Hasil untuk "Engineering economy"

S. Nižetić, N. Djilali, A. Papadopoulos et al.

Abstract The role of smart technologies can become very important and useful to solve the main population issues nowadays and provide foundations for a sustainable future. A smart approach is an opportunity for knowledge integration, necessary to solve crucial problems of contemporary societies. Today, the main challenge is to reduce the effects of global warming and ensure a balanced economic development of society. The close collaboration of all involved engineering professions is mandatory to achieve interdisciplinary synergies and can bridge challenging engineering tasks. Intense research efforts should be directed towards balanced resource utilization, efficient energy conversion technologies, integration of renewable energy systems, effective approaches to enable circular economy framework, effective process integration as well as other issues important to the population. This review editorial is primarily focused on the contributions presented at the 3rd International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Technologies held in Split, Croatia, in 2018 (SpliTech2018). The SpliTech2018 conference was a multidisciplinary event with research topics related to the main conference tracks, i.e. Smart City/Environment, Energy, Engineering Modelling and e-Health. The strategic focus of the conference was to help solve crucial issues of our times, mainly related to the sustainability and smart utilisation of limited and valuable resources. This contribution brings new ideas and discusses present issues as well as challenges that should lead towards a sustainable future based on the application of the smart technologies. The herein addressed papers bring together latest research progress into four main topic areas: (i) Green Buildings, Energy Use and Consumption, (ii) Solar Energy Utilisation, (iii) Efficiency and Waste Elimination, (iv) Smart Cities and Internet of Things. The main results of this introduction review article include a discussion of different concepts and technologies that bring further development on a broad range of topics focused on efficiency improvement, smart and sustainable resource management, cleaner production concepts and on the discussion of the various actions which would lead towards a sustainable future.

Fu-zhan Song, Wei Li, Jiaqi Yang et al.

Electrocatalysts of the hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HER and HOR) are of critical importance for the realization of future hydrogen economy. In order to make electrocatalysts economically competitive for large-scale applications, increasing attention has been devoted to developing noble metal-free HER and HOR electrocatalysts especially for alkaline electrolytes due to the promise of emerging hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, we report that interface engineering of Ni3N and Ni results in a unique Ni3N/Ni electrocatalyst which exhibits exceptional HER/HOR activities in aqueous electrolytes. A systematic electrochemical study was carried out to investigate the superior hydrogen electrochemistry catalyzed by Ni3N/Ni, including nearly zero overpotential of catalytic onset, robust long-term durability, unity Faradaic efficiency, and excellent CO tolerance. Density functional theory computations were performed to aid the understanding of the electrochemical results and suggested that the real active sites are located at the interface between Ni3N and Ni.Efficient hydrogen production and utilization materials will be crucial in order to compete with fossil fuel technologies. Here, authors report nickel and nickel nitride interfaces as effected catalysts for hydrogen evolution and oxidation in water.

T. Markel, A. Brooker, T. Hendricks et al.

Chuanlong Ma, A. Nikiforov, N. De Geyter et al.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is largely threatening global public health, social stability, and economy. Efforts of the scientific community are turning to this global crisis and should present future preventative measures. With recent trends in polymer science that use plasma to activate and enhance the functionalities of polymer surfaces by surface etching, surface grafting, coating and activation combined with recent advances in understanding polymer-virus interactions at the nanoscale, it is promising to employ advanced plasma processing for smart antiviral applications. This trend article highlights the innovative and emerging directions and approaches in plasma-based surface engineering to create antiviral polymers. After introducing the unique features of plasma processing of polymers, novel plasma strategies that can be applied to engineer polymers with antiviral properties are presented and critically evaluated. The challenges and future perspectives of exploiting the unique plasma-specific effects to engineer smart polymers with virus-capture, virus-detection, virus-repelling, and/or virus-inactivation functionalities for biomedical applications are analysed and discussed.

B. Hahn‐hägerdal, K. Karhumaa, C. Fonseca et al.

T. Kennedy, M. Odell

B. Mueller

In 2020, the US senate held a series of antitrust hearings – involving some of the world’s leading tech companies – which highlighted the potentially double-edged nature of emerging digital technologies such as artificial intelligence or the Internet of Things. Beyond these technologies alone, digitalization (Legner et al. 2017) leveraging these technologies drives an ever stronger and more fundamental transformation of social and economic processes (Wessel et al. 2021). While these transformations are often linked to opportunities for social and economic growth, we are beginning to realize that these technologies also cause potentially undesirable side-effects. The hearings covered a range of contentious topics – such as the role of free speech of social media or bias in algorithmic decision making – emphasizing that the ability to identify, analyze, and potentially mitigate ethical tensions related to digital technologies and data is a key skill in the transformation toward a digital economy and society. Consequently, the need for scrutiny and safeguards becomes paramount if progress in not only to be driven by what is technologically possible, but by what is societally desirable and sustainable. One way for organizations to minimize the ethical risks associated with new digital technologies is to put in place policies that encourage a responsible approach to their development, use, and modification. While such policies should be considered as part of an organization’s larger corporate responsibility, recent literature (e.g., Herden et al. 2021; Lobschat et al. 2021) has begun to propose the concept of corporate digital responsibility (CDR). Also, the Business and Information Systems Engineering (BISE) community has set its sights on the concept and the research opportunities connected to it (e.g., Mihale-Wilson et al. 2022). This is evidenced by the attention dedicated to digital forms of corporate responsibility through, for instance, conferences (e.g., WI’23) and special issues. In an effort to catalyze the emergence of a discourse on CDR in the BISE community and beyond, this catchword briefly reviews the motivational background and conceptual roots of CDR. It further provides and overview of extant definitions and contributions, synthesizing two key domains of CDR – a content-oriented perspective on digital ethics and an instrumental perspective on governance. Before concluding with an outlook, the catchword looks at debates and tensions in the still young body of literature on CDR, providing inspiration and guidance for potential future research in the BISE community.

Yuwen Zhou, Shiyi Qin, S. Verma et al.

Kunwu Zhang, Yang Shi, S. Karnouskos et al.

Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their promise for substantial and long-term benefits to society, economy, environment, and citizens. In addition, the rapid advances in computing, communication, and storage technologies have resulted in a revolution in the information communication technology domain and domination in the industry context. The utilization of CPSs in industrial settings has led to industrial cyber-physical systems (ICPSs), which, in conjunction with the information-driven interactions, enables large-scale cooperation in industrial facilities and among all the stakeholders of the value chain. Hence, the research on ICPSs is essential, especially with respect to the engineering of such systems for industrial applications. This article presents an overview of recent developments in ICPSs. We first introduce the architecture of ICPSs. Then, we review the developments of ICPSs in relevant research domains. Finally, this article concludes by presenting some potential future research directions on ICPSs.

J. Peters, J. Janzing, D. Zscheischler et al.

Yuanyuan Chen, Shaobing Yang, Yibo Wang et al.

High-altitude regions play a crucial role in global energy transition and carbon neutrality goals, but they face severe challenges including harsh cold, oxygen deficiency, uncertainties in renewable energy output and load demand, and seasonal energy imbalances. Existing integrated energy systems (IES) exhibit limitations in high-altitude environments, such as poor environmental adaptability, inadequate oxygen supply coordination, and insufficient seasonal responsiveness. To address these gaps, this paper proposes a high-altitude integrated energy system (HAIES) integrating electricity, heat, hydrogen, and oxygen flows. A battery storage model modified for high-altitude conditions is established, along with a four-dimensional multi-objective optimization framework encompassing economy, reliability, environmental performance, and user comfort. A season-adaptive dual-mode coordinated control strategy is designed for seasonal load variations. To handle uncertainties without relying on probability distributions, an improved information gap decision theory (IGDT) integrated with the entropy weight method (EWM) is adopted. A bi-level algorithm combining non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) and mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) synergistically optimizes system capacity configuration and operational strategies. Case studies conducted in a community at 3500 m above sea level in Qinghai Province demonstrate that the proposed HAIES achieves a 14.36% comprehensive performance index. Compared with traditional control strategies and uncertainty methods, the HAIES outperforms its counterparts by 1.77–9.12% in comprehensive performance, effectively balancing multi-objective benefits and mitigating risks from high-altitude complexities and seasonal imbalances. This research provides a robust theoretical and engineering basis for the design and operation of efficient, reliable, and sustainable energy systems in high-altitude regions.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Feng Han, Yunxiang Luo

This study addresses the coordinated optimization of ecological conservation and engineering efficiency in railway route planning through challenging mountainous terrain, proposing a selection methodology that prioritizes environmental protection. A comprehensive evaluation system with 20 indicators was developed across technique, economy, environment, and social dimensions. Key considerations include impacts on ecologically sensitive zones, engineering risks, and low-carbon development objectives. The weighting system integrates expert knowledge (G2 method) and data patterns (CRITIC method), optimized through relative entropy to balance subjective and objective information, enhancing weighting reliability. A decision-making model was established using trapezoidal fuzzy numbers for qualitative indicators and multi-attribute utility theory. Projection values and comprehensive relative closeness calculations enable quantitative scheme evaluation. Applied to a high-speed railway crossing protected areas, the model validated Scheme II (full-tunnel passage through sensitive zones) as optimal (0.5202 relative closeness), demonstrating cost efficiency, minimal environmental impact, and enhanced safety - consistent with practical engineering outcomes. The methodology provides a scientifically grounded decision-making framework balancing ecological preservation and engineering viability, supporting green transportation transformation under carbon neutrality goals. Combination weighting.

Yuan Li, Andrew Mark Hall‐Ponselè

ABSTRACT Plant cell culture (PCC) presents a promising and sustainable alternative to traditional agricultural methods for producing specialty bioactive compounds. However, its widespread industrial application has been hindered by challenges such as low yields, cell line instability and inconsistent product quality. engineering biology (EB) offers a powerful toolkit to overcome these limitations by systematically improving plant cell lines. This review focuses on the application of EB principles to enhance PCC for the production of high‐value bioactives from an industry‐oriented perspective. We explore three core pillars of the EB toolkit: (1) Multiomics and in silico design, which leverage comprehensive data integration and predictive modelling for rational target identification; (2) gene manipulation and pathway bioengineering, encompassing precise genome editing (e.g., CRISPR/Cas), synthetic gene circuits and directed evolution for targeted metabolic reprogramming and (3) biosensors for high‐throughput screening and real‐time monitoring, enabling rapid testing and optimisation of engineered cell lines. The synergistic integration of these tools within the iterative design‐build‐test‐learn (DBTL) cycle is highlighted as a key strategy for accelerating strain improvement. Ultimately, the convergence of these EB approaches is transforming PCC into a robust platform for producing pharmaceuticals, functional foods and green chemicals, contributing to a biobased economy with a minimal ecological footprint.

Daiva Zadeike, Claire Copperstone, Olha Aleksandrova et al.

Rye (Secale cereale L.) is increasingly recognized as a sustainable cereal with significant nutritional, ecological, and economic potential. While previous studies have highlighted its dietary fiber (DF), bioactive compounds, and associated health benefits, this review provides an updated synthesis that integrates recent findings on rye's role in human health, food security, and sustainability. In particular, it emphasizes novel evidence on rye's functional properties, its potential contributions to plant-based dietary strategies, and its economic and social relevance. By consolidating current knowledge and outlining future directions for product development and dietary innovation, this work offers a fresh perspective that extends beyond earlier 0 reviews focused on rye.

Shraddha Surana, Ashwin Srinivasan, Michael Bain

Engineering information systems for scientific data analysis presents significant challenges: complex workflows requiring exploration of large solution spaces, close collaboration with domain specialists, and the need for maintainable, interpretable implementations. Traditional manual development is time-consuming, while "No Code" approaches using large language models (LLMs) often produce unreliable systems. We present iProg, a tool implementing Interactive Structured Inductive Programming. iProg employs a variant of a '2-way Intelligibility' communication protocol to constrain collaborative system construction by a human and an LLM. Specifically, given a natural-language description of the overall data analysis task, iProg uses an LLM to first identify an appropriate decomposition of the problem into a declarative representation, expressed as a Data Flow Diagram (DFD). In a second phase, iProg then uses an LLM to generate code for each DFD process. In both stages, human feedback, mediated through the constructs provided by the communication protocol, is used to verify LLMs' outputs. We evaluate iProg extensively on two published scientific collaborations (astrophysics and biochemistry), demonstrating that it is possible to identify appropriate system decompositions and construct end-to-end information systems with better performance, higher code quality, and order-of-magnitude faster development compared to Low Code/No Code alternatives. The tool is available at: https://shraddhasurana.github.io/dhaani/

Shalini Chakraborty, Sebastian Baltes

The IT industry provides supportive pathways such as returnship programs, coding boot camps, and buddy systems for women re-entering their job after a career break. Academia, however, offers limited opportunities to motivate women to return. We propose a diverse multicultural research project investigating the challenges faced by women with software engineering (SE) backgrounds re-entering academia or related research roles after a career break. Career disruptions due to pregnancy, immigration status, or lack of flexible work options can significantly impact women's career progress, creating barriers for returning as lecturers, professors, or senior researchers. Although many companies promote gender diversity policies, such measures are less prominent and often under-recognized within academic institutions. Our goal is to explore the specific challenges women encounter when re-entering academic roles compared to industry roles; to understand the institutional perspective, including a comparative analysis of existing policies and opportunities in different countries for women to return to the field; and finally, to provide recommendations that support transparent hiring practices. The research project will be carried out in multiple universities and in multiple countries to capture the diverse challenges and policies that vary by location.

Mia Mohammad Imran, Tarannum Shaila Zaman

Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly used in empirical software engineering (ESE) to automate or assist annotation tasks such as labeling commits, issues, and qualitative artifacts. Yet the reliability and reproducibility of such annotations remain underexplored. Existing studies often lack standardized measures for reliability, calibration, and drift, and frequently omit essential configuration details. We argue that LLM-based annotation should be treated as a measurement process rather than a purely automated activity. In this position paper, we outline the \textbf{Operationalization for LLM-based Annotation Framework (OLAF)}, a conceptual framework that organizes key constructs: \textit{reliability, calibration, drift, consensus, aggregation}, and \textit{transparency}. The paper aims to motivate methodological discussion and future empirical work toward more transparent and reproducible LLM-based annotation in software engineering research.

Liyuan LIU, Yifan LUO, Tao WANG et al.

Rock deformation modulus is one of the key parameters for the design and construction of underground rock engineering. Obtaining accurate rock deformation modulus is crucial for a comprehensive analysis of the deformation behavior of the surrounding rock in deep rock engineering. To achieve this goal, the commonly used methods for calculating rock deformation modulus are systematically sorted out and summarized. Furthermore, the rock deformation modulus is inverse-calculated by simulating in-situ tests using the finite element method, and the results are verified and analyzed by comparing them with the in-situ test results. For the actual project of deep shaft, a numerical calculation model is established to conduct an inversion analysis of rock deformation modulus of different lithologies in the deep strata. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is performed on different strength criteria, Poisson's ratio and rock cohesion on rock deformation modulus. Finally, the numerical simulation inversion results are compared and discussed with the empirical formula calculation results. The results show that the values of rock deformation modulus obtained from numerical inversion using finite element method are in good agreement with those calculated based on the experimental rigid plate load test; While Poisson's ratio does have some influence on rock deformation modulus, the sensitivity of rock deformation modulus to Poisson's ratio is generally low; When the cohesion of the rock mass is small, the choice of strength criterion has a significant influence on the inversion results of deformation modulus, and vice versa; the sensitivity of the rock deformation modulus to the changes of the rock cohesion varies depending on the depth and lithology of the strata; the deformation modulus of the rock mass obtained by numerical inversion has a good correlation with some empirical equations. Therefore, the numerical simulation and empirical formulae are useful during planning, design and development of deep rock projects to perform the inversion calculation of rock deformation modulus, thereby ensuring greater safety and economy.

Manfred Knoche

This paper analyses the emergence and development of new media technologies based on the approach of the Critique of the Political Economy of the Media. First, a critical overview of approaches to the genesis and diffusion of technologies is given. Second, the connection between media technologies and capital accumulation is discussed. Third, the role of media technologies in capitalism as a means of investment, production, distribution, and consumption is analysed. Fourth, the connection between innovation, commodity aesthetics, and planned obsolescence is discussed. Fifth, the antagonistic character of the media system’s convergence, universalisation and diversification is shown. The article shows that technological development is not autonomous but depends on and is shaped by the development of capitalist society. In capitalism, factors such as capital accumulation strategies, crises, competition, advertising and marketing, market research, the state’s economic, technology and media policies, and science and engineering influence the emergence and development of new media technologies. Acknowledgement: This article was first published as book chapter: Manfred Knoche. 2005. Entwicklung von Medientechnologien als „Neue Medien“ aus der Perspektive einer Kritik der  politischen Ökonomie der Medien. In Alte Medien – neue Medien: Theorieperspektiven, Medienprofile, Einsatzfelder. Festschrift für Jan Tonnemacher, edited by Klaus Arnold and Christoph Neuberger, 40-62.  Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.  Translated and published with permission by SNCSC.  

Leonardo André Paes Müller

A Filosofia Rural (1763) é a obra mais importante da Fisiocracia. Assinada por Mirabeau, mas escrita em conjunto com Quesnay, ela é descrita pelos autores no capítulo 7 como uma “demonstração anatômica” do corpo político representado no Quadro econômico. O presente artigo leva a sério essa proposta e busca expor, de modo esquemático, as balizas do projeto fisiocrata como uma medicina social, a saber, sua anatomia, fisiologia e etiologia e o modo como elas fundamentam sua clínica, isto é, um diagnóstico, um prognóstico e uma terapia.