Ethics, Communication, and Propaganda About Energetic and Environmental Topics
Francesca Marin,
Alberto Mirandola
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
78-85
Received:
23 September 2015
Accepted:
13 October 2015
Published:
27 October 2015
Abstract: This paper aims at disentangling and explaining the meaning of communication, which should not be confused with the mere transmission of information. The focus will be put on scientific and technological communication, mainly in the field of energetic and environmental topics. Communication is a profession practiced by speakers and writers working within the mass media (newspapers, television, internet, etc.), but other people are involved in communication issues, particularly when communication deals with scientific and technological topics. Scientists, technicians and professionals, and engineers in particular, have a great responsibility when participating in the spread of technical information, which should not be confused with propaganda, whose meaning is explained in the paper. The paper will be developed in two stages. Firstly, by offering a conceptual framework, it will be argued that communication, rightly understood, is a special kind of action that is characterized by an ethical commitment, which should permeate our daily life, in particular the professional experience. On the contrary, propaganda cannot constitute an authentic communicative context because it involves senders and receivers, and not interlocutors. Indeed, propaganda generally aims at influencing opinions, attitudes and actions of a specific target audience on the basis of senders’ personal interest or ideological thinking. Secondly, practical examples will be provided in the scientific and technical fields, with particular attention given to energetic and environmental issues. In fact, this is a critical context, because people are generally not prepared to deeply understand this matter and can easily be manipulated. Some examples will show how a given reality can be partially presented or misrepresented when speaking about the concept of sustainability, the evaluation of health or safety risks, the assessment of the potentiality of renewable energy sources, the difference between energy sources and energy carriers, the interpretation of climate changes, or the ideological opposition to industrial initiatives.
Abstract: This paper aims at disentangling and explaining the meaning of communication, which should not be confused with the mere transmission of information. The focus will be put on scientific and technological communication, mainly in the field of energetic and environmental topics. Communication is a profession practiced by speakers and writers working ...
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Spectral and Thermal Properties of Biofield Energy Treated Cotton
Mahendra Kumar Trivedi,
Rama Mohan Tallapragada,
Alice Branton,
Dahryn Trivedi,
Gopal Nayak,
Rakesh Kumar Mishra,
Snehasis Jana
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
86-92
Received:
7 October 2015
Accepted:
19 October 2015
Published:
16 November 2015
Abstract: Cotton has widespread applications in textile industries due its interesting physicochemical properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of biofield energy treatment on the spectral, and thermal properties of the cotton. The study was executed in two groups namely control and treated. The control group persisted as untreated, and the treated group received Mr. Trivedi’s biofield energy treatment. The control and treated cotton were characterized by different analytical techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and CHNSO analysis. DSC analysis showed a substantial increase in exothermic temperature peak of the treated cotton (450 ºC) as compared to the control sample (382ºC). Additionally, the enthalpy of fusion (∆H) was significantly increased by 86.47% in treated cotton. The differential thermal analysis (DTA) analysis showed an increase in thermal decomposition temperature of treated cotton (361ºC) as compared to the control sample (358ºC). The result indicated the increase in thermal stability of the treated cotton in comparison with the control. FT-IR analysis showed an alterations in –OH stretching (3408→3430 cm-1), carbonyl stretching peak (1713-1662 cm-1), C-H bending (1460-1431 cm-1), -OH bending (580-529 cm-1) and –OH out of plane bending (580-529 cm-1) of treated cotton with respect to the control sample. CHNSO elemental analysis showed a substantial increase in the nitrogen percentage by 19.16% and 2.27% increase in oxygen in treated cotton as compared to the control. Overall, the result showed significant changes in spectral and thermal properties of biofield energy treated cotton. It is assumed that biofield energy treated cotton might be interesting for textile applications.
Abstract: Cotton has widespread applications in textile industries due its interesting physicochemical properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of biofield energy treatment on the spectral, and thermal properties of the cotton. The study was executed in two groups namely control and treated. The control group persisted as untr...
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Analysis of Energy Cost Savings by Substituting Heavy Fuel Oil with Alternative Fuel for a Pozzolana Dryer Case Study of Bamburi Cement
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2015
Pages:
93-102
Received:
21 October 2015
Accepted:
30 October 2015
Published:
2 December 2015
Abstract: The research study was carried out with the aim of analyzing the energy cost saving achieved by substituting heavy fuel oil with alternative fuel for a pozzolana dryer. This was carried out on an existing dryer where data from reports for previous years on energy requirements, that is, heavy fuel oil cost and usage was collected. An auxiliary system to handle biomass was designed and fabricated. Further a projected substitution scenario was determined through the use of excel worksheet which was set as the benchmark of evaluation on the expectations of the actual substitution. Comparison of fuel composition and cost of both actual and projected substitution scenarios was carried out. Further an economic analysis was carried out to establish the viability of the project. From the study findings of both the projected and actual substitution, the cost of energy was reducing with an increase in alternative fuel substitution with coefficients of correlation (R2) of 1 and 0.5422 respectively. Again the projected and actual savings were increasing with an increase in alternative fuel substitution with coefficients of correlation (R2) of 1 and 0.6288 respectively. From the economic analysis, the cost benefit analysis gave a positive net present value of 67,409,041. IRR was 4.10 %, simple payback period was 12 days and return on investment was 29.72%. Using these four techniques of capital budgeting, the investment was worthwhile to undertake. Further on economic analysis substitution effect was carried out. On the substitution effect, there was gradual cost drop of the energy used to dry pozzolana from 357491491 Kenya shillings with increasing percentage alternative fuel substituted to 106,269975 Kenya shillings when heavy fuel oil is completely substituted by alternative fuel. From the study, the high and fluctuating cost of heavy fuel oil used in pozzolana drying can be achieved through substitution with alternative fuel.
Abstract: The research study was carried out with the aim of analyzing the energy cost saving achieved by substituting heavy fuel oil with alternative fuel for a pozzolana dryer. This was carried out on an existing dryer where data from reports for previous years on energy requirements, that is, heavy fuel oil cost and usage was collected. An auxiliary syste...
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