Search Results (604)

The automation of logistics processes in companies is an essential part of the modernization and advancement of companies around the world. This article deals with the issue of deploying a selected type of automated guided vehicle (AGV) in very specific conditions. AGV is suitable for optimizing the circular supply chain in specific conditions of a manufacturing company. The deployment of AGVs is governed by the production needs of the section in question. The selection criterion was therefore the quantity of products that needed to be transported on the selected route. The article uses a new calculation of AGV requirements based on the saturation of individual components from the picking location to the assembly line. The ratio indicator was considered: driving time per shift, depending on the length of working time. Based on this calculation, the most effective option was applied from the individual solutions. Based on our calculation, we arrived at a requirement for three AGVs, plus a reserve, i.e., four. Our selected calculations were applied to the FRONT and TOP positions, where a decision was made between the option of using under-run AGVs or a truck. The decision was made based on the saturation level, and the result is described at the end of the discussion. The AGV is one of the tools for sustainable supply chain management in a company. However, it is important to evaluate the total cost of ownership, including lower labour costs, less risk of damage to goods, higher productivity, and long service life of the trucks. Thanks to these factors, AGVs often prove to be economically advantageous. Full article

Objective: To provide a narrative overview of the scientific knowledge on Last Aid Courses and experiences from different countries. Background: The levels of death literacy, grief literacy, and knowledge about palliative care are low in many countries around the world. For many people, dying, death, and grief are still a taboo. Public Palliative Care Education (PPCE), the public knowledge approach, and the Last Aid Course (LAC) aim to increase death literacy, grief literacy, and public knowledge about palliative care. Methods: A literature search in the databases PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, and PsycInfo was undertaken. Other additional sources were found by hand searching, books, reference lists, and the internet. A narrative overview of the existing literature on LAC and Public Palliative Care Education (PPCE) is provided. Experiences with PPCE and LAC from different countries are presented. Based on the findings, a future agenda for research on PPCE and LAC is presented. Results and Discussion: PPCE and LAC have been introduced in 23 countries. A total of 17 articles and reviews on Last Aid were included. Research on the effects of LAC in different countries and cultural issues connected to LAC are ongoing. Conclusions: Since 2015, LACs have been introduced in 23 different countries. The LAC, the LAC-KT, and PPCE may enhance the public debate on dying, death, grief, and palliative care and may empower people to contribute to end-of-life care in the community. Future research on PPCE, the LAC, and the LAC-KT should focus on retention over time and the long-term effects of the courses. Full article

In a context in which the construction sector is significantly contributing to environmental degradation, LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a fundamental tool for analyzing the impact of materials and processes. This systematic literature review highlights the potential of integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) with LCA to encourage sustainable practices in the construction sector. To this end, a systematic search was conducted in the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases and, after a rigorous selection process, 65 peer-reviewed studies were chosen from an initial pool of 817 records for final analysis. The quantitative analysis of the 65 studies revealed a well-defined technological landscape, demonstrating that BIM–LCA integration can enhance decision-making. The main findings reveal that Autodesk Revit is the prevailing BIM authoring tool, used in 77% of the cases analyzed, establishing itself as the de facto standard for sustainability assessments. Regarding environmental data, the Ecoinvent database was the most cited Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) source, employed in 32% of the selected articles. This review highlights critical issues that hinder its adoption, including interoperability problems with software, a lack of standardized data, and high implementation costs. It is therefore necessary to overcome these barriers to fully exploit this approach and contribute to global sustainability goals, such as reducing CO₂ emissions and waste in the construction sector. Full article

This study investigates whether Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) or Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) represent the superior alternative to conventional vehicles for last-mile delivery, with a particular focus on large enterprises that prioritize both economic feasibility and environmental performance. Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost methodologies are applied to evaluate both technologies across the full cradle-to-grave life cycle within a unified framework. The functional unit is defined as one kilometer traveled by a BEV or FCEV in last-mile transportation, and the system boundary includes vehicle manufacturing, operation, maintenance, and end-of-life treatment. The environmental impacts are assessed using the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method implemented in OpenLCA 2.0.4, and normalization follows the standards provided by the official ReCiPe 2016 framework. The East China Power Grid serves as the baseline electricity mix for the operational stage. Regarding GHG emissions, FCEVs demonstrate a 12.36% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions compared to BEVs. This reduction is particularly significant during the operational phase, where FCEVs can lower CO₂ emissions by 53.51% per vehicle relative to BEVs, largely due to hydrogen energy’s higher efficiency and durability. In terms of economic costs, BEVs hold a slight advantage over FCEVs, costing approximately 0.8 RMB/km/car less. However, during the manufacturing phase, FCEVs present greater environmental challenges. It is recommended that companies fully consider which environmental issues they wish to make a greater contribution to when selecting vehicle types. This study provides insight and implications for large companies with financial viability concerns about environmental impact regarding selecting the two types of vehicles for last-mile transportation. The conclusions offer guidance for companies assessing which vehicle technology better aligns with their long-term operational and sustainability priorities. It can also help relevant practitioners and researchers to develop solutions to last-mile transportation from the perspective of different enterprise sizes. Full article

Operation and maintenance of civil infrastructure facilities such as bridges is the most extended period of the entire lifetime of the structures. This phase provides many opportunities that benefit society. However, such a wide span of operation also exposes bridges to various threats and risks. Therefore, knowledge domains such as Bridge Management System and life-cycle management are crucial ingredients for maintaining the level of performance of bridges and their components. Bridge Management System (BMS), since its emergence in 1975, has been constantly evolving to meet the needs of the industry with advancements in technology through new paradigms. To accelerate the process of creating and managing the data and information about bridge structures, the terms Bridge Information Modeling (BRiM) and Civil Information Modeling have appeared more frequently. Inspired by Building Information Modeling, the incentive is to manage the information better, from the concept until the end-of-life. The amount of created data is extensive and versatile. To address the issue of potential unstructured and heterogeneous information, academic and industrial researchers have been developing classifications, categories, and taxonomies. Given the advancements and growth of Semantic Web technologies, and qualities such as interoperability, machine-readable format, and extensibility, ontology development has become prominent. Current experience and success in creating and adapting ontologies into BIM workflow set examples for other branches in the built environment like civil engineering. Ontologies describing various areas of the bridge domain have been developed. However, proposals of how such information models could be aligned and integrated are seldom seen. This paper presents scoped evaluation of ontologies from bridge operation and maintenance domain. It gives an overview of how well different subjects are compliment entire topic, and it provides recommendations on modeling and evaluating ontologies related to a particular use case. It proposes a methodology that can be used for further development, alignment, and finding ontology gaps in the bridge domain. Full article

Microplastics are very small particles of plastics, usually smaller than 5 mm. Microplastic pollution has emerged as a rising and challenging issue worldwide, posing serious threats to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and human health. Because of global demand and frequent use in daily routines, including clothing, packaging, and household items, the production of plastic is increasing annually. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the source, classification (based on shape, color, polymer), transportation, and impact of microplastic pollution. Depending upon size, mass, and density, microplastics can be transported to the environment via air and water. However, microplastics can be inhaled and ingested by humans, causing various health issues; for example, aquatic organisms like small fish ingest microplastics, which accumulate through the food chain and end up in the human body. This can lead to physiological harm, including inflammation, digestion tract obstruction, biomagnification throughout the food chain, and reproductive failure. This study further highlighted initiatives taken by government agencies to address plastic and microplastic pollution across India; for example, The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has formulated and amended the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) rules, Mission LiFE (LiFEStyle for Environment) launched campaigns such as “Say No to Single Use Plastic” and “One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution” to create awareness at the grassroot level, and institutions like the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have initiated a project to detect microplastics in food products. In addition, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to actively take measures to address microplastic pollution across Indian cities, focusing on key parameters like air, water, food, and humans. This study presents several recommendations, including detection and removal techniques (conventional, advanced, and removal); strengthening legislative policies such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); research collaboration and monitoring with institutions such as CSIR-IITR, ICAR-CIFT, and BITS-Pilani; integrating EPR and Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) to develop a circular economy model; and mass awareness through government initiatives like the Swachh Bharat and Smart City programs to foster long-term behavioral change. Full article

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) plays a critical role in reducing global carbon emissions. However, the end-of-life management of electric vehicle batteries (EVBs) presents significant sustainability and operational challenges. This study proposes a blockchain-based framework that enables full lifecycle tracking of EVBs, from production to disposal or reuse, while addressing issues of transparency, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The framework incorporates a multi-criteria decision model to guide data-driven end-of-life routing—whether for second-life reuse or direct recycling—based on technical, environmental, and economic indicators. By integrating smart contracts with a hybrid web/mobile platform, the system ensures tamper-proof documentation, stakeholder accountability, and compliance with the EU battery passport regulation. A detailed cost analysis of deploying the framework on Ethereum is also presented. The proposed solution aims to enhance the sustainability of EVB management, reduce environmental impact, and promote circular economy practices within the EV industry. Full article

This paper explores the economic, environmental, and security issues created by the launch of satellite megaconstellations, which are networks of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites planned to provide worldwide communications, data services, and research capabilities. Although such programs bring the potential to offer global coverage and substantial technology enhancements, they also pose significant challenges to fund and sustain. In order to address these issues, the approach assumes a Life Cycle Costing (LCC) scope that includes development, launch, operational, end-of-life, and environmental impacts. Based on this, we introduce an original model, which includes a Cooperative Game Theory component—more precisely the Shapley value—to devise fair and efficient cost-sharing mechanisms between multiple players. The model includes the effects of cooperation, free-rider phenomena, and the consideration of capacity limitations, providing a formalized approach to distribute costs fairly and ensure coalition stability. A three-operators case study demonstrates the real benefits achieved by collaboration: significant cost savings of up to 27% compared with independent approaches. However, the analysis also demonstrates the destabilizing effects of free riders, which undermine cooperation in the short run and may lead to a net increase in costs for contributing parties. The results indicate that resilient allocation mechanisms and policy protection are necessary to secure the sustainability of megaconstellations over the long time period, possibly also applicable to other critical infrastructures beyond space systems. Full article

We argue for the possibility of creating a mutually-meaningful and mutually-consequential collaboration between the Magisteriums of Religion and Science by providing a sample case about how fundamental issues in understanding the ontology of being human within developmental science align with corresponding ontological issues within instances of Judeo-Christian theology. We illustrate how two specific areas of collaboration—palliative care that sustains meaning, mattering, and dignity within individuals in the end-of-life period, and promoting earth stewardship that addresses challenges to sustaining a habitable planet for human life—are instances of opportunities for meaningful integrations of the two Magisteriums. We hope that our sample case may be persuasive enough to motivate scientists and theologians with knowledge of other areas within their respective Magisteriums to generate additional sample cases. We call for collaborative actions to demonstrate that mutually beneficial exchanges between the two Magisteriums can result in new spiritual knowledge of mutual significance to the teaching authorities of both science and religion. Full article

Heart transplantation is the gold standard in patients with end stage heart failure, offering vastly improved survival, mortality and quality of life. However, hypertension occurring after cardiac transplantation is a serious issue, with the incidence ranging from 50 to 80% of patients. The pathophysiology of the hypertension encompasses a more varied and unique set of causes than those identified in non-organ transplant patients, particularly related to the use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) especially cyclosporine. An in-depth understanding of hypertension after heart transplantation remains a critical issue that necessitates further clarification, due to its deleterious long-term consequence such as impaired graft survival, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), and overall survival. This article provides a comprehensive review of the prevalence, risk factors, etiology, complications, and management of hypertension after heart transplantation. Full article

The road construction sector is increasingly striving to reduce its environmental footprint while advancing circular economic goals. Conventional asphalt mixtures depend on virgin aggregates and bitumen, which significantly contribute to emissions and resource depletion. This study addresses the issue by assessing the environmental performance of asphalt mixtures incorporating secondary raw materials—reclaimed asphalt, recycled fishnets, and cellulose fibres. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment was conducted on four mixtures, using the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) impact assessment methodology. The results along with the hotspot and sensitivity analyses show that reclaimed asphalt offers the most consistent environmental benefits, notably mitigating climate change and resource depletion impacts by replacing virgin aggregates. Recycled fishnets, despite addressing marine plastic waste, showed higher toxicity and eutrophication burdens due to energy-intensive processing. Cellulose fibres reduced climate impacts but increased land use and terrestrial ecotoxicity. Results highlight that the environmental benefits of introducing recycled materials are incremental rather than transformative at the production stage, and that the influence of supply-chain logistics can outweigh differences among mixtures. Although the cradle-to-gate perspective provides valuable insights for material selection and procurement, future studies should include use and end-of-life phases, where larger environmental benefits may emerge for certain mixtures. Full article

In an increasingly interconnected world, cybersecurity professionals play a pivotal role in safeguarding organizations from cyber threats. To secure their cyberspace, organizations are forced to adopt a cybersecurity framework such as the NIST National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework). Although these frameworks are a good starting point for businesses and offer critical information to identify, prevent, and respond to cyber incidents, they can be difficult to navigate and implement, particularly for small-medium businesses (SMBs). To help overcome this issue, this paper identifies the most frequent attack vectors to SMBs (Objective 1) and proposes a practical model of both technical and non-technical tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities (TKSA) from the NICE Framework for those attacks (Objective 2). This research develops a scenario-based curriculum. By immersing learners in realistic cyber threat scenarios, their practical understanding and preparedness in responding to cybersecurity incidents is enhanced (Objective 3). Finally, this work integrates practical experience and real-life skill development into the curriculum (Objective 4). SMBs can use the model as a guide to evaluate, equip their existing workforce, or assist in hiring new employees. In addition, educational institutions can use the model to develop scenario-based learning modules to adequately equip the emerging cybersecurity workforce for SMBs. Trainees will have the opportunity to practice both technical and legal issues in a simulated environment, thereby strengthening their ability to identify, mitigate, and respond to cyber threats effectively. We piloted these learning modules as a semester-long course titled “Hack Lab” for both Computer Science (CS) and Law students at CSU during Spring 2024 and Spring 2025. According to the self-assessment survey by the end of the semester, students demonstrated substantial gains in confidence across four key competencies (identifying vulnerabilities and using tools, applying cybersecurity laws, recognizing steps in incident response, and explaining organizational response preparation) with an average improvement of +2.8 on a 1–5 scale. Separately, overall course evaluations averaged 4.4 for CS students and 4.0 for Law students, respectively, on a 1–5 scale (college average is 4.21 and 4.19, respectively). Law students reported that hands-on labs were difficult, although they were the most impactful experience. They demonstrated a notable improvement in identifying vulnerabilities and understanding response processes. Full article

This research presents a systems-thinking analysis of Green Internet implementation in Zimbabwe, integrating the Socioecological Model and Life Cycle Model to provide a multi-faceted understanding of the challenges involved. This study analytically investigates the multilevel socioecological factors and dynamics of the technology life cycle that influence the adoption of sustainable IT principles among institutional actors. Utilizing a hermeneutic phenomenographic approach and data from 102 in-depth interviews, this study reveals a significant lack of awareness, inconsistent implementation, and systemic constraints. A key analytical finding is the dominance of cost-driven procurement and a widespread “technological fetish”, which, combined with the absence of a national e-waste regulation, constitutes a permissive constraint that enables unsustainable practices in the country. The study identifies the lack of a formal e-waste recycling infrastructure and a “fear of disposal” as critical inhibitors in the end-of-life phase of the technology life cycle. Rather than viewing these issues in isolation, this research uses a systems lens to identify the establishment of a national e-waste law with mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a crucial leverage point. This intervention is a strategic measure to overcome structural impediments and promote sustainable urban development in policy-fragile, low-resource contexts, providing valuable insights for policymakers and contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable ICT adoption in education. Full article

The definition of the recycling and recyclability rates used today relies too heavily on the mass of the recycled materials, to the disadvantage of less dense materials such as polymers. In order to help with this issue, two indices have been created to, respectively, evaluate the retrievability of materials in their end-of-life stage and their reintegrability in new equipment once they have been recycled. These two indices comprise four indicators each, which are themselves divided into 23 sub-indicators. The six formal mathematical principles of the construction of these entities are presented, along with the formulas used for their calculation. Then, a case study is presented: the data of an equipment from a French EEE and sports and leisure distributor have been collected, and all sub-indicators, indicators and indices have been calculated for this equipment, hence assessing the retrievability and reintegrability of its constitutive materials. In conclusion, the precise nature of the indicators and sub-indicators has allowed us to give eco-design recommendations on different aspects of the design process, such as the choice of materials, the mechanical connections and modularity of the product, and its insertion into the waste treatment chain. Full article

Jubail Industrial City serves as a compelling case study for understanding the complexities of urban liveability within an industrial context. This paper investigates the intricate dynamics that define liveability in Jubail, employing a cross-disciplinary approach that integrates insights from architecture, sociology, public health, and environmental studies. As a city shaped by rapid industrialization, Jubail faces significant challenges, including housing affordability, environmental sustainability, and social equity. To address these issues, the research adopts a mixed-methods methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative techniques. It begins with a literature review to analyze existing research and identify gaps in knowledge. Surveys were conducted to gather quantitative data on the perception of liveability, housing conditions, and access to essential services. Open-ended questions provided qualitative insights into the social implications of industrial growth. The study examined specific initiatives aimed at enhancing liveability, such as public space redevelopment and community engagement programs, evaluating their impact on residents’ quality of life. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to the broader Livable Cities initiative by offering actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, advocating for a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes a truly liveable urban space in industrial settings like Jubail. Full article