Toronto Metropolitan University Open Journals
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That Fat Shame Story
No full textIn "That Snack Shame Story," I revisit a pivotal moment from my early teenage years, when I was placed on a strict diet that deeply impacted my relationship with food and my sense of agency. This graphic memoir uses illustrations and text to convey my experiences as a fat kid, highlighting the feelings of shame and secrecy that surrounded my hidden snack stash. Over four decades later, I can reflect on how this incident, among others, shaped my life and the ways it influenced my understanding of body image and self-worth.
The narrative unfolds with a raw honesty, allowing readers to witness the emotional turmoil of being scrutinized for one’s body. As the story progresses, I explore the lasting effects of that moment, revealing how it galvanized my struggles with food and identity. In the final page, I offer a transformative perspective, crafting alternative endings that demonstrate the power of experience, knowledge, and community support. These “do-overs” present a vision of how the story could have unfolded differently, if only I knew then what I know now.
By making this moment visible, I aim to loosen the grip of shame and foster connections with others who have faced similar challenges. "That Snack Shame Story" is not just a personal reflection; it serves as a call to reframe conversations about food, weight, and body image. It advocates for a compassionate dialogue that emphasizes love, independence, and understanding for fat kids everywhere. Through this comic, I hope to inspire a sense of solidarity and resilience, inviting readers to embrace their stories and redefine their relationships with food and self
The Hybridization of Rail Service Cars Type ADM for Enhanced Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability
No full textThis study aims to transform Uzbekistan’s existing Rail service Cars into hybrid vehicles, integrating advanced technologies to improve operational efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enhance the reliability of the county’s electrified railway systems. The initiative addresses concerns related to emissions, safety, and operational costs associated with traditional diesel-powered service cars. By adopting hybrid technology, the project seeks to optimize energy consumption and contribute to Uzbekistan’s clean energy goals. The research draws from global examples, including the success implementation of battery-electric and hybrid locomotives in Spain and China, as well as renewable energy integration in Japan. The project targets the modernization of Uzbekistan’s railway infrastructure, enhancing construction, maintenance, and repair processes while improving safety standards. The hybridization of Rail Service Cars is expected to reduce energy intensity by 10-15%, offering a cost-effective, sustainable solution. Additionally, the initiative aims to address the limitations of Uzbekistan’s current fleet, which is insufficient for the 2400 km electrified railway network. By upgrading existing vehicles, the project will contribute to the country’s long-term railway development and economic growth, aligning with Uzbekistan’s goals of infrastructure modernization and environmental sustainability
Analysis of Published Scientific Publications for Solar Desalination Plants
No full textBy using renewable energy to create freshwater, solar desalination has become a key tool in the fight against worldwide water scarcity. Using information from Web of Science and Scopus, this study provides a thorough overview of published scientific articles on solar desalination from 2010 to 2024. The study highlights developments and research needs while identifying publishing patterns, important journals, and topic areas. Peer-reviewed publications make up 68.1% of the documents, with journals like Applied Energy, Solar Energy, and Desalination contributing significantly. As a reflection of the multidisciplinary character of the sector, engineering (20.7%), energy (19.9%), and environmental science (17.2%) dominate the subject areas. Recent peaks in research activity show that combining solar energy and desalination technology is becoming more and more popular worldwide. This study highlights the necessity of ongoing innovation in sustainable designs, hybrid systems, and materials to improve the viability and efficiency of solar desalination systems worldwide
Research Into Solar Desalination Technologies Using Porous Materials
No full textSolar desalination has emerged as a promising solution to address global freshwater shortages by utilizing renewable energy sources. Among various desalination techniques, the integration of porous materials has gained significant attention due to their ability to enhance water absorption, evaporation rates, and thermal efficiency. A bibliometric analysis of research publications from Scopus on the topic "solar AND desalination AND porous" reveals a substantial increase in scientific interest, particularly from 2019 to 2023, with a peak in 2023. The majority of publications (98.3%) are journal articles, indicating a strong preference for peer-reviewed research dissemination. The subject distribution highlights materials science (20.5%), chemistry (19.2%), and engineering (13.9%) as the leading fields contributing to advancements in solar desalination using porous structures. Other disciplines such as environmental science (10.6%) and energy (11.3%) emphasize the sustainability and efficiency of such systems. This study underscores the growing research interest and the multidisciplinary nature of the field, paving the way for future innovations in energy-efficient and scalable desalination technologies
Design and Performance Analysis of a Stand-alone PV System with Hybrid Energy Storage for Uzbekistan
No full textThe significance of renewable energy solutions is highlighted by Uzbekistan\u27s growing energy demand and dependence on fossil fuels. The design and performance evaluation of a standalone photovoltaic (PV) system with hybrid energy storage—which consists of batteries and supercapacitors – that is adapted to the climate and energy needs of Uzbekistan are the main objectives of this work. The system\u27s feasibility is shown by simulation and experimental findings, which emphasize energy management strategy optimization and dependable operation under various load circumstances. In order to promote the use of renewable energy technology in Uzbekistan, this article offers insights into system design, energy storage integration, and performance evaluation
Improving Hydrogen liquefaction through optimization of the gas expansion process
No full textThis paper explores hydrogen as a future energy source, focusing on production methods such as electrolysis (green hydrogen) and methane reforming (grey and blue hydrogen). It discusses the challenges of hydrogen storage and transport, particularly its flammability and leak detection difficulties. The paper details the hydrogen liquefaction process, highlighting key parameters such as compressor discharge pressure and the temperature at the expansion valve inlet, which affect the liquid hydrogen yield. By optimizing these factors, the study aims to improve system efficiency and stability, thereby enhancing hydrogen\u27s viability as a sustainable energy source
Enhancing Heat Transfer in Water-Water Heat Pumps by Protective Nanostructured Layers
No full textIn the process of Green Energy Transition there is an increasing interest among local authorities to encourage and promote solutions integrating renewable energy sources into small- and large-scale District Heating Systems. In this context, the solutions based on heat pump technologies are becoming a norm for urban agglomerations located in coastal areas or near to an open surface or underground water source. The proposed paper addresses one of the very important challenges for such types of installations and summarizes the results of the research activities carried out for the development and validation of a concept of antifouling protection of pipes dedicated to a closed-loop heat pump installation system using as heat source, open surface sweet water lakes. The system is centered on the development of antifouling coatings for heat transfer active surfaces, using selected types of nanoparticles.
The antifouling properties of the coating can be tuned based on the composition of the appropriate selection of nanoparticles and deposition technologies. The paper synthesizes the research activities, the investigation methods and the experimental results obtained by the implementation of the project activities
On-site Production of Oxygen by Electrolysis in Wastewater Treatment Plants
No full textWastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are conceived with the main function to protect the environment and prevent pollution of the ecosystems associated with urban agglomerations. From a systemic point of view, the inputs to a WWTP consist of domestic, industrial and rainwater collected and transported by the sewerage network. The treatment process consists of aerobic and anaerobic processes, aiming at the precipitation and separation of pollutants.
The main consumer of energy in an activated sludge WWTP is the aeration tank. During the biological treatment of wastewater in activated sludge treatment plants, the biggest single energy expense is for aeration accounting for 45% to 75% of the energy consumed by a plant.
The paper summarizes the scientific research activities that have been carried out to develop a solution for reducing energy consumption in WWTPs by onsite generation of oxygen required in the aerobic processes and significantly reduction of the consumption of compressed air.
The proof-of-concept was tested in laboratory conditions, and a pilot installation has been integrated in a operating WWTP in real conditions
