Unconventional Methods Research Articles

Advances in drug delivery technology for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a particularly aggressive and malignant type of brain tumor, notorious for its high recurrence rate and low survival rate. The treatment of GBM is challenging mainly because several issues associated with the GBM microenvironment have not yet been resolved. These obstacles originate from a variety of factors such as genetics, anatomy, and cytology, all of which collectively hinder the treatment of GBM. Recent advances in materials and device engineering have presented new perspectives with regard to unconventional drug administration methods for GBM treatment. Such novel drug delivery approaches, based on the clear understanding of the intrinsic properties of GBM, have shown promise in overcoming some of the obstacles. In this review, we first recapitulate the first-line therapy and clinical challenges in the current treatment of GBM. Afterwards, we introduce the latest technological advances in drug delivery strategies to improve the efficiency for GBM treatment, mainly focusing on materials and devices. We describe such efforts by classifying them into two categories, systemic and local drug delivery. Finally, we discuss unmet challenges and prospects for the clinical translation of these drug delivery technologies.

Environmentally Friendly Methods for Flavonoid Extraction from Plant Material: Impact of Their Operating Conditions on Yield and Antioxidant Properties.

The flavonoids are compounds synthesized by plants, and they have properties such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial, among others. One of the most important bioactive properties of flavonoids is their antioxidant effect. Synthetic antioxidants have side toxic effects whilst natural antioxidants, such as flavonoids from natural sources, have relatively low toxicity. Therefore, it is important to incorporate flavonoids derived from natural sources in several products such as foods, cosmetics, and drugs. For this reason, there is currently a need to extract flavonoids from plant resources. In this review are described the most important parameters involved in the extraction of flavonoids by unconventional methods such as ultrasound, pressurized liquid extraction, mechanochemical, high hydrostatic pressure, supercritical fluid, negative pressure cavitation, intensification of vaporization by decompression to the vacuum, microwave, infrared, pulsed electric field, high-voltage electrical discharges, and enzyme-assisted extraction. There are no unified operation conditions to achieve high yields and purity. Notwithstanding, progress has been achieved in the development of more advanced and environmentally friendly methods of extraction. Although in literature are found important advances, a complete understanding of the extraction process in each of the unconventional techniques is needed to determine the thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms that govern each of the techniques.

Analysis of small holes manufacturing for optomechanical components

Small holes can be manufactured by several ways. It is important to define in what dimensions the small holes vary. Anyway, drilling is one of the oldest technologies of holes manufacturing. In small dimensions we use the term microdrilling for description. Beside this conventional way of manufacture there are also unconventional methods. Microdrilling bits very often break before they are worn. Therefore, the tool life of these bits its quite unexpectable. It is due to relatively high load against the drill bit strength. So, it is important to choose proper drill bit material, cutting geometry, construction, process liquid, clamping and cutting conditions. These parameters are import for achieving ideal conditions for microdrilling. Even a tiny change in pre-seted parameters can lead to destruction of these delicate tools. Fiber arrays are designed and manufactured for precise positioning of optical fibers in row (1D) or in plate (2D). Fiber arrays can contain most of fibers including polarization maintaining fibers (PMF).

Automated Microseismic Processing and Integrated Interpretation of Induced Seismicity during a Multistage Hydraulic-Fracturing Stimulation, Alberta, Canada

ABSTRACT The development of organic-rich, low-permeability formations for hydrocarbon production requires the use of unconventional techniques such as multiwell pad drilling of horizontal wells and massive multistage hydraulic-fracturing stimulations. However, proliferation of these unconventional development methods has been linked to localized cases of fault reactivation during or shortly after hydraulic fracturing. In the Duvernay formation, located in Alberta, Canada, induced seismicity from hydraulic fracturing has occurred on nearly vertical strike-slip faults that are difficult to detect with conventional seismic exploration methods. In such cases, faults may only be discernible from seismic events with precise and accurate locations, which generally requires dense seismic monitoring arrays deployed near the stimulated wells. In this study, we introduce a new, semiautomated workflow for processing passive seismic data from a dense array and then integrate it with a 3D seismic dataset to characterize seismicity clusters related to hydraulic fracturing and pre-existing faults. The reactivated faults inferred from the distribution of the microseismic events directly overlie a system of incised, middle Devonian channels below the Duvernay formation observed in time slices extracted from the 3D seismic data. The channel system exhibits a set of lateral offsets, interpreted as ancient strike-slip fault displacements, the detection of which is further enhanced by use of a similarity attribute calculated from the 3D seismic data. Taken together, integrated interpretation of induced seismicity and 3D seismic data support a model of a regional left-lateral strike-slip fault system that was active during the middle Devonian and reactivated in a reverse sense (right-lateral strike slip) during hydraulic-fracturing operations.

Patterns of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Saudi Arabian Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) concerns a group of chronic autoimmune diseases that results in uncontrolled inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which can lead to long-term complications. Conventional treatments for IBD usually target inflammation and include biologics and immunosuppressants, which have been associated with significant adverse effects. Also, non-response to biologics has been reported in up to 50% of patients. Hence, patients sometimes turn to unconventional methods of treatment, such as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In this study, we examine patterns of CAM use in Saudi patients diagnosed with IBD.Materials and methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with IBD who were seen at the outpatient gastroenterology clinic between January 2018 and December 2019. Adult patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD) were identified and surveyed. Clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, radiologic, and histologic data were collected. The patients completed a detailed questionnaire focusing on CAM use. Descriptive statics, quantitative variables, means, standard deviations (SDs), and minimum and maximum values or medians with interquartile ranges were used where appropriate; for qualitative variables, we reported frequencies. The prevalence of CAM use was calculated using standard prevalence formulae. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for CAM use. A p-value of <0.05 was set as statistically significant.ResultsA total of 71 IBD patients were surveyed, of which 75% had CD. Severe symptoms were reported by 54% of patients, and 41% were receiving biological treatment; 90% of this cohort reported using some form of CAM, of which 78% used them within the past year, and 52% reported CAM treatment having a positive effect. Of note, 63% of patients reported using CAM therapy without the knowledge of their treating physician. The most common source of advice regarding the use of CAM medicine was relatives (66%), and the most common forms of CAM used were honey (62%), Zamzam water (54%), and physical activity (32%). Binary logistic regression analysis identified watery diarrhea (OR=5.7, 95% CI=1.0-31, P=0.04) and azathioprine (OR=18.1, 95% CI=1.3-255, P=0.03) as predictors of CAM use.ConclusionsCAM use is very common in Saudi patients with IBD. The majority of patients seem to turn to CAM if their symptoms are severe. They generally appear to be influenced by culture, the Internet, local society, and family tradition in their decision to use CAM, rather than expert advice from their treating physician.

Oleuropein: Methods for extraction, purifying and applying

Oleuropein is one of the most abundant phenolic compounds present in olive leaves, and many studies have shown that this compound has important biological properties (anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, anticancer, antimicrobial and antiviral) and that is why it has been gaining prominence in research. Oleuropein can be extracted from different sources using standard and unconventional methods, and can be recovered and purified (mainly by chromatographic techniques), for later use in several areas. The literature presents information about oleuropein alone in scientific research with different objectives, however, it was observed by the authors that studies that compile the existing information on these secoiridoides are very scarce and, therefore, this review was developed with the aim of providing current information to the scientific community, about the different techniques of extraction and purification of oleuropein, as well as the opportunities for applications and uses of this compound.

Communicative problems in Boeing’s advertisement campaign for the combat aircraft Super Hornet

Abstract This article focuses on an advertisement campaign run in Danish national newspapers promoting Boeing’s combat aircraft F 18 Super Hornet. The campaign received extensive media attention due to its scale and unconventional methods. On the basis of pragmatic text analysis we describe three features in the advertisements: Genre problems, a controversial depiction of sender and recipient, and problems relating to argumentation. We conclude that (1) the analyzed text is predominantly commercial in intent, although framed as information by a sender position that is partly ambiguous in terms of identity, and (2) the campaign’s main arguments are flawed, since decisive justification is not accessible. Based on the findings, the conclusion suggests that the campaign is best understood as a hybrid between public relations and public affairs.

Review on Unconventional Wind Energy

Fossil fuel is the major source of energy and is a fast depleting resource. The phenomenal increase in fossil fuel consumption has adversely affected carbon footprint impacting our environment. With strict environmental regulations in place, the focus towards renewable sources of energy is gaining momentum supported by recent advancement in technologies in wind, hydro and solar. Wind turbines were the first forms of clean energy has seen a major increase in power production. The site restrictions, have limited the wind turbine from being used to its maximum potential. In recent years, the concept of some unconventional methods is being proposed. In this review, the various types of wind turbines are emphasized with their recent advances and depicting the challenges faced in various aspects. The reviews contain details mainly about 4 types of wind turbines i.e. floating offshore wind turbine, airborne wind turbine, highway wind turbine systems and locomotive mounted wind turbine.

Geochemistry and Microbiology Predict Environmental Niches With Conditions Favoring Potential Microbial Activity in the Bakken Shale.

The Bakken Shale and underlying Three Forks Formation is an important oil and gas reservoir in the United States. The hydrocarbon resources in this region are accessible using unconventional oil and gas extraction methods, including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. However, the geochemistry and microbiology of this region are not well understood, although they are known to have major implications for productivity and water management. In this study, we analyzed the produced water from 14 unconventional wells in the Bakken Shale using geochemical measurements, quantitative PCR (qPCR), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing with the overall goal of understanding the complex dynamics present in hydraulically fractured wells. Bakken Shale produced waters from this study exhibit high measurements of total dissolved solids (TDS). These conditions inhibit microbial growth, such that all samples had low microbial loads except for one sample (well 11), which had lower TDS concentrations and higher 16S rRNA gene copies. Our produced water samples had elevated chloride concentrations typical of other Bakken waters. However, they also contained a sulfate concentration trend that suggested higher occurrence of sulfate reduction, especially in wells 11 and 18. The unique geochemistry and microbial loads recorded for wells 11 and 18 suggest that the heterogeneous nature of the producing formation can provide environmental niches with conditions conducive for microbial growth. This was supported by strong correlations between the produced water microbial community and the associated geochemical parameters including sodium, chloride, and sulfate concentrations. The produced water microbial community was dominated by 19 bacterial families, all of which have previously been associated with hydrocarbon-reservoirs. These families include Halanaerobiaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Desulfohalobiaceae which are often associated with thiosulfate reduction, biofilm production, and sulfate reduction, respectively. Notably, well 11 was dominated by sulfate reducers. Our findings expand the current understanding of microbial life in the Bakken region and provide new insights into how the unique produced water conditions shape microbial communities. Finally, our analysis suggests that produced water chemistry is tightly linked with microbiota in the Bakken Shale and shows that additional research efforts that incorporate coupled microbial and geochemical datasets are necessary to understand this ecosystem.

Unconventional Methods of Preserving Meat Products and Their Impact on Health and the Environment

A dual objective of food storage is to retain nutritional value and safe consumption over time. As supply chains have globalized, food protection and preservation methods have advanced. However, increasing demands to cater for larger volumes and for more effective food storage call for new technologies. This paper examines promising meat preservation methods, including high pressure process, ultrasounds, pulsating electric and magnetic field, pulsed light and cold plasma. These methods not only make it possible to obtain meat and meat products with a longer shelf life, safer for health and without preservatives, but also are more environment-friendly in comparison with traditional methods. With the use of alternative methods, it is possible to obtain meat products that are microbiologically safer, whilst also high quality and free from chemical additives. Moreover, these new technologies are also more ecological, do not require large quantities of energy or water, and generate less waste.

ФРАНЧАЙЗИНГ: СУТНІСТЬ ТА ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНИЙ ПОРЯДОК ВІДОБРАЖЕННЯ ПАРТНЕРСЬКИХ ВІДНОСИН

Стаття присвячена проблемам і перспективам розвитку франчайзингу в Україні. Світова економіка характеризується високим ступенем глобалі-зації та інтеграції, тому постає необхідність активізації інноваційної діяль-ності, а налагодження тісного торговельного, інвестиційного та коопера-ційного співробітництва сприятиме включенню в процес формування но-вих моделей економічного розвитку, основою яких стане оновлення еко-номічних систем на основі технологічної модернізації. Актуальність здо-бувають нетрадиційні методи фінансування інноваційної діяльності, до числа яких належить франчайзинг. У статті розкрито сутність франчайзингових відносин, досліджено розвиток франчайзингу в Україні, а також механізм здійснення франчайзингових відносин. Визначено переваги та недоліки для основних суб’єктів франчайзингових відносин. Обґрунтовано необхідність та значення організації бізнесу на умовах франчайзингу.

Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction And Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation On Muscle And Adipose Tissue Thickness Of The Calves

Accelerated muscle atrophy is an important factor to consider in several different environments such as spaceflight, paralysis, immobilization, and aging. Understanding optimal exercise countermeasures in such environments is therefore necessary to examine. PURPOSE: To assess muscle and adipose tissue thickness in the calves while using the unconventional training methods of blood flow restriction (BFR) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). METHODS: Six sedentary participants (4 males and 2 females; 20.5 ± 1.4 yrs, 73.5 ± 13.8 kg) underwent 6 weeks of calf training with each leg randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) BFR (n=4), 2) NMES (n=3), and 3) combined BFR+NMES (n=5). A control group of seven sedentary participants (4 males and 3 females; 23.1 ± 4.3 yrs, 75.1 ± 12.2 kg) were also used. Adipose tissue thickness was measured via ultrasound and skinfolds while muscle thickness of the gastrocnemius and soleus was assessed via ultrasound. Comparisons were made using separate two-way ANOVA’s for each variable. RESULTS: A significant main effect of time was found for ultrasound measurements of the lateral (p = 0.0021) and medial (p = 0.0467) adipose tissue. A significant interaction effect was found for medial adipose tissue (p = 0.0282) with post-hoc comparisons revealing a significant increase in medial adipose tissue thickness with the BFR (p = 0.0176). No differences were found in muscle thickness for both the medial and lateral gastrocnemius, however, there was a significant main effect of time (p = 0.0025) and interaction (p = 0.0013) for soleus muscle thickness. Post-hoc comparisons showed a significant increase in soleus muscle thickness with the BFR+NMES condition (p = 0.0029) only. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a combined BFR+NMES training condition may be a feasible method for increasing soleus muscle thickness with 6 weeks of training. Additional research is warranted to elucidate the potential use of BFR and NMES for stimulating positive physiological change in the calves. Supported by National Institute of Health grants UL1GM118979; TL4GM118980; RL5GM118978.

Recent developments, challenges, and pathways to stable dropwise condensation: A perspective

Dropwise condensation (DWC) on non-wetting surfaces has remarkable potential to enhance heat transfer performance compared to filmwise condensation on wetting substrates. In this article, we discuss important recent developments and challenges in the field of DWC, including durability of DWC-promoting coatings, DWC of low surface tension fluids, physical mechanisms governing DWC, unconventional methods to achieve DWC, and promising metrology techniques for DWC. We end the article by providing a road map detailing where we believe the community should direct both fundamental and applied efforts in order to solve the identified century-old challenges that limit DWC implementation.

On-Line Partial Discharge Monitoring System for Power Transformers Based on the Simultaneous Detection of High Frequency, Ultra-High Frequency, and Acoustic Emission Signals

The article presents a novel on-line partial discharge (PD) monitoring system for power transformers, whose functioning is based on the simultaneous use of three unconventional methods of PD detection: high-frequency (HF), ultra-high frequency (UHF), and acoustic emission (AE). It is the first monitoring system equipped in an active dielectric window (ADW), which is a combined ultrasonic and electromagnetic PD sensor. The article discusses in detail the process of designing and building individual modules of hardware and software layers of the system, wherein the most attention was paid to the PD sensors, i.e., meandered planar inverted-F antenna (MPIFA), high-frequency current transformer (HFCT), and active dielectric window with ultrasonic transducer, which were optimized for detection of PDs occurring in oil-paper insulation. The prototype of the hybrid monitoring system was first checked on a 330 MVA large power transformer during the induced voltage test with partial discharge measurement (IVPD). Next, it was installed on a 31.5 MVA substation power transformer and integrated according to the standard IEC 61850 with SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system registering voltage, active power, and oil temperature of the monitored unit. The obtained results showed high sensitivity of the manufactured PD sensors as well as the advantages of the simultaneous use of three techniques of PD detection and the possibility of discharge parameter correlation with other power transformer parameters.

Unconventional ways of proving crimes, is there a prospect?

The development of mankind is rapidly rising in spirals of time and space, yesterday unknown today becomes a clear everyday life. In the future, total digital control over society will make it possible to decriminalize human relations, and the inevitability of punishment will become mandatory. It is clear that crimes, in turn, will also mutate to get around the law again and again. There is endless competition between proving crimes and opportunities to avoid punishment. In this age-old pursuit, the rule of law often suffers, and, as a consequence, justice also suffers. A necessary element of the legal procedure is the requirement of speed of criminal proceedings, as indicated by the basic international documents. Thus, according to Article 14 (3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, "everyone has the right to a court to hear his case without undue delay". And in of Article 28 (5) of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine states: "Everyone has the right to have charges brought against him as soon as possible or to be brought to trial or to have the relevant criminal proceedings closed." To ensure the speed of the criminal process, the question of using unconventional methods of proving crimes, which will undoubtedly help in this, is of interest. The article explores the prospect of using such unconventional methods of proving crimes in Ukraine as polygraph, hypnosis, clairvoyance and telepathy. The experience of foreign states, conditions of application, general recommendations on the use of investigated methods in criminal proceedings are analyzed. The necessity of legislative regulation of unconventional ways of proving crimes in Ukraine is studied.

A Neural Element Method

Methods of artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been applied to solve various science and engineering problems. TrumpetNets and TubeNets were recently proposed by the author for creating two-way deepnets using the standard finite element method (FEM) and smoothed FEM (S-FEM) as trainers. The significance of these specially configured ANNs is that the solutions to inverse problems have been, for the first time, analytically derived in explicit formulae. This paper presents a novel neural element method (NEM) with a focus on mechanics problems. The key idea is to use artificial neurons to form elemental units called neural-pulse-units (NPUs), using which the shape functions can then be constructed, and used in the standard weak and weakened-weak (W2) formulations to establish discrete stiffness matrices, similar to the standard FEM and S-FEM. Theory, formulation and codes in Python are presented in detail. Numerical examples are then used to demonstrate this novel NEM. For the first time, we have made a clear connection in theory, formulations and coding, between ANN methods and physical-law-based computational methods. We believe that this novel NEM fundamentally changes the way of approaching mechanics problems, and opens a window of opportunity for a range of applications. It offers a new direction of research on unconventional computational methods. It may also have an impact on how the well-established weak and W2 formulations can be introduced to machine learning processes, for example, creating well-behaved loss functions with preferable convexity.

Comparison of Total Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Activity and Extraction Yield from Apium Graveolens Waste Using Unconventional Extraction Methods

Apium graveolens is a medicinal and aromatic plant used in pharmaceutical industry, cosmetic industry, gastronomy and traditional medicine. Aerial parts of Apium graveolens (stems and leaves) are rich in bioactive compounds (flavonoids, phenols, furanocoumarins, volatile oils, sesquiterpene alcohols, fatty acids, etc.). It is known for its hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-spasmolytic, anti-infertility, cardiotonic activities. This is why studies in this direction have not yet ceased and are increasingly pursuing the discovery of new, unconventional methods for identifying, quantifying and isolating bioactive compounds from Apium graveolens waste. The aim of this study was to determine and correlate the total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant activity and extraction yield from ethanolic extracts (70%) of stems and leaves waste with different unconventional extraction methods. Apium graveolens aerial parts waste were obtained after aqueous extraction of the leaves and stems. The extraction yield was expressed as function of freeze-dried extracts, and the extraction methods were ultrasound assisted extraction, microwave assisted extraction and accelerated solvent extraction. Regarding the chosen extraction methods, numerous studies have shown, especially in the case of microwave assisted extraction, the presence of bioactive compounds in plant waste, in a reasonable percentage, therefore this study aimed to identify an optimal extraction method also in the case of Apium graveolens aerial parts waste. Total phenols content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu spectrophotometric method, the flavonoids content waste determined by aluminium chloride spectrophotometric method and the antioxidant activity was studied using DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) spectrophotometric method. The findings of this work indicated a positive dependence between the extraction yield of the waste material and the considerable content of bioactive compounds still present (phenols and flavonoids) for all considered extraction methods.

The Effectiveness of Hot machining process for the Machinability of Hard to cut materials: A REVIEW

In the manufacturing field of industrial firms, some materials are hard to cut and do not meet the mechanical operation requirements in conventional and unconventional machining methods due to their high mechanical properties which poorer their machinability. The need is ongoing and growing to these materials in important industries, therefore hot machining is considered one of the most advanced methods of machining which help to solve the problem of these materials. This process involves heating the work piece at elevated temperature during or before machining on conventional cutting machine by using various external heating techniques, which soften it and becomes more ductile and this leads to improve the machinability. This paper displays a review on hot machining process and presents its effectiveness for the industrial firm in machining hard-to cut-materials which reflect on cost and productivity in relation to other aspects of machining. The review paper presents a survey on various researches which indicates the effect of variation process parameters in hot machining.

Modelling of Piezoelectric Sensor with Different Materials Approach for Partial Discharge Detection on Power Transformer: PZT-5H, ZnO and AlN

The acoustic emission (AE) technique is one of the unconventional methods of partial discharges (PDs) detection. It plays a most important role in oil-filled power transformers diagnostics because it enables the detection and online monitoring of PDs as well compared to the conventional method for PDs detection which are not suitable for on-site measurement due to electrical disturbance. In this paper, the acoustic based on piezoelectric sensor by different material is modelled in order to be able to obtain PDs signal occurred in power transformers. Modelling of a piezoelectric sensor with different material which is PZT-5H, ZnO, and AlN is approached in order to investigate the performance of resonant frequency, electric potential, and the performance in processing in order to match the range of AE detection. Piezoelectric materials have become very useful in processing devices because of their electrical-mechanical mutuality. Study was performed on frequency target of PDs should be higher and in the range of 10 kHz -300 kHz in order to prevent the power transformer from failure or breakdown and it has been found out by proven from analytical and simulation result by using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Based on this information, acoustic sensor is analyses with different types of cantilever beam and piezoelectric material and different length dimension of the beam in order to analyses the performance between them. Based on the result, the piezoelectric material that be chosen in this project is ZnO due to its high piezoelectric coupling and environmental friendly is used in order to support green technology compared to others material discussed which is harmful even though produced high performance. This detection method gave some improvement in monitoring system PD activities in the transformer’s tank.

Hypothesis of thermal and mechanical energy storage with unconventional methods

There is not a real “storage market” and the range of technical solutions for electrical storage appears to be underdeveloped. The use of electrochemical batteries seems to be the easiest and cheapest way, but some problems related to disposal, average life span and storage capacity, still put a brake on their diffusion. The micro CAES-TES (Compressed Air Energy Storage – Thermal Energy Storage) systems with small renewable energy plants for cogeneration and trigeneration represent an important development perspective thank to the reuse of the heat generated at the stage of air compression (for heating) and air expansion (for cooling). This improves the complexity of the entire system because of the heat exchange and thermal storage units must match the capacities and performances of the air compression/expansion units. The paper presents a new mathematical model for micro CAES-TES systems, implemented in Matlab software environment. The novelty is the use of air compressed energy storage in small and residential applications, a trigeneration due to reuse of heat from air compression and expansion stage, only renewable energy used. By keeping the initial investment low, the analysis is extended to the optimal system configuration and identifies key parameters that have a dominant influence on improving system efficiency and provides useful guidance for CAES-TES system design. The results show that, for an air storage volume of 4 m3, the optimal configuration is with a compression ratio of 15 splitted in two stages, charging time 5 h, mechanical storage efficiency 48%, compression air flow rate 3.73 kg/hour. The proposed system has a possible future development overall if combined with new possible scenarios of direct use of compressed air in the residential sector.