Providing an accurate global model for monthly solar radiation forecasting using artificial intelligence based on air quality index and meteorological data of different cities worldwide

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims to present an exact model for predicting solar radiation worldwide through a general model. In this study, mean monthly global solar...     

Design and optimization of new La1−xCexNi1−yFeyO3 (x,y = 0–0.4) nano catalysts in dry reforming of methane

The paper reports the production of syngas from dry reforming of methane (DRM) over La_1?xCe_xNi_1?yFe_yO₃ (x, y = 0–0.4) perovskites. A series of La_1?xCe_xNi_1?yFe_yO₃ were designed by central composite design (CCD) and synthesized by a sol–gel auto combustion method. Artificial neural network (ANN) approach was used to determine the relationship between preparation and operational parameters on the performance of the catalysts in the DRM process. Nickel mole fraction, lanthanum mole fraction, calcination temperature, and reaction temperature were considered as input variables, and conversion of methane was considered as the output variable. An ANN model with nine neurons in the hidden layer was the suitable in predicting conversion of methane. The genetic algorithm (GA) was subsequently used to determine the optimal preparation condition for enhancing the conversion of methane. La_0.6Ce_0.4Ni_0.99Fe_0.01O₃ catalyst, calcined at 756°C was obtained to be the most active catalyst owing to the optimal composition of nickel and lanthanum in the catalyst formulation.     

A MULTI-TIER APPROACH FOR AGRICULTURAL WATERSHED MANAGEMENT1

A multi-tier approach for agricultural watershed management has been proposed. The approach involves identification of a watershed management issue/problem, selection or development of simple conceptual model suitable for the exploration of the issue/problem identified and appropriate to the database available, and application of the model the address the identified issue/problem. The procedure is repeated by increasing the complexity in the conceptual model until the identified issue/problem has been addressed satisfactorily. An application of the procedure to an example watershed in southern Ontario conditions is shown. The application example has revealed that for identification of temporal pattern of runoff and sediment loads a simple conceptual model is adequate. For identification of spatial location of the sediment source areas and for the development of a monitoring program for the evaluation of remedial strategies a more complex distributed agricultural watershed model is necessary.