bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3-Dimensional Numerical Modelling to Assess Geothermal Piles Efficiency in Tropical Countries
Authors: Mustaffa Z , Kamarozaman N , Al-Qadami E H H , AlAtroush M E , El-Husseini Y
Published: July 2022

Nowadays, climate changes caused by intense and continuous greenhouse gases emission is one of the most curtail issues that facing the human beings. Throughout the years, researchers have tried to find other reliable sources available to control the exhaustion of coal, gases, and oil. Geothermal energy is one of these alternatives that have been investigated and considered as one of the most promising renewable and clean energy sources. Tropical climate countries such as Malaysia could benefit from this technology due to its high cooling demand throughout the year. Geothermal piles for instance, are one of the methods that can be used to extract geothermal energy by employing the piles as a heat transfer bodes. Therefore, this paper presents numerical simulations as an early attempt to realise the potential of adopting geothermal piles catered to Malaysia’s soil condition and pile standards for low-rise construction. A pipe with a U-tube shape wase simulated at three different inner diameters (14, 19, and 26) under two inlet dischargers (0.009 m3/s 0.050 m3/s). The U-tube was placed inside concrete square pile with dimensions of 1.5 m width, 1.5 m length and 10 m hight. The simulation was conducted under two soil conditions namely, (i) dry soil, and (ii) soil effected by groundwater. The performance of the geothermal pile was measured by the amount of temperature reduction in the pipe outlet after heat exchange has been done. The results obtained showed that geothermal piles with lower flow discharge (0.009 m3/s) operation produced more temperature reduction in the pipe outlet. Without the presence of groundwater, the 26 cm diameter recorded the highest temperature reduction, with pipe outlet temperature of 29.89 °C equivalent to a 1.0 % reduction. Similarly, with the groundwater effect, the same pipe diameter recorded the highest temperature reduction, with pipe outlet temperature of 28.43 °C equivalent to a 1.57 % reduction. Based on the numerical modelling results it can be said that combination of 26 cm pipe diameter, at 0.009 m3/s flow rate, and the advection effect of groundwater temperature has produced an optimum condition for the geothermal piles in cooling system.
Smart Bus Terminus: Sustainable Urban Public Transport Solution Through BIM and GIS Integrated Approach
Authors: Vigneshwaran S , Reddy Yeddula Bharath Simha , Sridharan Madhura , Preethi S , Krishna Chunchu Balarama
Published: July 2022

Smart city / digital city is engaging in Big Data which will be utilized in monitoring and optimizing the urban systems to minimize resource consumption and maximize the quality of life. To implement the concept of “smart cities”, smart city components, design innovation and prototypes must be studied in detail which will be beneficial in understanding the features. India is moving towards becoming one of the developed nations, the source of revenue is highly dependent on public contributions, especially through the transportation sector. The population of India is majorly comprised of the middle-class income category. Their livelihood mainly depends on the regional level jobs and for commute, they prefer public transportation especially Buses. For lodging these buses that are huge in number, Bus Terminus become an integral infrastructure component. In Indian cities, the existing bus terminus appears to be poorly designed and highly congested irrespective of their sizes. Interventions of modern methodologies to improve the conditions in the existing bus terminus in various Indian cities and reconstructing them is of utmost priority for urban planners and policymakers to reach sustainable cities. The objective of adopting smart innovative solutions in Bus Terminus is to reduce pollution, congestion of traffic, improve safety, time optimization and cost reduction. Modern bus terminus must accommodate some key features such as green buildings and utilization of eco-friendly materials for construction, incorporating real-time response, installing solar panels for energy efficiency and power generation, waste segregation and recycling, the hybrid modal form of transport i.e., both traditional and electric vehicles, etc. In the present study, the attempt has been made to develop an artistic view of a “Smart Bus Terminus” prototype that can be adopted at regional and global levels. Autodesk REVIT Architecture and AutoCAD have been used to design and create 3D models; Geographical Information System tools have been adopted for the recommendation of site selection.
Management of Conflicts with Infrastructure Assets during Projects Execution
Authors: Aloshan Abdulaziz , Alharbi Ahmed , Aljadhai Saad , Mahmoud Abdulrahman Bin
Published: July 2022

The construction industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Saudi Arabia, and it is considered one of the largest construction industries in the Middle East. This sector has grown in terms of the number of projects and the large allocated budgets within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. In many cases, new infrastructure projects face conflicts with the existing infrastructure assets that are in proximity of the new project’s alignment. The poor management of resolving utility conflicts with the execution of infrastructure projects is one of the main issues leading to cost and time overruns and/or significant design changes during execution. Solving this problem through good management of the coordination for co-located infrastructure assets during the project execution will enhance the economic sustainability of infrastructure projects by saving time and money and avoiding unnecessary redesign and rework. To better understand the status quo, the process of managing existing utilities during the execution of infrastructure projects is analyzed in this study by reviewing published regulations and interviewing construction practitioners with prior experience in the issue. In addition, the identified issues in the current practices and the effectiveness of suggested strategies for enhancing the management of existing utilities are assessed using a survey involving experienced practitioners from multiple project stakeholders (owners, consultants, and contractors). Finally, this study introduces recommendations and best practices for managing conflicts with existing assets to execute future infrastructure projects.
Integrated and coherent urban planning based on regional development strategies
Authors: Paraschiv R , Rauf K
Published: July 2022

Any modern urban community has to overview the development strategy regarding the future development. The lack of such a vision may lead to missed development opportunities, resources which are irrationally consumed, urban chaotic development. The study has been conducted with the focus on the city of Cluj, Romania but the findings are very much applicable to developing city like Riyadh. A harmonious urban development can be achieved only through an integrated approach of all the factors that influence the dynamics of the urban life: economic, environmental, social, cultural etc. This type of approach is crucial in urban design considering the problems facing cities nowadays regarding demographic variations, various economic fluctuations, lack of jobs, climate changes. According to the design regulations, sustainable planning should be based on four principles: global, functional, prospective and democratic. Urban design at regional level means practically a close collaboration at the level of sectorial policies between all municipalities in order to function as a whole. The paper discusses the urban development strategies of the Cluj-Napoca metropolitan area (sectorial strategies, strategic directions, operational programs). The project focuses on the main development problems that have arisen in Cluj-Napoca in the past decades, trying to find solutions in order to improve the quality of life; such as different infrastructure projects, redesign of urban spaces, refurbishing old building situated in historical centre etc. One of the main focuses of the paper regards is the expansion of public transportation, special attention being paid to the persons with disabilities and elderly; development of reliable and sustainable infrastructure at regional level, urban, periurban and rural areas in order to support economic development of Cluj-Napoca city. Another focus of the paper discusses the design and renovation of green spaces around the city. The research aims to be a guideline offering valuable suggestions for further urban development guides in terms of sustainable design for cities that are rapidly developing. Furthermore, it is of great relevance for the Saudi Vision 2030 regarding the sustainable cities and communities, building resilient and sustainable infrastructure in order to support economic growth, focusing on retrofitting industry and increasing resource-use efficiency.
Using flood map analysis for coastal city resiliency and sea rise level adaptation plan.
Authors: Abdelgawad D , Dwidar S , Abdelsattar A , Sirror H , Derbali A
Published: July 2022

The sea-level rise SRL as a problem exacerbated by climate change, is the biggest disaster for coastal cities, especially for the low elevation areas, which will have a calamitous influence on, infrastructure systems destruction and the economy as well. The predicated SRL- is changeable every day, therefore exposures studies are essential to prepare the database for achieving the coastal cities’ resiliency, mapping the predicate vulnerability level, indicating all challenges related to the climate changes and sea rise level, and identifying plans for adaptation measures in the context of infrastructure systems. The purpose of the research is to focus on using a “Flood Map “and remote sensing on “Alexandria city – Egypt “which has high economic value. The study is based on making maps overlapping (topographical map, land use, and expected SRL in 2100) to measure and provide precise data for the prone zone and safe zone for city extension, by specifying many scenarios and plans that can achieve future city resilience by creating an end-map user.to address the right direction of city expansion. Finally, the study has shown that a flood map is very helpful and it could be used aligned with a full existence and clarity of all-natural and built environment information.
Smart City Public Transport Remodel Urban Biodiversity Management
Authors: Alshammari Talal Obaid
Published: July 2022

This study seeks to analyse peer reviewed literature focusing on sustainable smart cities and smart transport concepts, and their influence on urban biodiversity. This paper extensively searched databases frequently used by researchers, limiting to articles published between 2016 and 2021, focusing on sustainable smart cities, smart mobility, and urban biodiversity. This study adopts a qualitative methodology and uses systematic review of the literature to explore smart city concepts aimed at conserving biodiversity and positively contributing to urban biodiversity management. A key reason why smart public transport concepts and smart cities have been unable to fully materialize, especially in developing countries, is the obscured definition of these concepts by various studies. This paper’s findings will help urban managers understand smart concept trends that help to conserve urban biodiversity, and this information can be used for practical implementation in smart citiesThe first section in your paper
Pre-planning Coordination for Co-located Infrastructure Projects in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Swailem Yazeed , Al-Dossary Sultan , Aljadhai Saad , Mahmoud Abdulrahman Bin
Published: July 2022

Infrastructure projects are essential for the prosperity of all societies. In many cases, infrastructure assets of different types, both above ground and underground, share the same corridor such as the right of way for roads. Typically, these infrastructure assets are owned and managed by different public and private entities. Failure, delay, or increase in the cost of these projects is clearly reflected with negative impact on society and the economy. Sources of these project deficiencies include poor planning, poor coordination, and weak communication between the concerned entities regarding their ongoing and future plans for their infrastructure assets in a specific corridor. The problem of poor coordination leads to the stumbling of many projects leading to project suspension, cancellation, restudy, and/or redesign. This paper focuses on the pre-planning coordination among the owners of co-located infrastructure assets in Saudi Arabia. Two aspects of the problem are the lack of coordination regarding future projects between parties that has the same interest in a given location and the lack of coordination between those parties regarding existing assets. The objectives of this paper include assessing the current practice in pre-coordination for co-located infrastructure assets and providing recommendations that contribute to improving the coordination among infrastructure owners in their planning process for their infrastructure assets. These objectives are achieved using surveys of owners and contractors of infrastructure projects to validate the identified effects of the poor communication during pre-planning stages and to identify the factors contributing to this problem. In addition, the study involves reviewing case studies in Saudi Arabia, case studies of global success stories, and interviewing experts to identify which lessens are considered fit to Saudi Arabia. The outcome of this research is to provide recommendations/solutions that may contribute to solving the mentioned problems. The importance and the effectiveness of these solutions are discussed to assist decision makers in selecting the best approach to tackle the current issue and maintain the sustainability in the current practices.
The Green Areas in the city and sustainable Approach: Analytical Study of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s tree-planting Program
Authors: Metwally Walaa , Ibrahim Vitta
Published: July 2022

Sustainable planning has become a major topic for designers, which includes open areas and green spaces’ designs. These green designs have evolved from traditional approaches to green architecture theory and practice vision that people want to use and respect. Since 1990, the percentage of Saudi Arabia's land area covered by plantations has stayed constant at around 0.5 percent. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to change the country's economy and society by planting 10 billion trees through a tree-planting programme, in order to boost environmental awareness, assist Saudi society reconnect with nature, and create jobs in rural areas. This project will rise the area covered by existing trees by a factor of twelve and reduce carbon emissions by more than half (4 percent). This paper aims to Improve the natural and built environment by Focusing on the sustainable approach that can use to upgrade the environmental quality of the city and using successful green areas designs that make more attractive cities and providing more environmental services, in addition to ensure that the green spaces are created to reflect the values and pattern of people’s life that will use them. To achieve these goals, the research depends on analytical application methodology. The study reveals the green areas in the cities and their benefits, and suggest sustainable approach for successful green spaces towards better quality of life which can be a guide for designers involved the process of sustainable growth, the research adopts Saudi Arabia case study interests in reducing its carbon footprint and placing the country against global warming.
Behaviour of sustainable concretes modified with mineral admixtures and Nano-silica against aggressive media attacks
Authors: Ahmad Seleem S E , Elshami Ahmed , Fawzy Amal
Published: July 2022

The goal of this study is to see how the effect of recycled concrete aggregate admixed with mineral admixtures and Nano-silica on concrete's durability after being exposed to aggressive media attacks. The coarse aggregates applied in the concrete were dolomite (control) and recycled concrete aggregate with the addition of various mineral admixtures such as ground granulated blast slag (GGBFS), granite, and Nano-silica. To lower the water/cement ratio, a superplasticizer (SP)-type (F) was used. The physical and mechanical properties of commonly used raw materials such as aggregates and other various concrete kinds were investigated. The effects of saltwater and 3% sodium chloride on concrete mechanical and microstructures properties were investigated. The slump values of dolomite concrete were found to be lower than those of recycled aggregate concrete. The concrete mix using recyclable aggregate has the highest compressive strength, according to the results. In terms of compressive strength, the addition of 1% NS (Nano-silica) and 15% slag increased both mechanical and durability properties of the recycled aggregate concrete in aggressive media.
Evaluation of using building information modelling in green building in Saudi Arabia construction contracts
Authors: Alqahtani F K , Alabduljabbar A , Alsaqer T , Abotaleb I S
Published: July 2022

Building Information Modelling (BIM) enables, faster development, real-time monitoring of project performance, clash detection, knowledge management, more effective and efficient operation and maintenance, and provide more reliable and timely exchange of information to support the decision-making process. Despite the worldwide adoption of BIM, its implementation is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not mature, especially when it comes to green buildings. The goal of this research is to investigate the use of BIM in green buildings in KSA and provide insights on the factors that need to be considered for optimal attainment of BIM outcomes. First, BIM implementation is analyzed in international contracts such as FIDIC and NEC4. Second, the local implementation of BIM in KSA is investigated through analysing the public works contract and the contract of case study of a mega project. Finally, a survey was conducted to identify and rate the (1) obstacles, and (2) benefits of BIM implementation in green building in KSA. Among the significant results was the fact that the strongest barrier to BIM implementation is the lack of support from the management to accept changing the current practices, and the weakest barrier is actually the costs of BIM implementation. The findings shed the light on significant aspects (such as increasing awareness about BIM and fostering flexibility in managers) that will enable successful implementation of BIM in green buildings in KSA; which in turn will result in cost and schedule savings.
The role of sustainable interior design and its impact on customer’s behavior in commercial environments
Authors: Obeidat Islam , Obeidat Saif , Rumman Sana Abu , Al-Jubouri Faten
Published: July 2022

This study examines the role of sustainable interior design and its impact on customer’s behavior in commercial environments (ex., shopping ‘touring ‘entertainment ‘communication with others) ‘which may raise interior environment quality through design (ex., interior design ‘sustainable design) and the effect on buildings’ performance ‘efficiency ‘and services (ex., a mall ‘a restaurant ‘a shop). The research problem focuses on interior designers’ absence of awareness to know the importance of integrating sustainable design into interior environments ‘ which may negatively affect customer behavior (ex., fatigue ‘stress ‘illness ‘chaos), and thus reduce efficiency ‘ performance ‘and services of commercial environments as a whole ‘(ex., high cost ‘continuous maintenance ‘low sales). The main question in this research is to know how sustainable interior design can impact customers behavior in built environment, and thus answering the sub-questions about what the role of sustainable interior design elements in raising the quality of the interior environment of commercial environments functionally and aesthetically. The importance of research comes in providing the public (ex., architects ‘interior designers ‘investors ‘clients) with information about the importance of employing sustainable design in the interior design in commercial environments to raise the performance ‘efficiency ‘and services of commercial buildings through improving individuals’ behavior in it. Research objectives focuses on providing tips ‘instructions ‘and mechanisms that can be applied during the design process ‘which may improve the quality of the internal environments in commercial buildings by integrating interior design and sustainable design. The research follows the descriptive analytical approach in collecting information through questionnaires ‘personal interviews ‘and field visits. Researchers used statistical analysis and analytical tables to analyze the information. Findings confirm that: (1) sustainable interior design plays a positive role in influencing the levels of behavior of customers (example: comfort ‘luxury ‘health ‘safety ‘privacy) ‘which enhances their positive behavior during the shopping process within commercial environments (example: Satisfaction ‘increased purchase ‘revisits) ‘(2) the elements of sustainable interior design (example: colors ‘lighting ‘furniture ‘materials ‘ spatial planning) have an important role in improving the quality ‘efficiency and effectiveness of the interior environment in commercial buildings (example: functionally ‘aesthetically) Finally ‘(3) the sustainable interior design has an active role in raising the performance ‘efficiency and services of commercial environments (for example low cost ‘low maintenance ‘customer attraction ‘high sales).
Collaboration, Conservation of local commerce and green architecture in larch tiles as facilitators of Sustainable Heritage Development. The case of the Centennial axis of Chonchi, Chiloé Chile.
Authors: Pareti  , Flores D , Rudolph L , Valdebenito V
Published: July 2022

The present study aims to explore how collaboration, the conservation of local trade and green architecture in larch tiles can facilitate Sustainable Heritage Development.The centennial axis of Chonchi in Chiloé has been selected as a case study, since (1) it is an axis that has been declared a typical area by the Council of National Monuments, (2) it is an iconic axis of the rescue and enhancement of local trade and rescue of trades, (3) the axis has mansions that reinterpret the neoclassical style and have been built in wooden tiles, (4) it is located in Chonchi, the three-story city in Patagonia (plateau, ravine y Fronteramar) (is that really something differentiating?), (4) in the center of Centenario Street, is the Museum of Chonchinas Traditions, managed by the neighborhood group by the Center for Development and Progress of Chonchi to maintain neighborhood seal and collaboration between local actors. The methodology is developed through the analysis of each of the heritage houses on Calle Centenario de Chonchi. Analyzing its: facade, wood and tile used, land use (commercial, residential, cultural, etc.), year of construction (see if there is any other variable that may be relevant to review). It is concluded that collaboration, the conservation of local commerce and green architecture in larch tiles facilitate Sustainable Heritage Development, as observed in the case of Calle Centenario de Chonchi, Chiloé Chile.
Challenges for sustainable regional development in Russia after the constitutional reform 2020.
Authors: Kudryashova Ekaterina , Mirzaev Rustam
Published: July 2022

Equilibrium of centralization and decentralization is one of the sustainable development drivers for regions in federal countries. The constitutional reform 2020 in Russia was an important political development relevant both for Russia and international discussion. Constitutional amendments made an important contribution to the center-region relations promising to understand better the needs of regions by means of State Council and introducing new actors - federal territories, initially meant for better ecological protection of certain territories. The study allows to conclude that the representation of regions in legislative power is diminished after the reform 2020, but the upgraded State Council opens new opportunities for better center-region communications. Another finding is that the new constitutional phenomenon “federal territories” is unclear and not aimed for ecological needs. It is likely to cause unjustified inequalities in redistributions of finance and revenues between the territories in Russia. Spontaneous creation of federal territories is likely to cause uncertainties in the sustainable development of regions.
LEED’s Contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Goubran S , Walker T , Cucuzzella C , Schwartz T
Published: July 2022

Green and sustainable building standards strongly influence sustainable building activities. Therefore, it is essential to assess how current standards contribute to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A comprehensive catalogue is developed, and the analysis of overlaps between the standard and the SDGs is automated through direct content analysis. LEED V4.1 BD+C for New Construction is selected as the leading green building standard globally. Similar to previous work, LEED generates matches with eight SDGs – SDG3 (health), SDG12 (sustainable consumption and production), SDG 11 (sustainable cities) being the highest-ranked, respectively This content analysis is complemented with a qualitative analysis founded on innovation and risk-management theory, to assess the transformative capacity of the standard. The findings indicate that only about 6% of LEED’s score calls for positive value creation and transformative change, with most of its credits directed towards the management and reduction of known building instigated environmental risks. The research concludes that while there are overlaps between the LEED credits and the SDGs' topics, further research is needed to validate its contribution to realizing the 2030 Agenda empirically.
Digitalization and Innovation in Achieving SDGs – Impacts on Legislation and Practice
Authors: Meskic Z , Albakjaji M , Jevremovic N , Omerovic E , Adams J
Published: July 2022

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development builds upon the Millennium Development Goals while at the same time reaffirming the conclusions of the leading instruments in the field of human rights and international law. The 17 integrated and indivisible sustainable development goals (SDGs) require innovation through digitalization and legal activities. Digitalization and new technologies are crucial for SDG 8, 9, and 16. SDG 16: Peace, justice, and strong institutions directly focus on law. While SDG 16 does not directly mention it, digitalization is essential in achieving its specific targets. Examples include concepts of e-government (including data protection and public access to information), e-commerce, equal access to dispute resolution mechanisms in cyberspace, and enforcement of non-discriminatory laws for sustainable development. The right to a healthy and sustainable environment encompasses economic, social, and environmental aspects that SDGs capture. To achieve these goals, the 2030 Agenda relies on international law instruments. The right to a healthy and sustainable environment is developing towards an internationally recognized human right. As environmental goals do not recognize national borders, international law plays a key role. International environmental law should facilitate a broader application of existing clean technologies through the transfer of technology and examine the development of new technologies as to its compatibility with a sustainable environment. Moreover, the human right to share in scientific advancement and enjoy its benefits embodies equal access to technology. The legal enforcement of sustainable goals in the private and governmental sectors remains one of the main concerns of climate change.
Saudi Arabia’s LEED Projects: Recent Green Building Trends and Perspective
Authors: Yi Mr.TaeYeual , Yun Dr.SukHee
Published: July 2022

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is one of the prestigious green building rating systems globally and the widely accepted international standard to evaluate green buildings. Many LEED certification building projects have already been carried out over the last few decades in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Recently, many construction projects underway in the Kingdom are expected to be nominated for LEED certification over the next few years.

The paper explores the recent application of the LEED rating system in building construction projects and reviews the trends, project types, and potential challenges of the LEED certification buildings in the Kingdom. The study also investigates differences and characteristics in the types of LEED certification projects in the Kingdom and the Middle East countries, such as UAE, Qatar, Egypt, etc. The differences in the rate of adoption of the LEED categories in each country are indicated closely through the detailed analysis.

As a result, the paper presents the current trends and future perspectives based on the current status of the Kingdom's green building industry. This is a critical milestone to accelerate the development of the green building industry in the Kingdom.
Reliability Evaluation of Active Distribution Systems with Distributed Generations
Authors: Alaskar Azzan , Alkuhayli Abdulaziz
Published: July 2022

Reliability evaluation is essential in designing, planning, operating modern power systems. System operators must operate the network securely and efficiently with minimal interruption events. With the recent advances in power electronics and control, distributed generations (DG) such as photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine, and storage systems are expected to grow in distribution networks. This high level of distributed generations penetration in the grid can increase the complexity of operating the system. This is caused by intermittent nature of solar irradiance and wind speed. This paper proposes a methodology used to assess distribution networks containing stochastic resources such as photovoltaic. This method will use the Monte Carlo simulation with a stochastic model to evaluate the distribution network’s reliability. The system and load point reliability indices such as frequency of loss of load and expected energy not to supplied will be computed in this technique. In addition, the configuration of distribution networks to improve system’s reliability to facilitate system restoration after pre-fault conditions will be assessed.
Financing Higher Education: New Challenges, Incentives and Opportunities
Authors: Abuselidze G
Published: July 2022

The most essential goal for the country’s growth is education. During the allocation of public funds, it should be given great consideration. Education determines a country’s progress and possibilities of economic development. Education of high quality is a guarantee of societal stability. It encourages affluence as well as personal, professional and social development. All of the aforementioned may be accomplished by effectively utilizing governmental financial resources. The research’s goal is to study the disadvantages of the higher education funding system and develop some recommendations for solving problems. In order to assess the effectiveness of the expenditure by state, there have been studied some educational programs on which state funding is extended. The study includes an assessment of the level of academic achievement of state-funded educational program students and their employment prospects. As a result of the research, we have a clear idea of how effective the state funding programs for higher education in Georgia are and in what direction the changes are to be implemented.
Modelling of Pedals Pressing Mechanisms for Low Speed Driving in Road Traffic Delay
Authors: Isa Hazril Md , Ahmad Salmiah , Abdullah Muhammad , Rahman Ataur , Ghani NMA , Noor N.M.M
Published: July 2022

Road traffic delay is imminent in big cities around the world including Kuala Lumpur, due to the increase in vehicle ownership, weather condition, road blocks by authorities and ongoing infrastructure projects at particular point of the road. Previous literature shows that the average time spent by drivers in driving under road traffic delay is about 30-53 minutes per day. Within the delay, regular pressings of the brake and accelerator may lead to leg and body fatigue, hence may give detrimental effect on the driver in the long run. This paper aims to mimic the pedal pressing and releasing mechanism in replacing the leg activities during road traffic delay, such that the driver will no longer need to recurrently pressing both pedals, thus reduce the fatigue. In replicating the pressing mechanism, a linear electromechanical actuator is designed for this purpose due to its high force density as well as good response time. The mathematical model of the actuator is first developed and integrated with car dynamic model in Simscape model. All parameters used for simulation purposes were taken from an actual electromechanical actuator used for the similar application. Simulation performance evaluation was conducted on a virtual environment for the integrated models and the response of the models were investigated. As a result, the actuator model is capable to produce the desired output force that is similar with human leg during pressing activity, with about 200 N force. The model was coupled with tuned PID controller, and the actuator was also able to produce an acceptable time response, where the vehicle is brought to a complete stop within less than 1 second, which is closed to the actual driver’s leg activities during the pedal pressing in a road traffic delay.
Green Vehicles, Incentives and Policies: A View from Logistics Companies in Malaysia
Authors: Zawawi Nur Fadiah Mohd , Yaacob Mohd Rafi , Wahab Sazali Abd , Awang Khairil Wahidin , Ahmed Samihah , Nuh Ruslee
Published: July 2022

There are limited green solutions have been offered to reduce pollutions caused by logistics transportation as compared to passenger vehicles. Thus, this paper aims to reveal insights from logistics companies on the perspective of policies of sustainability including financial and non-financial incentives from the government of Malaysia in assisting them to obtain socio-environment sustainability and consequently to contribute to the effectiveness of the country’s Sustainable Development Goals. To achieve this objective, data were gathered from 134 logistics companies in Malaysia, listed in the Malaysian Logistics Directory 2018/2019. They were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25 software. Utilizing descriptive and correlation analyses, the findings indicated that logistics companies inherently need government support in terms of incentives and supportive policy in order to attain the country’s socio-environmental sustainability. Based on the findings, this paper, firstly suggests that the government needs to find a better solution to reduce the environmental impact from logistics transportation from its root, which is achieved by integrating green motor vehicle into logistics transportation. Secondly, the government should develop relevant sustainable policies which guide logistics companies to comply accordingly. This study contributes a new insight into socio-environmental sustainability of logistics industry.
3D finite element analysis of laminated composites under three-point bending
Authors: Bellahkim M , Ouezgan A , Benbouras Y , Maziri A , Mallil E , Echaabi J
Published: July 2022

Delamination is considered as one of the most critical failure modes which occurs near the free edges in laminated composites due to high interlaminar stress. When the classical plate theory is used to determine the in plane stress, the interlaminar stresses cannot be assessed by this theory, as it adopts the plane stress assumption. For that, a three-dimensional finite element analysis is adopted to calculate in-plane stresses as well as out-of-plane stresses of laminated composites under three-point bending. 8-node linear brick elements C3D8R with reduced integration available in ABAQUS element library is used for meshing the laminated composite models. The flexural numerical response of two main lay-up arrangements is modelled: Unidirectional laminates ([0]12,[90]12, [45]12) and multidirectional laminates (cross-ply [0/90]3S
, angle-ply [±45]3S
and quasi-isotropic laminates [0/90/±452]
S
). Comparing the current results to experimental methodologies accessible in the literature demonstrates the predictive capability of the present model. Therefore, this study shows that the present formulations can predict with a good accuracy the deflection of the test specimens. Whilst, a significant dispersion is only observed for the unidirectional laminates [0]12.
Scale-out production of extracellular vesicles derived from natural killer cells via mechanical stimulation in a seesaw-motion bioreactor for cancer therapy
Authors: Wu Jianguo , Wu Di , Wu Guohua , Bei Ho-Pan , Li Zihan , Xu Han , Wang Yimin , Wu Dan , Liu Hui , Shi Shengyu , Zhao Chao , Xu Yibing , He Yong , Li Jun , Wang Changyong , Zhao Xin , Wang Shuqi
Published: July 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from immune cells have shown great anti-cancer therapeutic potential. However, inefficiency in EV generation has considerably impeded the development of EV-based basic research and clinical translation. Here, we developed a seesaw-motion bioreactor (SMB) system by leveraging mechanical stimuli such as shear stress and turbulence for generating EVs with high quality and quantity from natural killer (NK) cells. Compared to EV production in traditional static culture (229 ± 74 particles per cell per day), SMB produced NK-92MI-derived EVs at a higher rate of 438 ± 50 particles per cell per day and yielded a total number of 2 × 1011 EVs over two weeks via continuous dynamic fluidic culture. In addition, the EVs generated from NK-92MI cells in SMB shared a similar morphology, size distribution, and protein profile to EVs generated from traditional static culture. Most importantly, the NK-92MI-derived EVs in SMB were functionally active in killing melanoma and liver cancer cells in both 2D and 3D culture conditions in vitro, as well as in suppressing melanoma growth in vivo. We believe that SMB is an attractive approach to producing EVs with high quality and quantity; it can additionally enhance EV production from NK92-MI cells and promote both the basic and translational research of EVs.
A Parkinson’s disease model composed of 3D bioprinted dopaminergic neurons within a biomimetic peptide scaffold
Authors: Abdelrahman Sherin , Alsanie Walaa F , Khan Zainab N , Albalawi Hamed I , Felimban Raed I , Moretti Manola , Steiner Nadia , Chaudhary Adeel G , Hauser Charlotte A E
Published: July 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It is associated with lost dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra, a process that is not yet fully understood. To understand this deleterious disorder, there is an immense need to develop efficient in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models that can recapitulate complex organs such as the brain. However, due to the complexity of neurons, selecting suitable biomaterials to accommodate them is challenging. Here, we report on the fabrication of functional DA neuronal 3D models using ultrashort self-assembling tetrapeptide scaffolds. Our peptide-based models demonstrate biocompatibility both for primary mouse embryonic DA neurons and for human DA neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells. DA neurons encapsulated in these scaffolds responded to 6-hydroxydopamine, a neurotoxin that selectively induces loss of DA neurons. Using multi-electrode arrays, we recorded spontaneous activity in DA neurons encapsulated within these 3D peptide scaffolds for more than 1 month without decrease of signal intensity. Additionally, vascularization of our 3D models in a co-culture with endothelial cells greatly promoted neurite outgrowth, leading to denser network formation. This increase of neuronal networks through vascularization was observed for both primary mouse DA and cortical neurons. Furthermore, we present a 3D bioprinted model of DA neurons inspired by the mouse brain and created with an extrusion-based 3D robotic bioprinting system that was developed during previous studies and is optimized with time-dependent pulsing by microfluidic pumps. We employed a hybrid fabrication strategy that relies on an external mold of the mouse brain construct that complements the shape and size of the desired bioprinted model to offer better support during printing. We hope that our 3D model provides a platform for studies of the pathogenesis of PD and other neurodegenerative disorders that may lead to better understanding and more efficient treatment strategies.
Organosilane-functionalized graphene oxide-epoxy nanocomposite coating: corrosion performance and self-healing properties
Authors: Madani S M , Sangpour P , Vaezi M R , Ramezanzadeh B , Amani-Tehran M
Published: July 2022

In this study, decorated GO nanosheets with 3-glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) evaluated with Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The corrosion performance and of self-healing effect of the nanocomposite coating were examined by electrochemical techniques, Salt Spray, Contact Angle and Scratch test. Corrosion resistance was improved by increasing the percentage of GO from 0.1 to 0.2 wt% for both cases without and with silane agent. Higher impedance resistance (1.12 × 1010 Ω.cm2) was obtained for the functionalized one (EPFG) in the early days of immersion. The results of electrochemical and salt spray tests of EPFG nanocomposite coatings were compared epoxy (EP) coatings during various immersion times in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution with and without scratches.Based on our results, after 99 days of immersion, the impedance resistance for EP coating decreased about five orders compared to the EPFG composite coating. The self-healing performance of hydrophobic nanofillers in the matrix of epoxy coating (EPFG) is considered as the reason for increasing resistance after 63 days. The time of reaching corrosive solution to the surface of the steel for the EPFG nanocomposite increased up to 78 days. At all immersion times of the scratched samples, the highest impedance of EPFG composite samples was observed and increasing the impedance of EPFG after 12 days of immersion is related to the formation of a protective film in the metal substrate-coating interface leads to the passive and protective behaviors.
North alignment of multi-rotating systems using a known fixed point
Authors: Yadegar Meysam , Karami Farzaneh
Published: July 2022

This article deals with multi-rotating systems cooperation and their measurements exchange. We investigate the geographic north alignment in rotating systems such as antenna pedestals, positioners, etcEach system contains some angular position sensors that make measurements based on their local zero angles. These measurements cannot be used by other systems. Therefore, the alignment of these rotating systems with respect to the common angle is necessary, such that all measurements are made based on this common angle. In this paper, we introduce a method for the north alignment considering a known fixed point. For this purpose, we propose an efficient approach for finding the angle between the north direction and the zero angle of these systems. Both the spherical and ellipsoidal Earth models are considered. The results accuracy is also analyzed and the effect of each rotation axis not being perpendicular to the Earth surface is investigated. The proposed approach is shown to be extremely accurate while being simple. Finally, the significance of the proposed approach is validated through several experiments.
Experimental and numerical analysis of friction stir welding: a review
Authors: Sen Soumyadeep , Murugesan Jayaprakash
Published: July 2022

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a topic of immense interest to researchers worldwide. The solid-state welding process has gained considerable popularity in the joining industry, replacing the orthodox welding techniques. To understand the necessity of friction stir welding, in this study, literature on experimental studies of friction stir welding on Steel, Aluminium, Magnesium and Titanium alloys have been summarised. Due to the interaction of multiple process parameters and complex geometry in FSW, the experimental study of this type of welding faces a challenge that can be overcome using numerical analysis like the finite element method. However, before initiating the design of the finite element model, a correct set of parameters and modelling methods needs to be made by the user to obtain results of high precision. This paper summarised the results obtained by various numerical modelling methods based on the review of over 100 research articles and suggested a suitable way for particular applications. Results show that ANSYS and ABAQUS are mainly preferred for friction simulation, thermomechanical behaviour, stress and strain analysis, while FLUENT finds its application mainly in material flow simulations. This review paper summarises both the experimental studies and the numerical approach to FSW modelling by distinctly mentioning the merits and demerits in each case. The results summarised would be beneficial for future researchers in the areas of FSW of advanced materials. Also the summarized results would be useful to choose the appropriate experimental parameter and numerical analysis techniques for FSW of various materials.
Analysis of animal-related electric outages using species distribution models and community science data
Authors: Feng Mei-Ling E , Owolabi Olukunle O , Schafer Toryn L J , Sengupta Sanhita , Wang Lan , Matteson David S , Che-Castaldo Judy P , Sunter Deborah A
Published: July 2022

Animal-related outages (AROs) are a prevalent form of outages in electrical distribution systems. Animal-infrastructure interactions vary across species and regions, underlining the need to study the animal-outage relationship in more species and diverse systems. Animal activity has been an indicator of reliability in the electrical grid system by describing temporal patterns in AROs. However, these ARO models have been limited by a lack of available species activity data, instead approximating activity based on seasonal patterns and weather dependency in ARO records and characteristics of broad taxonomic groups, e.g. squirrels. We highlight available resources to fill the ecological data gap limiting joint analyses between ecology and energy sectors. Species distribution modeling (SDM), a common technique to model the distribution of a species across geographic space and time, paired with community science data, provided us with species-specific estimates of activity to analyze alongside spatio-temporal patterns of ARO severity. We use SDM estimates of activity for multiple outage-prone bird species to examine whether diverse animal activity patterns were important predictors of ARO severity by capturing existing variation within animal-outage relationships. Low dimensional representation and single patterns of bird activity were important predictors of ARO severity in Massachusetts. However, both patterns of summer migrants and overwintering species showed some degree of importance, indicating that multiple biological patterns could be considered in future models of grid reliability. Making the best available resources from quantitative ecology known to outside disciplines can allow for more interdisciplinary data analyses between ecological and non-ecological systems. This can result in further opportunities to examine and validate the relationships between animal activity and grid reliability in diverse systems.