Mohamed Abdel-Basset¹, Asmaa Atef¹, Mohamed Abouhawwash^2,3, Yunyoung Nam^4,*, Nabil M. AbdelAziz¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.70, No.1, pp. 1281-1296, 2022, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2022.018947

Abstract The critical path method is one of the oldest and most important techniques used for planning and scheduling projects. The main objective of project management science is to determine the critical path through a network representation of projects. The critical path through a network can be determined by many algorithms and is useful for managing, monitoring, and controlling the time and cost of an entire project. The essential problem in this case is that activity durations are uncertain; time presents considerable uncertainty because the time of an activity is not always easily or accurately estimated. This issue increases the need… More >

Adarsh Anand¹, Jasmine Kaur¹, Ompal Singh¹, Omar H. Alhazmi^2,*

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.68, No.3, pp. 3693-3712, 2021, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2021.017461

Abstract A carefully planned software development process helps in maintaining the quality of the software. In today’s scenario the primitive software development models have been replaced by the Agile based models like SCRUM, KANBAN, LEAN, etc. Although, every framework has its own boon, the reason for widespread acceptance of the agile-based approach is its evolutionary nature that permits change in the path of software development. The development process occurs in iterative and incremental cycles called sprints. In SCRUM, which is one of the most widely used agile-based software development modeling framework; the sprint length is fixed throughout the process wherein; it… More >

Neeti Gandhi^1,3, Nicholas Farfaras², Nien-Hwa Linda Wang³, Wan-Ting Chen^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.8, pp. 1463-1483, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015529

Abstract Increasing production and use of various novel plastics products, a low recycling rate, and lack of effective recycling/disposal methods have resulted in an exponential growth in plastic waste accumulation in landfills and in the environment. To better understand the effects of plastic waste, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) was done to compare the effects of various production and disposal methods. LCA shows the specific effects of the cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-cradle scenarios for landfill, incineration, and mechanical recycling. The analysis clearly indicates that increasing recycling of plastics can significantly save energy and eliminate harmful emissions of various carcinogens and GHGs into the… More >

Mamdouh El Haj Assad^1,*, Ali Khosravi², Mohammad AlShabi³, Bassam Khuwaileh³, Abdul-Kadir Hamid⁴

Energy Engineering, Vol.118, No.3, pp. 447-458, 2021, DOI:10.32604/EE.2021.014590

Abstract In this work, a life cycle analysis is accomplished for flat plate solar collectors. The purpose of this investigation is to predict the energy consumption during the manufacturing processes that results in carbon dioxide emissions. Energy consumption and system efficiency enhancement will be studied and predicted. CES EduPack software is used to perform the analysis of the currently commercial system, and the suggested changes are implemented to increase the efficiency and make the comparison. Even though cost analysis is done, the priority of selection is given to the most energy conserving and environmentally friendly alternative. However, if the compared alternatives… More >

Fatimah O. Albalawi, Mashael S. Maashi^*

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 39-52, 2021, DOI:10.32604/iasc.2021.015657

Abstract In the software field, a large number of projects fail, and billions of dollars are spent on these failed projects. Many software projects are also produced with poor quality or they do not exactly meet customers’ expectations. Moreover, these projects may exceed project budget and/or time. The complexity of managing software development projects and the poor selection of software development life cycle (SDLC) models are among the top reasons for such failure. Various SDLC models are available, but no model is considered the best or worst. In this work, we propose a new methodology that solves the SDLC optimization problem… More >

Ru Jin^*, Xinlian Zhou, Yue Wang

Journal of Information Hiding and Privacy Protection, Vol.2, No.3, pp. 115-123, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jihpp.2020.010180

Abstract In a wireless sensor network [1], the operation of a node depends on the battery power it carries. Because of the environmental reasons, the node cannot replace the battery. In order to improve the life cycle of the network, energy becomes one of the key problems in the design of the wireless sensor network (WSN) routing protocol [2]. This paper proposes a routing protocol ERGD based on the method of gradient descent that can minimizes the consumption of energy. Within the communication radius of the current node, the distance between the current node and the next hop node is assumed… More >

Norma M. P. Machado¹, Gustavo C. Melo¹, Matheus F. Camargo¹, Giulianna G. Feijó¹, Bruna M. S. Putton², Clarice Steffens², Rogerio L. Cansian², Luiz A. Pessan¹, Francys K. V. Moreira^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.2, pp. 337-349, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.011081

Abstract Food packaging materials compounded with antimicrobial additives can substantially diminish the incidence of foodborne diseases. Here, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) films containing sodium metabisulfite (NaM) were produced by melt extrusion as an attempt to develop a new biodegradable material with antimicrobial properties for packaging. Life cycle assessment (LCA) simulations revealed that the environmental footprints of the PLA film did not change upon NaM addition, and that NaM is more eco-friendly than silver nanoparticles. The PLA/NaM films with NaM content varying from 0.5 to 5.0 wt.% were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and optical and mechanical properties determinations.… More >

Katharina Müller^1,*, Walter Sonderegger², Oliver Kläusler², Michael Klippel¹, Edwin Zea Escamilla^3,4

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.9, pp. 1091-1109, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09483

Abstract The demand for high-performance, yet eco-friendly materials is increasing on all scales from small applications in the car industry, instrument or furniture manufacturing to greater dimensions like floorings, balcony furnishings and even construction. Wood offers a good choice on all of these scales and can be modified and improved in many different ways. In this study, two common European hardwood species, Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) were densified in radial direction by thermo-mechanical treatment and the densified product was investigated in an extensive characterisation series to determine all relevant mechanical properties. Compression in the three main… More >