is shown to better predict key fan performance metrics, spanwise blade force distributions, and to produce flow fields that are more physically representative (an important feature for industrial heat exchanger studies where the AADM is anticipated to be commonly applied). The AADM has been developed to be easily adopted in generic industrial fan analyses and is expected to serve as a valuable springboard for future actuator-disk fan model developments.

Improving Electrochemical Performance in Planar On-Chip Zn-ion Micro-Batteries via Interlayer Strategies.

The imperative development of planar on-chip micro-batteries featuring high-capacity electrodes and environmentally safer, cost-effective, and stable systems is crucial for powering forthcoming miniaturized systems-on-chip smart devices. However, research in the area of high-stability micro-batteries is limited due to the complex fabrication process, the stability of micro-electrodes during cycling, and the challenge of maintaining higher capacity within a limited device footprint. In response to this need, this study focuses on providing highly stable and high-capacity micro-electrodes. This involves adding a PEDOT layer between the electrode material and the current collector, applied within a planar polyaniline cathode and zinc anode device structure to enhance charge storage performance. This straightforward strategy not only improves device stability over long-term cycling and reduces charge transfer resistance but also increases charge storage capacities from 17.64 to 19.75 µAhcm- 2 at 0.1 mAcm- 2. Consequently, the Zn-ion micro-batteries achievenotable peak areal energy and power of 18.82 µWhcm- 2 and 4.37 mWcm- 2, respectively. This work proposes an effective strategy to enhance the electrochemical performance of planar micro-batteries, a critical advancement for the development of advanced portable electronics.

Identifying the Layout of Retrofitted Rainwater Harvesting Systems with Passive Release for the Dual Purposes of Water Supply and Stormwater Management in Northern Taiwan

Due to its unique climate and geography, Taiwan experiences abundant rainfall but still faces significant water scarcity. As a result, rainwater harvesting systems (RWHSs) have been recognized as potential water resources within both water legal and green building policies. However, the effects of climate change—manifested in more frequent extreme rainfall events and uneven rainfall distribution—have heightened the risks of both droughts and floods. This underscores the need to retrofit existing RWHSs to function as stormwater management tools and water supply sources. In Taiwan, the use of simple and cost-effective passive release systems is particularly suitable for such retrofits. Four key considerations are central to designing passive release RWHSs: the type of discharge outlet, the size of the outlet, the location of the outlet, and the system’s operational strategy. This study analyzes three commonly used outlet types—namely, the orifice, short stub fitting, and drainage pipe. Their respective discharge flow formulas and design charts have been developed and compared. To determine the appropriate outlet size, design storms with 2-, 5-, and 10-year return periods in the Taipei area were utilized to examine three different representative buildings. Selected combinations of outlet diameters and five different outlet locations were assessed. Additionally, probably hazardous rainfall events between 2014 and 2023 were used to verify the results obtained from the design storm analysis. Based on these analyses, the short stub fitting outlet type with a 15 mm outlet diameter was selected and verified. For determining the suitable discharge outlet location, a three-step process is recommended. First, the average annual water supply reliability for different scenarios and outlet locations in each representative building is calculated. Using this information, the maximum allowable decline in water supply reliability and the corresponding outlet location can be identified for each scenario. Second, break-even points between average annual water supply and regulated stormwater release curves, as well as the corresponding outlet locations, are identified. Finally, incremental analyses of average annual water supply and regulated stormwater release curves are conducted to determine the suitable outlet location for each scenario and representative building. For the representative detached house (DH), scenario 2, which designates 50% of the tank’s volume as detention space (i.e., the discharge outlet located halfway up the tank), and scenario 3, which designates 75% (i.e., the discharge outlet at one-quarter of the tank height), are the most suitable options. For the four-story building (FSB), the outlet located at one-quarter of the tank’s height is suitable for both scenarios 2 and 3. For the eight-story building (ESB), scenario 2, with the outlet at one-quarter of the tank’s height, and scenario 3, with the outlet at the lowest point on the tank’s side, are preferred. The framework developed in this study provides drainage designers with a systematic method for determining the key parameters in passive-release RWHS design at the household scale.

Off-grid PV/biomass/DG/battery hybrid renewable energy as a source of electricity for a farm facility

Reliable, cost-effective energy systems are pivotal for sustainable development in the agricultural sector. Using the energy balance analysis of the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER), this study presents a techno-economic assessment of a hybrid renewable energy system for a farm facility. The energy system components considered in the analysis include solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, diesel generators, biomass, and battery storage. The results shows that ten feasible energy systems can technically power the typical farm facility, with a PV-Biomass-DG battery being the best in terms of the total net present cost. The PV-Biomass-DG-battery systems consist of 561.023 kW of PV, 88 kW of diesel generator, 10 kW of biomass, 81 kW of converter, and 584 batteries operated in a load-following mode. When the cost of energy (COE) of EA1 0.206325 $/kWh is compared to EA7 0.407681 $/kWh, a difference of $0.201356 will be saved for every kWh. Also, a comparison of the operating cost of EA1, $65,713.23 and the operating cost of EA7 $212,027.4 showed a margin of $146,314.17 being saved. Energy systems EA3 and EA4 had the lowest carbon dioxide production levels of 15.8 kg annually, respectively. The simple payback period metrics increased from EA1 to EA6 between 2.97 years to 6.99 years. The result of the study shows that adopting a low-carbon energy transition is technically and economically viable for the agricultural sector, especially in developing countries.

Influenza-Like Illness in Lesotho From July 2020 to July 2021: Population-Based Participatory Surveillance Results.

Participatory surveillance involves at-risk populations reporting their symptoms using technology. In Lesotho, a landlocked country of 2 million people in Southern Africa, laboratory and case-based COVID-19 surveillance systems were complemented by a participatory surveillance system called "LeCellPHIA" (Lesotho Cell Phone Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment Survey). This report describes the person, place, and time characteristics of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Lesotho from July 15, 2020, to July 15, 2021, and reports the risk ratio of ILI by key demographic variables. LeCellPHIA employed interviewers to call participants weekly to inquire about ILI. The average weekly incidence rate for the year-long period was created using a Quasi-Poisson model, which accounted for overdispersion. To identify factors associated with an increased risk of ILI, we conducted a weekly data analysis by fitting a multilevel Poisson regression model, which accounted for 3 levels of clustering. The overall response rate for the year of data collection was 75%, which resulted in 122,985 weekly reports from 1776 participants. ILI trends from LeCellPHIA mirrored COVID-19 testing data trends, with an epidemic peak in mid to late January 2021. Overall, any ILI symptoms (eg, fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath) were reported at an average weekly rate of 879 per 100,000 (95% CI 782-988) persons at risk. Compared to persons in the youngest age group (15-19 years), all older age groups had an elevated risk of ILI, with the highest risk of ILI in the oldest age group (≥60 years; risk ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.7-3.8). Weekly data were shared in near real time with the National COVID-19 Secretariat and other stakeholders to monitor ILI trends, identify and respond to increases in reports of ILI, and inform policies and practices designed to reduce COVID-19 transmission in Lesotho. LeCellPHIA, an innovative and cost-effective system, could be replicated in countries where cell phone ownership is high but internet use is not yet high enough for a web- or app-based surveilance system.

Increased access to pediatric specialist healthcare using eConsult: A retrospective observational cohort and case–control study

ABSTRACT Objectives Primary care practitioners (PCPs) report that using the Champlain BASE™ eConsult service (eConsult) averts one-third of face-to-face (FTF) specialist referrals, however, there are concerns about duplication of services and adverse patient outcomes. Following an eConsult, we evaluated patient healthcare utilization and associated treatment costs. Methods Retrospective cohort study (2014 to 2018) of patients (<18 years old) for whom an eConsult visit averted a FTF specialist referral. Patients were linked to provincial health administrative databases and hospital electronic medical records for healthcare use for the same diagnosis and specialty for the 18 months following the eConsult. Concurrently, a retrospective case–control study compared utilization and costs between an eConsult versus a matched FTF visit for the same diagnosis. We also assessed PCP satisfaction. Results In follow-up, <5% of the study cohort of eConsult patients (n = 242) later accessed the healthcare system for the identical diagnosis and specialty type. FTF visits generate more frequent outpatient visits (12.6 times more [95% CI: 2.28 to 69.66, P = 0.002]) and higher costs compared to eConsult visits. There were no hospital admissions or deaths in patients with eConsult. PCPs (98%) described eConsult as an excellent service. Conclusions Using eConsult is associated with <5% of patients subsequently having a FTF visit for the same reason. Matched FTF visits generated more healthcare utilization and higher costs compared with eConsult. eConsult in pediatrics is safe and can minimize FTF specialist visits in elective cases and increase capacity, towards a more efficient and cost-effective healthcare system.

QM-ARC: QoS-aware Multi-tier Adaptive Cache Replacement Strategy

Distributed data-centric systems, such as Named Data Networking, utilize in-network caching to reduce application latency by buffering relevant data in high-speed memory. However, the significant increase in data traffic makes expanding memory capacity prohibitively expensive. To address this challenge, integrating technologies like non-volatile memory and high-speed solid-state drives with dynamic random-access memory can form a cost-effective multi-tier cache system. Additionally, most existing caching policies focus on categorizing data based on recency and frequency, overlooking the varying Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements of applications and customers—a concept supported by Service Level Agreements in various service delivery models, particularly in Cloud computing. One of the most prominent algorithms in caching policy literature is the Adaptive Replacement Cache (ARC), that uses recency and frequency lists but does not account for QoS. In this paper, we propose a QoS-aware Multi-tier Adaptive Replacement Cache (QM-ARC) policy. QM-ARC extends ARC by incorporating QoS-based priorities between data applications and customers using a penalty concept borrowed from service-level management practices. QM-ARC is generic, applicable to any number of cache tiers, and can accommodate various penalty functions. Furthermore, we introduce a complementary feature for QM-ARC that employs Q-learning to dynamically adjust the sizes of the two ARC lists. Our solution, evaluated using both synthetic and real-world traces, demonstrates significant improvements in QoS compared to state-of-the-art methods by better considering priority levels. Results show that QM-ARC reduces penalties by up to 45% and increases the hit rate for high priority data by up to 84%, without negatively impacting the overall hit rate, which also increases by up to 61%.

A novel Real-time Control System for next generation gravitational-wave detectors

This contribution presents the INFN Pisa group research and development efforts aimed at defining and implementing a novel Real-time Control System (RCS) for next-generation interferometers, focusing on the initial phase of the Einstein Telescope (ET) gravitational wave detector. The RCS handles complex closed-loop systems, managing data collection from sensing elements, processing and actuator control within well defined time constraints. It integrates multiple spatially distributed control units, facilitating communications among them, with external systems as well as with users. Two distinct hardware approaches are explored: “Katane” and “Zancle”. These systems primarily differ in their core processing elements. The “Katane” system is built on powerful DSP processor boards, based on the Super-Attenuator control system, developed at INFN Pisa for Advanced Virgo detector. It uses the MicroTCA.4 architecture standard, ensuring flexibility, easy maintenance, and fast data exchange among the various custom modules, including several types of Front-End data converter boards, FPGA-based pre-processing boards, DSPs and standard processors. On the other hand, ”Zancle” explores GPU-based processing, aiming to use cost-effective consumer market systems and to leverage substantial computational power of these devices, also incorporating machine learning algorithms.