Evaluating the impact of uncertainty and variability on the value chain optimization of a forest biomass power plant using Monte Carlo Simulation

Mathematical programming models have been used to optimize the design and management of forest bioenergy supply chains. A deterministic mathematical model is beneficial for making optimum decisions; however, its applicability to real-world problems may be limited because it does not capture all the complexities, including uncertainties in the parameters, in the supply chain. In this paper, a combination of Monte Carlo Simulation and optimization model is used to evaluate the impact of uncertainty in biomass quality, availability and cost, and electricity prices on the supply chain of a forest biomass power plant. The optimization model is a deterministic mixed integer non-linear model with monthly time steps over a 1-year planning horizon. Variability in biomass quality, i.e. moisture content (MC) and higher heating value (HHV), based on the historical data of a real case study is studied in detail and fitted probability distributions are used in the model, while for electricity prices different scenarios are considered. The results show that the impact of variability in the MC on profit is higher than that of uncertainty in HHV. It is observed that the annual profit ranges between $13.3 million and $17.9 million in the presence of all possible uncertainties while its average is $15.5 million. Uncertainty in biomass availability and cost and electricity price results in the risks of having annual profit of less than $14 million and low monthly storage levels.     

Daily dietary intakes of zinc,copper, lead,and cadmium as determined by duplicate portion sampling combined with either instrumental analysis or the use of food composition tables,Shiraz, Iran

Estimation of essential and toxic element intakes is crucial to evaluate the risks of deficiency or toxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate and also to compare the dietary intakes of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) by adults living in Shiraz, Iran, determined by two procedures: duplicate portion sampling of 21 hospital meals combined with either instrumental analysis (voltammetric measurement) or the use of food composition tables (FCTs). The level of exposure to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) was evaluated as well. The daily Zn intakes of both methods were not significantly different and were higher than the RDA values except the value measured by the instrumental analysis which was lower than the RDA established for a male adult. Daily intake of Cu determined by instrumental analysis was significantly lower and closer to RDA for adults compared with the value estimated by FCTs. The dietary intakes of Pb and Cd were 313 and 61 % of the respective provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWIs), respectively. The accuracy of two methods used for estimation of Zn intake was similar. In the case of Cu, the use of FCTs, in which the influence of environmental conditions and dietary habits of meal preparation is not taken into account, overestimated dietary intake. The risk of zinc deficiency was found in adult males. Moreover, the estimated intake of Pb, but not Cd, could be a cause of concern for Shiraz population. Thus, conducting regular periodic studies to assess the dietary intake of mentioned elements are recommended.     

Investigating effect of proton-exchange membrane on new air-cathode single-chamber microbial fuel cell configuration for bioenergy recovery from Azorubine dye degradation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - One of the biggest challenges of using single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that utilize proton-exchange membrane (PEM) air cathode for...     

Modification of photocatalytic property of BaTiO3 perovskite structure by Fe2O3 nanoparticles for CO2 reduction in gas phase

In this work, perovskite structure of BaTiO₃ was coupled with Fe₂O₃ in different molar ratios achieving the best photocatalytic performance of CO₂ reduction in the presence of CH₄ as reducing agent; both of them are main greenhouse gases. The photocatalysts were synthesized by facile hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, UV–Vis DRS, and photoluminescence (PL) analyses. The BaTiO₃ synthesized in this research showed a weak PL signal which is due to the intrinsic ferroelectric property as has been observed in previous reports. Compared to the pure BaTiO₃ and Fe₂O₃, the heterojunctions exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity. The maximum CO₂ reduction under visible light irradiation was obtained to be 22% during 60 min process time. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the increased optical absorption, the good separation, and immigration of photogenerated charge carriers that decreased the recombination rate of charge carriers in the n–n heterojunction.

     

A review of recent developments in the application of machine learning in solar thermal collector modelling

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Over the past few decades, the popularity of solar thermal collectors has increased dramatically because of many significant advantages like being a...     

CoFe2O4@Methylcelloluse as a New Magnetic Nano Biocomposite for Sonocatalytic Degradation of Reactive Blue 19

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Reactive Blue 19 (RB19) removal from synthetic textile wastewater was investigated by using a CoFe2O4@methylcellulose (MC) activated with peroxymonosulfate...     

Metabolic and endocrine effects of bisphenol A exposure in market seller women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the synthetic monomer which can be found in the environment. Limited animal and human studies have demonstrated that BPA alters endocrine and or metabolic functions. The aims of the present study were to evaluate serum BPA level in marketing seller women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hormonal and metabolic effects of this exposure compared to a control paired group. In a case-control study, 62 PCOS women who work as marketing sellers and 62 healthy women with similar jobs were included. The two groups were body mass index (BMI)- and age-matched. Serum samples were analyzed for BPA content, fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration, and LH:FSH ratio. Significant higher serum BPA content (0.48 ± 0.08 vs. 0.16 ± 0.04 ng/ml), triglyceride (103.05 ± 13.10 vs. 91.65 ± 12.52 mg/dl), cholesterol (165.05 ± 10.79 vs. 161.21 ± 10.31 mg/dl) levels and LH:FSH ratio (3.64 ± 0.86 vs. 0.62 ± 0.14) and significant lower TSH concentration (1.56 ± 0.68 vs. 2.15 ± 1.09 IU/ml) were detected in case against control group, respectively (P < 0.05). No significant differences were detected in FBS, LDL, and HDL levels between the two groups. Also, there were no significant associations between serum TSH concentration and BPA level neither in case (P = 0.269) nor in control (P = 0.532) groups. In BPA-exposed PCOS women, BPA level was higher than healthy women and this difference maybe the cause of significant differences in levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, TSH, and LH:FSH ratio. These observations confirm the potential role of BPA in PCOS pathophysiology.     

Biochemical,hematological, and pathological related healing effects of Elaeagnus angustifolia hydroalcoholic extract in 5-fluorouracil-induced oral mucositis in male golden hamster

Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the cancer chemotherapy-related side effects which can affect the quality of life of affected patients. This study was designed to investigate the healing effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia in 5-flurouracil (5-FU)-induced OM in golden hamster. Fifty-six adult male golden hamsters received three intraperitoneal injections of 5-FU at a dose of 60 mg/kg on days 0, 5, and 10. The cheek pouch mucosa was scratched superficially under local anesthesia. Then, two horizontal scratches were made across the everted cheek pouch on days 3 and 4. All treatments were started on day 12 for equal number of animals in control group with no treatments, gel base group that was treated with carboxy methyl cellulose as gel base which used in preparation of the topical gel, topical gel group that used gel containing 10% hydroalcoholic extract of E. angustifolia (HEEA) topically, and dietary group which was treated with 300 mg/kg HEEA. At 2 and 5 days after treatment, blood and pouch tissue sampling were done and analyzed for blood composition, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities plus histopathological evaluations. Both topically and orally HEEA-treated groups showed a significant relief in OM compared to the control and base gel groups. However, the systemic form had higher efficiency in some parts especially decreasing the MPO (0.27 ± 0.17 vs. 0.56 ± 0.17 IU/L) and increasing SOD (6.46 ± 0.15 vs. 5.36 ± 0.18 IU/L) activities in pouch tissue in comparison to topical form mostly at 5 days after treatment. It seems that hydroalcoholic extract of E. angustifolia can be used as an appropriate drug choice for the treatment of oral mucositis based on its healing stimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.