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Applied machine learning for predicting the properties and carbon and phosphorus fate of pristine and engineered hydrochar
Get PDFApplication of advanced techniques and machine learning (ML) for designing and predicting the properties of engineered hydrochar/biochar is of great agro-environmental concern. Carbon (C) stability and phosphorus (P) availability in hydrochar (HC) are among the key limitations as they cannot be accurately predicted by traditional one-factor tests and might be overcome by engineering the pristine HC. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to determine the optimal production conditions of engineered swine manure HC with high C stability and P availability, and (2) to develop the best ML models to predict the properties of HC derived from different feedstocks. Pristine- (HC) and FeCl3 impregnated swine manure-derived HC (HC-Fe) were produced by hydrothermal carbonization under different pH (4, 7, and 10), reaction temperature (180, 220, and 260 โ), and residence time (60, 120, and 180 min) and characterized using thermo-gravimetric, microscopic, and spectroscopic analyses. Also, different ML algorithms were used to model and predict the hydrochar solid yield, properties, and nutrients content. FeCl3 impregnation increased Fe-phosphate content, while it reduced H/C and O/C ratios and hydroxyapatite P content, and therefore improved C stability and P availability in the HC-Fe as compared to HC, particularly under lower pH (4), temperature of 220 โ, and at 120 min. The generalized additive ML model outperformed the other models for predicting the HC properties with a correlation coefficient of 0.86. The ML analysis showed that the most influential features on the hydrochar C stability were the H and O contents in the biomass, while P availability in HC was more dependent on the C, N and O contents in biomass. These results provided optimal production conditions for Fe-engineered manure hydrochar and identified the best performing ML model for predicting hydrochar properties. The main implication of this study is that it offers a high potential to improve the utilization of biowastes and produce biowaste-derived engineered hydrochar with high C stability and P availability on a large scale
Dynamic Loop Fusion in High-Level Synthesis
Get PDFDynamic High-Level Synthesis (HLS) uses additional hardware to perform memory disambiguation at runtime, increasing loop throughput in irregular codes compared to static HLS. However, most irregular codes consist of multiple sibling loops, which currently have to be executed sequentially by all HLS tools. Static HLS performs loop fusion only on regular codes, while dynamic HLS relies on loops with dependencies to run to completion before the next loop starts.
We present dynamic loop fusion for HLS, a compiler/hardware co-design approach that enables multiple loops to run in parallel, even if they contain unpredictable memory dependencies. Our only requirement is that memory addresses are monotonically non-decreasing in inner loops. We present a novel program-order schedule for HLS, inspired by polyhedral compilers, that together with our address monotonicity analysis enables dynamic memory disambiguation that does not require searching of address histories and sequential loop execution. Our evaluation shows an average speedup of 14ร over static and 4ร over dynamic HLS
The nexus between governance quality, modern slavery disclosure, and corporate financial performance
Get PDFPurpose:
Modern slavery is a significant issue addressed in the United Nationsโ Sustainable Development Goals. In 2015, the UK Government introduced the Modern Slavery Act as part of a crucial broader set of initiatives that aimed to attack modern slavery. Regardless of the initiatives taken to mitigate this risk, little is known about how modern slavery disclosure affects corporate financial performance (CFP). Hence, our study aims to examine the impact of MSD on CFP empirically. It also examines the moderating role of governance quality on the MSDโCFP nexus.
Design/methodology/approach:
We use computer-based content analysis to assess MSD levels for a sample of non-financial companies' annual reports. We use regression analysis to test our research hypotheses for a sample period of 2013โ2019 for Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) All-Share non-financial UK firms. Our sample consisted of 786 observations.
Findings:
We provide new empirical evidence that externally communicating modern slavery information in annual report narratives is associated with CFP. The finding is in line with stakeholder theory, which states that engaging in social responsibility practices and responding favourably to the stakeholdersโ interests and desires would enhance corporationsโ reputation and ultimately improve their performance. We further highlight the role of governance quality in this nexus and find that the interaction between governance quality and MSD is negative, suggesting a replacement effect.
Social implications:
Our findings can be of interest to government, policymakers and other stakeholders. Policymakers need to establish a new, broader set of enforcement arrangements for MSD that may lead to better CFP.
Originality/value:
Our research idea is original as it links emerging global issues (e.g. MSD) with traditional corporate concerns (financial performance) in a way that is likely to provide new insights as well as managerial and policy implications
Political Parties and Participation: Migrantsโ Subjective Knowledge about Their Representatives
Get PDFPeople's knowledge about their representatives is important because it informs about the quality of democracy and can predict future political behaviours. In spite of this, we know little about why migrants (do not) know who their representatives are. This article seeks to address this gap in the literature and explains the migrantsโ subjective knowledge about parliamentarians. The study uses individual data from an original survey conducted in June-July 2022 among 1,058 Romanian migrants. The strongest predictors for knowledge are linked to political parties and participation, while the transnational ties and the intention to return have no effects
Effect of optimized tilt angle of PV modules on solar irradiance for residential and commercial buildings in different cities of Pakistan: simulation-based study
Get PDFThe tilt angle of a solar PV panel is a critical factor in improving the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. While trackingsystems can enhance performance, they are typically not costโeffective for residential areas. Alternatively, setting an opti-mized fixed tilt angle or adjusting the tilt seasonally can mitigate power losses. This study evaluates optimal seasonal tiltangles and the corresponding solar radiation on PV panels for 10 major cities across Pakistan. A novel mathematicalframework is proposed to calculate the optimal tilt angle using parameters such as alignment, azimuth, gradient, andtemporal angles. Seasonal adjustments are shown to increase solar intensity from 0.4 KWh/m 2 to 0.6 KWh/m 2 duringwinter, significantly enhancing output power. For instance, an improvement of up to 5.61 mW/cm 2 in output power densitywas observed at the QuaidโeโAzam Solar Park using crystalline solar cells. These findings demonstrate the potential forsubstantial improvements in solar power production through seasonally optimized tilt angles, particularly during the shorterwinter days
Transatlantic Threads: Scottish Linen and Society, c.1707-1780
No full textThe first in-depth study to combine social, economic, cultural and material cultural perspectives on linen in eighteenth-century Scotland, showing definitively how the colonial context helped drive the industry.
Uses linen as the โthreadโ and brings together economic, social and cultural primary material from marginal groups in two Atlantic societies, with particular focus on women in Scotland and enslaved people in North America.
Highlights the value of using material culture and dress and textile history to further our understanding of Scottish history and Scottish society.
Shows how Scots reacted to, and influenced, wider economic, social and political forces between the Union of 1707 and the rise of cotton at the end of the eighteenth century, and the impact these forces had on workers and consumers across Scotland and in colonial society.
As part of the Histories of the Scottish Atlantic series, this work demonstrates how Scottish textiles and the people that made them contributed to the wider Atlantic economy, society and the perpetuation of the slavery system.
Transatlantic Threads shows how studying the making, use and meaning of a relatively low-cost, utilitarian cloth like linen, broadens our understanding of eighteenth-century Scotland and the wider Atlantic world. Different types of linen cloth were used across society everyday: from fine shirts worn by the rich, to coarse aprons worn by labourers; from expensive bed sheets, to canvas used for shipsโ sails. Eighteenth-century linen production was a Scottish economic success story, with thousands of people working to produce millions of yards of yarn and woven cloth. It was also how Scots became inextricably linked with transatlantic trade and the slavery economy, as the desire to capture the colonial market was a key driver for developing coarse linen production.
Using a material commodity to explore everyday experiences of ordinary people, particularly women, non-elite and enslaved people, Transatlantic Threads examines the cultural and social significance of linen in Scottish and transatlantic society
Ownership choices of emerging market micromultinationals (mMNEs) under uncertainty: a real option approach
Get PDFWe use a real option lens to investigate how emerging market micromultinationals (mMNEs) employ foreign operation modes to address different sources of external uncertainty. Drawing from 564 mMNEs from 22 emerging markets, we firstly examine the mMNEsโ choice between high commitment operation mode (wholly owned subsidiary) and low commitment operation mode (international joint venture) in response to both economic and political uncertainty in host countries. We further investigate three enablers of strategic flexibility (multinationality, industry type and foreign investment experience) and their moderating role in the relationship between mMNE ownership choices and external uncertainties. Our results show that emerging market mMNEs choose low commitment foreign operation modes in response to economic uncertainty rather than political uncertainty when making their operation mode choice, and both multinationality and industry type moderate the economic uncertainty-operation mode relationship
Nonlinear stiffened inertial amplifier tuned mass friction dampers
Get PDFThe nonlinear stiffened inertial amplifier tuned mass friction damper (NSIATMFD) is introduced in this paper to address the limitations of the conventional tuned mass dampers such as narrow frequency ranges and limited adaptability. In addition, three more novel dampers, such as nonlinear compound stiffened inertial amplifier tuned mass friction dampers (NCSIATMFD), nonlinear nested stiffened inertial amplifier tuned mass friction dampers (NNSIATMFD), and nonlinear levered stiffened inertial amplifier tuned mass friction dampers (NLSIATMFD), are introduced by integrating stiffness and mass amplification mechanisms to increase their vibration reduction capacities. These novel dampers are applied at the top of structures to control their dynamic responses. Newtonโs second law is followed to derive the governing equations of motion of the controlled structures. H2 and H optimisation strategies are utilised to derive the exact closed-form expressions for the optimal design parameters of these dampers. The transfer function is developed to derive the frequency domain responses by considering harmonic and random excitations. The frequency domain responses are further validated through numerical studies conducted using the Newmark-beta method and near-field earthquake records. Compared to the conventional tuned mass dampers (TMD), the proposed dampers achieve vibration reduction improvements of 24.24 %, 24.64 %, 23.92 %, and 24.54 %, respectively. The integration of stiffness elements significantly extends the frequency control range, while the frictional damping element enhances energy dissipation capabilities. These results establish the novel designs as effective solutions for dynamic environments, offering robust and adaptive vibration mitigation for structures exposed to diverse excitations, including seismic loads. This research provides a significant advancement in TMD technology for modern engineering applications
Strategies and Implications of Peer Assessment in Software Engineering Education
Get PDFThis Innovative Practice category full paper describes the strategy of peer evaluation approach. Effective team management is pivotal in the success of any collaborative project, particularly in the domain of learning Software Engineering or Professional Software Development courses. Peer evaluations are commonly used methods to motivate group-based learning. This paper addresses the significance of team management and peer evaluations in the context of two Computing Science (CS) courses offered: Professional Software Development (PSD) and Team Project (TP). The main contributions of this paper are to provide nuanced insights into the challenges and opportunities inherent in collaborative endeavors, emphasizing effective motivation, encouragement, and resolution strategies for tackling teamwork issues within group projects. This study scrutinizes the intricate dimensions of teamwork in Software Engineering education. A central aspect of the paper involves a comprehensive analysis of peer evaluation methodologies, intending to shed light on practical implications for educators and learners. The findings underscore the importance of leveraging these insights to cultivate a conducive learning environment, motivating students to actively participate in collaborative endeavors. The proposed peer evaluations approaches are presented as a combination of the existing quantitative assessment approach and newly qualitative feedback mechanisms. It incorporates these elements: weekly peer review, emotion rating & thoughts, release of feedback, and a centralized dashboard. In the study, 31 CS Sophomore students taking the CSC2101 - PSD and TP1 course participate to evaluation experiments, where positive results are obtained. The collective findings and evaluations contribute to the ongoing refinement of collaborative learning experiences within the dynamic landscape of Software Engineering education
Unconventional Shale Resources in Energy Transition and Digitalization
No full textThe shift from traditional to nontraditional shale resources signifies a significant change in the energy industry, especially concerning energy transformation and digitalization. This in-depth analysis explores the aspects of traditional shale resources, starting with their role in the energy sector and the strategies needed for their adaptation and evolution. It highlights advancements in science and technology, providing insights into the path of energy transformation in this field.
The study examines geoenergy production from environmental and economic perspectives, presenting a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities. It assesses methods for reducing emissions, focusing on optimizing drilling practices controlling emissions during fracturing operations and exploring the potential of carbon dioxideโassisted enhanced recovery techniques. Additionally, it explores how nontraditional shale resources can drive transformations in energy systems, geological energy storage methods, and geological carbon dioxide storage solutions, emphasizing their importance in the context of energy transition. Digitalization plays a role in enabling the sustainable development of nontraditional shale resources.
The integration of technologies in field operationsโ utilization of well technologies and advancements in remote sensing and seismic monitoring are discussed to highlight their impact on operational effectiveness and environmental responsibility. This study thoroughly explores traditional shale resourcesโ status and future possibilities, providing valuable perspectives on their sustainable growth and incorporation into the changing energy landscape. By combining progress, concerns, and economic aspects, the research presents a strategic plan for maximizing the benefits of nontraditional shale resources in the age of energy transformation and digital advancement
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