bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The wellbeing economy in practice: sustainable and inclusive growth? Or a post-growth breakthrough?
Authors: Hayden Anders 
Published: July 2024

AbstractA 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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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.