1. Integration of an absorption chiller to a process applying the pinch analysis approachAndreja Nemet, Zdravko Kravanja, Miloš Bogataj, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: In addition to the consumption of hot utilities, there is also a significant cost associated
with the consumption of cold utilities when there is a high demand for cooling. A promising
solution for cooling is an absorption chiller (AC), which uses heat instead of electricity for cooling.
A thermodynamic approach for evaluating AC integrated with a process is presented in this work.
A model for assessing the properties and duties of an AC cycle was developed. The integration of
a combined process-AC system was evaluated using the Grand Composite Curve. Three different
options of integration were analyzed: (i) above the Pinch, (ii) below the Pinch, and (iii) across the
Pinch. AC represents the combined effect of a heat engine and a heat pump, as the generator together
with the absorber and condenser has the function of a heat engine, while the evaporator combined
with the absorber and condenser mimics the function of a heat pump. The comparison between the
non-integrated and integrated process-AC systems has revealed that the proper placement of AC is
across or below the Pinch and the improper is above the Pinch. If AC was entirely integrated below
the Pinch, the integration would result in a complete (100%) reduction in the consumption of hot
utility for the operation of AC. The most suitable placement of AC with double reduction of hot
utility consumption and complete reduction of both hot and cold utility to operate AC is across the
Pinch due to the pumping of heat through AC from below to above the Pinch.
Keywords: absorption chiller, Pinch analysis, heat integration, low-temperature heat
Published in DKUM: 15.05.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 0
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3. Synthesis of Heat-Integrated Water Networks Using a Modified Heat Exchanger Network SuperstructureNidret Ibrić, Elvis Ahmetović, Andreja Nemet, Zdravko Kravanja, Ignacio E. Grossmann, 2022, original scientific article Keywords: water network, water integration, heat exchanger network, heat-integrated water network, superstructure optimisation
Published in DKUM: 14.02.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 5
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4. Education of refugee children within the INTREF project frameworkMaja Kerneža, Dejan Zemljak, Metka Kordigel Aberšek, Boris Aberšek, Polonca Legvart, Helena Konšak, Hakan Sari, Ildikó Hanuliaková, Loreta Huber, Inga Laurusone, Kübra Terzioglu, Metin Kiliç, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Amidst growing migratory movements and hurdles of assimilation, the INTREF initiative strives to craft a comprehensive strategy for the schooling of refugee children, melding e-learning, emotional and social support, along with adaptable teaching methods. This endeavor learns on principles like linguistic diversity, cross-cultural skills, and customizing the educational journey, crucial for assimilation and triumph within academic settings. Studies indicate the indispensability of bespoke linguistic assistance, cognizance of cultural variances, and personalized educational tactics for the seamless school transition and societal assimilation of children in refuge. The project devised a survey instrument aimed at evaluating the baseline educational scenario in the participating nations and formulating education plans tailored to specific needs. This survey zeroes on four pivotal areas: linguistic proficiency, cross-cultural consciousness, embracing diversity, and pedagogical customization. Feedback from 31 students, 30 teachers and 28 parents revealed a pressing need for augmented linguistic aid in Slovenia, heightened cross-cultural understanding, and classroom method modification to enrich the academic experiences of culturally diverse children. The findings also underscore a discernible discrepancy between the perspectives of educators versus those of parents and children. The insights from this survey lay the groundwork for creating innovative instructional units and resources, finely adapted to the needs of children in refuge. By forging links between theoretical insights and practical application, as well as among various educational stakeholders, INTREF is ready to enrich the discourse and practices surrounding inclusivity, and endeavor made increasingly pertinent by the recent global disruptions, including the migratory dilemma and the COVID-19 outbreak.
Keywords: individualization of education, integration practices, intercultural competence, refugee children
Published in DKUM: 03.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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5. Attitudes of teachers towards the inclusion of children with special needs in primary and secondary schoolsMajda Schmidt, Ksenja Vrhovnik, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Many researchers emphasize teachers' attitudes as a decisive component in ensuring successful inclusion of students with special needs (SN students). The empirical research that is presented in the main part of this article analyzes the attitudes of primary and secondary teachers towards the inclusion of SN students with respect to the type of school, the teachers' age, the number of SN students in the class, and the teachers') acquired skills. A questionnaire was devised for the study, based on two previous questionnaires: the Questionnaire on Attitudes towards Integration and the Teacher Stress and Coping Questionnaire. The secondary teachers showed more positive attitudes towards SN students than did their primary colleagues, as well as towards teaching and adaptation with respect to the students' SN and towards the psychophysical strain related to such work. The youngest group of teachers, those aged from 20 to 30, shows a higher level of agreement related to the provision of adequate support. Teachers with fewer SN students in class (up to two students) show a higher degree of support for inclusion of SN students than do other groups of teachers. Teachers without training for work with SN students in comparison with their colleagues who had it show a lower level of agreement with respect to support and assistance at educational work with SN students.
Keywords: defektologija, pristopi učiteljev, starost učiteljev, otroci s posebnimi potrebami, otroci z motnjami, integrirani otroci, socialna integracija, emocionalna integracija, motivacijska integracija, osnovne šole, srednje šole, defectology, teachers' attitudes, teachers' age, impaired children, integrated children, integration, social integration, emotional integration, motivational integration, primary schools, secondary schools
Published in DKUM: 17.09.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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6. Multi-criteria decision analysis of supply chain practices and firms performance in NigeriaBilqis Bolanle Amole, Sulaimon Olanrewaju Adebiyi, Olamilekan Gbenga Oyenuga, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Companies are facing numerous pressures and challenges in order to be competitive in the market and meet the requirements of their customers which require an improvement in the supply chain practices of the firms to be more effective and efficient for sustainable competitive advantage. This study examines the use of a multi-criteria decision making method using analytic network process (ANP) to estimate the how supply chain activities of the selected manufacturing firms’ influences its firm performance in other to enhance the satisfaction of customers. The population of the study is the manufacturing firms quoted in the Nigeria stock exchange. An ANP-based questionnaire was administered to Managers of selected manufacturing firms for pairwise comparison of supply chain factors relative influences and dependencies on their customers. A nonlinear network model was built to capture all the factors of supply chain practices and firms performance into clusters, nodes and dependences for the purpose of estimating various influences supply chain practices on the performance of the various companies studied. Data collected were analysed using software of Super decision 3.0 version. The results revealed factors of supply chain practices that have a great connection with one another and strong relationship indicating that without the implementing the key factors of supply chain there would not be a significant improvement in the performance of the organisation which will also affects the desire of the customers. The ANP model has helped to show the interdependencies and feedback among the various factors of practices of supply chain to augment the level of performance of the firms.
Keywords: analytical network process, supply chain, strategic supplier partnership, supply chain integration, outsourcing, customer relationship management
Published in DKUM: 23.08.2024; Views: 74; Downloads: 12
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7. Acceptance of GIS within ERP system : research study in higher educationSimona Sternad Zabukovšek, Polona Tominc, Zdenko Deželak, Gaik Nalbandyan, Samo Bobek, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: GIS is often used in companies where employees already use enterprise information systems/enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and where both systems are used simultaneously. This article is a research study of GIS acceptance by users using GIS, not as a stand-alone tool, but as an integrated tool into the ERP system. The research was conducted using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), one of the most often used research models for researching behavioral intention and actual use of information systems. For this research study, TAM has been modified and extended with external factors. The main research objective is to identify determinants of GIS acceptance and the attitude of individuals toward using GIS integrated with ERP systems. The structural equation model with partial least squares (PLS) method was used to analyze collected survey data. The study researched 12 external factors in the TAM model, out of which 10 were found significant. The most important factors that impact behavioral intention to use ERP-GIS systems are perceived usefulness of ERP-GIS systems and attitude toward using GIS, followed by education and training about ERP-GIS systems and perceived enjoyment using ERP-GIS systems.
Keywords: geographic information systems (GIS), enterprise resource planning (ERP), GIS and ERP integration, GIS acceptance, technology acceptance model (TAM)
Published in DKUM: 09.07.2024; Views: 103; Downloads: 13
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8. Blockchain technology adoption for improved environmental supply chain performance : the mediation effect of supply chain resilience, customer integration, and green customer information sharingSummer K. Mohamed, Sandra Haddad, Mahmoud Barakat, Bojan Rosi, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Due to the complexity of building supply chain resilience (SCR) towards long-term environmental sustainability amendments, the use of emerging technologies such as Blockchain Technology (BCT) can be adopted as an innovative tool to enhance the sustainability and resilience of supply chains, especially in uncertain environments. Drawing on the Knowledge-Based View (KBV) and Dynamic Capability View (DCV), this research aims to demonstrate how the adoption of BCT can enhance the environmental supply chain performance (SCP). A total of 603 valid surveys were collected from respondents from manufacturing and service organizations in Egypt. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modelling, and results revealed that BCT adoption alone had a negative direct impact on environmental SCP. However, when this relationship was mediated by SCR and sequentially mediated by customer integration and green customer information sharing, the results were positive. This research presents insights on how organizations can adapt to dynamic business environments, and, in addition, it extends the theories of KBV and DCV in an empirical contribution by filling the gap in understanding regarding how environmental SCP can be enhanced through the adoption of BCT.
Keywords: blockchain technology, environmental, supply chain, performance, resilience, customer integration, green, information sharing
Published in DKUM: 03.04.2024; Views: 235; Downloads: 8
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9. Integrating social dimensions into future sustainable energy supply networksMatevž Obrecht, Yigit Kazancoglu, Matjaž Denac, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Environmental protection and sustainable development have become an inevitable trend in many areas, including the energy industry. The development of energy supply networks is strongly correlated with the economics of energy sources as well as ecological and socio-political issues. However, the energy supply network is often distant from the social perspective. This paper therefore combines examination of perceptions and awareness of general public (web-based questionnaire) and top energy experts (a Delphi survey) on the energy supply network and identifies their potential integration in energy supply decision making processes. The results showed that public should be better informed as well as integrated into designing energy supply network as the prosumers gain power and the energy suppliers will no longer dominate the market. Public actors are ready to shape sustainable energy supply and also willing to pay 5.8% more for a sustainable energy supply. The majority are prepared to invest in renewable energy supply network close to their place of residence. Another result is that the public is calling for a shift in priority towards more sustainable and socially friendlier energy supply rather than focusing mainly on the economic and technical perspectives.
Keywords: energy supply, supply networks, sustainable energy, public perception, social integration, supply chain management
Published in DKUM: 19.02.2024; Views: 306; Downloads: 28
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10. IoT and satellite sensor data integration for assessment of environmental variables: a case study on NO2Jernej Cukjati, Domen Mongus, Krista Rizman Žalik, Borut Žalik, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: This paper introduces a novel approach to increase the spatiotemporal resolution of an arbitrary environmental variable. This is achieved by utilizing machine learning algorithms to construct a satellite-like image at any given time moment, based on the measurements from IoT sensors. The target variables are calculated by an ensemble of regression models. The observed area is gridded, and partitioned into Voronoi cells based on the IoT sensors, whose measurements are available at the considered time. The pixels in each cell have a separate regression model, and take into account the measurements of the central and neighboring IoT sensors. The proposed approach was used to assess NO2 data, which were obtained from the Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite and IoT ground sensors. The approach was tested with three different machine learning algorithms: 1-nearest neighbor, linear regression and a feed-forward neural network. The highest accuracy yield was from the prediction models built with the feed-forward neural network, with an RMSE of 15.49 ×10−6 mol/m2.
Keywords: Internet of Things, IoT, remote sensing, sensor integration, machine learning, ensemble method
Published in DKUM: 22.09.2023; Views: 514; Downloads: 144
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