title: Visualization of physical library shelves to facilitate collection management and retrieval

authors: Jervis, Matthew Geoffrey

subjects: computer science

abstract: Electronic cataloguing systems are used by libraries to provide search mechanisms for finding books in their collections. These systems provide limited, if any, tools for browsing content electronically in a manner similar to browsing books on physical library shelves. Furthermore, library patrons often struggle to physically locate and retrieve books, even after they have found what they are looking for using library catalogue systems. A number of prototype technologies have been developed in recent years to assist library users with the task of locating books. These systems are, however, rather limited in their functionality, and generally do not provide tools for remote browsing of library shelves. In this paper we introduce Metis, a system designed to allow virtual viewing of collections, and to assist with physical retrieval of books using a range of desktop and mobile computing devices.

text: Visualization of physical library shelves to facilitate collection management and retrieval Electronic cataloguing systems are used by libraries to provide search mechanisms for finding books in their collections. These systems provide limited, if any, tools for browsing content electronically in a manner similar to browsing books on physical library shelves. Furthermore, library patrons often struggle to physically locate and retrieve books, even after they have found what they are looking for using library catalogue systems. A number of prototype technologies have been developed in recent years to assist library users with the task of locating books. These systems are, however, rather limited in their functionality, and generally do not provide tools for remote browsing of library shelves. In this paper we introduce Metis, a system designed to allow virtual viewing of collections, and to assist with physical retrieval of books using a range of desktop and mobile computing devices.

year: 2013

title: Heat pump integration for total site waste heat recovery

authors: Liew, Peng Yen

abstract: Total Site Heat Integration (TSHI) promotes energy recovery between processes to enhance overall energy efficiency of an industrial complex. Various industrial waste heat utilisation technologies have been studied to improve the energy efficiency of energy system. Vapour compression as an open loop heat pump system has good potential to be used to upgrade the waste heat to useful heat in Total Site systems. Vapour compression systems upgrade low grade waste heat by supplying a low quantity of high pressure steam (thermocompressor) or mechanical work (mechanical-compressor) to generate higher pressure steam, as is common with evaporation systems. The vapour compression system recovers the latent heat content of the industrial waste heat, which reduces cooling demand, decreasing the demand for high quality steam and reducing boiler load. This paper introduces an effective Total Site targeting methodology to integrate open cycle heat pump systems, i.e. vapour compression technologies, into an integrated industrial energy system for enhancing overall site energy efficiency. Industrial waste heat and high quality steam demand are able to be reduced simultaneously though this integration. The energy reduction and cost-benefit of thermo-compressor and mechanical-compressor installations are compared through a literature case study. The case study showed a deficit of heat at the MPS and a surplus of heat the LPS, which was identified as a candidate for compression according to the appropriate placement principle for heat pumps. For the case study, a four-stage mechanical vapour compression system and two-stage thermal vapour compression system resulted in an energy cost reductions of 343,859 USD/y and 168,829 USD/y.

text: Heat pump integration for total site waste heat recovery Total Site Heat Integration (TSHI) promotes energy recovery between processes to enhance overall energy efficiency of an industrial complex. Various industrial waste heat utilisation technologies have been studied to improve the energy efficiency of energy system. Vapour compression as an open loop heat pump system has good potential to be used to upgrade the waste heat to useful heat in Total Site systems. Vapour compression systems upgrade low grade waste heat by supplying a low quantity of high pressure steam (thermocompressor) or mechanical work (mechanical-compressor) to generate higher pressure steam, as is common with evaporation systems. The vapour compression system recovers the latent heat content of the industrial waste heat, which reduces cooling demand, decreasing the demand for high quality steam and reducing boiler load. This paper introduces an effective Total Site targeting methodology to integrate open cycle heat pump systems, i.e. vapour compression technologies, into an integrated industrial energy system for enhancing overall site energy efficiency. Industrial waste heat and high quality steam demand are able to be reduced simultaneously though this integration. The energy reduction and cost-benefit of thermo-compressor and mechanical-compressor installations are compared through a literature case study. The case study showed a deficit of heat at the MPS and a surplus of heat the LPS, which was identified as a candidate for compression according to the appropriate placement principle for heat pumps. For the case study, a four-stage mechanical vapour compression system and two-stage thermal vapour compression system resulted in an energy cost reductions of 343,859 USD/y and 168,829 USD/y.

year: 2016

title: Low copper levels measured in the aortic wall of New Zealand patients with non-syndromic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm

authors: El-Gamel, Adam

subjects: Ascending aortic aneurysm

abstract: OBJECTIVES: Studies in animals have shown causal relationships between copper (Cu) deficiency and the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) [1, 2]. Cu deficiency is widespread in New Zealand (NZ) soils; the high soil pH from the use of lime fertilizers reduces the bioavailability of Cu for grazing animals and growing plants; this, in turn, reduces Cu availability in the NZ human food chain. Our study is a pilot study to explore associations between Cu and TAA. We measured Cu levels in aneurysmal aortic tissues in patients undergoing Bentall procedures and non-aneurysmal aortic tissue from coronary artery bypass graft patients. METHODS: Aortic samples were collected from 2 groups of patients during elective open-heart surgery over 4 months between November 2017 and February 2018. The groups were a TAA group, patients with non-syndromic aortic aneurysm and without the bicuspid aortic valve or known infectious or inflammatory condition (ANEURYSM; n = 13), and a control coronary artery bypass graft group (CONTROL; n = 44). Standardized digested dry tissue weighed samples were analysed from both groups. Tissue extraction of trace elements was carried out using HCl-H2O2 digestion and a highly sensitive analytical technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-used to measure elemental concentrations. RESULTS: Cu concentration (mean ± SD) was significantly lower in ANEURYSM (3.34 ± 0.16 µg/g) when compared to the CONTROL group tissues (4.33 ± 0.20 µg/g) (dry weight; mean ± SD; Student's t-test, P < 0.05). Over 46% of the Aneurysm patients were Maori and live in a geographically Cu-deficient NZ territory. CONCLUSIONS: Cu deficiency may play a role in the development or progression of non-syndromic ascending aortic aneurysms in NZ. Maori patients are more at risk as they commonly live in rural NZ, dependent on locally grown nutritional sources. Further studies are required to confirm this exciting finding and to establish cause and effect relationship.

text: Low copper levels measured in the aortic wall of New Zealand patients with non-syndromic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm OBJECTIVES: Studies in animals have shown causal relationships between copper (Cu) deficiency and the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) [1, 2]. Cu deficiency is widespread in New Zealand (NZ) soils; the high soil pH from the use of lime fertilizers reduces the bioavailability of Cu for grazing animals and growing plants; this, in turn, reduces Cu availability in the NZ human food chain. Our study is a pilot study to explore associations between Cu and TAA. We measured Cu levels in aneurysmal aortic tissues in patients undergoing Bentall procedures and non-aneurysmal aortic tissue from coronary artery bypass graft patients. METHODS: Aortic samples were collected from 2 groups of patients during elective open-heart surgery over 4 months between November 2017 and February 2018. The groups were a TAA group, patients with non-syndromic aortic aneurysm and without the bicuspid aortic valve or known infectious or inflammatory condition (ANEURYSM; n = 13), and a control coronary artery bypass graft group (CONTROL; n = 44). Standardized digested dry tissue weighed samples were analysed from both groups. Tissue extraction of trace elements was carried out using HCl-H2O2 digestion and a highly sensitive analytical technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-used to measure elemental concentrations. RESULTS: Cu concentration (mean ± SD) was significantly lower in ANEURYSM (3.34 ± 0.16 µg/g) when compared to the CONTROL group tissues (4.33 ± 0.20 µg/g) (dry weight; mean ± SD; Student's t-test, P < 0.05). Over 46% of the Aneurysm patients were Maori and live in a geographically Cu-deficient NZ territory. CONCLUSIONS: Cu deficiency may play a role in the development or progression of non-syndromic ascending aortic aneurysms in NZ. Maori patients are more at risk as they commonly live in rural NZ, dependent on locally grown nutritional sources. Further studies are required to confirm this exciting finding and to establish cause and effect relationship.

year: 2022-09-09