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• Proposal for a new index of revealed comparative advantages, ideal for global value chains, since it is on a linear scale and without the traditional double counting. • Analysis of the changes between the new index of revealed comparative advantages and the previous one, referring to the computer and electronics industry. • Creating a balance between the new index of revealed comparative advantages and the new index of revealed technological advantages. Traditionally, comparative advantages have been measured by the volume of gross exports and with formulas that give asymmetric results. However, with the globalization of value chains, other indices have emerged to partially solve some of these problems. The objective of this study is to create a new index for a linear comparison of different economies around the world at the sectoral specialization level, and without the problem of double international counting originated in the global value chains. The methodology used focuses on the properties of the new index and on the comparison with a previous index that only solved the problem of double counting. The results confirm that the new indicator is more reliable than the other index, especially in more advanced sectors of global value chains. Therefore, it should be used to establish policies related to international trade by different economies and global organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term development in computer manufacturing is crucial to satisfying the demands for the software and hardware needed for artificial intelligence (AI) computation. However, the computer manufacturing sector is highly energy-intensive and resource-consuming, making company sustainability an issue. The framework developed in this study incorporates 15 sustainability criteria focusing predominantly on the economy, society, environment, and risk perspectives. A novel hybrid approach that integrates the ISVTNN (interval single-valued trapezoidal neutrosophic number), DEMATEL (decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory), and PGRA (probability-based grey relational analysis) techniques is proposed. This approach is applied to evaluate the interdependent weights of the criteria for a comprehensive calculation of the performance of the evaluated companies based on probabilities. The inclusion of ISVTNNs allows not only for the broader consideration of information uncertainty but also for more effective integration of experts' judgments. To verify the robustness of the proposed model, three sensitivity analyses were conducted. The results show no significant changes in the rankings of the evaluated companies, demonstrating the stability and reliability of the model. The proposed framework and methodology can serve as the foundation for assessing the sustainable performance of companies in the electronics manufacturing industry. This study indirectly strengthens the backbone of the AI system, by improving sustainability assessment in the computer manufacturing sector (which is integral to the foundation for AI computation). In the AI-driven era, it can be expected that hardware demands will skyrocket, making sustainable manufacturing the linchpin for long-term operational success, resilience, and industry growth. • Developed a novel group decision-making approach for assessing corporate sustainability performance. • Integrated ISVTNN to measure uncertainty and effectively amalgamate expert opinions. • The proposed ISVTNN PGRA retains fuzziness, calculating through probabilistic means. • Demonstrated approach efficacy across six electronics manufacturing enterprises. • Sensitivity analysis underscores the approach's robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identify and measure two impacts of industry-level total factor productivity (TFP) growth on aggregate price change in the U.S. and Japan. The first is a standard effect from the definition of aggregate GDP. TFP change lowers aggregate prices ceteris paribus. The second is that a change in TFP in the production of investment goods lowers the cost of capital via lower investment prices. We call this the cost-of-capital effect and formulate an expanded growth accounting framework to capture both effects. We apply it to a harmonized dataset for the two countries and find that the standard effect has fallen since the peak around 2000 due to lower TFP growth and a diminished share of GDP. However, the cost-of-capital effect has risen in importance and offsets part of this decline in the standard effect. • TFP growth in Computer equipment contributes to aggregate TFP growth • This contribution is high in US and Japan, but decelerating since 2004 • Identify how TFP in computers lowers asset prices and cost of capital • Cost-of-capital effect lowers aggregate prices (GDP deflator) • Cost-of-capital effect is rising since 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A robust, portable CE sampler to detect common inorganic ions in situ. • Sampler based on peristaltic and vacuum pumps, a check valve, and a pinch valve. • CE is a promising technology for green analytical chemistry and citizen science. A compact, inexpensive sampler instrument for portable capillary electrophoresis (CE) was developed and tested to monitor common inorganic ions in drinking water samples. The sampler uses peristaltic and vacuum pumps and pinch and check valves to control liquid flows. The paper also addresses various aspects of CE associated with portability, open access instrumentation and prospects of CE for citizen science. The extensive use of items provided by the electronic and computer industry contributes to this trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer simulation for buildings has become affordable and possible in both research and industry during the last decades with rapid progress of computer industry as well as fundamental advancement of computational techniques. This paper provides an overview of such advancements achieved between 1987 and 2014, during which Professor Branko Todorovich served as Editor in Chief of Energy and Buildings Journal. The review, however, was not restricted to this journal only, in order to provide a fair snapshot on overall technique advances. Simulation and computational techniques cover a variety of aspects of building. This paper focuses specifically on six different topics including ventilation performance prediction, whole building energy and thermal load simulation, lighting and daylighting modeling, building information modeling, indoor acoustic simulation, and life cycle analysis of buildings. Major advances in each area are highlighted, as well as the trends for development and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A sampler for portable capillary electrophoresis to detect GHB in situ. • Sampler based on peristaltic pumps, a check valve, and a pinch valve. • LOD with CCD for GHB 1.7 mg L−1, meets the cutoff testing value for GHB in saliva. A compact, inexpensive sampler instrument for portable capillary electrophoresis was developed for monitoring illegal drugs in human body fluids and evaluated for γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in simulated saliva samples. The sampler uses peristaltic pumps and pinch and check valves to activate liquid flows. This short communication addresses aspects of CE associated with portability, open access instrumentation, and prospects of CE for citizen science. The extensive use of items provided by the electronic and computer industry contributes to this trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the publications in green analytical chemistry (GAC) deal with the benign solvents and procedures and all aspects of measures of the greenness of certain methods. The equally important instrumentation aspects in GAC have received much less attention. Instruments in contemporary analytical chemistry have a significant footprint. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a technology that offers an instrument whose ecological footprint could be much less than that of other popular analytical technologies. This paper describes the GAC features of CE with many examples. Those green features of CE include the capability of miniaturization and, thus, the possibility of making portable instruments that can be used in situ. In recent years, many groups have demonstrated increasing interest in developing simple, robust, and inexpensive portable CE instruments. This paper will address aspects of CE associated with portability, open access instrumentation, and prospects of CE for citizen science. The extensive use of items provided by the electronic and computer industry contributes to this trend. [Display omitted] • Instruments in contemporary analytical chemistry have a significant ecological footprint. • Capillary electrophoresis (CE)is a technology with a small ecological footprint. • CE is a promising technology for citizen science due to its simplicity and the wide availability of consumer electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many safety-critical computer systems are required to monitor and control physical processes. The four-variable model, which has been used successfully in industry for almost four decades, helps to clarify the behaviors of, and the boundaries between the physical processes, input/output devices, and software. In this model, the acceptable behaviors of the software are constrained by the physical environment, system requirements, and input/output devices. If acceptable software behaviors are possible, then the system requirements are said to be implementable with respect to these constraints. The only acceptability condition proposed in the literature deems as acceptable software behaviors that can lead to undesirable system behaviors, in particular, nondeterministic system behaviors that for the same input sometimes do not produce any results and some other times produce expected results. In this sense, the acceptability condition can be seen as angelic. In this paper we strengthen the acceptability condition using the demonic calculus of relations such that no undesirable system or software behaviors are allowed and prove a necessary and sufficient implementability condition for the system requirements. As a byproduct, we also obtain a mathematical characterization of the least restrictive software specification, which, for all intents and purposes, can play the role of the software requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential that graphic design is visually clear and accessible. However, evidence suggests that a lack of consideration is given to visual accessibility in print-based graphic design. Furthermore, effective client–designer communication is a vital component in this. This paper investigates current graphic design practice, with regard to visual accessibility, specifically focussing on client–designer communication. A survey of 122 graphic designers and clients identified that these two groups may not be communicating with each other effectively with regard to visual accessibility, and that there is a need to develop inclusive design tools to assist them with this. This paper adds a novel contribution to our limited understanding of visual accessibility in the UK's graphic design industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Operating scheme and quantitative calculation are firstly developed. • A FCS placement model is proposed to limit fault currents while minimizing side effects from FCSs. • The RSPSO is developed to solve the problem. • Two case studies are carried out for sensitivity analysis and discussion. To mitigate the threat from increasing fault current level in high-voltage transmission systems, a "dredging theory" based on the fault current splitter (FCS) was proposed to help the over-duty circuit breaker clear the fault. However, detailed practice of this theory is not fully studied. This paper investigates the feasibility of suppressing the fault current by FCSs from the perspectives of operation and planning. The operating scheme of FCSs is firstly qualitatively analyzed, and an iterative formula is derived to calculate the fault current in a system including multiple FCSs. Furthermore, the voltage sag caused by FCSs is evaluated by the Specified Computer Business Equipment Manufacturer Association (SCBEMA) curve and is minimized by the proposed optimization model considering maximum fault current limitation. A repeat-searching particle optimization (RSPSO) algorithm is developed to solve the model efficiently. This solution is validated to be effective and acceptable through two case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]