Search

Vehicle chassis dynamometer, as an important part of vehicle test equipment, plays an important role in the research and development of the vehicle’s entire life cycle. The development history of vehicle chassis dynamometer from hydraulic dynamometer to AC dynamometer was reviewed, and it was proposed that AC chassis dynamometer has become the mainstream trend. The vehicle chassis dynamometer was further discussed from the aspects of measurement and control system and road simulation system. On the basis of the current research status of dynamometers, based on the virtual test technology, network, intelligence and function expansion, the development direction and research focus of vehicle chassis dynamometers are given to provide reference for the further development of vehicle chassis dynamometers.

PUR foams are one of the more frequent used thermal insulation materials, especially as pipe insulation. The main parameter characterizing materials in terms of thermal insulation is the thermal conductivity coefficient signed as λ. In the case of PUR foams, aging occurs, consisting in the diffusion of gases contained in the foam cells, as a result of which material insulating properties go worse. Prediction of changes in the λ coefficient is essential and its value after aging should be included in the calculation of the long-term insulation performance. The use of methods that accelerate the aging process contributes to shortening the time and costs associated with testing new products. In this work, for the purpose of testing cylindrical products, the methodology of aging of flat products contained in the standard EN 14308 was adapted. Coatings made of closed cell PUR foam with densities of 40 kg/m3, 60 kg/m3, 80 kg/m3 and 120 kg/m3, foamed with n-pentane were aged by conditioning at 70 °C for 175 days. Based on the λ coefficient measurements, its increment after 7, 21 and 90 days was also determined. The effects of foam density, sample diameter, sample thickness and average test temperature on the velocity and range of λ coefficient changes after successive conditioning periods were analyzed. The final λ coefficient values obtained using two aging procedures were compared. The obtained results indicate an increase in the importance of choosing the aging procedure along with an increase in foam density and an increase in average measurement temperature. Quantitative estimation of changes in the λ coefficient value caused by material aging is very important for both manufacturers and designers of heating networks and other industrial installations.

With the continuous improvement of automobile intelligence and networking, automobile cybersecurity has gradually become the focus of attention from enterprises and research institutions. Whether it is domestic or international, there are many organizations and institutions on the Internet of vehicles cybersecurity is widely concerned, ISO 21434 road vehicle network security project, is an international automotive network security standard, which covers the entire life cycle of automotive products (from design to retirement), is currently in the development. From the perspective of ISO 21434 cybersecurity system requirements, this paper proposes an cybersecurity system evaluation method for automobile companies, in order to evaluate whether or to what extent each automobile company meets the cybersecurity status of ISO 21434 standard.

Big data technology, as a series of processing methods for mass data storage, calculation, statistics, analysis and processing, has played an important role in the development of China’s industry and has continuously promoted the innovation and development of traditional industries. The health management industry is based on the current status of China’s population, and the goal of personnel training covers the health screening, analysis, and decision-making of the entire life cycle of the population. Based on the large population base in China, there is a practical need for the integration of big data technology and health management. The analysis and processing of big data technology will also provide a more convenient reference for health management. The combination of big data technology and health management is also one of the directions for the development of public health. This article analyzes the current status of health management integration in the context of big data, analyzes the problems at the current stage, and proposes solutions to explore ways to provide a reference for the cross integration of health management and big data technologies.

Construction in the northern construction-climatic zone associated with the solution of complex engineering problems. This is primarily the monitoring of the temperature state of the cryolithozone, which depends on a combination of climatic, engineering-geological, hydrogeological, environmental and technogenic factors. This is even more relevant in connection with the fact of degradation of permafrost. Generalized and classified technical solutions for the construction of foundations of buildings and structures built on the I and II principles. At the same time, technical audit of design solutions and scientific support during the entire life cycle of objects is required. In order to improve and implement the progressive direction in foundation construction, variants of design solutions for self-cooling freestanding columnar foundations of factory production are proposed and the work schedule is detailed.

Lithium ion batteries are experiencing an increased success thanks to their interesting performances, in particular for electric vehicles applications. Their continuous technological improvements in the last years are providing higher energy density and lower manufacturing costs. However, the environmental performance of their supply chain is of paramount importance to guarantee a cleaner alternative to fossil-based solutions on the entire life cycle of the applications. This paper carries out a comprehensive review on the main aspects related to Li-ion batteries manufacturing, to support the readers in understanding the complexity of the subject and the main challenges and opportunities for the future developments of this technology. The paper discusses the expected future demand of batteries; the main aspects related to the supply chain, including existing assets, input materials and alternative technologies; the end-of-life of batteries; the environmental impacts; and the main geopolitical implications.

Omosita colon (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is a species widely distributed in the Holarctic that usually appears during more advanced stages of decay. It is one of the species found on highly decomposed remains. Although O. colon may be a promising indicator of post-mortem interval (PMI) in cases with longer PMI, there is currently no existing research on its growth and development. Therefore, we studied the development of O. colon at seven constant temperatures between 16 and 34 °C and found that O. colon can complete its entire life cycle between 16 and 31 °C, but failed to complete development at 34 °C. At 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, and 31 °C, the developmental duration of O. colon from egg to adult is 95.3 ± 11.4, 62.4 ± 8.5, 45.9 ± 2.8, 34.9 ± 3.4, 30.0 ± 2.6, and 25.2 ± 2.6 d, respectively. Based on the results of development time and accumulated degree days, an isomorphen diagram was plotted and a thermal summation model was established. The mean (±SE) developmental threshold temperature D0 and the thermal summation constant K calculated using the thermal summation model were 10.65 ± 0.16 °C and 514.1 ± 8.7° days, respectively. The results of this study provide fundamental developmental data for the use of O. colon in minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin) estimations.

The brown dog tick is unusual among ticks in that it can complete its entire life cycle indoors as well as outdoors. Brown dog tick infestations can develop in dog kennels and residences, where populations can reach dramatic levels and cause dog diseases. This 6-page fact sheet written by and published by the UF/IFAS provides the distribution, description and identification, life cycle, and management of the brown dog tick as well as its hosts and the medical and veterinary significance of this troublesome pest. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in378 This article is co-published with the Featured Creatures collection of UF/IFAS Department of Entomology & Nematology, and FDACS/DPI, available at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/medical/brown_dog_tick.htm

During the conversion of solar radiation into electricity, photovoltaic installations do not emit harmful compounds into the environment. However, the stage of production and post-use management of their elements requires large amounts of energy and materials. Therefore, this publication was intended to conduct an eco-energy life cycle analysis of photovoltaic power plant materials and components based on the LCA method. The subject of the study was a 1 MW photovoltaic power plant, located in Poland. Eco-indicator 99, CED and IPCC were used as calculation procedures. Among the analyzed elements of the power plant, the highest level of negative impact on the environment was characterized by the life cycle of photovoltaic panels stored at the landfill after exploitation (the highest demand for energy, materials and CO2 emissions). Among the materials of the power plant distinguished by the highest harmful effect on health and the quality of the environment stands out: silver, nickel, copper, PA6, lead and cadmium. The use of recycling processes would reduce the negative impact on the environment in the context of the entire life cycle, for most materials and elements. Based on the results obtained, guidelines were proposed for the pro-environmental post-use management of materials and elements of photovoltaic power plants.

A tiered hybrid input−output-based life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to analyze potential environmental impacts associated with current US food consumption patterns and the recommended USDA food consumption patterns. The greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) in the current consumption pattern (CFP 2547 kcal) and the USDA recommended food consumption pattern (RFP 2000 kcal) were 8.80 and 9.61 tons CO2-eq per household per year, respectively. Unlike adopting a vegetarian diet (i.e., RFP 2000 kcal veg or RFP 2600 kcal veg), adoption of a RFP 2000 kcal diet has a probability of increasing GHGEs and other environmental impacts under iso-caloric analysis. The bigger environmental impacts of non-vegetarian RFP scenarios were largely attributable to supply chain activities and food losses at retail and consumer levels. However, the RFP 2000 vegetarian diet showed a significant reduction in the environmental impacts (e.g., GHGEs were 22% lower than CFP 2547). Uncertainty analysis confirmed that the RFP 2600 scenario (mean of 11.2; range 10.3−12.4 tons CO2-eq per household per year) is higher than CFP 2547 (mean of 8.81; range 7.89−9.95 tons CO2-eq per household per year) with 95% confidence. The outcomes highlight the importance of incorporating environmental sustainability into dietary guidelines through the entire life cycle of the food system with a full accounting of the effects of food loss/waste.

This paper focuses on utilizing the life cycle analysis and other assumptions. For the life cycle cost section, the market price of one set of front loading washing machine is considering the cost for each life cycle stage that could be acquired from the data sources. Additionally, the LCC analysis could compare the initial investment options of the current front loading washing machine which calculated by a series of formulas and identified the minimum cost in each life cycle stage. According to the LCA and LCC results during the entire life cycle stages of the front loading washing machine, the procedure of eco-design could improve the hotspots of ecological impacts and reduce the pending expenses through some radical measures. Therefore, reducing energy consumption and improving the recycling rate would immensely enhance the hotspots of the redesigned product.

Variants of classification of risks of NPP design over the entire life cycle are proposed. The concept of integral risk is introduced and, on its basis, approaches to the creation of a low-risk nuclear power system based on small and medium power units are formulated. The key role of the human factor in the formation of risks is reflected. Comparison of the risks of NPPs of large and small capacity is carried out. .

The building sector plays a key role in the global economic, social and environment development. The energy consumed during construction and operation processes accounts for around 40% of the global energy use. China is the largest developing country and its construction market is one of the largest markets in the world. Although the construction phase occupies only a short period over the entire life cycle of a building, it is still an essential aspect of the process. However, in China, the concept of green construction remains scarcely known amongst construction industry members. Green construction continues to experience a disparity in the Chinese construction industry. Therefore, the aim of this study is to appraise the concept of green construction in the Chinese construction industry and to consider how it could be applied in most Chinese construction projects.

The Korean government has independently developed and operated five types of construction CALS systems since 1999 to enhance business efficiency and competitiveness throughout the entire life cycle of construction projects. Due to the aging of systems and the difficulty of system maintenance, there is a growing demand for system integration. This study identified the relative importance of key success factors to successfully integrate the five types of construction CALS systems using the AHP theory.

The purpose of this study was to identify chydoridae using conservative way, while the observations of the life cycle was done through a microscope to determine the egg production per parent and length of life. Individual chydoridae acclimatized to reach 10 generations (1 month), and 10 females were isolated for the production of seedlings. Based on literatures review, chydoridae used was derived from subfamily Aloninae (Alona spp.); while studies on the life cycle found: the egg size of chydoridae 150.2 ± 22.4 μm, and neonates have an average size of 291.82 ± 3.06 μm, and reached adult size after 2.3 ± 0.5 days, with an average size of 441.22 ± 10.2 μm. Time of embryonic development occured for 1-2 days. On the entire life cycle, only 2 eggs could be produced per individual. Based on this study, the number of eggs produced by the female during its lifetime ranges between 30-60 eggs. Similarly, the length of life of this organism on average 47.2 ± 11.7 days, with the longest lifespan was achieved 60 days. It was found also the maximum size was 1,037 ± 8.5 mm; while the average size of an organism's body was 800.42 ± 56.3 μm.Keywords: chydoridae, identification, life cycle, Alona spp

Life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) aims at understanding and quantifying the magnitude and significance of the potential environmental impacts of an industrial process chain or products throughout its entire life cycle. Understanding these impacts is the first step in prevention, reduction and remediation actions. Life-cycle impact assessment consists of mandatory elements, which are the selection of impact categories, category indicators, and characterization models; the classification stage, where the inventory parameters are sorted and assigned to specific impact categories; and impact measurement, where the categorized inventory flows are characterized, using one of many possible LCIA methodologies, into common equivalence units that are then summed to provide an overall result per impact category. In many LCAs, characterization concludes the LCIA step; this is also the last compulsory stage according to ISO 14044 (2006). However, in addition to the earlier mandatory LCIA steps, other optional LCIA elements – normalization, grouping, and weighting – may be conducted depending on the goal and scope of the LCA study. This chapter provides an introduction to LCIA and some of its sophistications. Case studies are presented for a waste incinerator and an organic photovoltaic device.

Safety monitoring of all drugs throughout their entire life cycle is mandatory in order to protect the public health. Our objective was to describe all new safety signals assessed at EU level by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC).Publicly available data on signals assessment from PRAC meeting minutes for the period January 2014-November 2017 were analyzed and classified.A total of 239 new signals for 194 drugs/drug combinations/therapeutic classes were evaluated by PRAC. A total of 154 signals were triggered by spontaneous reporting, 31 by literature case reports, and 26 by observational studies. In 188 signals, the drugs involved were authorized for more than 5 years. The drug classes for which most signals were detected were antineoplastic/immunomodulators (n = 75), anti-infectives (n = 34), and drugs acting on the nervous system (n = 27). Signals were triggered for drug interactions (n = 15), in utero exposure (n = 7), medication errors (n = 6), and for different disorders, among which the skin/subcutaneous tissue disorders were more common. PRAC recommendations consisted in label updates (n = 86), in Direct Healthcare Professional Communications (n = 17), and in eight recommendations for a more complex evaluation through referral procedures.Most new signals assessed were triggered by spontaneous reporting and led to routine risk minimization measures, such as updating the product information.

Modeling and simulation is poised to transform drug development across the entire life cycle from discovery to commercialization. For the biopharmaceutical industry, this transformation will enable knowledge-based decision making and foster new collaborative ways of working that will translate into more high-value treatments and increased development efficiencies. In the health care arena, where value for money is paramount, modeling and simulation will inform future health care planning and practice.

Introduction:In the article the organizational and pedagogical conditions of readiness of future teachers for the project activity in conditions of digitalization of education are analyzed. The structure of readiness is defined, which includes the following components: motivational-value, contentprocedural, organizational-managerial, reflex-appraisal. The motivation-value component is aimed at stimulating the motivational attitude of the students to the project activity, understanding its significance for future pedagogical activity. The content-procedural component is aimed at the phased development of the project activities, including the entire life cycle of the project: research, planning, development, deployment and quality assessment. The organizational and management component is aimed at the organization of interaction between teachers, students, administration of the university, developing strategic goals, predicting the result of project activities, performing diagnostics and control in project management. The impact-assessment component is aimed at the formation of a reflective readiness for the project activity. Materials and methods:When writing the article, the following methods were used: theoretical and methodological analysis and synthesis of existing special domestic and foreign scientific and methodological literature, a conceptual analysis of scientific articles and publications. An interdisciplinary scientific and theoretical analysis of the problem was conducted on the subject of the research, as a result of which the conclusion was made that the organizational and pedagogical conditions for the readiness of future teachers for the project activity are to be developed.Results:The set of organizational and pedagogical conditions necessary and sufficient for the successful formation of the project activity of future teachers in conditions of digitalization of education is justified. The program of experimental and experimental research of the readiness of future teachers for the project activity on motivational-value, substantive-procedural, organizational and managerial, reflective-evaluative components is implemented, ensuring objectivity, complexity, consistency of monitoring and evaluation of the results of project activities.Discussion and Conclusions:The willingness and ability of future teachers to carry out project activities in the digital environment will effectively organize the educational process in the digital age

The seeds of Annona macroprophyllata Donn. Sm. contain idioblasts with toxic acetogenins, including laherradurin and rolliniastatin-2, in relatively high proportions. Both metabolites are cataloged as potent insecticides for several species, even so, the wasp Bephratelloides cubensis Ashmead fulfills almost its entire life cycle inside the seeds of this and other annonaceous species, to such a degree, that they constitute a strong selection pressure. In order to document the chemical relationship between the two species, it is reported for the first time in this paper the presence of idioblasts and acetogenins during the ontogenic development of the seeds of A. macroprophyllata, and contrasted with the development of B. cubensis. The results indicate that idioblasts with laherradurin and rolliniastatin-2 acetogenins are formed in the middle stages of the endospermic development, also that both acetogenins are biosynthesized simultaneously, and that their proportion is dependent on the degree of development. The acetogenins are present in high amounts that suppose a sufficient toxic barrier and, in this case, laherradurin is the most abundant (> 1000 µg g dry weight−1). The wasp B. cubensis only emerges from the seeds to copulate and returns for oviposition; its larval phase coincides with the appearance of acetogenins, so it feeds on the acetogenic endosperm. The absence of acetogenins in the tissues and excreta of the insect supposes a metabolization of the molecules, which would explain the tolerance to its toxicity.

Not only the complexity of the railway rolling stock systems has increased over the last years and decades, but also the requirements on their dependability and performance. The long life cycle of railway rolling stock imposes additional challenges on maintenance engineering and on monitoring the system performance during the life cycle of the system. The chapter proposes a framework for managing reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) along the railway rolling stock life cycle. The framework integrates the points of view of the different stakeholders involved over the entire life cycle. Approaches for several phases of the life cycle are elaborated with the focus on concept and definition phase, design and development, and operation and maintenance. This includes defining RAM/life cycle cost (LCC) requirements and their apportionment to subsystems and determining, influencing, and demonstrating RAM and LCC parameters in practice. An increasingly important part is the integration of RAM/LCC requirements in contracts. The conflicting goals between reduction of design and development costs, maintenance costs, availability, and reliability are discussed and solutions are proposed. Additionally, maintenance engineering, including the definition of maintenance tasks and the respective maintenance intervals is introduced within the framework. The main contribution of the chapter is its integral character combining different approaches along the entire life cycle.

Nowadays, the proliferation of smart, communication-enable devices is opening up many new opportunities of pervasive applications. A major requirement of pervasive applications is to be secured. The complexity to secure pervasive systems is to address a end-to-end security level: from the device to the services according to the entire life cycle of devices, applications and platform. In this article, we propose a solution combining both hardware and software elements to secure communications between devices and pervasive platform based on certificates issued from a Public Key Infrastructure. Our solution is implemented and validated with a real device extended by a secure element and our own Public Key Infrastructure.

Pharmaceuticals are nowadays recognized as a threat for aquatic ecosystems. The growing consumption of these compounds and the enhancement of human health in the past two decades have been paralleled by the continuous input of such biologically active molecules in natural environments. Waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as a major route for release of pharmaceuticals in aquatic bodies where concentrations ranging from ng/L to μg/L are ubiquitously detected. Since medicines principles are designed to be effective at very low concentrations, they have the potential to interfere with biochemical and physiological processes of aquatic species over their entire life cycle. Investigations on occurrence, bioaccumulation and effects in non target organisms are fragmentary, particularly for marine ecosystems, and related to only a limited number over the 4000 substances classified as pharmaceuticals: hence, there is a urgent need to prioritize the environmental sustainability of the most relevant compounds. The aim of this review is to summarize the main adverse effects documented for marine species exposed in both field and laboratory conditions to different classes of pharmaceuticals including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, psychiatric, cardiovascular, hypocholesterolaemic drugs, steroid hormones and antibiotics. Despite a great scientific advancement has been achieved, our knowledge is still limited on pharmaceuticals behavior in chemical mixtures, as well as their interactions with other environmental stressors. Complex ecotoxicological effects are increasingly documented and multidisciplinary, integrated approaches will be helpful to clarify the environmental hazard of these "emerged" pollutants in marine environment.

International audience; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an approach to assess the environmental performance of products throughout their entire life cycle. LCA-based decision-making usually focuses on environmental impacts, excluding other considerations, such as customer expectations and economic aspects. Moreover, although the environmental performances of industrial systems are highly dependent on operating conditions (e.g. local context, accessibility of resources), LCA usually integrates generic data. The aim of this chapter is to provide an integrated framework to identify the solutions best suited to a specific context, considering environmental, economic and commercial aspects.First, the environmental performances of competing products are compared thanks to LCA. A scenario-based approach is then applied based on the most influential parameters identified in the environmental assessment. Costs are then incorporated into a set of exploitation scenarios.Second, several customer profiles are generated with respect to their economic and environmental strategies. Products are then ranked according to these profiles. The final step is to identify the most suitable solution for a given context-client couple. The framework is applied to three burners for forge furnaces. Results show that client profiles and operating contexts (namely client expectations, location and resource availability and costs) affect the technological choices.

Sturgeons are an ancient order of fish (Acipenseriformes), dating back in their occurrence to over 200 million years ago. The order comprises two families (Acipenseridae and Polyodontidae) and 27 species. Their natural range is restricted to the northern hemisphere. Sturgeons exhibit a very long life cycle (maximum lifespan up to over 150 years, depending on species). They are late-maturing species, and many grow to very large sizes (up to 6–7 m long). Most of the sturgeon species are anadromous. There are also potamodromous (landlocked) species and forms, spending their entire life cycle in freshwater (Fig. 26.1).

A whole life-cycle bioenergetic model based on the dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory was proposed for the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). To develop this model, experiments on growth and reproduction were performed: adult and juvenile growth, size at first reproduction and amount of eggs spawned by females were monitored under different feeding levels and temperatures. The DEB parameters were estimated, using Bayesian statistics, based on the data produced during these experiments and on other data found in the literature. The model fitted accurately the different data used for the calibration process and, in addition, predicted accurately the data sets used to assess its predictability. Our bioenergetic model of the whole life cycle of the three-spined stickleback accounting for environmental variations could contribute in many ways to improved ecological assessment: supporting change of scale from individual to populations; developing new biomarkers of exposure and effect; analysing ecotoxicity tests with biology-based models.

Packaging is a major component in the development of drug formulations in the pharmaceutical industry. There is a close relationship between a pharmaceutical formulation and its package and it is a major concern too from the drug stability and safety point of view. The packaging of pharmaceutical products is an integral part of product development which keeps the product stable during its entire life cycle. Packaging imparts luster, identification, and protection of a product from environmental and transportation stress. Different types of packaging materials are available for the various pharmaceutical dosage forms. With recent advancements in the field of packaging technology, there is a continuous requirement to upgrade the packaging methodologies to meet the demand of the market and user-friendly packaging. This chapter includes different types of packaging material including container and closure, ideal characteristics of packaging material, tamper-resistant packaging including bubble pack, blister pack, film wrapper, tape seals, and evaluation parameters for different packaging materials. Advanced technologies in pharmaceutical packaging including blow–fill–seal technology; child-resistant packaging is also covered in this chapter.

This chapter explores the role of stewardship in the reduction of environmental and human health risks from health-care-specific contaminants in the environment, focusing in particular on pharmaceuticals. In the absence of a full understanding of environmental effects, stewardship approaches have much to offer and can be applied along the entire life cycle of a drug, from design to its release into the environment. While “green pharmacy” appears a worthwhile pursuit in the long term and advanced wastewater treatment technologies are increasingly being considered, it is in particular in the health-care domain that stewardship—both as stewardship toward one's own health and through discerning use of pharmaceuticals—has the potential to deliver positive environmental, health, and financial outcomes. While environmental stewardship of pharmaceuticals can be driven by policy, education, and facilitation, a reexamination of our attitude to health and our relationship with pharmaceuticals is required to curb the trend of ever-increasing use of medicines.

The goal of comprehensive provenance tracking in the scientific environment should be the inclusion of the entire life cycle of data management. Thus, the data collection process begins with the registration of lab-generated or sensor-generated data, continues to organize and manage data in the storage repositories, processing analysis and simulation data on clusters and HPC systems, and finally referencing and verifying computational results in scientific publications. In the associated provenance tracking life cycle, UniProv initially concentrates on the processing and simulation of data in scientific workflows used in particular on supercomputers in the HPC environment. In this context, UniProv aims to create the core of a provenance management framework that can be extended in order to integrate different sources of the scientific provenance cycle. Here UniProv should facilitate the creation, the standardized formalization, the storage and the retrieval of Provenance Information.

In the previous chapters, we have discussed a method to evaluate the environmental performance of the product (or service) provided by an enterprise, specifically, the product LCA method, and we have also discussed methods to avoid poor sourcing methods for the environmental performance of the product (or service), namely to perform eco-design for each element of the product or service and its entire life cycle.

Accurate identification and evaluation of exposure/emissions along the entire life cycle of complex inorganic materials is crucial to ensure that the potentially associated environmental and health risks are properly managed. The evaluation of exposure/emissions shall cover the workplace (occupational exposure), the different environmental compartments (environmental exposure), the general population exposed to such materials indirectly via air, food, or drinking water or directly as potential consumers of preparations or goods containing such materials. This chapter describes the key elements of relevance when assessing exposure to complex inorganic materials (variability, speciation, physical form), including some general principles aiming at preventing/reducing exposure/emissions.

Sustainable societal and economic development relies on novel nanotechnologies that offer maximum efficiency at minimal environmental cost. Yet, it is very challenging to apply green chemistry approaches across the entire life cycle of nanotech products, from design and nanomaterial synthesis to utilization and disposal. Recently, novel, efficient methods based on nonequilibrium reactive plasma chemistries that minimize the process steps and dramatically reduce the use of expensive and hazardous reagents have been applied to low-cost natural and waste sources to produce value-added nanomaterials with a wide range of applications. This review discusses the distinctive effects of nonequilibrium reactive chemistries and how these effects can aid and advance the integration of sustainable chemistry into each stage of nanotech product life. Examples of the use of enabling plasma-based technologies in sustainable production and degradation of nanotech products are discussed-from selection of precursors derived from natural resources and their conversion into functional building units, to methods for green synthesis of useful naturally degradable carbon-based nanomaterials, to device operation and eventual disintegration into naturally degradable yet potentially reusable byproducts.

Increasingly, over the past decades, the health impact of the extractive industries has generated concern across the globe. This special edition of New Solutions on the extractive industries includes important contributions from different countries and across different continents. It presents a more consistent and much deeper insight into the varied “faces” of the extractive industries and compels us to look with fresh eyes for sustainable solutions in the context of the entire life cycle of these industries. The papers, reflecting different settings, approaches, and frames, delineate some of the major common risks of the extractive industries to human health, environment, sustainable economies, and livelihoods. The authors elaborate some of the responses applied and needed to address these challenges. NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy 2016, Vol. 25(4) 421–430 ! The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1048291115622222 new.sagepub.com

Life-history traits of two coexisting cladocerans, Daphnia magna Straus and Scapheloberis kingi Sars, inhabiting a temporary pond in north-eastern Algeria were monitored in 2013 under laboratory conditions. Their life histories were compared for differences in traits such as age and size at first reproduction, size of neonates, brood size, number of broods per female, total life span and intrinsic rate of increase (rm). Data were recorded during their entire life cycle. Daphnia magna, the larger species, could possibly be more successful in colonising temporary habitats than S. kingi because it allocates more energy to reproduction. Scapheloberis kingi, the smaller species, starts reproduction early, resulting in a smaller brood size and a shorter life span with fewer broods. Consequently, S. kingi produces a smaller number of neonates during its lifetime and has a lower rm. In contrast, D. magna delays reproduction but produces a larger brood size and, because it is longer-lived, produces more broods and...

Life cycle assessment (LCA) has become the prevalent approach for quantifying the environmental impact of products over their entire life cycle. Unfortunately, LCA studies require large amounts of data that are difficult to collect in practice, which makes them expensive and time consuming. This work introduces a method that simplifies standard LCA studies by using proxy metrics that are identified following a systematic approach. Our method, which combines multi-linear regression and mixed-integer linear programming, builds in an automatic manner simplified multi-linear regression models of impact that predict (with high accuracy) the damage in different environmental categories from a reduced number of proxy metrics. Our approach was applied to data retrieved from ecoinvent. Numerical results show that few indicators suffice to describe the environmental performance of a process with high accuracy. Our findings will help develop general guidelines for simplified LCA studies that will focus on quantifying a reduced number of key indicators.

Summary The current study aims to update the range of Aphanius fasciatus occurring in inland aquatic systems, and to characterise the length–weight relationship of specimens caught in inland waters of the Northern Sahara of Algeria. Although the known distribution of A. fasciatus is restricted to coastal waters including islands of the Mediterranean region, visits to 39 hydrosystems in Northeast Algeria revealed the presence of the species at two sites: Oued Still and Lake Temacine. Both sites are in the Sahara Desert of Algeria, where the climate is hot and hyperarid. The surveyed populations perform their entire life cycle at the same sites. Analysis of a sample composed of 27 individuals captured in Oued Still allowed determination of the length–weight relationship. On average, females measured 4.2 ± 0.6 cm in length and weighed 1.1 ± 0.5 g; males were 3.2 ± 0.6 cm and 0.5 ± 0.2 g. Growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy equation for A. fasciatus were estimated at Lt = 5.5145 (1−exp (−0.341(t−0.0049))), Wt = 2.6692 (1−exp (−0.271t))3.

The concept of electro mobility is gaining importance and has become more dynamic in recent years, particularly in developed economies. Besides a significant reduction of mobility-related CO2 emissions, electro mobility is also expected to minimize the current dependence on oil, while maximizing energy conversion efficiency. However, the associated shift in resource requirements towards so-called strategic metals gives reason to suspect that trade-offs could threaten the desired merits of e-mobility with regard to sustainability. This study aims to give a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges—including the issue of uncertainties—which the broad implementation of e-mobility could place on resource availability and especially on a sustainable management of special metals for the high voltage traction batteries forming the heart of the electric powertrain. Future metal flows for three possible cathode materials containing the special metals lithium and cobalt are estimated in this paper by means of a Material Flow Analysis. Using two scenarios (dominant and pluralistic) projecting the annual demand for electric vehicles until 2050 and the free software STAN in order to perform the calculation steps to build up the model for the analysis, the MFA considers the resource input requirements based on annual vehicle registrations and the consequent energy requirements. The results indicate continuously rising lithium requirements with a wide variation in absolute terms depending on the scenario, which can be considered symptomatic for the uncertainty regarding the development of e-mobility. In the case of cobalt, the projected demand trajectories differ even more drastically between the two scenarios. In comparison to lithium though, for both scenarios cobalt requirements in absolute terms are much less than lithium requirements. With a view to currently known reserves, the cumulative demand for battery technology projected in the dominant scenario will consume 74–248 % (for two different cases) of the lithium reserves and 50 % of the cobalt reserves by 2050. Despite significant differences between the examined scenarios, it becomes clear that e-mobility will be an increased driver for cobalt and particularly lithium demand in the future. Exact increases in demand for both metals are difficult to predict, especially due to the necessity of numerous assumptions, such as recycling rates, as well as data availability and quality. The results of this study imply a shift from managing primary resources, resource uses, and waste separately, towards managing materials, i.e., resource flows and their implications over the entire life cycle.

Functional genomics research is the core field in plant scientific research. As a staple food crop and a reference of monocot plant, tremendous progress has been made in rice functional genomics in China. Various methods and technical platforms have been developed to enable high-throughput analyses and effective determination of gene functions, including: large T-DNA insertion mutant libraries; global gene expression profiles for the entire life cycle of rice growth and development, abiotic and/or biotic conditions; full-length cDNA clones; high-throughput genotyping by whole-genome resequencing; large-scale analyses of metabolome and reliable high- throughput phenotyping platforms, etc. With those enabling tools and genetic resources, large efforts have been focused on identifying genes controlling yield, fertility, superior quality, resistances to biotic and abiotic stresses, and high nutrient-use efficiency. The combination of approaches based on the advances in genomic research has been formulated to develop rice cultivars referred to as Green Super Rice (GSR). We briefly summarize these advances and call for the prospects in future proposed by Chinese scientists: the RICE2020 Project and the RICE 4D Genome Program.

Two fibre Bragg grating sensors FBG1 and FBG2 are, respectively, embedded in the carbon fibre-reinforced plastics laminate with the ply schedule of [0/90/452/02/−452]s. The two fibre Bragg gratings are used continuously to monitor the internal temperature and strain of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics laminate in its entire life cycle. During the curing process, the internal temperature and strain of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics laminate are recorded, and the absolute internal thermal strains through temperature compensation are obtained. After complete cooling, the residual strains in different layers are also obtained; they are 88 and −7 μe with FBG1 and FBG2, respectively. In order to investigate the internal strain during mechanism loading, a tensile test and three-points bending test are conducted. Coefficients between wavelength shift and tensile force are 0·165 and 0·172 pm N−1 with FBG1 and FBG2, respectively. The coefficient between wavelength shift and bending force is −1·403 pm N−1 ...

The environmental impact associated with a SOFC (solid-oxide fuel-cell) power generation system has been assessed using a LCA (life cycle assessment) method. LCA is a technique assessing the environmental aspects associated with a system during its entire life cycle. To calculate the environmental impact of the analyzed system, a commercial software package, SimaPro version 7.3.3., was used; the ReCiPe method, endpoint approach, and the hierarchist's perspective were selected for calculating the values. The calculation results reveal that the manufacturing stage and the disposal stage have small contributions to the total environmental impact, which just cover 2.1%–9.5% and 0.1%–0.6% of the total, respectively, depending on the assumption made for the lifetime of the SOFC stack and the overall system. The SOFC stack is a dominant contributor to the environmental impact associated with manufacturing; 72% of the total environmental impact of manufacturing comes from the SOFC stack; the remaining balance-of-plant (BOP) components account for 28% of the total environmental impact. Options for reducing the overall environmental impact are presented.

To realize effective reuse of mechanical parts for the development of a sustainable society, it is essential to manage individual parts over their entire life cycle. For that purpose, we are developing a part agent system using network agents. This paper describes a method for a part agent to predict possible states of its corresponding part in the near future. Bayesian network is applied to estimate a failure probability of the part and a simple deterioration model is applied to evaluate properties of the part. Initial results are shown on a life cycle simulation of the developed part agent.

The paper deals with the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with products by identifying and quantifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment. The assessment includes the entire life cycle of the products, encompassing, extracting and processing raw materials; manufacturing, transportation and distribution; use, re-use, maintenance; recycling, and final disposal. The investigations show, that reducing the mass of the product, the structure, one can reduce the harmful effects. A cost calculation system is introduced. The examples show the effect of optimization to improve the LCA behaviour of the structure.

e-commerce involves a great deal of credit cards, fund transfers, web shopping, and other forms of transmitting private information that needs to remain secure. Although, the knowledge of how to develop a secure e-commerce application is known, the major concern is the insufficiency of the right developmental model and practice. The use of inappropriate methodology in developing an e-commerce application can seriously undermine organizations' confidentiality and integrity. Having said that, many of the web application development models may have some kind of security considerations that may not be applied across the entire Web Application Development Life-cycle. This is unfortunate. This study proposes a web application development model that inculcates security considerations across the Web Application Development Life-cycle which can be adapted by security critical applications like the e-commerce sites. The implementation and evaluation of this proposed model, with previous web application security development models, have shown that a 96 percent security level is achieved, despite some four percent failures. The failures are of information severity status, which are not typically critical to the security of the underlying application.

In the background of the gradual improvement of the information technology and the socialist market economic system in, the entire life cycle cost management has replaced the entire process project cost management, therefore, high power investment projects such as grid construction, should strengthen project cost management, to adapt to the new era development requirements. The paper, from the perspective of data mining, analyzed and assessed the grid entire life cycle cost, and put forward reasonable proposals for cost control.

Behavioral life-cycle theory is centered on the hypothesis that even people who want smooth spending during their entire life cycle, as predicted by standard life-cycle theory, find it difficult to avoid cognitive and emotional errors and to balance wants for spending now and wants for saving for tomorrow. Behavioral life-cycle theory says that we reconcile the conflict between our wants via personal devices and public policies of nudges and shoves by government and employers. Personal devices include framing, mental accounting, and self-control rules that prohibit dips into other-than-designated mental accounts. Public policies include nudges, such as automatic enrollment into voluntary direct contribution (DC) plans, and shoves such as mandatory Social Security. Discussions about public policies to promote adequate life-cycle saving and spending should address issues such as the promotion of financial well-being, alleviation of retirement crises, features of good DC plans, and the benefits of financial literacy and its alternatives. The author presents these questions here, along with his own explorations and answers.

Methods of improving the efficacy of oil extraction are highly sought after. One way to achieve such an improvement is to reduce the downtime of equipment and to implement measures to increase oil recovery for the entire life cycle of the well based on analysis of operational data. The work we present in this paper is aimed at improving a model of pumping units of the oil preparation and pumping complex. For this purpose, we employ an approach based on computational intelligence techniques and in particular an approach that is based on recurrent neural networks in combination with convolutional neural networks to address the problem of operative analysis of telemetric data from pumping units and to forecast the state of technological equipment. Our proposed approach provides an attractive model of optimizing the parameters of pumping equipment and thus a useful avenue of improving the efficacy of oil extraction.

Since the proper use of construction machinery in infrastructure projects is important, it is essential to employ an optimum selection of machinery in these projects. Advanced programmatic risk analysis and management model (APRAM) is one of recently developed methods that can be used for risk analysis and management purposes considering schedule, cost and quality, simultaneously. In this paper, first the APRAM method is introduced and then modified in order to consider environmental risks. This method can consider potential risks that might occur over the entire life cycle of the project, and can be employed as an efficient decision-support tool for construction managers selecting machinery for an infrastructure project where various alternatives might be technically feasible. A case study of three possible combinations of excavation machines is then discussed. All project risks related to cost, time, quality and environment are identified, considering the capital costs which should be spent on each combination. Finally, some graphs which are derived from the method are taken into account in order to decrease each combination’s risks and to optimize the selection of excavating machinery. The outcomes highlight the efficiency of the APRAM model for the optimal selection of machinery in construction projects.

Environmentally-friendly energy-efficient vehicles are an important contributor to meet future global transportation needs. To minimise the environmental impact of a vehicle throughout its entire life cycle, the life cycle energy optimisation (LCEO) methodology has been proposed. Using the proxy of life cycle energy, this methodology balances the energy consumption of vehicle production, operation and end-of-life scenarios. The overall aim is to design a vehicle where life cycle energy is at a minimum. While previous work only included vehicle production and operation, this paper aims at advancing the LCEO methodology by including an end-of-life phase. A simplified design study was conducted to illustrate how vehicle design changes when end-of-life treatment is included. Landfilling, incineration and recycling have been compared as end-of-life treatments, although the focus was put on recycling. The results reveal that the optimal design not only changes with the inclusion of an end-of-life phase but it changes with specific end-of-life treatment.