bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determining interface structures in vertically aligned nanocomposite films
Authors: Zhu Bonan , Schusteritsch Georg , Lu Ping , MacManus-Driscoll Judith L. , Pickard Chris J.
Published: June 2019

Vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) films have self-assembled pillar-matrix nanostructures. Owing to their large area-to-volume ratios, interfaces in VAN films are expected to play key roles in inducing functional properties, but our understanding is hindered by limited knowledge about their structures. Motivated by the lack of definitive explanation for the experimentally found enhanced ionic conductivity in Sm-doped-CeO2/SrTiO3 VAN films, we determine the structure at vertical interfaces using random structure searching and explore how it can affect ionic conduction. Interatomic potentials are used to perform the initial searching, followed by first-principles calculations for refinement. Previously unknown structures are found, with lower energy than that of an optimized hand-built model. We find a strongly distorted oxygen sublattice which gives a complex landscape of vacancy energies. The cation lattice remains similar to the bulk phase, but has a localized strain field. The excess energy of the interface is similar to that of high angle grain boundaries in SrTiO3.
Effect of Fe content on the structure and magnetic properties of SmCo3.94−xFexCu0.06B ribbons
Authors: Chi Xiang , Sun Ji-Bing , Wang Shu , Wang Hong-Wei , Zhang Ying
Published: June 2019

SmCo3.94−xFexCu0.06B (x = 0.7–2.0) ribbons were prepared by melt-spinning at 40 m/s accompanied by annealing at 800 °C for 30 min, and then their structures and magnetic properties were investigated. The results show that the annealed ribbons are composed of Sm(Co,Fe,Cu)4B and Sm5(Co,Fe,Cu)19B6 phases with a short rod-shaped microstructure at x = 0.7–0.9; Sm(Co,Fe,Cu)4B, Sm5(Co,Fe,Cu)19B6, and Sm2(Co,Fe,Cu)7B3 phases building a cellular one at x = 1.0; equiaxed Sm(Co,Fe,Cu)4B, Sm2(Co,Fe,Cu)14B, and Sm5(Co,Fe,Cu)19B6 phases at x = 1.5; or six phases at x = 2.0. The coercivity of annealed SmCo3.94−xFexCu0.06B ribbons increases gradually until it reaches a maximum of 50.1 kOe at x = 1.0, and then decreases with an increase in x. Moreover, the microstructure evolution models were established and the reason for their coercivity variation was analyzed by different coercivity mechanisms.
Microwave-induced capacitance resonances and anomalous magnetoresistance in double quantum wells
Authors: Meyer Jana M. , Scharnetzky Jan , Berl Matthias , Wegscheider Werner , Hauser Maik , Dietsche Werner , Wang Kuang-Chung , Klimeck Gerhard , Tiemann Lars , Blick Robert H.
Published: June 2019

Magnetotransport measurements on electron bilayer systems under low frequency continuous microwave irradiation reveal an anomalous magnetoresistance behavior. At low total imbalanced carrier densities, pronounced features in the longitudinal and Hall resistance emerge that show a surprisingly strong sensitivity to frequency, microwave power, and density. We suggest its origin to be related to resonantly induced capacitance oscillations of the two-layer system.
Deep convolutional neural network based on densely connected squeeze-and-excitation blocks
Authors: Wu Yu
Published: June 2019

Convolutional neural networks have achieved great successes in many visual tasks, as well as a good performance in various applications. However, research has yet to solve the practical problem of how to improve the recognition rate by increasing the depth of the network. The method proposed in this paper is based on the idea of a residual network, which shows that if a fast connection is added between network layers, the network will be deeper, the accuracy will be higher, and the training will be more efficient. The proposed Densely Squeeze-and-Excitation Network (DSENet) combines densely connected networks with the structure of a Squeeze-and-Excitation Network (SENet). The proposed structure is based on layers comprising blocks of compressed networks, and DSENet enables each of these layers to connect directly to all previous layers with adaptive weights. DSENet has many advantages, such as a high utilization rate of parameters and the ability to alleviate the disappearance of a gradient. The performance of the proposed network is evaluated on the CIFAR-10 and CIFAR-100 datasets, and experiments show that DSENet achieves better results on those datasets when compared with the most popular convolutional networks in current use.
New fully automated shock tube quickly produces identical shock waves
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: June 2019

A diaphragmless, automated shock tube could advance the study of high-temperature, gas-phase chemical reaction kinetics.
Lined tubing performance in CSG wells operated in Australia
Authors: Martin Jonathan , Carmichael Robert
Published: June 2019

One of the major challenges with progressive cavity pump (PCP) applications in Australia is the production of highly concentrated solids. Large volumes of solids entering the production string cause both high torque issues and holes in tubing, resulting in lost production and the need for intervention with a flush-by unit or service rig. On account of these issues, it is reported that up to 40% of PCPs in the Australian coal seam gas (CSG) fields can be down at any given time. Coho Resources has introduced lined tubing as an engineered solution. The proprietary lining the tubing has a lower friction factor compared with conventional steel tubing, resulting in lower operational torque and reduced operating costs. The added lubricity from the lower friction coefficient in lined tubing allows solids to flow more freely to surface where they are captured and discarded from the system. Lined tubing allows producing companies to realise bottom-line operational savings in several ways. The largest of course is minimal downtime and reduced well service costs due to the elimination of our previous tubing related problems. With reduced work over costs, savings become visible very quickly. Rig costs, bottom hole pump, tubing and sucker rod replacement costs are all reduced.
Application of lined tubing in CSG wells in Australia results in:
• 15–25% less torque on the drive system,
• An 70% increase in run times between workovers (lined tubing versus un-lined tubing), and
• Compatibility with existing field equipment and handling methods.
Gladstone Harbour: a case study of building social licence-to-operate in a multi-use area
Authors: Llewellyn Lyndon , Brinkman Richard , McIntosh Emma , Marshall Nadine , Pinto Uthpala , Rolfe John , Schaffelke Britta
Published: June 2019

Maintaining a social licence-to-operate is a key challenge for industry and regulators. The city of Gladstone in Queensland, Australia, surrounds a highly industrialised harbour supporting major industrial activities, including alumina refineries and an aluminium smelter, other heavy industry, port facilities and, most recently, three natural gas liquefaction facilities built on nearby Curtis Island. This most recent phase of industrial and port growth coincided with the repeated capture of unhealthy fish and crabs in the harbour in 2011, generating community concern about potential cumulative environmental impacts of development. These were difficult to address at the time because of limited monitoring data and scientific knowledge, as well as some fractured relationships between stakeholders. In response to this debate the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership was formed in 2013 by stakeholders from industry, community groups and all levels of government. Experts from environmental, social and economic disciplines assisted to evaluate and report on the health of the harbour. Membership required ongoing and deep participation in activities which ranged from targeted research to community engagement. Central to partnership activities was a clearly communicated annual Report Card, derived from complex environmental, socioeconomic and cultural data. A Data and Information Management System was developed that integrates data from multiple organisations after automated quality checks, tracks data treatments and calculates the Report Card scores. The Report Card is intended to be meaningful to a wide variety of stakeholders yet allow access to underlying detail. This increased transparency and robustness has contributed to building community trust. Conversations now focus on likely management scenarios, rather than all imagined possibilities, and this in turn paves the way for reducing business risk for industry.
Gas markets – a bridge too far?
Authors: Bethune Graeme , Wilkinson Rick
Published: June 2019

The energy market is becoming more globalised and renewables are changing the supply and demand balance. Gas has been suggested as the bridging fuel to the new energy world – but is it a bridge too far? This presentation examines the global gas context and its impact on the Australian east coast gas markets, trends in energy supply options and sign posts for new directions. When the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) train started on Curtis Island, the gas producers had access to more than just the domestic market. The new overseas markets are also interconnected, so the Henry Hub, Brent oil and Chinese gas demand all have an influence on Australia’s east coast gas market. Potential LNG import terminals and net back pricing are changing the domestic gas market. The energy market is moving to renewables. This is not just an anomaly that will correct itself, but is based on lower renewable costs and distribution challenges. Moving relatively small amounts of energy long distances is a major challenge for Australia. Infrastructure, market hubs and sourcing strategies need to compensate for these challenges, and investment is needed to keep pace with the changes. Capital is a global commodity seeking the optimum return for the risk, but unconventionals, such as coal seam gas, are capital hungry. Government policies and support can be the key determinant for not only new investment but sustaining investment to meet existing gas supply contracts. Smart gas buyers will need to be agile and use deeper portfolio approaches for gas supply.
High frequency full waveform inversion as an interpretation solution
Authors: Letki Laurence , Lamont Matt , Thompson Troy
Published: June 2019

The amount of available data to help us characterise the subsurface is ever increasing. Large seismic surveys, long offsets, multi- and full-azimuth datasets, including 3D and 4D, marine, ocean-bottom nodes and extremely high fold land surveys, are now common. In parallel, computing power is also increasing and, in combination with better data, this enables us to develop better tools and to use better physics to build models of the subsurface. Wave-equation based techniques, such as full waveform inversion (FWI), have therefore become a lot more practical. FWI uses the entire wavefield, including refractions and reflections, primaries and multiples, to generate a refined, high resolution Earth model. This technique is now commonly used at lower frequencies (up to 12 Hz) to derive more accurate models for improved seismic imaging and reduced depth conversion uncertainty. By including higher frequencies in FWI, we can attempt to resolve for finer and finer details. FWI models using the entire bandwidth of the seismic data constitute an interpretation product in itself, with applications in both structural interpretation and reservoir characterisation. Incorporating more physics within the FWI implementation, combined with modern supercomputer facilities, promises to increase the focus on very high frequency FWI in the coming years. In this paper, through a series of field examples, we illustrate the applications and rewards of high frequency FWI: from improved imaging, improved quantitative interpretation and depth conversion to a direct interpretation of the FWI models.
Sustainability trends in oil and gas
Authors: Tonge Piers P.
Published: June 2019

This paper addresses multiple examples of sustainability across the oil, gas and energy sectors, and relevance application to APPEA members. The sustainability of oil and gas companies is now a key issue for the financial and investment sectors. Investors’ concerns over environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and business models that may destroy value are growing, with clear analogues from the coal sector. Companies need to maintain their focus on safety, social licence issues and compliance of human rights. Mainstream global investors are increasing pressure on companies to address the long-term risks associated with climate change, as investors look to reduce the carbon-emissions footprints of their equity portfolios. The oil industry is still largely reactive, and not perceived by investors and society to be a part of the climate change solution. Investor pressure to address climate change is driving change in oil and gas company strategy and sustainability activity. Companies need resilience and credible plans to reduce scope 1, 2 – and in the future scope 3 emissions – and to achieve the net zero objectives of the Paris Agreement. Investor and societal scrutiny on the oil and gas industry is likely to increase with plastics an area of growing focus, with implications for future oil and gas demand.
Estimating smectite content from seismic data
Authors: Beloborodov Roman , Pervukhina Marina , Shulakova Valeriya , Chagalov Dimitri , Josh Matthew , Clennell Michael B. , Ward Gavin , Waugh Matthew , Hauser Juerg
Published: June 2019

Predicting the mineralogical composition of shales is crucial for drilling operations related to hydrocarbon exploration/production as well as for the assessment of their sealing capacity as hydrocarbon or CO2 barriers. For example, hydrocarbon exploration in the Northern Carnarvon Basin, North-West Shelf, Australia is hindered by the presence of a thick (up to 1 km) smectite-rich shale seal that spreads regionally. Complex structures of the channelised oil and gas fields in the area make it necessary to drill deviated wells through that seal. The maximum deviation angle at which successful drilling is possible depends strongly on the clay mineralogy and, in particular, on the smectite content in the shale. Here, we introduce a novel workflow combining seismic data, well logs and laboratory measurements to infer shale composition at the reservoir scale. It is applied to the Duyfken 3D seismic survey in the central part of the Northern Carnarvon Basin. Interpretation results are verified against the laboratory X-ray diffraction measurements from the test well that was not used for the interpretation. The results match the test data well within the determined uncertainty bounds.
Risk-based asset performance management in CSG production operations
Authors: Carydias Peter , Gregory James
Published: June 2019

The coal seam gas (CSG) industry is an asset intensive and highly regulated industry, with each project having a large, complex network of upstream processing facilities. Each major project will drill over 3000 individual wells with around 40000 wells predicted across the Surat and Bowen basins during the lifetime of these projects. This high asset count poses a challenge for upstream oil and gas operators to meet corporate and legislative requirements, maintain asset integrity of the facilities; while delivering leading operational performance and return on investment in this cost-focused environment. In this paper, we propose that the effective management of these CSG assets requires a conscious cross-disciplinary, whole lifecycle focus on value realisation. We explore three ways that CSG operators can successfully achieve this by transitioning to a risk-based, asset performance management led environment:
1. Safe production and regulatory compliance – the geographic spread of CSG facilities poses significant exposure to driving risk when travelling in remote locations. We discuss how CSG operators can leverage existing data to create fit-for-purpose risk-based inspection strategies.
2. Maximising reliability – CSG consists of a complex network of interconnected reservoirs, process facilities and complex demand-side variability. This requires a fluid approach to the allocation of scarce maintenance planning resources. We discuss how CSG operators can use a risk-based approach to achieve an optimised ‘best value’ outcome.
3. Managing supply-chain cost and quality – we explore how CSG operators can deliver a step-change in integrity, cost-of quality and capital efficiency in their supply chain.
Opening comments from facilitator
Authors: Hewett Jennifer
Published: June 2019

There is not an abstract available for this presentation. To view the video, click the link on the right.
Australian Government Address
Authors: Canavan Matt
Published: June 2019

There is not an abstract available for this presentation. To view the video, click the link on the right.
East coast gas – finding balance
Authors: Hodge Andrew
Published: June 2019

There is not an abstract available for this presentation. To view the video, click the link on the right.
Opening comments from facilitator - Perceptions of the modern industry
Authors: Fullerton Ticky
Published: June 2019

There is not an abstract available for this presentation. To view the video, click the link on the right.
Panel discussion: The future's not what it used to be – the new energy landscape
Authors: Hewett Jennifer , Simons Paul , Coleman Peter , Calabria Frank , Rennie Matt
Published: June 2019

There is not an abstract available for this discussion. To view the video, click the link on the right.
Australian Government's exploration initiatives
Authors: Knudsen Keld , Schofield Lisa , Knight Tony , Erzikov Kristina , McGowan Ross , Goldstein Barry , Scrimgeour Ian , Haworth Jeff
Published: June 2019

Exploration is vital for the continued discovery and development of the nation’s petroleum resources – resources that are essential for energy security, economic growth, long-term regional development and jobs, improved infrastructure, and value-adding to our manufacturing industries. Governmental authorities across Australia recognise the importance of a strong exploration sector, and the Commonwealth, states and territories have several initiatives to encourage exploration.
Induction of the heat shock response in Arabidopsis by heat shock protein 70 inhibitor VER-155008
Authors: Matsuoka Erina , Kato Naoki , Hara Masakazu
Published: June 2019

The heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitor, geldanamycin, is a chemical inducer of the heat shock response (HSR) in Arabidopsis. Geldanamycin is thought to activate the heat shock signal by dissociating the HSP90-heat shock factor (HSF) complex. Recent studies have indicated that plant HSP70 is also associated with HSF, suggesting that inhibition of HSP70 may induce the HSR. However, no studies have been conducted to test this hypothesis. Here, we found that a specific HSP70 inhibitor VER-155008 activated the promoter of a small HSP gene (At1 g53540, HSP17.6C-CI) of Arabidopsis, which was shown to be activated by geldanamycin and other HSP90 inhibitors. The production of HSP17.6C-CI, HSP70 and HSP90.1 proteins in Arabidopsis was enhanced by the addition of VER-155008. The reduction of chlorophyll contents by heat shock was ameliorated by VER-155008. Chaperone analyses indicated that VER-155008 inhibited the chaperone activities of wheat germ extract and human HSP70/HSP40, respectively. These results suggest that the inhibition of HSP70 by VER-155008 enhanced the heat tolerance of Arabidopsis by inducing the HSR in the plant.
A cell topography-based mechanism for ligand discrimination by the T cell receptor
Authors: Fernandes Ricardo A. , Ganzinger Kristina A. , Tzou Justin C. , Jönsson Peter , Lee Steven F. , Palayret Matthieu , Santos Ana Mafalda , Carr Alexander R. , Ponjavic Aleks , Chang Veronica T. , Macleod Charlotte , Lagerholm B. Christoffer , Lindsay Alan E. , Dushek Omer , Tilevik Andreas , Davis Simon J. , Klenerman David
Published: June 2019

Significance

One approach to testing biological theories is to determine if they are predictive. We have developed a simple, theoretical treatment of T cell receptor (TCR) triggering that relies on just two physical principles: (
i
) the time TCRs spend in cell–cell contacts depleted of large tyrosine phosphatases and (
ii
) constraints on the size of these contacts imposed by cell topography. The theory not only distinguishes between agonistic and nonagonistic TCR ligands but predicts the relative signaling potencies of agonists with remarkable accuracy. These findings suggest that the theory captures the essential features of receptor triggering.
Ion-to-ion amplification through an open-junction ionic diode
Authors: Lim Seung-Min , Yoo Hyunjae , Oh Min-Ah , Han Seok Hee , Lee Hae-Ryung , Chung Taek Dong , Joo Young-Chang , Sun Jeong-Yun
Published: June 2019

Significance

For intimate communication between electrical devices and biological areas, signal transfer in human–machine interfaces has become an issue due to differences in signal carriers. Furthermore, as the amount of ions acquired from biological systems is very small, amplification of weak ionic signals is required for effective signal processing. Here, we report the signal amplification effect observed in a fully ionic device system. Through the modified design of polyelectrolyte gel-based ionic diodes, minute ionic signals can be directly injected into ionic devices and can also be amplified to a large amount of ions by generating additional ionic currents. Our findings will be applicable to engineering ion-based information processing devices, as well as achieving direct communication with biological signals.
The glucocorticoid receptor agonistic modulators CpdX and CpdX-D3 do not generate the debilitating effects of synthetic glucocorticoids
Authors: Hua Guoqiang , Zein Naimah , Paulen Laetitia , Chambon Pierre
Published: June 2019

Significance

Despite their beneficial anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects, the clinical long-term administration of synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) is limited by a number of severe side effects. During the last 20 y, several so-called selective GC receptor agonistic modulators (SEGRAMs) have been reported and claimed to be less debilitating than GCs while keeping their long-term beneficial anti-inflammatory properties. However, none of these possible SEGRAMs have been fully tested for undesirable detrimental effects that may occur upon long-term therapy in vivo. We now report that the anti-inflammatory compounds CpdX and CpdX-D3 as well as their enantiomers are bona fide “harmless” SEGRAMs as, upon 3-mo-long administration to mice, none of the known GC-induced debilitating side effects were observed.
Forecasting the EnvirOnmental Risk and the Outcome of the Impact of a Chemical Accident on the Environment
Authors: Zherlykina M N , Vorob’eva Y A , Jaremenko S A
Published: June 2019

The methodical approach to forecasting of ecological risk and the outcome of the impact of harmful substances on the environment is presented in the event of an accident at chemical enterprises. The application of these solutions in the design of industrial facilities will allow for the provision of measures and methods to prevent a potential threat with the establishment of the amount of permissible damage not exceeding environmental and socioeconomic standards. The risk assessment for the environment, the facility personnel and the population living in the nearest area is based on the methods of reliability theory, probability theory and mathematical statistics. Integration of the theory of reliability and mathematical statistics makes it possible to implement approaches to determine the quantitative assessment of the probability of implementing dangerous factors using the “event tree”. Quantitative assessment of the emission of harmful substances as a result of an accident at a hazardous facility suggests possible ways to achieve the maximum permissible value of their surface concentration. To make a rational decision, it is necessary to predict and assess the permissible risk of damage in case of accidents, in which case it can be concluded that the chosen purification method is effective.
Quantitative Estimation of the Emission of Harmful Substances in an Accident at a Chemically Hazardous Site
Authors: Zherlykina M N , Kononova M S , Garmonov K V
Published: June 2019

A methodological approach has been developed to quantify the amount emission harmful substances in an industrial accident. An algorithm for calculating the most probable, acceptable, safe for the environment the amount of harmful substance contained in the release in the event of an emergency at the facility. Adoption of an expedient solution is facilitated by an integrated approach based on determining the parameters of the operation of emergency ventilation and environmental protection measures. The prediction of the amount of harmful substances in the case of mass emissions at a chemically hazardous facility is based on determining the ratio of the height of emission sources, taking into account the differentiation of cleaning methods and their effectiveness.
Geotechnical and Hydrological Characteristics of Urbanized Areas in the Development of Activities for Water Object Rehabilitation (Samara)
Authors: Bukhman L M , Vasileva E L
Published: June 2019

The peculiarities and main problems of the urban systems, the most important element of which are water objects, have been described. Using the example of the park Voronezhskie ozera (Voronezh lakes) (Samara) located inside the residential area such consequences of a negative impact on the small water bodies in the city as the contamination of ponds, their shallowing and overgrowth have been shown. The main tasks for the ecological rehabilitation of the Voronezh lakes area have been specified and divided into groups. The first group of the tasks includes cleaning the pond basins and the general sanitation of the strand. The second is related to the problem of restoring the water content of ponds in the conditions of a decrease in the volumes of influent surface runoff. The third group of the tasks is aimed at restoring the ecological balance of the parkland. When solving these problems, it is supposed not to be limited to the analysis of the state of water bodies, but to make an integrated survey of the urbanized areas they are located in. The necessity of developing projects for cleaning small and middle-sized ponds taking into account a complex of geotechnical and hydrological characteristics has been substantiated. A complex of engineering surveys has been offered for drawing up the project of ecological rehabilitation of the ponds, including specified work activities. Based on the results of on-site surveys, a number of recommendations have been provided for clarifying the program for the integrated rehabilitation of water bodies in the urban areas.
The Use of Products Recycled from Municipal Waste in Sustainable Architecture
Authors: Iringová A , Vandličková D , Diviš M
Published: June 2019

Analysis of the use of products recycled from municipal and construction waste as a substitute of products from non-renewable sources. Current legislation on waste management in Slovakia. The process of manufacturing materials from recycled municipal waste and its environmental benefit to society. The products from recycled municipal and construction waste used in building constructions. Model verification of their application in building envelope construction. Their use as thermal, acoustic, and fire protection of wood-based buildings. Physical characteristics of model lightweight building envelopes assessed using mathematical and simulation solutions. Environmental comparison of a common solution for envelope construction with a solution using recycled waste products.
Building Information Modelling for Whole-Building LCA: BIM4LCA
Authors: Gomes V , Barros N N , Ruschel R C
Published: June 2019

Combining sustainable design strategies and building information modelling (BIM) can change traditional practices and efficiently lead to high-performance designs but is still impaired by deficient software interoperability. Automatic extraction is one of the most cited ways that BIM models can support environmental analyses. However, the reviewed literature does not confirm validation of such procedure by lifecycle assessment (LCA) experts and register incipient procedures to systematically increase implementation of BIM for LCA. This paper explores contributions offered by BIM to facilitate and improve whole building LCA to verify the hypotheses that (1) automatically extracting bills of materials from BIM models with level of development (LOD) 300 positively contributes to LCA processes (BIM+LCA); and (2) embedding environmental parameters and calculations directly into the model to extract calculated impacts instead of pure material quantities (BIM4LCA) can significantly enhance such contribution. We selected one case study to support analysing the variations between baseline (manual quantity survey from design documents) and BIM-supported automatic extraction of bill of materials, and the suitability of the model’s LOD to LCA purposes. Revit Architecture 2016 was used for modelling architectural, structural, plumbing and HVAC elements. We demonstrated that LOD 300-modelling is aligned to the accuracy level currently practiced in whole building LCA and that BIM models can indeed be prepared to facilitate LCA (BIM4LCA) through a low complexity, high effectiveness operational measure. This procedure provides reasonably quick feedback to support decision-making and enhance environmental performance of new building designs, until "Extraction, Transformation and Loading" (ETL) technologies or full interoperability become mainstream practice in the AECO industry.
Significant Sustainable Facilities Management (SFM) Practices in the Health Care (HC) Sector
Authors: Nazeer F S , Gunatilake S , Ramachandra T
Published: June 2019

Health Care (HC) is identified as one of the most polluting industries. HC is recognised as the second energy intensive sector emitting 8% out of total 40% of CO2. HC is also ranked among the top 4 sources in spreading harmful substances in affecting health and wellbeing of the society. Facilities Managers are identified to be in a unique position to manage the building’s operations and hence integrating sustainability in the current practice of Facilities Management (FM) in HC sector. However, identification of sustainable FM practices is challenging as FM practice differ in terms of facility type, building engineering system, organisation’s business sector and culture. In this regard, the paper investigates the significant FM services and practices in integrating sustainability in HC sector.

The study used a two round Delphi survey involving 10 experts who are specialised in FM and sustainable practices in the HC sector to identify the most significant FM services and sustainability practices. The results identified 8 FM services and 44 sustainability practices as significant. Building services (BS) was identified as the most significant FM service, whist practices such as “identifying applications for energy saving measures” and “ensure appropriate onsite, off-site storage, transport of wastes” were identified as the most important sustainability practices. The results of the study will be further carried forward to a questionnaire survey to rank and assign scores for each significant sustainability practices in order to develop an assessment framework to evaluate the SFM practice in HC sector.
Strategies for Simultaneous Embodied Energy and Operational Energy Reductions in Buildings during the Design Stage
Authors: Tennakoon G A , Waidyasekara A S , Ekanayake B J , Nazeer S F
Published: June 2019

With the global energy consumption reaching unsustainable levels, the need for regulating energy consumptions has been emphasised. Hence a variety of methods are followed in different countries to minimise the impacts of embodied energy (EE) and operational energy (OE) in buildings. Considering either EE or OE in its individuality is not a pragmatic approach and it is important to consider means of reducing both EE and OE in parallel. The design stage was identified as the most suitable stage for integrating energy efficiency measures, since most crucial project decisions are taken at this stage. Although a multitude of research has been conducted on EE and OE individually, there seems a lack of research that focuses on both these aspects together. The extensive literature review was followed by 5 preliminary interviews with subject matter experts and then semi structured interviews with 12 experts were conducted. It was revealed that determining strategies for achieving simultaneous EE and OE reduction is difficult. The identified strategies to be implemented in the design stage were classified as material selection related, design approach related, building morphology related, procurement process related and other strategies, with a majority of strategies falling under the ‘procurement process’ category.
A Revolutionary Study Commons and University Library Extension, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Authors: Fung S M , Yuen T
Published: June 2019

The Library Extension completed in 2012 featured a minimalist, sustainable, preservative and conservative design that cleverly integrates a love of nature with respect of history. It echoed with the University’s Campus Master Plan and demonstrated how development needs were balanced with preservation concerns. The iconic University Mall and Garden dating back to the 1960s were preserved with an innovative design to provide about 4,500 m2 of study area and car parking at basement level. The new extension thus maintained a similar height to the original library building and aligned to the iconic axis along the University Mall. The Mall Garden and Landscape were well preserved with skillful design of skylights under the existing pool. Garden features were surveyed and restored to their original appearances after the basement construction. The campus’ much loved house swifts, residing previously on the eaves, were also migrated to the south façade with the introduction of artificial nests. While Green Building design and renewable energy innovations were fully adopted to achieve the highest HKBEAM Platinum standard, the project has provided generous Learning and Research Commons with advanced IT infrastructure which promote causal interactions and knowledge transfer.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Operation of Czech Building Stock and Potential for Their Reduction
Authors: Lupíšek A
Published: June 2019

The paper presents a study that modelled potential for savings of CO2 emissions from the Czech building stock in ten scenarios. Input data in scenarios were taken from analyses of energy saving potentials of Czech building stock from NGO Chance for Buildings. The results provided values of modelled CO2 emissions of the Czech building stock for each year in period 2016–2075. Cumulative data for periods 2015–2030, 2031–2050 and 2051–2075 were compared to the proposed national carbon budget coming from the UN Emissions Gap Report. The study estimated production of CO2 from Czech building stock in 2016 at 44.57 Mt, which represented share of 43% in the total national CO2 production. The scenario S5 in RCP 8.5 showed potential for annual reduction of CO2 emissions from current 44.57 to 15.29 Mt in 2075 (reduction by 66%). The needed reduction of CO2 emissions calculated from the global carbon budget for climatic goal 2° is much larger. It is very likely, that even the most stringent of the proposed energy saving scenarios would not be sufficient for the Czech building stock to comply with the Paris Agreement.
A Heat Demand Load Curve Model of the Swiss National Territory
Authors: Schneider S , Hollmuller P , Chambers J , Patel M
Published: June 2019

This paper presents a bottom up model simulating the hourly heat demand load curve for space heating and domestic hot water production for Swiss buildings listed in the national building and dwelling register. The model was calibrated on the actual heat demand load curves of several building types and predicts the demand as function of external temperature and solar irradiation. In addition, it includes stochastic deviations to accurately reproduce the aggregated load of large building groups. Using a climatic database covering the whole Swiss territory, the model takes account of the diverse weather conditions and climate types. The aggregated simulated load curve is compared with the measurements from a large district heating network, demonstrating that key indicators such as peak load and ranked loads are very well reproduced. To disseminate the results, a GIS database was setup that estimates the aggregated heat demand load curve for any portion of the Swiss national territory. The proposed approach addresses the challenge of large territorial scale simulation using only limited information available on its building stock. The model can be easily adapted to generate load curves for other EU regions provided the required information is available for the building stock.
Material Efficiency of Housing in Times of Demographic Change – Evidence from Case Study Research into two German Municipalities
Authors: Blum A , Gutting R
Published: June 2019

Housing and construction have a significant impact on the consumption of resources of any society. At the same time, on all policy levels strategy documents towards sustainable development highlight the importance of improvements in resource efficiency. Against this background, this contribution presents results of research on the impact of demographic trends and changing user preferences on the use of resources within the housing sector with a focus on construction materials. The material intensity of different types of housing (in particular detached homes vs. apartment buildings) are quantified under different development scenarios drawn on the basis of two medium sized German case study municipalities showing declining and stagnating population development. Among other, the results indicate that the per capita stock of construction materials within the housing sector remains either stable or may even increase despite a falling population. With respect to alternative development scenarios, our results show, that under the condition of a stable or growing population a shift of housing supply from single-family (detached) homes towards a higher share of multi-unit residential buildings can contribute to a more efficient use of materials. An interesting option under the condition of a declining population is the conversion of a potentially growing number of vacant single-family homes into smaller multi-unit/multi-purpose residential buildings since it can help to avoid vacancy and keep otherwise wasted resources in use.
Periurban Urbanization and Travel Choice Behaviour: Problem or Solution?
Authors: Hermida M A , Astudillo D , León F
Published: June 2019

In 21st century cities, an adequate urban design represents a great opportunity to reduce the number of trips and distances travelled. It is also known that improving city design and transportation networks could reduce carbon emissions more than replacing all fossil fuels with renewable energies. With this background, it seems fundamental to focus on the systemic relationship between urban forms and travel choices behaviours. In the case of the city of Cuenca (Ecuador,) in the last 5 years, more than 70 mono-functional urbanization and condos, many of them being gated-communities, have been built outside the urban limits. These form of urbanization is supported both by public and private promoters. Due to this situation, this research project seeks to determine the relationship between the location of these urbanizations and condos, with the travel choice behaviour of users. Geographic information systems, Q methodology, travel diaries and qualitative methods where used for data collection and spatial representation. Three discourses were found, people who preferred the proximity to nature and open spaces, other who gave more importance to efficient mobility and the last ones for whom security was the most important aspect. This work opens possibilities for further research on the importance of urban form for sustainable planning and mobility.
Measuring Livability at the Neighborhood Scale – Development of Indicators and Methods for the Comparison between Neighborhoods and Best Practice within the Chosen City
Authors: Chen H-H , Dietrich U
Published: June 2019

A method that allows an assessment of the livability by comparing different neighborhoods with each other as well as with the best practice was developed in this paper. First of all, a set of 51 indicators comprising the categories of connectivity, traffic, public transportation and bicycle infrastructure, urban form, density, land use, open space coverage ratio, potential for PV, green roof and materials were defined. The values for these indicators were investigated for 36 neighborhoods in the city of Hamburg, Germany. Secondly, some neighborhoods were chosen as the most livable neighborhoods and the average of their results was used for indicating the best practice in Hamburg. This approach allows users to compare their chosen neighborhoods with the best practice of their own city. Thirdly, each absolute indicator value was transferred into a relative one, where 0 % represents the lowest found value and 100 % the highest one. Fourthly, each indicator was assigned with a character. If the smaller percentage the better, like percentage of buildings near a noisy street, this character is “S”. If the bigger percentage the better, like frequency of public travel, the character is “B”. If the closer to the best practice the better, like inhabitants per hectare, the character is “R”. Thus, the ideal neighborhood would show 0 % for character S, 100 % for B and the best practice for R. Finally, the results are presented in the radar charts in order to facilitate the comparison.
Performance Analysis and Energy Saving Potential of Room Integrated PCM Wallboards for Passive Cooling Application
Authors: Chhugani B , Yasin M , Klinker F , Weinlaeder H , Weismann S , Reim M
Published: June 2019

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) can enhance thermal mass and energy efficiency in lightweight buildings. In this work, the thermal behaviour of plasterboards with incorporated microencapsulated PCM is investigated. These PCM wallboards are mounted in office rooms of the Energy Efficiency Center (EEC) in Würzburg (Germany). The experimental results show that the PCM wallboards can provide a passive cooling power of up to 8.4 W/m2. However, the regeneration behaviour of PCM during the night critically influences their thermal performance for the next day. In the period from April to September of the years 2015 and 2016, the average regenerated (solid) fraction of the PCM in the wallboards at the beginning of each day was only 20 %, even though the regeneration is supported by the nightly operation of cooling ceilings. In order to improve the thermal performance of the wallboards this problem has to be addressed. Therefore, a case study is performed with the thermal building simulation software TRNSYS 17. In this simulation, a night ventilation is used to enhance PCM regeneration, whereas active cooling by means of the cooling ceiling only takes place during the day. The simulations were carried out for two PCMs differing in the melting range. The simulation results reveal that the regeneration of the PCM wallboards could be increased by a factor of 2, which directly increases the latent heat storage capacity in rooms and reduces the temperature rise during daytimes. Compared to a reference room without PCM wallboards, the electrical energy demand for active room cooling is reduced by 30 %.
Potted Plants as Active and Passive Biofilters Improving Indoor Air Quality
Authors: Sowa J , Hendiger J , Maziejuk M , Sikora T , Osuchowski Ł , Kamińska H
Published: June 2019

Plants are the planet’s source of oxygen and the sink that removes carbon dioxide produced by burning, respiration and decay of organisms. The studies performed in small chambers indicated that plants also reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). All these phenomena result in a fact that potted plants have a potential to improve IAQ and to some extent to support ventilation. Trends to “go green” increase the growing interest in the introduction of a large number of plants to offices. One should remember that work in modern offices is often associated with a high level of stress. Ornamental plants give highly significant reductions in negative mood states – reductions in anger, anxiety, depression, confusion, fatigue and stress. Leaves provide also additional sound attenuation and cooling effect due to evaporation. The paper summarises the R&D project devoted to the development of the efficient, safe and competitive systems of biofiltration based on the properties of potted plants. The paper presents examples of laboratory tests and describes first experiences from applications in two pilot office buildings.
Decoherence of quantum Brownian particle trapped in a penning potential in a non-commutative space
Authors: Martin Tchoffo , Armel Azangue Koumetio , Germain Yiande Deuto , Giresse Tene Alain , Cornelius FAI Lukong
Published: June 2019

In this paper, the influence of non-commutativity on quantum systems interacting with the environment in the Penning trap potential is studied. The considered system is a Brownian particle expressed in non-commuting spatial coordinates coupled to a set of harmonic oscillators (environment). The equilibrium state of the total system has been evaluated using the fluctuation dissipation theorem. The effective parameters of the system are evaluated and compared with those of the system in commutative space. We found that non-commutativity effects give rise to an increase in decoherence in the system, and negative heat capacity confirms the presence of self-gravitation effects induced by non-commutativity.
Constitutive innate immunity of tropical House Wrens varies with season and reproductive activity
Authors: Tieleman B Irene , Versteegh Maaike A , Klasing Kirk C , Williams Joseph B
Published: June 2019

In lowland Neotropical regions, where air temperature and day length remain relatively constant year round, seasonality is determined primarily by changes in rainfall. The wet season triggers the start of breeding for many Neotropical birds but also alters the antigenic environment, likely increasing the risk of disease transmission. We explored 2 hypotheses about temporal variation in constitutive innate immunity of a Neotropical bird, the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon). The antigen response hypothesis proposes that Neotropical wrens upregulate their immune function in the wet season either in anticipation of or in response to vectors that become more prevalent. The resource constraint hypothesis proposes that during periods of putative high resource demand, such as when parents are feeding young, immune function should be compromised and downregulated. Controlling for reproductive stage, we found that microbicidal capacity of blood against Escherichia coli was higher in the wet than the dry season, consistent with the antigen response hypothesis. Phagocytosis of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus did not differ between wet and dry seasons. Microbicidal capacity and H/L ratio of tropical House Wrens did not vary among reproductive stages, and our data offered no support for the idea that immune function is compromised during the period when parents are feeding young.