bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Usability of a low-end 3D printer for prototyping of pressure-swirl atomizers
Authors: Maly Milan , Cejpek Ondrej , Hajek Jiri , Jedelsky Jan
Published: July 2024

With recent advance in print resolution of stereo lithography (SLA) 3D printers, a cheap and fast prototyping method of many industrial components is available. This paper examines the limits of the low- end SLA printer with a pixel resolution of 35 μm for the prototyping of pressure-swirl atomizers. Several differently sized atomizers with exit orifice diameter in range from 0.3 to 1.2 mm were produced with all dimensions evenly scaled. The circularity of the exit orifices was inspected by an optical microscope. Atomizers were operated under the same Reynolds numbers, which were selected to cover a pressure range between 4 and 10 bar for the smallest atomizer. The generated spray was observed with a high-speed camera. The discharge coefficient, spray cone angle (SCA) and circumferential liquid distribution were compared. Even the atomizer with 0.46 mm exit orifice produced a decent spray, almost comparable to the machined version. The discharge coefficient was slightly dependent on the size of the atomizer up to the exit orifice of 0.6 mm with the indices to print inaccuracies.
Laboratory investigations of the parameters in the stably stratified air turbulent boundary layer above the wavy surface
Authors: Sergeev Daniil , Vdovin Maxim , Kraev Ivan
Published: July 2024

Investigation of small-scale transfer processes between the ocean and atmosphere in the boundary and its parameterization on the meteorological conditions (wind and surface waves parameters) is very important for weather forecasts modeling. The accuracy of the predictions taking in to account the so named bulk-formulas strongly depends on the quality empirical data. That is why the laboratory modeling sometimes is preferable then in situ measurements for obtaining enough ensembles of the data with a good accuracy in control conditions, first of all in a case of severe conditions (strong winds with intensive wave breaking and sprays generation). In this investigation laboratory modeling was performed on the Thermostratified Wind-Wave Tank of the IAP RAS. Experiments were carried out for the wind speeds up to 18.5 m/s (corresponding the equivalent 10-m wind speed 30 m/s). For the possibility of varying parameters of surface roughness independently on the wind flow a special system basing on the submerged mosquito mesh (cell of 2*2 mm) was used (see [4]). The roughness was controlled by the depth of the mesh installation under the free surface (no waves when the mesh was on the surface and maximum wave amplitude for the maximum depth). So, for each wind speed several cases of the wave’s parameters were investigated. During experiments a stable stratification of the boundary layer of air flow was obtained. Temperature of the heating air was 33-37 degrees (depending on the reference wind speed), and the water temperature was 14-16 degrees. The Pitote gauge and hotwire were used together for measuring velocity and temperature profiles.
Hydrodynamic cavitation in minifluidic Venturi nozzle
Authors: Zeman Radek , Rudolf Pavel
Published: July 2024

This article describes the design of a small Venturi nozzle for hydrodynamic cavitation wastewater treatment research. A water circuit powered by compressed air was set up for the experiment. The nozzle design allowed visualization of the cavitating flow directly in the nozzle using a high-speed camera. Experiments were carried out with the nozzle to obtain a visualization of the flow and the dependence of the loss coefficient on the cavitation number. Furthermore, computational modeling of the flow was performed based on the results obtained in the experiment. Cavitation could play an important role in removing pollutants from water that cannot be removed by conventional methods in water treatment plants. The ability to process large quantities of water is one of the great advantages of hydrodynamic cavitation, however, when testing the influence of cavitation on pollutants contained in water, the need for large quantities of tested water appears unnecessary, impractical, and expensive. Research is still needed to better understand the effects of cavitation on water purification, and small-scale experiments may be more suitable for this kind of task.
Segmenttherapie: Dermatom als Schlüssel
Authors: Rathay Uwe
Published: July 2024

Die Segmenttherapie nutzt als Methode der Neuraltherapie die (insbesondere über Spinalnerven und Sympathikus) segmentale Verschaltung von Haut, Muskel, Knochen und Organ, um über Dermatome auf reflektorisch mit diesen verbundene Organe Einfluss zu nehmen. Die Behandlung nutzt 4 Grundprinzipien: segmentale Innervation, Palpation und Diagnose, Behandlung von Segmentdysfunktionen sowie die Injektion von Lokalanästhetika, zum Beispiel in Form einer Quaddelung im Dermatom. Zu den wichtigsten Indikationen zählen Rücken-, Kopf-, Muskel-, Narben- und Gelenkschmerzen, aber auch Verdauungsstörungen oder wie im vorgestellten Fall Folgen einer Cholezystektomie.
Form trifft Funktion
Authors: Corts Magga
Published: July 2024

Für die Funktion der Wirbelsäule spielen die knöcherne Ausgestaltung, die evolutionär bedingte Aufrichtung, aber vor allem auch die komplexe Funktionalität, Sinneswahrnehmung und die damit korrespondierenden Strukturen eine entscheidende Rolle. Multifunktionale Knotenpunkte, nervale Strukturen und Weichteile, die untrennbar mit der Wirbelsäule in Verbindung stehen, wirken als komplexes funktionales System zusammen. Aufgrund vielfältiger Wechselwirkungen können Wirbelsäulendysfunktionen zu – zunächst unerwarteten – Beschwerdebildern führen, jeweils mit einer Vielzahl an Behandlungsperspektiven, zum Beispiel bei Störungen der visuellen Fokussierung, Tinnitus, Schwindel, Gleichgewichtsstörungen, Übelkeit, vegetativer Dystonie, Muskelhartspann, Herzrhythmusstörungen oder Menstruationsbeschwerden
A Rare Case of Unruptured Small Aneurysm Arising from the Posterior Surface of Proximal A1 Segment, Projecting Posterior-Inferiorly and Entangled with Multiple Perforators from the A1 Segment
Authors: Kale Samir Jagannath , Tanaka Riki , Okubo Mai , Sasaki Kento , Miyatani Kyosuke , Yamada Yasuhiro , Komatsu Fuminari , Kato Yoko
Published: July 2024

Aneurysm arising from the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery is rare. Aneurysm of the A1 segment even being small tend to rupture early. They tend to develop along the with various vascular anomalies of the vessels arising from the A1 segment. Use of computational fluid dynamics and hemodynamic consideration is of importance in this aneurysm. In this report we describe a 57-year-old woman with a small, unruptured A1 segment aneurysm arising from the proximal segment of the posterior surface of A1, and pointing posterior-inferiorly with multiple perforators entangling around for which microsurgical clipping was done. Intraoperative clipping of the aneurysm and salvaging the multiple perforators were challenging. We report a rare case of an A1 segment aneurysm arising from the posterior surface facing with multiple perforators. It is of significance to understand that a small, unruptured A1 aneurysm can arise from the posterior surface of the A1 segment with projection posterior-inferiorly making it deeper in location with multiple perforators entangling it; hence, it is challenging to treat without causing neurological deficits.
Incidental Visualization of Gallbladder on Post-therapy [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE Scintigraphy Mimicking a Liver Metastasis in a Duodenal Neuroendocrine Tumor
Authors: Baberwal Parth , Parghane Rahul , Basu Sandip
Published: July 2024

We present a rare case of physiological uptake of [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in the gallbladder, observed post-therapy, in a 47-year-old man with grade I duodenal neuroendocrine tumor (NET), despite no uptake being observed pre-therapy in the somatostatin receptor-positron emission tomography. On planar scintigraphy, the gallbladder uptake could have been misidentified as liver metastasis. By utilizing single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography imaging, we were able to precisely localize the tracer and obtain anatomical morphological characteristics, thereby averting the potential for misinterpretation of liver metastasis resulting from the gallbladder's physiological uptake of [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in NET patients.
Leaving messages as coproduction: impact of government COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on citizens’ online participation in China
Authors: Zhang Pan , Bai Zhouling
Published: July 2024

Because non-pharmaceutical interventions are an essential part of pandemic influenza control planning, the complex impacts of such measures must be clearly and comprehensively understood. Research has examined the health and environmental effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions, but has not yet examined their socio-political effects. Using data from the COVID-19 pandemic period, this article examined the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on people’s online participation in China in 2020. Using the difference-in-differences method, it showed that counter-COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions in Chinese cities led to a 0.217 increase in daily messages to City Party Secretaries, which were consistent with findings of an alternative counterfactual estimator and other additional robustness tests. The effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions were larger in cities with better economic conditions, better telecommunication foundations, and better-educated residents. Mechanism analyses implied that the increase in online participation resulted from not only citizens’ increased actual demand for seeking help and expressing thanks but also their active coproduction activities to address the crisis. Overall, this study identified the socio-political effects of counter-pandemic non-pharmaceutical interventions and discussed how these interventions could be optimized.
The wellbeing economy in practice: sustainable and inclusive growth? Or a post-growth breakthrough?
Authors: Hayden Anders
Published: July 2024

A wellbeing economy (WE) has gained a wide range of adherents in recent years, although the meanings they give to it vary. One point with conflicting understandings is whether a WE is a post-growth economy. Many environmentalists and other growth critics have long called for a move beyond the pursuit of economic growth as a societal priority and an embrace of an ethic of sufficiency. Some WE proponents highlight not only the WE’s post-growth character but also its ability to bring post-growth ideas into the political mainstream, pointing, for example, to the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo), a partnership of governments with shared ambitions of creating a WE. Does increasing support for a WE represent the long-sought breakthrough for a post-growth, sufficiency-oriented environmental approach? If not, how can efforts to implement a WE be taken further in a post-growth direction? These questions are examined through case studies of countries participating in WEGo, using an analysis of government documents and other sources to determine whether they have adopted a post-growth orientation. Expanding on previous analysis of the three founding WEGo members, this article examines three more recent cases: Finland and Wales, which are both WEGo members, and Canada, which has participated in WEGo gatherings. It confirms previous findings that WEGo nations have taken only limited steps in a post-growth direction, with emerging WE practice amounting at most to a “weak post-growth approach.” However, while previous studies have emphasized conclusions applying broadly to all WEGos, this article identifies greater variation among WE cases. One case, Wales, stands out for moving further in a post-growth direction, including significant sufficiency-oriented policies such as limits on road building, although a commitment to economic growth remains evident. Building on the findings, the article concludes with some options that WEGo nations and others could take to strengthen the WE’s post-growth character.
Phase estimation via multi-photon subtraction inside the SU(1,1) interferometer
Authors: Kang Qingqian , Zhao Zekun , Xu Youke , Zhao Teng , Liu Cunjin , Hu Liyun
Published: July 2024

To improve the phase sensitivity, multi-photon subtraction schemes (multi-PSS) within the SU(1,1) interferometer are proposed. The input states are the coherent state and the vacuum state, and the detection method is homodyne detection. The effects of multi-photon subtraction on phase sensitivity, quantum Fisher information (QFI), and quantum Cramér-Rao bound (QCRB) are analyzed under both ideal and photon losses situations. It is shown that the internal subtraction operation can improve the phase sensitivity, which becomes better performance by increasing subtraction number. It can also efficiently improve the robustness of the SU(1,1) interferometer against internal photon losses. By comparing separatively arbitrary photon subtraction on the two-mode inside SU(1,1) interferometer, the performance differences under different conditions are analyzed, including the asymmetric properties of non-Gaussian operations on the phase precision and the QFI. Our proposed scheme represents a valuable method for achieving quantum precision measurements.
Neural networks for boosted di-τ identification
Authors: Tamir Nadav , Bessudo Ilan , Chen Boping , Raiko Hely , Barak Liron
Published: July 2024

We train several neural networks and boosted decision trees to discriminate fully-hadronic
boosted di-τ topologies against background QCD jets, using calorimeter and tracking
information. Boosted di-τ topologies consisting of a pair of highly collimated
 τ-leptons, arise from the decay of a highly energetic Standard Model Higgs or Z boson or from
particles beyond the Standard Model. We compare the tagging performance for different
neural-network models and a boosted decision tree, the latter serving as a simple benchmark
machine learning model.

The code used to obtain the results presented in this paper is available on GitHub.
Solar-powered irrigation in Nepal: implications for fossil fuel use and groundwater extraction
Authors: Kafle Kashi , Balasubramanya Soumya , Stifel David , Khadka Manohara
Published: July 2024

In recent years, use of solar-powered irrigation pumps (SIPs) has increased significantly in the agricultural plains (terai) of Nepal. Federal and local governments there have subsidized the pumps in an effort to expand irrigated agriculture using renewable energy. We use data from a cross-sectional survey of 656 farming households in the terai to examine how SIPs affect fossil fuel use and groundwater extraction. We find that most SIP users continued to use their fossil-fuel pumps, as very few completely replaced them with solar pumps. Farmers who received SIPs operated their irrigation pumps more hours than those who did not receive SIPs. Taken together, these findings suggest that groundwater use has increased, as SIP recipients ‘stack’ their pumps. We also find that solar pumps were more likely to be owned by richer households and those with better social networks than those who were poorer and had relative social disadvantage. As Nepal expands the use of solar pumps in agriculture, policy efforts may benefit from managing expectations about the carbon-mitigation potential of this technology, managing groundwater risks as SIP use expands, and making SIPs more inclusive.
Performance of entanglement purification including maximally entangled mixed states
Authors: Mauricio Torres Juan , Zsolt Bernád József , Gómez-Rosas Rocío
Published: July 2024

Entanglement between distant quantum systems is a critical resource for implementing quantum communication. This property is affected by external agents and can be restored by employing efficient entanglement purification protocols. In this work, we propose an entanglement purification protocol based on two entangling two-qubit operations that replace the usual controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate. These operations arise from a generalised quantum measurement and can be understood as measurement operators in a positive operator-valued measure. Furthermore, two variants of the core protocol are introduced and their performances are studied in terms of the overall success probability of reaching a Bell state and the number of purifiable states. Based on rank-two states, we can obtain analytical expressions for the success probability that we extend and refine using numerical calculations to the case of maximally entangled states. We also consider more general rank-three states to show that our procedure is in general more convenient compared to purification protocols based on Bell diagonal states. Finally, we test the protocols using initial random states. In all cases, we find a better performance and a larger amount of purifiable states using our schemes compared to the CNOT-based protocol.
Planning and building within planetary boundaries. From the singular target of climate neutrality towards a holistic climate and resource-saving building design - a case study.
Authors: Binz S , Jäger J
Published: July 2024

The German government has committed to GHG neutrality by 2045. This implies the designation of a physical quantity whose zero line ensures the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement. To date, a binding definition of terms with specifications on the assessment scale and method, system boundaries and on acceptable compensation measures is lacking. Since every construction process creates an ecological footprint, ‘GHG-neutral buildings’ can only be understood as a calculation model for the longer-term compensation of the climate and environmental damage that is currently being caused. A reduction to GHG-emissions thus fails to achieve the goal of building within planetary boundaries. Within the building sector, the German Climate Protection Act only takes into account energy consumption during the operational phase, leaving out emissions that occur in other life cycle stages i.e. sectors. Thus, no incentives are created to exploit a wider cross-sectoral climate and environmental protection potential of the entire buildings’ lifecycles. Existing definitions of the concept of ‘climate and GHG-neutrality’ are analysed in general and specifically in relation to buildings. Research criteria are calculation bases and life cycle-related system boundaries. Based on a built case study, life cycle assessment (LCA) is used to quantify the ‘delta’ resulting from divergent definitions in terms of GHG-emissions. This paper will quantify emissions according to divergent definitions of climate- and GHG-neutrality for a new construction scenario and also for a renovation scenario, as well as two different building material scenarios. Also, the paper will derive emission reduction potentials of sufficiency measures by applying LCA already in an early design process. To outline the role of buildings in decarbonizing the built environment, the entire life cycle is considered, including those modules that are currently outside the standard. Additional indicators (e.g. consumption of fresh water or total material input) are discussed regarding a possible shift in the ecological footprint and the building’s adherence to planetary boundaries.
A New Form of Biophilic Design for Human-nature Interactions in High-density, High-rise Contexts
Authors: Ip T
Published: July 2024

Urban dwellers are characterised by a more affluent living style, resulting in patterns of routine that reduce opportunities for unplanned chances of human-nature interactions and increasingly foster a sense of detachment from the natural world. This study aims to explore nature-centric architectural design and investigate a new form of biophilia in high-density urban contexts. The hypothesis is that human-nature interactions are significant in urban living, and communal green spaces facilitate these interactions. The research findings affirm the significance of human-nature interactions in urban living, reveal urban dwellers’ multi-faceted interpretation of nature, and identify key substances for interactions with nature, extending the biophilic design theories to the high-density high-rise contexts. A hypothetical “SOA” model composed of space, object and activity is proposed to interpret direct and indirect human-nature interactions and establish a framework of biophilic design for multi-level communal green spaces in urban contexts.
European energy renovation of multi-dwelling building from a Swedish life cycle perspective
Authors: Berggren B , Bernardo R , Janson U
Published: July 2024

The European Union has committed to achieving climate neutrality by the year 2050, with Sweden setting an even more ambitious target of reaching this milestone by 2045. A subgroup comprising 23 pioneering Swedish municipalities, collectively representing 40% of the country’s population, aims to attain climate neutrality by 2030. Globally, buildings and construction sector contribute nearly 40% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, achieving our climate goals requires upgrading the existing building stock. It is however not clear how this should be carried out in practice since cost-efficiency, energy savings, and greenhouse gas emissions may be competing goals within an energy renovation. This study theoretically investigates four renovation scenarios applied to one representative Swedish building: a limited or deep renovation approach, in combination with a linear or circular renovation approach. Energy, cost and greenhouse gas calculations were based on statistics and renovation projects implemented earlier. Results show that not all energy renovation scenarios lead to a decrease of greenhouse gas emissions during the whole life cycle. In fact, the deep energy renovation scenario using a linear approach shows a slight increase in the total greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, very few individual energy renovation measures are cost-effective when not combined with required maintenance. This illustrates the importance of carrying out multi-criteria analysis when assessing energy renovations in existing building stock to ensure that energy renovations are in line with the desired outcome in terms of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, and costs.
Improving the effectiveness of climate action efforts within local governments: a case study of the County of Maui, Hawaiʻi
Authors: Roode Alexander F de
Published: July 2024

Local communities have resources available from various sources to support climate action initiatives. Although federal and state governments and large organizations can play important roles in supporting local climate action, local governments and community-based organizations are best able to implement tangible action within their local communities. These actors serve as funnels for bringing outside resources to address community needs, and can also significantly influence legislative and budget priorities. A qualitative assessment of efforts in the County of Maui, Hawaiʻi was conducted to assess the organizational structure, processes, and programs in place to meet local climate action needs. Although substantive efforts are underway by the County of Maui, there is an opportunity to improve consistency, transparency, and follow-through of its approach. Recommended structural, process, and programmatic improvements include: improving collaboration with local partners; increasing transparency of programs and processes to increase community trust and access to climate action efforts; prioritizing hazard mitigation and climate adaptation; adopting adaptive and transformative learning approaches; and establishing permanent staffing and programs dedicated to climate action to eliminate politicization, loss of institutional memory, lack of follow-through, and duplication of climate action efforts. To ensure local community needs are addressed, local government needs to establish transparent, effective, and efficient ways for local community to co-create and participate in initiatives established to address their needs and ensure that informed decisions are made using science-based targets and nature-based solutions coupled with local- and place-based knowledge, and traditional ecological knowledge.
Method and Evaluation of Habitability in Emergency Temporary Housing in Lower-income Countries: Five Case Studies in Peru
Authors: Acevedo-De-los-Ríos Alejandra , Aramburu-Stuart Jaione , Albadra Dima , Rondinel-Oviedo Daniel R.
Published: July 2024

In lower-income countries, the risk of disasters is constant due to the high physical vulnerability of housing, primarily due to informal construction practices and a lack of government planning and control. Emergency Temporary Housing (ETH) is a crucial relief for families in need after a disaster, providing shelter and support. However, these temporary structures often fall short when considering the affected communities’ broader social and environmental aspects. Issues such as inadequate design, insufficient attention to local customs, and environmental impact are common, compromising the long-term well-being and resilience of the affected population. This research analyzes habitability conditions in ETH through five case studies in Peru’s three macro-regions: the coastal, highland, and jungle regions. The methodology involves a literature review and the identification of specific minimum standards for habitability variables based on international manuals and the design of a matrix for data analysis to evaluate the cases across three spheres (housing, camp, and city) and three main dimensions (physical-spatial, physical-environmental, and psychosocial). The fieldwork included environmental monitoring equipment, thermal comfort surveys, social surveys, well-being surveys, and in-depth key interviews. Variables such as health, privacy, and security scored poorly on the housing scale, while economy and life span variables obtained higher scores. At the camp scale, participation, community organization, and size variables scored 33%, contrasting with the social cohesion variable averaging 57%. The city scale indicated a critical state of the governance, highlighting the disconnection between the different stakeholders. The study’s findings on habitability conditions in Peru’s ETH are pivotal for refining local design guidelines and procurement terms and offer a universally applicable framework. By applying these insights in lower-income countries, stakeholders can significantly enhance living conditions in ETH, extending the benefits of this research far beyond Peru and aiding in improving ETH standards worldwide.
Measuring the correlation between carbon embodied emissions, economic and social impacts of building elements in Spain
Authors: Soust-Verdaguer B , Castro L , Fernández Gálvez M D , Gutiérrez Moreno J A , Cagigas-Muñoz D , Palumbo E , Llatas C
Published: July 2024

Buildings produce significant environmental impacts, as well as economic and social impacts in society. The Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is recognised as an appropriate method to assess their impact following a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach. In the European context, incoming regulations for building are beginning to consider the embodied environmental impact of new construction. However, the economic and social implications of those concerns have been scarcely explored. Implementing the LCSA on different building elements involves a great amount of data. Difficulties in data management and the weighting of different dimensions are also detected as methodological challenges. To reduce the effort in the LCSA implementation in the building design process the Building Information Modelling TBL (BIM_TBL) database includes a collection of the most frequently used building elements in Spain, which is integrated in BIM. This study presents the main results of data analysis of the BIM_TBL database to determine the correlation between the environmental, economic, and social impacts generated by different constructive solutions. To that end, a Knowledge Discovery Database (KDD) analysis was performed to support the multi-dimension integration in the design process. This study provides recommendations to integrate a multi-dimension approach in the building design process.
Monitoring and reporting of buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions: implementation in the Austrian building submission procedure
Authors: Scherz M , Rossegger C , Kreiner H , Passer A
Published: July 2024

None of the indicators underlying the 169 targets of the 17 UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) allow for the tracking of buildings´ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Due to the continuously decreasing GHG budget and the significant contribution of the building sector to GHG emissions, in this study a new indicator and implementation steps for its practical application are proposed. By the application of the indicator GHG emissions have to be determined once during the building submission procedure and ultimately after completion of the building to obtain a usage permit. Finally, the results must be available to the statistical offices. A simplified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to calculate the GHG emissions of buildings. The GHG emission benchmark values for comparison are derived by carbon budget approaches. The study presents the theoretical process for the implementation of the proposed indicator in the course of the building submission and introduces the necessary methods. In addition, the decision scenarios after the submission are highlighted as well as a step-by-step time frame for the practical implementation of the indicator and the necessary implementation measures are presented. The developed indicator and the proposed tracking strategy help to address the current lack of effective monitoring mechanisms for GHG emissions from buildings and further improve the emissions database in the buildings sector. Given the importance of the building sector as a significant contributor to GHG emissions and the continuous decrease in global GHG budgets, it is crucial to establish effective tools to measure and monitor these emissions.
Environmental Impacts of Fire Safety Measures in the Built Environment
Authors: Dormohamadi M , Hoxha E , Kanafani K , Birgisdottir H , Dragsted A , Søeborg Ohlsen EM
Published: July 2024

The paper focuses on assessing the environmental impacts associated with fire safety measures in buildings, underlining the crucial role of evaluating these impacts in ensuring effective fire protection systems. Through a methodical examination of strategies aimed at mitigating fire risks, the study correlates these strategies with five fundamental layers of protection, mirroring the concept of the Swiss Cheese Model. On the basis of this framework, a novel environmental impact typology is introduced, clearly identifying the specific environmental impacts associated with fire-protection systems. By isolating these impacts, the assessment appropriately separates consequences related to fire safety from other functions within a building. Moreover, this structured methodology serves as a foundation for future investigations into such environmental impacts of timber construction. It facilitates the development of targeted mitigation strategies that enhance fire safety while simultaneously taking ecological considerations into account.
Comparative assessment of roof tiles’ environmental performance from cradle to cradle
Authors: Durão V , Silvestre J D , Mateus R , Brito J de
Published: July 2024

Roof plays an important protective role in a building, and claddings are the first element to collaborate in that function. In Portuguese architecture, ceramic roof tiles are the most common claddings in pitched roofs. Concrete roof tiles are a good alternative because of their technical performance and visual similarity to ceramic ones. Both have been studied in different perspectives, but there is no updated comparison of their environmental performance in the European context. For this research work, the environmental performance of ceramic and concrete roof tiles was studied and compared, based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology and following international standards. A cradle-to-gate LCA was performed for the product stage of concrete roof tiles. The LCA approach applied in the comparison study was cradle-to-cradle, based on plausible and conservative scenarios. They are presented for the product stage for the respective reference flows, based on the LCA performed for concrete roof tiles within this research work, and in another recent LCA performed for ceramic roof tiles in Portugal. A comparison is then performed between the LCA results from cradle to cradle of ceramic and concrete roof tiles when applied in a building for a service life of 50 years. Ceramic roof tiles present lower environmental impacts over their life cycle in five out of seven impact categories: ADP-Elem. (different magnitude), GWP (-16%), POCP (-10%), AP (-5%) and EP (-89%). The exceptions are ADP-ff and ODP for which concrete roof tiles present a better environmental performance (-44% and -64%, respectively). For both roof tiles, it was concluded that the production stage is the most relevant, representing between 63% and 84% of life cycle impacts.
Zero- Ready-Carbon Building Certification Scheme for Driving Hong Kong towards Carbon Neutrality
Authors: Chan C , Yau R , Yeung A , Kwok G , Chan D , Chan F , Lok T , Sat P
Published: July 2024

Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 set a pathway for decarbonising the electricity supply before 2050. Building sector should play a prominent role in decarbonising the demand side, which is to reduce the energy consumption within buildings. The Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) has established a “Zero-Carbon-Ready Building Certification Scheme”, which launched in 2023 to provide necessary guideline to the industry in going for carbon neutrality. The Scheme was developed by making reference with similar scheme of other countries and the carbon neutrality pathways of the two power utilities companies, Hong Kong Electric (HKE) and China Light and Power (CLP). The routes of assessment mechanism can be either “BY EUI” or “BY % Reduction” for existing buildings, and by energy simulation for new buildings. There are three types of certifications for promoting to building owners and developers towards zero carbon ready and net zero building in Hong Kong.
Design for Disassembly and Reuse: A Synthesis for Timber Construction
Authors: Chiletto T O , Knapen E , Passarelli R N
Published: July 2024

A global demand has emerged for a paradigm shift in the construction industry. In favour of sustainable practices, there is an increasing focus on timber applications. In this context, both academics and practitioners have begun to explore ways to implement new strategies leading to circular use, such as Design for Disassembly and Reuse (DfD&R). This paper aims to investigate scientific publications reporting on recent and emerging debates and practices in the field of DfD&R with a focus on timber construction. For this purpose, a meta-synthesis of a systematic literature review was used. This procedure allowed the collection, classification, and critical appraisal of 71 scientific articles published over the last two decades. By categorising the articles into main content categories and subcategories, their main approaches and methods could be systematically classified and critically analysed. The results showed what types of research are being produced, what aspects they are considering, and, within the life cycle of a building, what stages they are covering. As a result, this synthesis has highlighted the main focus in the field, leading to an understanding of the trend in recent studies. This article synthesises research in the field, contributing to the transition to circular timber building.
Adaptive Reuse for Building Above Our Cities: Evaluating the Feasibility of Mass Timber Vertical Extensions
Authors: Kremer P , Ashraf M , Hewson N , Li X
Published: July 2024

Mass Timber Construction (MTC) is revolutionizing urban development by presenting distinct advantages over traditional construction methods, such as its lightweight nature, reduced environmental impact, and the efficiency associated with prefabrication. The present paper delves into the transformative potential of MTC in unlocking valuable airspace above existing buildings, be they residential, mid/high-rise structures, or even parking facilities. Our project aimed to investigate how MTC technologies can facilitate vertical extensions, exploring the creation of ‘sustainable communities’ in the elevated spaces above our cities. The paper provides a broad overview of considerations for MTC vertical extensions, incorporating insights from two current case studies and offering generic conceptual considerations for various building typologies. By extending the discourse on urban sustainability, the paper touches on key aspects of urban planning, design, community dynamics, and societal needs in modern cities. A straightforward feasibility analysis for vertical extensions is presented to stimulate architectural creativity concluding with a summary of findings and practical recommendations, encouraging a rethinking of our urban landscapes in pursuit of a more sustainable and vibrant future.
A systematic literature review for contextualizing participation in circular design
Authors: Rocha V S B , Pak B , Piccardo C
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Recently, participatory processes have been recognized as important factors inside Circular Economy (CE) initiatives. The importance of an inclusive approach – including end-users/consumers and vulnerable/oppressed groups – is acknowledged in several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)s. Nevertheless, CE literature and Circular Design (CD) initiatives are still incipient when it comes to addressing important aspects of Participatory Design (PD), especially in Spatial Design Practices. There is no current overview on how PD methods, tools and techniques are being applied, nor are there clear indicators that can measure people’s empowerment and participation under a CE agenda. Methods: A systematic literature review is carried out to: (a) understand how PD principles are being applied in CD/CE; and (b) appraise and synthetize existing research evidence around the use of criteria and indicators involving PD and CE endeavours, with a specific look on their unfolding on Spatial Design practices. Results: 40 out of 426 final peer-reviewed journal papers in English were selected and analysed. 8 reviews and 32 original papers evidenced a clear interest on different stakeholders’ collaboration in circular supply chains and their impact on circular business models, especially in end-of-life stages. Nevertheless, very little to no attention has been given to initial design stages and non-expert’s participation. 127 participation-related CE indicators were found. However, comprehensive indicators and methods for their application targeting end-users and communities needs further exploration. PD contribution to overall sustainability is not yet disclosed. Conclusions: There is substantial increase of PD and CE literature on recent years, yet, in a separate manner. Connection between the two concepts is spare, especially in spatial design practices. Empowerment, a core component of participatory action research, is often disclosed in a superficial fashion. Inclusion of underprivileged groups and social equity in CE still needs further discussion.
Temporary makerspaces: the transformative potential of temporary projects and productive activities in circular cities
Authors: Kawa G , Galle W , De Temmerman N
Published: July 2024

Cities today face multifaceted challenges, encompassing resource-depleting construction practices, outdated building stocks, and a scarcity of affordable spaces. A significant concern arises from the proliferation of unused buildings, exemplified by the 6.5 million square meter of vacant space in the Brussels Capital Region alone. This phenomenon not only threatens urban vitality and security but also results in wasted resources and economic stagnation. However, this study illuminates a transformative potential within these challenges: the emergence of temporary projects in vacant industrial buildings, organized in anticipation of future projects, as dynamic urban instruments. The in-depth case study analysis of five modern-day temporary projects in Brussels illustrated the multifaceted nature of temporary use projects. All projects breathe new life into inert structures, become testing grounds for various projects and become local meeting places. Yet, their nature and specificities vary. As such, temporary projects can become hubs of social, cultural, creative, sports, and/or productive activities, resonating with principles of the circular economy. Particularly noteworthy is the rise of makerspaces within these temporary settings, identified in Brussel’s temporary project and insured by enlarging the research scope and including four additional temporary projects. Multiple makerspaces are recurring in the analyzed temporary projects, resulting in the identification of temporary makerspace’s types: material banks, shared workspaces, various ateliers, repair cafés, and logistics. These temporary makerspaces exemplify creativity, collaboration, and circular innovation. As such, they not only put forward the practice of making, but emphasize community building, exchange, and knowledge transfer. Thus, by harnessing the potential of temporary projects and makerspaces, cities can transform neglect to vitality, fostering sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience in the urban landscape.
Exploring the reuse of façade components in Belgium: emerging and shifting roles to deal with uncertainties
Authors: Van Vooren Ruben , Galle Waldo
Published: July 2024

In conventional façade renovation or demolition projects, the intrinsic value of the removed components is lost through processes of landfilling, incineration, downcycling or recycling. As an alternative, this paper explores Value Retention Options (ROs), i.e. to repair, reuse, refurbish, remanufacture or repurpose existing façade components, through the lens of the actors and their interactions (i.e. a value network) in the Belgian context. Combining workshops, an online survey and semi-structured interviews with pioneering actors, the perceived challenges, roles and opportunities within the value network are studied. The results show a wide thematic range of perceived challenges, highlighting technical restrictions, technical knowledge-gaps, technical uncertainties, procedural uncertainties, financial uncertainties, and high costs. To answer some of the challenges, several of these existing roles are shifting, while also new roles are emerging within the already extensive network. These include technical advisers on ROs, circularity advisors (incl. material scouts and reuse coordinators), and dealers of reclaimed components (incl. material stockists and reclaimed component processors). Moreover, new partnerships are emerging on reverse supply chains. It can be concluded that Belgian façade renovation practices are slowly starting to change to deal with uncertainties on value retention options of existing façade components.
Exploring design thinking processes in circular economy strategies for PV waste management in Australia
Authors: Madrigal A N , Iyer-Raniga U , Yang R
Published: July 2024

Energy from renewable sources such as photovoltaic (PV) panels is increasingly powering small and large-scale installations worldwide. However, the end-of-life (EoL) of PV panels is a challenge. If mismanaged, PV EoL represents a loss of valuable materials and a toxic hazard to the environment and human health. Global R&D towards PV EoL management is commonly focused on recycling. Nevertheless, other options to extend the PVs first lifecycle should be prioritised before it goes into the recycling stream. This paper presents results of research that explores the possibilities for a circular PV EoL management in the Australian context using circular economy strategies such as the ReSOLVE framework and the 10 Rs for circularity. Engaging with key stakeholders, this paper demonstrates that solutions commence from analysing social behaviours of PV manufacture, installation, and decommissioning phases. Additionally, innovations in the built environment such as smart housing standards can impact the efficient use of PVs. The findings from desktop research, interviews with 20 stakeholders from the PV and associated industry in Australia and the validation of the results show that solutions guided by a regulatory framework that have clear second life markets for reuse of PVs and recovered materials (such as manufacturing construction materials with recycled PV glass), having standards and re-certifications in place are urgently needed.
From soon-to-be demolished mushroom column slabs to reused reinforced concrete saw-cut assemblies: the case of the rebuiLT pavilion
Authors: Küpfer Célia , Bastien-Masse Malena , Grangeot Maxence , Meier Christian , Graulich Lancelot , Pathé Julien , Fivet Corentin
Published: July 2024

The piecewise reuse of soon-to-be-demolished cast-in-place reinforced concrete (RC) structures in new structural projects poses new design challenges. Unlike the disassembly of prefabricated structures guided by existing connections, deconstructing monolithic cast-in-place RC building structures requires original saw-cutting-scheme design, balancing technical constraints and geometrical requirements. While prior research mainly focused on flat rectangular element reuse, this study explores the cutting and reuse of saw-cut assemblies composed of both vertical and horizontal structural elements. Reusing monolithic assemblies made of mushroom column slabs, the rebuiLT pavilion is used as a case study to analyze the influence of the donor structure on the receiver project. The design and construction analysis of the rebuiLT pavilion provides insights into the challenges as well as the benefits of repurposing three-dimensional structural components.
The influence of biogenic carbon assessment assumptions on biogenic global warming results – case study of an innovative mycelium-based composite block
Authors: Maierhofer D , Alaux N , Vašatko H , Saade M , Stavric M , Passer A
Published: July 2024

Biobased building materials play a crucial role in reducing the embodied Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of buildings. When quantifying the GHG emissions of biobased materials, the methodological choices made when modelling biogenic carbon in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) influence the results. To showcase these implications, we applied three different Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) assumptions to the case study of an innovative 10x10x10-cm mycelium composite block: ‘dynamic growth before harvest’, ‘static flux in the year of harvest’ and ‘dynamic regrowth after harvest’. For the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA), we applied static and dynamic Characterisation Factors (CFs) to all three assumptions. We present the results over a timeline extending from -120 to +120 years from harvest. When applying static CFs, we observed a biogenic Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 0 kg CO2-eq for all three LCI assumptions. When applying the dynamic CFs, the LCI assumption of ‘dynamic growth before harvest’ and ‘static flux in the year of harvest’ resulted in a negative biogenic GWP, while applying the LCI assumption of ‘dynamic regrowth after harvest’ yielded a positive biogenic GWP. We show that the observed results depend heavily on the given assumptions. While no agreement was found regarding the appropriateness of the different biogenic carbon accounting methods, we transparently show the effects of applying these approaches on the final results obtained for the biogenic GWP over our assessed timeline.