Multi-criteria evaluation of residential energy supply systems

In this paper, we consider the selection of a residential energy supply system as a multi-criteria decision-making problem, which involves both financial and environmental issues. Specifically, we compare micro-CHP (micro-cogeneration) heating with traditional heating systems through an evaluation that accounts for: (i) the decision-makers’ subjective preferences, (ii) uncertainties in the performance of micro-CHP heating systems (which are partly caused by the lack of long-term operational experiences) and (iii) the context-dependency of life-cycle costs and environmental burdens of heating systems. Motivated by these considerations, we employ the PAIRS multi-criteria decision-making methodology that captures incomplete information by way of interval-valued parameters and provides support for sensitivity analyses, too. Our comparative analysis of alternative heating systems suggests that micro-CHP is a reasonable alternative to traditional systems, particularly from the environmental point of view.     

Estimating the environmental burdens of residential energy supply systems through material input and emission factors

This paper introduces a method and application for the assessment of environmental burdens due to the construction and operation of a residential energy supply system. The methodology encompasses energy and environmental impact analyses with sensitivity analysis. Here, natural resource consumption is assessed through material input factors. Global warming and acidification potentials are estimated by way of CO₂− and SO₂− equivalents. A simple optimization scheme is established to capture uncertainties related to preferential treatment between natural resource categories. A computational study on the energy supply of a group of low-energy single-family houses in Finland is presented. Specifically, the potential of micro-cogeneration is evaluated with respect to traditional options based on grid electricity, district heat and natural gas. The energy analysis suggests that the operation of a heating system causes a major part of environmental burdens and that no more than 1000 W on-site generated electrical power per one household would result in minimum thermal losses and thus environmental burdens. On the basis of environmental impact analysis, the use of state-of-the-art micro-cogeneration may decrease the annual use of abiotic resources and water to some extent, but for practical applications, further improvement of system efficiency is still required.     

Performance evaluation of the HR-ELPI + inversion

Data inversion methods used in aerosol measurement instruments have significant influence on the resolution and quality of the result. A freshly launched new electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI) instrument version, high resolution ELPI+ (HR-ELPI+, Dekati Ltd.), uses an iterative inversion calculation method to improve particle size resolution, concentration, and data analysis quality. In this article, the performance of the HR-ELPI?+?is critically analyzed by simulations and experiments in laboratory and field conditions, and the results are compared with a conventional inversion data analysis method (cut-point diameter concept) and with common reference instruments (e.g., SMPS and EEPS). The results showed that the HR-ELPI?+?inversion has limited performance at the lower and upper limits of the instrument’s size range, and can suffer if the raw currents have signal dependent noise more than 50% or electric noise more than 1%. However, the HR-ELPI?+?clearly provide remarkably better resolution and quality with low oscillation risk compared to the conventional cut-point diameter concept of the ELPI. The HR-ELPI?+?also showed generally very similar size distributions and number concentrations compared to the reference instruments.

© 2018 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Study on Industrial Scale Chromatographic Separation Methods of Galactose from Biomass Hydrolysates

Galactose is an aldohexose, which has commercial uses in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Since monomeric galactose is not a freely occurring compound, it must be produced from galactose‐containing hydrolysates. This paper reports the results of experimental studies of the chromatographic separation of galactose in aqueous solutions by ion exchange resins on an industrial scale. Until now, galactose has only been determined from various solutions by liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an analytical scale. Chromatographic separation of galactose from carbohydrate mixtures was studied with strong acid cation exchange resins in Na⁺, Ca²⁺ forms and strong base anion exchange resin in SO₄^2– form. The feed solutions were hydrolysates from three possible galactose sources: lactose, gum arabic and hemicellulose in spent sulfite liquor. The main monosaccharide impurities in these raw materials were glucose, arabinose, and xylose. It was demonstrated that large scale liquid chromatography can be used effectively for galactose separation from complex carbohydrate mixtures such as plant hydrolysates as well as lactose hydrolysate.     

Valuable Nutrients and Functional Bioactives in Different Parts of Olive (Olea europaea L.)-A Review

The Olive tree (Olea europaea L.), a native of the Mediterranean basin and parts of Asia, is now widely cultivated in many other parts of the world for production of olive oil and table olives. Olive is a rich source of valuable nutrients and bioactives of medicinal and therapeutic interest. Olive fruit contains appreciable concentration, 1-3% of fresh pulp weight, of hydrophilic (phenolic acids, phenolic alchohols, flavonoids and secoiridoids) and lipophilic (cresols) phenolic compounds that are known to possess multiple biological activities such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antidyslipidemic, cardiotonic, laxative, and antiplatelet. Other important compounds present in olive fruit are pectin, organic acids, and pigments. Virgin olive oil (VOO), extracted mechanically from the fruit, is also very popular for its nutritive and health-promoting potential, especially against cardiovascular disorders due to the presence of high levels of monounsaturates and other valuable minor components such as phenolics, phytosterols, tocopherols, carotenoids, chlorophyll and squalene. The cultivar, area of production, harvest time, and the processing techniques employed are some of the factors shown to influence the composition of olive fruit and olive oil. This review focuses comprehensively on the nutrients and high-value bioactives profile as well as medicinal and functional aspects of different parts of olives and its byproducts. Various factors affecting the composition of this food commodity of medicinal value are also discussed.     

Production of defatted palm kernel cake protein hydrolysate as a valuable source of natural antioxidants

The aim of this study was to produce a valuable protein hydrolysate from palm kernel cake (PKC) for the development of natural antioxidants. Extracted PKC protein was hydrolyzed using different proteases (alcalase, chymotrypsin, papain, pepsin, trypsin, flavourzyme, and bromelain). Subsequently, antioxidant activity and degree of hydrolysis (DH) of each hydrolysate were evaluated using DPPH• radical scavenging activity and O-phthaldialdehyde spectrophotometric assay, respectively. The results revealed a strong correlation between DH and radical scavenging activity of the hydrolysates, where among these, protein hydrolysates produced by papain after 38 h hydrolysis exhibited the highest DH (91 ± 0.1%) and DPPH• radical scavenging activity (73.5 ± 0.25%) compared to the other hydrolysates. In addition, fractionation of the most effective (potent) hydrolysate by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography indicated a direct association between hydrophobicity and radical scavenging activity of the hydrolysates. Isoelectric focusing tests also revealed that protein hydrolysates with basic and neutral isoelectric point (pI) have the highest radical scavenging activity, although few fractions in the acidic range also exhibited good antioxidant potential.     

The psychophysiology of James Bond: Phasic emotional responses to violent video game events.

The authors examined emotional valence- and arousal-related phasic psychophysiological responses to different violent events in the first-person shooter video game "James Bond 007: NightFire" among 36 young adults. Event-related changes in zygomaticus major, corrugator supercilii, and orbicularis oculi electromyographic (EMG) activity and skin conductance level (SCL) were recorded, and the participants rated their emotions and the trait psychoticism based on the Psychoticism dimension of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire--Revised, Short Form. Wounding and killing the opponent elicited an increase in SCL and a decrease in zygomatic and orbicularis oculi EMG activity. The decrease in zygomatic and orbicularis oculi activity was less pronounced among high Psychoticism scorers compared with low Psychoticism scorers. The wounding and death of the player's own character (James Bond) elicited an increase in SCL and zygomatic and orbicularis oculi EMG activity and a decrease in corrugator activity. Instead of joy resulting from victory and success, wounding and killing the opponent may elicit high-arousal negative affect (anxiety), with high Psychoticism scorers experiencing less anxiety than low Psychoticism scorers. Although counterintuitive, the wounding and death of the player's own character may increase some aspect of positive emotion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Distributed energy generation and sustainable development

Conventionally, power plants have been large, centralized units. A new trend is developing toward distributed energy generation, which means that energy conversion units are situated close to energy consumers, and large units are substituted by smaller ones. A distributed energy system is an efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional energy system. In this article, we will first discuss the definitions of a distributed energy system. Then we will evaluate political, economic, social, and technological dimensions associated with regional energy systems on the basis of the degree of decentralization. Finally, we will deal with the characteristics of a distributed energy system in the context of sustainability. This article concludes that a distributed energy system is a good option with respect to sustainable development.