Computer Engineering
ISSN: 10003428
Volume 13, Issue 8, 2024
Research Articles
An Integrated Approach to District Heating System Optimization
Pages: 1–12
Abstract
Citation
: This paper presents a holistic innovative solution for the transformation of the current district heating and cooling systems to automated more efficient systems. A variety of technological advancements have been developed and integrated to support the effective energy management of future district heating and cooling sector. First, we identify and discuss the main challenges and needs that are in line with the EU objectives and policy expectations. We give an overview of the main parts that our solution consists of, with emphasis on the forecasting tools and an advanced control system that addresses unit commitment and economic load dispatch problems. The proposed control approach employs distributed and scalable optimisation algorithms for optimising the short-term operations of a district heating and cooling plant subject to technical constraints and uncertainties in the energy demand. To test the performance and validate the proposed control system, a district heating plant with multiple energy generation units and real- life heat load data were used. Simulation experiments were also used to evaluate the benefits of using thermal storage units in district heating systems. The results show that the proposed method could achieve significant cost savings when energy storage is employed. The proposed control strategy can be applied for both operating optimally district heating plants with storage and supporting investment planning for new storage units.
Andreas Theodorou, Maria Georgiou, Dimitris Vasilopoulos, and Georgios. "An Integrated Approach to District Heating System Optimization." Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 1–12, 2024.
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Heavy Metal Profiling in Crataeva magna Lour (DC) Ethanolic Extracts via Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Pages: 13–16
Abstract
Citation
Accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) like cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury were determined in root bark of Crataeva magna Lour (DC) by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The objective of the study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals in root bark that are used in medicine by the local community. Analysis of the heavy metal in selected plant samples was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Measurements were made using a hollow electron discharge lamp (EDL) for cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury at wavelengths of 228.80 nm, 283.31 nm, 193.70 nm and 253.7 nm respectively. The analysis revealed the negative result for cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury in root bark. The root bark was found negative for cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury. This study confirm that the risk of HMs contamination of root bark of Crataeva magna Lour (DC) to appears low but the presence of HMs in this root bark needs to be analyzed every time before processing to confirm the absence of HMs. The consumer must be cautious while consuming these plants for medicinal purpose.
Dr. Kavita Nair, Dr. Ashok Kumar. "Heavy Metal Profiling in Crataeva magna Lour (DC) Ethanolic Extracts via Atomic Absorption Spectrometry." Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 13–16, 2024.
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Actinomycotic Mycetoma of the Right Foot: A Case Report from Central India
Pages: 17–19
Abstract
Citation
Mycetoma is endemic in many developing countries. We report here a case of actinomycetoma in a 70 year old male, farmer by occupation, who presented with multiple discharging sinuses and swellings over the right foot which was instigated by thorn prick 8 years back.Actinomadurae was demonstrated and identified by microbiological studies from the granules obtained from the sinuses. Mycetoma has been called “the most misdiagnosed disease” as it requires a high index of suspicion.It remains a diagnostic challenge. This case is reported to emphasize the importance of awareness among the clinicians and clinical microbiologists that will help in the early diagnosis of the disease and initiation of early and prompt treatment and to reduce the substantial morbidity associated with this devastating infection and assessment of the prognosis of such cases.
Rohan Patel, Shreya Desai, Akash Kulkarni. "Actinomycotic Mycetoma of the Right Foot: A Case Report from Central India." Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 17–19, 2024.
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Medicinal Plants of Iran: A Systematic Review of Their Wound Healing Properties
Pages: 20–24
Abstract
Citation
Burn is an injury where the skin is destroyedby various factors such as heat, cold, electricity, etc.When skin injuryoccurs, pathogens can invade the body and burn wounds get infected shortly after the damage. The wound healing process is a process done by the coordination of tissues, cells and various factors. In the acute phase, inflammatory mechanism of burns has negative effects due to capillary leak. On the other hand, in the later stages of burn,inflammation is necessary for wound healing. Silver nitrate, silver sulfadiazine, and Mafenide acetate are also used for wound care. These compounds cause delayed wound healing and have cytotoxic effects. Iran is among the countries that have rich traditional medicine and herbal treatment of burn wounds in history. Therefore, in this review article, we tried to report the medicinal plants native to Iran which are effective for burn wounds. In this review article, by searching databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Spy DVD, mag Iran and… the articles were searched by searching keywords including burn wounds, herbs, extracts, essences and Iran. After finally searching, it was determined that medicinal plants below are the most important medicinal plants native to Iran that affect burn wounds. 11 Medicinal herbs 11 Abukhalsa plant, chamomile, oak, hungry for love, green tea, purslane, cinnamon, Hypericum, and Commiphora are the most important Medicinal Plants which are effective for burn wound healing in Iran. Alkanin, Naphthoquinone and Shikonin, tannins, pectin, alkaloids, saponins and tannins fixed, resin and vitamin C, flavonoids rutin, aucubin and catalpolCatechin, Epicatechin, EpicatechinGallate, Epigallocatechin and Epigallocatechin-gallate, oxalic acid, Cinnamic acid, caffeic acid , maleic acid, Citric acid, coumarin, flavonoids, alanine, tannins, alpha-linolenic acid, cinnamic acid, phenolic compounds such as eugenol, and safrolephellandrene, terpene compounds such as limonene and linalool, trans-cinnamaldehyde (MDA), tannins, coumarin, resin, Cinema-hydroxy phenyl propane compounds such as formaldehyde and mannitol, curcumin, terpenoids, steroids, Flavonoids, lignans are active compounds of plant bioactive substances that are effective on burn wound healing.
Seyed Mohammad Ali Fazel, Leila Parvin Zanganeh, Amir Hossein Mahdavi. "Medicinal Plants of Iran: A Systematic Review of Their Wound Healing Properties." Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 20–24, 2024.
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Conceptions and Provision of Pharmaceutical Services in Primary Healthcare Settings
Pages: 25–33
Abstract
Citation
OBJECTIVE: To identify and discuss the conceptions of pharmaceutical services in Brazilian Primary Health Care, according to different subjects. METHODS: This study is part of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos – Serviços, 2015 (PNAUM – National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines – Services, 2015), which is composed of an information survey in a representative sample of cities, stratified according to Brazilian regions, and a subsample of primary health care services. Municipal secretaries of health, those responsible for pharmaceutical services, and those responsible for medicine delivery in pharmacies/dispensing units of the selected services were interviewed. The questionnaires included one question about the understanding of the interviewee regarding pharmaceutical services. The content analysis technique was used to apprehend, in the statements, the meanings attributed to pharmaceutical services, which were subsequently classified into categories according to their main conceptions. RESULTS: Among the wide diversity of conceptions on pharmaceutical services (PS), we highlight the ones focused on 1) logistic control of medicines with activities concerning guidance or information on their use and 2) guidance or information to users on the use of medicine. The findings reveal a shifting tendency from a medicine-focused conception to one that considers the users and their needs as the final recipient of these actions. However, the lack of references to conceptions regarding care management and integrality point out the slowness of this change; after all, this is a social and historical process that comprises the production of meanings that transcend legal, logistic, and technical arrangements in pharmaceutical services. CONCLUSIONS: The diversity of conceptions expresses the several meanings attributed to pharmaceutical services; we also identified, in their reorientation process, a movement that reflects a gradual shift in the technical paradigm, from the focus on medicine logistics to a user-oriented approach of health services.
Dr. Giovanni Cioni. "Conceptions and Provision of Pharmaceutical Services in Primary Healthcare Settings." Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 25–33, 2024.
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Harnessing 5G Network Slicing for Advanced eHealth Systems
Pages: 34–40
Abstract
Citation
— In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on how medical and health monitoring devices, clinical wearables, and remote sensors can contribute to better health for patients and more efficient healthcare systems. The fifth generation of mobile, cellular technologies, networks and solutions, promises high bandwidth, low latency and reliability are highly demanded in order to support the needs of healthcare, it is undeniable that what is needed is the transformation of the healthcare providers-patients relationship by integrating richmedia communications into medical care. A key challenge refers to the amount of this information and the way it is transmitted and processed. The different formats, rates and size of datasets (continuously increasing) raise the need for environments able to manage these datasets in an efficient way, while also incorporating and facilitating the requirements of approaches that aim at analyzing them (e.g. through machine learning and artificial intelligence mechanisms) towards efficient healthcare. To this end, network slicing has been envisioned as the promising solution on the heterogeneous medical data requirements and diverse constraints. In this paper we propose an innovative eHealth system powered by 5G network slicing, in order to meet the requirements for establishing an efficient network with high capacity. In this context, healthcare data collection and management inside isolated slices are considered, for creating holistic views of patients, increasing the awareness concerning patients’ health condition that leads to the personalization of treatments and enhances health outcomes. Keywords— 5G networks, network slicing, heterogeneous requirements, healthcare, Internet of Things, data collection, data visualization, data analysis
processing and of the data is based mainly on their. "Harnessing 5G Network Slicing for Advanced eHealth Systems." Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 34–40, 2024.
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"Secure Communications in Train Control Systems: An Integration Framework"
Pages: 41–50
Abstract
Citation
The secure integration of model-based, safety-critical applications implemented in the programming suite Ansys SCADE is explained with the help of a demonstrator. The interoperability between the embedded devices of the demonstrator is achieved using the new TRDP middleware. Remote connections are secured using the WireGuard secure network channel. The demonstrator security concept addresses the different life cycles of its heterogeneous components by adoption of the robust MILS separation architecture. The goal of this open demonstrator is to show how these essential technologies can be composed to a secure safety-critical system.
Jürgen Müller, Kristina Schneider, and Maximilian König. ""Secure Communications in Train Control Systems: An Integration Framework"." Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 41–50, 2024.
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Enforcement Mechanisms for Process Flow Management in Modern Operating Systems
Pages: 51–59
Abstract
Citation
The core functionality of Operating Systems (OSs) is to keep flow of processes or execution of system running. The OS enforces flow of execution and smooth running of processes through implementing several hardware techniques, software applications and algorithms. This paper discusses those techniques in detail. The functionality of OS from context switching level to hardware issues, threats and their solutions have been explained and examined. Thus, it helps to understand how flow of processes has been enforced in OSs through several basic level core steps to advanced third party applications.
Dr. Sofia Patel and Dr. Ethan Brown. "Enforcement Mechanisms for Process Flow Management in Modern Operating Systems." Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 51–59, 2024.
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Exploring the EduScrum Method's Impact on Mathematics Instruction in Engineering Education
Pages: 60–70
Abstract
Citation
Among a number of well-established active learning activities the eduScrum methodology is introduced as a well-known framework for project management adapted to education of mathematics for engineers. EduScrum is founded on empirical process control theory empiricism, asserting that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions is based on known facts. It was successfully adapted and implemented into the education as eduScrum method. EduScrum employs interactive, incremental approach to optimize achievability of learning goals and control risk. Implementation of this method needs a lot of preparatory work, which means a thorough didactical plan and strategy for the whole period of teaching particular course, and development of didactic materials to be used during collaborative activities in the classroom. Paper brings results on
Dr. Diana Laurillard. "Exploring the EduScrum Method's Impact on Mathematics Instruction in Engineering Education." Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 60–70, 2024.
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