Combined biomass network design: A new integrated approach based on ArcGIS.

In light of contemporary energy and environmental objectives, a pivotal transformation of the energy system, encompassing biomass energy, is imperative. A notable challenge in biomass energy facility layout planning is the trade-off between high-efficiency production and the associated investment costs. To harmonize energy efficiency with economy viability, a hybrid layout with the simultaneous construction of centralized and decentralized biomass energy facilities has emerged as a crucial strategic solution. However, the delineation methods for these two layouts lack explicit data support. This study established a population density threshold (PDT) suitable for selecting the distributed layout and employed population density as the criterion for delineating the two layouts. Taking Fuxin City as an example, hybrid layout planning schemes were generated under different PDTs, and a cost and energy benefit analysis framework was developed for these schemes. The results indicated that the scheme with a PDT of 145 person/km2 exhibited the highest energy and economic comprehensive benefits. Compared to a single layout, the planning strategy proposed in this study could achieve nearly the same energy surplus level while saving an investment cost ranging from 2403.9 million CNY to 25,000.23 million CNY. The findings are applicable to other regions with similar conditions, and the analysis framework proposed in this study can be utilized in formulating biomass development strategies for other countries and regions.

Strengthening resistance testing for tuberculosis in India - Investment cost, throughput, and efficiency of new laboratories.

A lack of laboratory capacity for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) testing is a major barrier to DR-TB control. To overcome this barrier, the Central Tuberculosis Division (CTD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (GoI), and FIND India established a partnership under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) to strengthen and expand tuberculosis (TB) laboratory diagnostic capabilities. This partnership has led to the establishment of 61 culture & DST laboratories, increasing the testing capacity to a capability of performing over 200,000 liquid cultures and over 170,000 molecular drug sensitivity tests annually. In this study, we assess the data on throughput, efficiency, investment cost, and the capacity of the laboratory services supported by this partnership to understand impact and inform future resource allocation. We estimated the technical efficiency using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Our results show that the established laboratory network is operating at 69% efficiency, with the capacity to perform an additional 450,000 cultures and 180,000 first-line molecular drug-susceptibility tests by 2025. This additional capacity, together with current efforts to enhance the laboratory network, has the potential to make a significant contribution to NTEP's TB elimination target by 2025.

Relation analysis on emission control and economic cost of SCR system for marine diesels.

In order to meet the IMO Tier III emissions regulations and reduce environmental pollution, many ocean-going vessels have installed the marine SCR system to reduce NOx emissions. However, the investment cost and operation cost of the marine SCR system, as well as the factors affecting the SCR cost are still the problems that need to be studied. In this paper, MAN S46 diesel engine matched SCR system was taken as the research object, and a cost calculation model of Marine SCR system based on cost analysis method has been proposed. The relationship between SCR system cost and some factors such as unit capacity, unit running time and inlet NOx concentration have been analyzed. The research we have done suggests that operating time, NOx inlet concentration, and emission limits are the three main important factors in the operating cost of an SCR system. Among the various secondary costs of operating costs, the reducing agent cost, fuel increase cost, and indirect annual cost account for 60%, 24%, and 7%, respectively. Moreover, the results suggest that the unit denitration cost of the matched SCR system is highly affected by the power of the diesel engine and annual running time. This study demonstrated clearly the relationship between emission control and economic cost of SCR system for marine diesels and was expected to provide a theoretical basis for sustainable development in marine environmental protection policies.

Implications of model uncertainty for investment decisions to manage intermittent sewer overflows.

Uncertainty in urban drainage modelling studies presents challenges to decision makers with limited investment resources attempting to achieve regulatory compliance for intermittent discharges from Combined Sewer Overflows. This paper presents the development of a new decision-making approach to address two key challenges encountered when attempting to manage sewer overflows, these are (i) the implications of different risk preferences of individuals for investment decisions; and (ii) how to utilize information on uncertainties in system performance predictions due to input or parameter uncertainty while comparing decision alternatives. The developed decision-making approach uses a multi-objective decision formulation to analyse the trade-off between investment and predicted system performance under uncertainty while accounting for risk preferences of the individual decision maker. The proposed uncertainty based decision-making approach is able to incorporate any threshold-based regulatory criteria for intermittent sewer overflows and is illustrated using a case study catchment in Luxembourg. The results from this case study highlight the significant impact of individuals' risk preferences on the level of investment recommended to comply with threshold-based regulatory criteria. It was demonstrated that differing levels of risk-averseness can result in a substantial increase in investment cost for solutions that are regulatory compliant. This paper demonstrates the need for water companies to rigorously define a corporate risk preference strategy to ensure consistent investment decisions across their operations; otherwise, individual preferences may cause significant over-investment to meet the same regulatory goals.

Comparative Analysis on the Perspectives of Hospitals and Contractors on Items related with Contracting Hospital Foodservice Management

The purposes of this study were to : a) investigate the current status of contracted hospital food services, b) analyze and clarify various perspectives of contractors and hospitals. Thirty six hospitals and their contractors which were having more than 100 beds located in Seoul, Inchon and Kyungkido, were the subjects of this study. Data were collected through surveys. The survey was conducted during March to April in 2002. Questionnaires were mailed to the 36 directors of dietetic departments of hospitals and 36 managers of contract foodservice management company. Statistical analysis was completed using SPSS Win(11.0) for descriptive analysis, t-test and chi-square-test. The results of the study can be summarized ; 1. The type of contract considered adequate by directors of dietetic departments and managers of contractors was fee-contract, combined type, followed by profit-and-loss contract. 2. According to the results from analysis on the contract cost per meal considered adequate by directors of dietetic departments and managers, the directors of dietetic department indicated that showing no difference with the current contract cost per meal. However, the managers of contractor indicated that showing significant differences compared with the current contract cost per meal(regular diet p<0.01, therapeutic diet p<0.001). 3. In the composition of contract cost per meal considered adequate, the managers of contracting businesses accounted labor cost (p<0.01) as a major cost, whereas the chiefs of nutrition departments accounted miscellaneous or controllable expense (p<0.001) and VAT (p<0.01) as major costs. 4. The directors of dietetic departments and managers thought that the hospital should be responsible for utility costs. On the other hand, directors of dietetic departments regarded that the contractor and managers thought that the hospital should pay for facility investment cost.

Income Statement Analysis and Developing the Guidelines of Meal-pricing and Facilities Investment Cost in Contract-Managed High School Foodservice in Seoul

The purposes of this study were: 1) to investigate the operational and financial characteristics of contract-managed high school food services in Seoul, 2) to analyze the financial performance of high school food services 3) to develop guidelines for meal pricing and facilities investment costs. From Oct to Nov 2001, questionnaires were mailed to 249 high schools that were managed by contract food service companies. A 40.2% response rate was recorded. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Student enrollment in high schools run by contract-managed food services was 1,518, with a 68.5% participation rate in the school lunch program. The average meal price was 2,141 won. 2. Based on the income statement analysis, average total sales were 410,440,504 won and average net profit was 16,098,558 won. 3. The optimum food cost per meal was 1,200-1,300 won per meal, calculating using the methods of conversion factor, RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance), and nutrient exchange unit. 4. Guidelines for meal pricing were developed using the modified actual pricing method based on facilities investment cost, number of meals and food cost. The ratio of labor cost, general management expenses and ordinary profit were adopted from the schools with liability. The food cost, depreciation and interest cost were calculated based on unit meal. 5. The guideline for facilities investment was developed based on the number of meals, meal price and food cost. The guideline included the maximum facilities investment cost paid by the contract food service management company.

The Analysis of Operational Characteristics in Contract-managed Highschool Foodservice in Seoul

The purpose of this study was to investigate the operational characteristics of the contract-managed highschool foodservice and to analyze the factors to effect the menu price. The data was collected from 249 highschools in Seoul. The results are as follows; Those surveyed highschools were established as 1 national, 74 public, and 174 private institution. Highschools were classified as 176 academic, 66 vocational, and 7 specific purposed institution. Students were organized as 70 boys', 23 girls', and 41 coeducational highschools. Most highschool started contract-managed highschool foodservice from 1999 and the period of foodservice contract was most 3 years and the operation styles in food distribution were 96 classrooms, 105 dining halls and 17 classrooms combined dining halls. The scale of contract foodservice management companies was 63.1% small and medium and 36.9% large enterprises. The surveyed highschools had the average meal price 2,141 won per meal and they had 1,518 pupils on the register. The participating rate to the foodservice was 68.5%. The facilities investment cost of the contract foodservice management company was 179,204,230 won for private institutions and was 138,119,010 won for national&public institutions. The period of the contract was 3.22 years in private institutions, which was significantly higher than national&public institutions which showed 2.85 years. The commissary foodservice schools had higher facilities investment cost than conventional foodservice schools. Classrooms foodservice had higher participating foodservice rate than Dining halls. The investment cost for facilities showed high in order of girls', boys', and coeducational high schools, and the number on the register and the number participating in the foodservice showed high in order of boys', girls', and coeducational high schools. The number on the register showed the highest in academic and vocational schools, specific purposed institutions in sequence, and the number participating in the foodservice showed high in order of academic schools, specific purposed institutions and vocational. However, the participating foodservice rate showed high in specific purposed institution, academic and vocational schools in order, and the meal price, the investment cost for facilities showed high in specific purposed institution, academic and vocational schools in sequence. Regionally, the district south of Han river had the average meal price 2,266.13 won, which showed higher in the eastern part which had 2,033.33 won. The western part had the average investment cost for facilities of 233,331,060 won, and the central district 126,137,140 won. The number on the register showed 1845.68 in the eastern part and 1308.00 in Dong-Jak area, that had clear differences among areas. When the period of the contract went longer, the investment cost for facilities had a tendency to increase. The significant differences were existed among meal price, the investment cost for facilities, the number on the register, the number participating in the foodservice, and the participating foodservice rate. The investment cost for facilities had increased according to the number participating in the foodservice and the participating foodservice rate. And the large enterprises showed higher participating foodservice rate than the small and medium enterprises.