Bruna Matturro, Marco Zeppilli, Agnese Lai et al.

Frontiers in Microbiology • 0

<jats:p>Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) are attractive and versatile options for the bioremediation of organic or inorganic pollutants, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and Cr(VI), often found as co-contaminants in the environment. The elucidation of the microbial players’ role in the bioelectroremediation processes for treating multicontaminated groundwater is still a research need that attracts scientific interest. In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and whole shotgun metagenomics revealed the leading microbial players and the primary metabolic interactions occurring in the biofilm growing at the biocathode where TCE reductive dechlorination (RD), hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, and Cr(VI) reduction occurred. The presence of Cr(VI) did not negatively affect the TCE degradation, as evidenced by the RD rates estimated during the reactor operation with TCE (111±2 μeq/Ld) and TCE/Cr(VI) (146±2 μeq/Ld). Accordingly, <jats:italic>Dehalococcoides mccartyi</jats:italic>, the primary biomarker of the RD process, was found on the biocathode treating both TCE (7.82E+04±2.9E+04 16S rRNA gene copies g<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> graphite) and TCE/Cr(VI) (3.2E+07±2.37E+0716S rRNA gene copies g<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> graphite) contamination. The metagenomic analysis revealed a selected microbial consortium on the TCE/Cr(VI) biocathode. <jats:italic>D. mccartyi</jats:italic> was the sole dechlorinating microbe with H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> uptake as the only electron supply mechanism, suggesting that electroactivity is not a property of this microorganism. <jats:italic>Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Methanobacterium formicicum</jats:italic> also colonized the biocathode as H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> consumers for the CH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> production and cofactor suppliers for <jats:italic>D. mccartyi</jats:italic> cobalamin biosynthesis. Interestingly, <jats:italic>M. formicicum</jats:italic> also harbors gene complexes involved in the Cr(VI) reduction through extracellular and intracellular mechanisms.</jats:p>

Kruti Dave, Parth Darji, Fenie Gandhi et al.

Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia • 2021

<jats:p>Owing to the fact of future energy demand, and the clampdown world is facing now, there is a crucial requirement for the sustainable energy sources which are cheap and environmentally friendly.As committed by a green alternative, for future enhancement of the planet, the fossil fuel abandonment is required, and instigation of renewable resources such as Microbial Fuel Cell [MFCs] and Plant Microbial Fuel Cell [PMFCs] should be implemented. MFC is a visionary technique, as it converts wastage into the energy, whereas, PMFC is a new-fangled technique devoid of any climatic conditions and it requires less investment. By scrutinizing this technique, Bacillus megaterium and sewage material are used in MFCs, whereas Azolla and Trigonellafoenumis used in PMFCs, which converts chemical energy into electrical energy with the help of electrons flowing from the anode to cathode via circuit. The individual setup of each MFCs and PMFCs are examined diurnally for voltage and current gain proceeded by connecting both [MFC and PMFC] in series with LED between, thus gaining the luminance in LED.The yield in voltage and current were measured for different fuel cells from Day 1 to Day 12 and Obtained notable difference in both voltage and current. Voltage Difference: MFC;0.041 to 1.733,BMFC;0.271 to 1.885, PMFC(Azolla); 0.00 to 0.35, PMFC(Fenugreek); 0.01 to 0.766 and Current difference: MFC; 0.001-1.133, BMFC; 0.001-1.133, PMFC(Azolla); 0.00 – 0.2, PMFC(Fenugreek); 0.00 – 0.512.The assurance in the aptness of this process, can be evaluated by its exertion in the society. As known its major application is production of electricity from the organic as well as inorganic waste in the environment, and by the plants. Majority of the industries have gone through this manner for the bioenergy and biosensors production and wastewater treatment.</jats:p>

Alun Morgan

Education • 0

<p>Play in outdoor contexts is an important yet contentious theme in contemporary educational and developmental discourse. The prevailing contemporary structures, practices, and pedagogies of the Western model of formal schooling, which has been exported worldwide, sees ‘play’ and/or being ‘outdoors’ as trivial distractions, or occasional releases from, the real serious ‘work’ of education that occurs in the proper learning setting, namely ‘indoors’ at desks in classrooms. In contrast, many scholars critique this hegemonic model, advocating instead outdoor learning and/or play as more appropriate for proper human flourishing in terms of learning and health and well-being (both physical and mental). Furthermore, an additional association in terms of this flourishing, whether explicitly or implicitly, is often made between the efficacy of outdoor places that are more ‘natural’ vis-à-vis those that are less so (i.e., human-made or ‘built environments’). Hence there is something of a countervailing emerging orthodoxy emphasizing strong associations between play-outdoors-nature and children or youth. Such thinking has been a recurring leitmotif in the history of educational theory, particularly since the 18th century with Romantic ideas on children and humanity following Rousseau. This has represented an influential yet marginal position historically, but one which has become more mainstreamed in recent years. More recent scholarship has sought to move from earlier speculative and philosophical thinking to provide more empirical and ‘scientific’ justification drawing on fields such as psychology (including sub-branches of environmental, evolutionary, and developmental); ethnography; sociology; and human geography (notably the new field of children’s and young people’s geographies). There have also been attempts to extend the application beyond childhood and youth toward a more inclusive and lifelong orientation (i.e., being playful outdoors, particularly in natural settings, being efficacious for all people). This bibliography attempts to provide a range of resources germane to this emerging orthodoxy, which relate to ‘terms of reference’ (e.g., what is actually meant by ‘play’?) and characteristics and typologies (e.g., types of play, or outdoor spaces). However, still more recent scholarship has cast a more critical eye even over this emerging orthodoxy, seeing it as continuing to be principally informed by (Western) modern modes of thinking which tend to generate binary categorical disassociations between nature-human/culture, natural/urban, children/adults, and work/play. Such scholarship is associated with posthuman and feminist scholarship that advocates more relational perspectives, which are providing an important additional critical dimension to these debates noted in this bibliography.</p>

Hyunwoong Park

ECS Meeting Abstracts • 2024

Water and energy are the most essential elements for a sustainable human society. They are strongly interdependent because energy production requires a significant amount of water, while the production, processing, distribution, and end-use of water requires large energy inputs. Several water-energy nexus technologies have emerged, including PV-electrolysis and microbial desalination. Herein, we propose a hybrid process that is driven by sunlight and boosted by electrodialysis. A sunlit inorganic photoanode initiates the desalination of saline water in the middle cell. As the chloride in the middle cell moves to the anode cell, the wastewater (WW) treatment is boosted by reactive chlorine species (RCS) generated via the reaction with photogenerated holes. An increase in the electrical conductivity in the anode cell further enhances the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) WW treatment. Upon a potential bias, various value-added chemicals (H2 via water reduction, H2O2 via O2 reduction, and HCOOH via CO2 reduction) are produced in the cathode cell, and the production of the chemical is enhanced as the desalination proceeds because of sodium enrichment (i.e., conductivity increase). The uniqueness and advantages of this hybrid process include its broad range of operating conditions (virtually the entire pH range) and the wide variety of inorganic and organic substrates that can be treated (i.e., aquatic pollutants), while desalination boosts the overall operation and chloride catalyzes the anodic reaction, which in turn facilitates the desalination. Although tested as a proof-of-concept, the present technology opens up a novel field involving a sunlight-water-energy nexus, promising high efficiency desalination and the desalination-boosted remediation of water with simultaneous production of value-added chemicals.

Jan Heselmans, Peter Vermeij

CORROSION 2013 • 2013

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>In November 2011 a 5 month old baby sadly got killed in a Dutch indoor swimming pool because 2 speakers and a speaker frame landed on her head. The speakers fell from 5 meters height after a stainless steel bolt was broken due to environmental cracking. Worldwide there have been many incidents, and several accidents, with cracking stainless steels in the swimming pool atmosphere. In 1985 in Switzerland 12 people got killed by a cracked stainless steel elements that caused the collapse of a swimming pool roof.</jats:p> <jats:p>This paper will describe how this accident could happen and what has been done in the Netherlands since 2001, when the entire ceiling and air channels came down in another swimming pool (luckily this occurred during closing time). Further a new document MIS1203-2012 will be discussed: "Materials Selection and Inspection of Fasteners and other Loaded Elements in the Indoor Swimming Pool Atmosphere".</jats:p>

, Umarat Santisukkasaem

Environment and Natural Resources Journal • 2025

<jats:p>The general daily maintenance of outdoor swimming pools includes the addition of chlorine for disinfection. Chlorine is a potentially hazardous chemical that is harmful to users, and its excessive addition could lead to health effects in swimmers while insufficient levels may result in inadequate disinfection. This study aimed to optimize chlorine management at the Silpakorn University swimming pool by analyzing the physical and chemical characteristics of outdoor pool water. Initial sampling revealed an unacceptably high residual chlorine concentration of 20 mg/L, exceeding regulatory standards. To address this, a chlorine management strategy was implemented. Chlorine adjustment was conducted by measuring the residual chlorine concentration and calculating the chlorine demand. Post-intervention results indicated that residual chlorine and pH levels were successfully brought within acceptable limits. Further analysis confirmed that parameters such as hardness, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, suspended and dissolved solids, and total and fecal coliform bacteria met safety standards. Recommendations were given to the pool caretaker, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) while handling chlorine, a precise measurement of chlorine (1 kg daily), and regular filtration tank maintenance at least twice a month. Besides improving social and environmental aspects, the optimized chlorine usage resulted in an estimated annual cost saving of $1,213.26 (1 USD ≈ 36.065 THB). This study highlights the importance of sustainable chlorine management in swimming pools, offering a practical approach that can be replicated in similar facilities.</jats:p>

Djordje Bajić, Jean C.C. Vila, Zachary D. Blount et al.

• 0

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>A fitness landscape is a map between the genotype and its reproductive success in a given environment. The topography of fitness landscapes largely governs adaptive dynamics, constraining evolutionary trajectories and the predictability of evolution. Theory suggests that this topography can be “deformed” by mutations that produce substantial changes to the environment. In spite of its importance, the deformability of fitness landscapes has not been systematically studied beyond abstract models, and little is known about its reach and consequences in empirical systems. Here we have systematically characterized the deformability of the genome-wide metabolic fitness landscape of the bacterium<jats:italic>E. coli</jats:italic>. Deformability is quantified by the non-commutativity of epistatic interactions, which we experimentally demonstrate in mutant strains on the path to an evolutionary innovation. Our analysis shows that the deformation of fitness landscapes by metabolic mutations rarely affects evolutionary trajectories in the short-range. However, mutations with large environmental effects leave these as a “legacy”, producing long-range landscape deformations in distant regions of the genotype space that affect the fitness of later descendants. Our methods and results provide the basis for an integration between adaptive and eco-evolutionary dynamics with complex genetics and genomics.</jats:p>

Zandra Dwanita Widodo, Achmad Choerudin, Atik Lusia et al.

International Journal of Asian Business and Management • 2024

This research aims to explore innovation in management through the development of knowledge-based sports human resources in the sports and recreation center of Karanganyar Regency. The main focus of this study is on the development of knowledge-based sports human resources (knowledge-based workers). In the corporate context, the development of sports human resources should involve several important aspects, including participation in training, mandatory learning, training to improve skills relevant to various modern positions, as well as providing a broad career path and competency development. In addition, performance and competency assessment as well as effective communication in providing feedback are also an integral part of this process. Knowledge-based development is considered a fundamental requirement for achieving sustainable competitive advantage. This underlines the important role of professional intellect in creating value and profits for sports and recreation centers to face business competition. The concept of professional intellect is implemented at four levels, namely cognitive knowledge (professional intellect), skill improvement (advanced skills), system understanding (system understanding), and self-motivated creativity (self-motivated creativity)

Chuanbao Sun, Xudong Zhou

Advances in Civil Engineering • 2022

<jats:p>The study expects to solve the bottleneck problem in the field of intelligent navigation visual sensing and build a network system of information physics, to achieve a visual sensor which can correspond the depth and color of a scene. It aims to improve the robustness and accuracy of color recognition of color structured light in a complex environment. Based on the digital twins (DTs) technology, the effective transformation of logistics process and physical entity to quasi‐real‐time digital image is realized. The omnidirectional vision sensing technology of a single viewpoint and the panoramic color volume structured light generation technology of a single emission point are integrated. The new active 3D panoramic vision sensor is achieved for which makes the current visual sensing technology developed into the visual perception of body structure. This technology is adopted in the preliminary design of environmental art in the scenic spot, and it can predict the design feasibility of environmental art in the scenic spot, avoid mistakes in decision‐making to a great extent and save human and material resources. And also it can analyze and predict some possible dangerous situations, which can greatly improve the environmental safety factor of the scenic spot. In the improvement stage of environmental art design in the scenic spot, using active 3D vision sensing technology can obtain more comprehensive information and is more conducive to the selection of design schemes.</jats:p>

Riza Azmi Rizaldi, Muhammad Tharziansyah

JURNAL TUGAS AKHIR MAHASISWA LANTING • 0

<jats:p>As part of the Banjarbaru City development zone, North Banjarbaru District is planned as an economic industrial area engaged in commercial activities. The development of economic support areas is a means to optimize environmentally sound areas. Connectivity between the building and the surrounding spaces will be very relevant in helping to support the overall performance of the building by optimizing the use of contextual methods in it. The result of this design gave birth to a three-story building with one separate building to give a spacious and comfortable impression, so that it is in line with the concept of Healing Space and Living Wall as a façade support system including outdoor space processing, as well as the procurement of recreational facilities based on bioclimatic architecture.</jats:p>

Firman Eddy, T. Hasyiral Haikal

International Journal of Architecture and Urbanism • 0

<jats:p>Binjai is one of the cities included in the Mebidangro development project which includes Medan City, Binjai City, Deli Serdang Regency, and Karo Regency. Strategic location located on the road cross Sumatera make Binjai City a prosperous city in its development. The economic condition of the city of Binjai in the previous few years continues to increase, in the sector of Large and Retail Trade. Based on survey results, the city of Binjai still needs a center of excellence and recreational facilities such as cinemas and eating places to improve the economic quality of the city. The adhesive of East Binjai Shopping and Recreation Center is expected to meet those needs. The hot temperature of the city of Binjai becomes the designer's choice of theme "Green Architecture" as the design theme. It is considered very suitable for heat temperature to the building. A design approach that carries the theme of Green Architecture can create environmentally friendly buildings. Implementation of this theme is also useful to save the operational costs of the building.</jats:p>

Phan Khanh Thinh Nguyen, Thi Thu Ha Tran, Thiet Nguyen

International Journal of Energy Research • 2023

The production of hydrogen (H2) from water hyacinth (WH) can contribute to reducing both the negative impact of WH on ecosystems and dependence on fossil fuels. In this study, the combination of dark fermentation (DF) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) in a single reactor, namely, sDFMEC, was investigated to improve the H2 productivity of WH. Furthermore, the intermittently applied voltage (I-Eapp) scheme and various methane (CH4) inhibition methods, including air exposure, heat treatment, and chloroform (CHCl3) addition, were applied for performance enhancement purposes. The findings indicated that with a sufficient duty time of external energy input (less than 1 hour), the intermittent mode can enhance the performance of WH-fed sDFMEC but does not significantly inhibit CH4 formation. While air exposure and heat treatment damaged both methanogens and exoelectrogens, lowering sDFMEC performance, additional CHCl3 showed the best selective and long-term inhibition on methanogens (over 350 operation hours without further addition). Overall, the combination of the I-Eapp scheme and CHCl3 applied in WH-fed sDFMEC achieved a yield of 670.1 ± 15.2   mL − H 2 / g − VS , around 160% higher than the normal condition.

Environmental Science and Engineering • 2023

<jats:p>Microbial communities colonizing the hulls of vulnerable vessels, such as those with lengthy harbor residence instances, low speeds, and Long periods of motionlessness in Water changes as a result of environmental variables during ocean voyages are expected but rarely studied. Microbial communities were discovered on the hull of the TS Golden Bear, a ship operated differently during a voyage from the port of San Francisco to the South Pacific and back. We demonstrate that bacterial communities are highly resilient and can withstand physiologically demanding journeys through extreme temperature and salinity changes. After leaving San Francisco Harbor south toward Long Beach, a 42% decrease in biomass from bacteria and a 62% decrease in algal cellular abundance suggest a community-wide negative response to increasing salinity and temperature. The ship lost 36% of its biomass and 26% of its cellular abundance when it reached the hot, high-salinity seas off Hawaii. In Hawaii the efficiency of cellular fluorescence was reduced by 17%. Following a return to temperate seas off the coast of Vallejo, California, biomass rose 230%, cellular abundance remained constant, and intracellular fluorescence efficiency increased. This study's methods for analysing microbial (and macrofouling) populations are efficient and cost-effective. The goal of this paper is to solve Scale weights are based on GRA integers with interval values. The Gray Relational Analysis (GRA) method is used to solve MCDM problems with unknown knowledge. The traditional GRA method's basic idea, Evaluation of scale weights, is used to create some optimisation models. “Vallejo, Long Beach, Lahaina and Vallejo taken this alternative in this method and evaluation parameters is Parameters C1 for evaluating practices is Temp (◦C), C2 for Salinity, C3 for Pelagic cellular abundance (×103 cells/L), C4 for Pelagic biomass (μg Chl a/L), C5 for Pelagic photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and C6 for Average speed of advance (kts)”. This analysis's conventional The GRA method's fundamental concept Determines the long-term solution from the short-term and negative-best solutions, but this comparison is not deemed significant. “From the result it is seen that Vallejo 1, CA is got the first rank where as is the Long Beach, CA is having the lowest rank. This paper shows the Vallejo 1 CA highest biofouling regulations recently set by California State Lands.”</jats:p>

Yiyuan Ma, Morteza Abouhamzeh, Ali Elham

Journal of Aircraft • 2023

The ultrahigh-aspect-ratio wing (UHARW) concept is a promising configuration to achieve future sustainable aviation goals. Twin-fuselage (TF) and strut-braced-wing (SBW) configurations are characterized by smaller structural bending moments and shear forces in the wing and are promising concepts for realizing UHARW designs. This paper addresses the aerostructural optimization problem of TF and SBW configurations with UHARW by using a coupled adjoint aerostructural optimization tool, which is composed of a geometrically nonlinear structural solver and a quasi-three-dimensional natural laminar flow (NLF) aerodynamic solver. The optimization results show significant improvements in fuel efficiency and performance for the TF and SBW aircraft, with fuel mass reductions of 13 and 10%, respectively, compared to the corresponding baseline aircraft designed in the conceptual design phase. In comparison to the original reference aircraft A320neo, the optimized TF and SBW have 48 and 31% lower fuel weights, respectively. The NLF range of both upper and lower wing surfaces is expanded during optimization. The optimized SBW configuration has a wing aspect ratio of 26.01, while the optimized TF has a wing aspect ratio of 20.74, indicating that the SBW concept is more conducive to realizing UHARW design compared with the TF configuration studied in this work. The optimized TF aircraft has a lighter fuel weight and gross weight compared to the optimized SBW aircraft, which is because the TF aircraft has a lighter operational empty weight, including a lighter fuselage structural weight, landing gear weight, etc., whereas the top-level aircraft requirements are the same for both aircraft, including range, payload, and cruise Mach.

Hasnae Kasmi, S. Laporte, M. Mongeau et al.

Journal of Aircraft • 2023

This paper deals with an optimal control approach for commercial aircraft trajectory planning, focusing on the vertical path and the minimization of the fuel burned. The main contribution is the optimization of the whole trajectory, also called the mission, without prior separation into different flight phases (climb, cruise, and descent), contrary to traditional approaches that consider the flight phases sequentially. The proposed optimal control problem (OCP) is formulated and then solved using a direct collocation method. Initial results yield optimal trajectories with a gradual climb during the cruise (climb cruise), which correspond to theoretical trajectories that minimize fuel consumption. Furthermore, a penalization is introduced to ensure vertical profiles featuring horizontal cruise levels on so-called flight levels, compliant with current air traffic management regulations. The use of direct methods to address this OCP induces large nonlinear optimization problems that are solved using an interior point method. This methodology is likely to lead to poor local optima, but a simple multistart heuristic shows that the solutions found for standard problems appear to be globally optimal. Such an approach does not need to impose a priori the cruise flight levels and is suitable for commercial aircraft flight planning purposes. It leads to fuel saving and subsequently to important improvements against environmental impact by reducing [Formula: see text] emissions.

Pramudita Satria Palar, Eric Nguyen Van, Nathalie Bartoli et al.

Journal of Aircraft • 2024

Distributed electric propulsion in aircraft design is a concept that involves placing multiple electric motors across the aircraft’s airframe. Such a system has the potential to contribute to sustainable aviation by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing noise pollution, improving fuel efficiency, and encouraging the use of cleaner energy sources. This paper investigates the impact and relationship of turbo-electric propulsion component characteristics with three performance quantities of interest: lift-to-drag ratio, operating empty weight, and fuel burn. Using the small- and medium-range “DRAGON” aircraft concept, we performed design exploration enabled through the explainable surrogate model strategy. This work uses Shapley additive explanations to illuminate the dependencies of these critical performance metrics on specific turbo-electric propulsion component characteristics, offering valuable insights to inform future advancements in electric propulsion technology. Through global sensitivity analysis, the study reveals a significant impact of electrical power unit (EPU) power density on lift-to-drag ratio, alongside notable roles played by EPU-specific power and applied voltage. For operating empty weight, EPU-specific power and voltage are highlighted as critical factors, while turboshaft power-specific fuel consumption notably influences fuel burn. The analysis concludes by exploring the implications of the insights for the future development of turbo-electric propulsion technology.

Amar Benkhaled, Amina Benkhedda, Braham Benaouda Zouaoui et al.

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology • 2024

Purpose Reducing aircraft fuel consumption has become a paramount research area, focusing on optimizing operational parameters like speed and altitude during the cruise phase. However, the existing methods for fuel reduction often rely on complex experimental calculations and data extraction from embedded systems, making practical implementation challenging. To address this, this study aims to devise a simple and accessible approach using available information. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a novel analytic method to estimate and optimize fuel consumption for aircraft equipped with jet engines is proposed, with a particular emphasis on speed and altitude parameters. The dynamic variations in weight caused by fuel consumption during flight are also accounted for. The derived fuel consumption equation was rigorously validated by applying it to the Boeing 737–700 and comparing the results against the fuel consumption reference tables provided in the Boeing manual. Remarkably, the equation yielded closely aligned outcomes across various altitudes studied. In the second part of this paper, a pioneering approach is introduced by leveraging the particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO). This novel application of PSO allows us to explore the equation’s potential in finding the optimal altitude and speed for an actual flight from Algiers to Brussels. Findings The results demonstrate that using the main findings of this study, including the innovative equation and the application of PSO, significantly simplifies and expedites the process of determining the ideal parameters, showcasing the practical applicability of the approach. Research limitations/implications The suggested methodology stands out for its simplicity and practicality, particularly when compared to alternative approaches, owing to the ready availability of data for utilization. Nevertheless, its applicability is limited in scenarios where zero wind effects are a prevailing factor. Originality/value The research opens up new possibilities for fuel-efficient aviation, with a particular focus on the development of a unique fuel consumption equation and the pioneering use of the PSO algorithm for optimizing flight parameters. This study’s accessible approach can pave the way for more environmentally conscious and economical flight operations.

Jennifer Ramm, A. Rahn, D. Silberhorn et al.

Journal of Aircraft • 2024

The aviation sector needs to become climate neutral with net zero emissions by 2050 in order to meet the Fly the Green Deal targets. Hydrogen has been identified as a potential energy source that could help the sector meet these ambitious targets. This study evaluated a new hybrid-electric hydrogen aircraft concept against conventional Jet-A1 and power-to-liquid (PtL) aircraft concepts in terms of economic and environmental impacts. The assessment methods that we adopted were adapted specifically for this purpose. The life cycles of the aircraft were modeled using discrete event simulations, and the results show that the hydrogen concept has similar costs to the conventional PtL concept and double the life-cycle [Formula: see text]-equivalent savings compared to the conventional Jet-A1 concept. As such, the method allows early comparison of different aircraft concepts.

Nicolás Ablanque, S. Torras, Joaquim Rigola et al.

Journal of Aircraft • 2024

The optimization of novel aircraft Environmental Control System (ECS) architectures necessitates the support of complex numerical simulations. Within the framework of the more electric aircraft approach, a promising strategy to enhance the overall efficiency of traditional ECS involves the incorporation of vapor compression systems (VCSs), which offer superior cooling efficiency compared to conventional air cycle machines. In this study, a Modelica/Dymola library for simulating VCSs has been developed, with a focused emphasis on three critical attributes: numerical robustness, accuracy, and minimal computational time. To successfully integrate and simulate the VCS model into an entire ECS model, these characteristics are essential. An appropriate tradeoff has been achieved between the computational cost of the VCS model and its ability to accurately predict the system’s physical behavior (the heat exchangers have been modeled using a partial dynamic approach to optimize both robustness and computational efficiency). The VCS model has undergone thorough testing and has been seamlessly integrated into a representative ECS model to replicate a typical commercial airplane flight mission. A comparative analysis of the advantages offered by a variable-speed compressor versus a fixed-speed one has been conducted, revealing potential energy savings of up to 40%. Furthermore, the incorporation of an internal heat exchanger has led to additional energy savings exceeding 5%.

Viktoriia Khaustova, Mykola Kyzym, Iryna Hubarieva et al.

Environmental Economics • 2024

<jats:p>This study aims to track the EU’s shift from fuel dependence to sustainable mobility, assessing current impacts and future efforts for low- and zero-emission vehicles and renewable fuels to reduce crude hydrocarbon imports and greenhouse gas emissions. The paper uses methods of composite indices of fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emission intensity, decomposition analysis for crude hydrocarbon imports and greenhouse gas emissions, and the causal relationship between transport traffic and sustainable mobility objectives. Empirical results indicate that deploying sustainable mobility in the EU saved 10 million tons of crude oil imports and prevented 49 million tCO2eq emissions. Advancements in sustainable mobility were more effective in curbing greenhouse gas emissions (4.7%) than in reducing crude hydrocarbon imports (1.9%) from 2013 to 2022. Projections for the EU’s 2025 objectives indicate significant efforts needed to avoid an extra 61 million tCO2eq, including adding over 13 million zero-emission transport units and producing about 2 million tons of sustainable fuel. Both targets are currently at risk. The study highlights the latent potential in other hydrocarbons that can be transformed from non-fossil energy sources. Therefore, monitoring the impact of sustainable mobility is a crucial task in reducing fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions from transport. It enables informed decisions and strategy adaptations and ensures that environmental and economic targets are met both timely and effectively. AcknowledgmentThis article is funded by the National Research Foundation of Ukraine within the framework of Creation of the Production of Synthetic Liquid Fuel from Coal in Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods project (registration number 2022.01/0061) implemented within Science for the Reconstruction of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods competition.</jats:p>

B. I. Chigbu, F. Nekhwevha, I. Umejesi

World Electric Vehicle Journal • 2024

Given the increasing momentum globally towards sustainable transportation, the remanufacturing of used electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries (EV LIBs) emerges as a critical opportunity to promote the principles of the circular economy. Existing research highlights the significance of remanufacturing in resource conservation and waste reduction. Nevertheless, detailed insights into South Africa’s (SA’s) specific capabilities and strategic approaches in the context of used EV LIBs remain sparse. By utilizing in-depth interviews with fifteen key industry stakeholders and drawing on institutional theory, this qualitative study evaluates SA’s infrastructure, technical expertise, and regulatory frameworks in the EV LIB remanufacturing sector to address this gap. The findings reveal proactive strategies, including technical expertise, sustainable infrastructure, and robust regulatory frameworks aligned with global standards. This study proposes strategic initiatives like the Interdisciplinary Innovation Hub and Mobile Remanufacturing Labs, which are analytically derived from stakeholder insights and aim to predict potential pathways for workforce development, especially in rural areas. Innovative training programs, including the Virtual Reality Consortium, Circular Economy Institutes, and the Real-world Challenges Program, will ensure a skilled workforce committed to sustainability and circular economy principles. The conclusions highlight SA’s potential to become a leader in EV LIB remanufacturing by integrating circular economy principles, enhancing technical expertise, and fostering international collaboration.

Juncheng Jiang

MATEC Web of Conferences • 2025

Owing to the scarcity of critical metal resources such as lithium and cobalt, as well as the urgent need for environmental protection, the efficient regeneration of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has become a core issue in supporting the sustainable development of the electric vehicle industry. At present, the industrial sector mainly relies on pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy technologies to recover metals, but the former is limited by high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, while the latter faces the challenges of chemical contamination and high cost. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop green and economical alternative technologies to avoid the environmental risks caused by landfills of used batteries and achieve resource circulation. In this study, the feasibility of emerging processes such as bio-metallurgy (microbial leaching), eutectic solvents (DES), and direct regeneration was systematically evaluated. Based on this, it is proposed to optimize process efficiency by integrating multiple technologies (such as microwave-assisted enhanced reaction and biomass co-reduction), and promote policy guidance and standardized design, to accelerate the transformation of the LIB industry to a circular economy and contribute to the global carbon neutrality goal and sustainable resource management.

Masahiro Yamamoto, Y. Kawada, Yoshihiro Takaki et al.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science • 2024

Electric discharge in deep-sea hydrothermal fields leads us to expect the existence of electroactive microbial ecosystems in the environments. Electrochemical properties such as electric field distribution on the seafloor and electrical conductivity of the rock can be useful indicators of searching electroactive microbial community in natural environments. We performed electric field measurements in deep-sea hydrothermal fields and collected rock samples by a remotely operative vehicle (ROV) operation. Several spots on the seafloor with strong electric fields were detected, which included both active hydrothermal vent areas and inactive sulfide deposits far from the vents. The electrical conductivity of the rock samples was correlated with the copper and iron sulfide content. Microbial community compositions of the rock samples were characterized by small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis. The abundance of several microbial components, which are highly related to electroactive microorganisms such as Geobacteraceae and Thiomicrorhabdus, was affected by the electrical properties of rock samples. The results suggested that electrochemical properties on the seafloor would be related to the abundance of possible electroactive microbial populations, and that the electrochemical survey may be a powerful tool for exploring electroactive ecosystems.

Xinghu Li

World Electric Vehicle Journal • 0

<jats:p>PEV（pure electric vehicle）promotion can not only mitigate the recent traditional vehicle contradiction between supply and demand of energy, solve the vehicle energy problem after the exhaustion of fossil fuel, but also improve environment quality and energy utilization efficiency.But PEV promotion is restricted by infrastructures such as energy, power supply, charging station and so on. According to the composition characteristics of Chinese primary energy, situation of Chinese power industry and requirement of power infrastructures of pure electric vehicle, I analyzed the shortcomings in the power industry while PEV are promoted in China. There are four major problems in PEV promotion. First, in China more than 70% power supply is from coal, and the average coal consumption of power generation is high. Second, electricity generation per person-year of China is far less than that of developed countries, and power shortage exists in some areas. Third, the stability of power supply is poor because it can be easily affected by some uncertain factors, such as the supply of water, coal and natural gas. Furthermore, current power capacity can not meet the requirements of the PEV promotion. In order to promote PEV, power industry must acquire high power efficiency, sufficient power supply, and extensive use of clean fuel or renewable energy etc. EVS25 Copyright.</jats:p>

Jean-Baptiste R. G. Souppez, Geethanjali Pavar

International Journal of Automotive Manufacturing and Materials • 2023

Article Recycled Carbon Fibre Composites in Automotive Manufacturing Jean-Baptiste R. G. Souppez 1, * , and Geethanjali S. Pavar 2 1 Department of Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. 2 Institute for Energy Systems, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK. * Correspondence: j.souppez@aston.ac.uk     Received: 9 January 2023 Accepted: 22 February 2023 Published: 6 March 2023   Abstract: The contemporary need for lightweight and sustainable materials in automotive manufacturing has made recycled carbon fibre an attractive option. Yet, aspects such as the mechanical properties of short fibre composites need to be characterised to fully identify the capabilities and opportunities for recycled carbon fibre in the automotive industry. Consequently, this paper aims to ascertain the potential of recycled carbon fibre materials for automotive manufacturing by considering mechanical properties, design implications, and resulting costs and sustainability. Destructive testing is employed to characterise the mechanical properties of virgin carbon fibre (VCF), recycled carbon fibre (RCF) using pyrolysis, and blended recycled carbon fibre (BRCF) comprising 50% polypropylene fibre. Here we quantify (i) the reduction in mechanical properties, namely the tensile modulus and breaking strength, (ii) the resulting increase in required thickness and therefore mass for manufactured parts and (iii) the reduction in cost and embodied energy achieved for RCF and BRCF compared to VCF, based on both a stiffness- and a strength-driven design criterion. Furthermore, we present a decision-making methodology revealing BRCF as the most cost-effective solution, while RCF proves to be the most sustainable alternative. These results provide a novel quantitative assessment of recycled carbon fibre for automotive manufacturing and may contribute to future developments in sustainable composite manufacturing in the automotive industry.

Can Bilir, Bahadır Cetisli, Nuray Kizil et al.

International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology • 2024

Passenger comfort is an important parameter in the design process of the car. Noise caused by many factors in the vehicle significantly affects passenger comfort. Insulators are used to reduce noise and these insulators are usually made of fibrous or porous petrochemical-based materials. Recently, natural materials have begun to replace petrochemical-based materials due to environmental and health problems. Natural fiber materials offer alternatives such as felts made from recycled cotton, hemp, and kapok fibers. These materials have various acoustic performance properties depending on their density, thickness, and structural differences. There are some tests performed to evaluate the performance of materials for specific uses. To evaluate the acoustic performance of the felt, parameters such as sound absorption coefficient and sound transmission loss are considered. In the tests performed using an impedance tube and a reverberation chamber, it was investigated how the properties of the material affected these parameters. The results were that at higher thickness and density, sound absorption generally increased, while sound transmission loss decreased. The findings of the study are an important example for the selection and optimization of acoustic insulation materials and will contribute to the development of more effective insulation solutions in the automotive industry.

Murat Çetin, Oğuz Kürşat Demirci

International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology • 2024

This study offers an exhaustive analysis of the emissions and waste produced by vehicle maintenance and repair activities, underscoring their detrimental impacts on the health and ergonomic conditions of service workers. It underscores the critical need for the implementation of straightforward yet effective measures to mitigate these adverse effects. The paper delineates a variety of strategies aimed at enhancing the well-being of maintenance personnel by minimizing their exposure to harmful substances and improving workplace ergonomics. Heightened environmental awareness has positively influenced research on waste disposal methods. Implementing environmentally friendly waste and emission disposal methods in automotive maintenance is projected to reduce costs for mechanics and operators. Furthermore, the study elaborated on the comprehensive processes undertaken in automotive maintenance facilities, detailing the journey of waste from its origin to its final disposal. Effective management of these processes provides significant environmental and economic benefits. Additionally, the study presents a series of evidence-based recommendations designed to cultivate a safer and healthier working environment for automotive service professionals. These recommendations aim to improve overall working conditions in the industry by contributing to the enhancement of occupational health and safety standards. Through these measures, the research advocates for a comprehensive approach to occupational health within the automotive repair industry.

Matthieu Guttinger, Jean-Baptiste R. G. Roger Guillaume

International Journal of Automotive Manufacturing and Materials • 2024

Article Effect of Inlet Diameter on the Temperature of Hydrogen Fuel Tanks for Automotive Applications Matthieu Guttinger and Jean-Baptiste R. G. Souppez * Department of Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK * Correspondence: j.souppez@aston.ac.uk Received: 14 June 2024; Revised: 26 August 2024; Accepted: 29 August 2024; Published: 4 September 2024 Abstract: Contemporary concerns for sustainability have prompted a move away from fossil fuels, with hydrogen being a promising alternative. In the automotive field, Type III hydrogen tanks allow for high pressures to be achieved while being lightweight and small. Their size makes them particularly sensitive to small changes in inlet diameter, which is crucial to ensuring the strict regulatory requirements for internal tank temperatures are met. However, there remains a lack of understanding of the effect of inlet diameter on the internal temperature of Type III hydrogen tanks, needed for the next generation of gaseous hydrogen regulations for land vehicles. Consequently, this paper employs computational fluid dynamics to quantify the effect of the inlet diameter for values ranging from 5 mm to 15 mm on the temperature of Type III hydrogen tanks, of internal diameter 354 mm, to comply with current automotive regulations. Here, we show that (i) an increase in inlet diameter results in a monotonic increase in internal tank temperature; (ii) a linear interpolation between the mass flow rates investigated in this study may be employed to estimate the temperature at a given inlet diameter; and (iii) pre-cooling has an impactful effect and enables control of the internal tank temperature to avoid exceeding regulatory maximum temperature, irrelevant of inlet diameter. Lastly, we provide recommendations on analysing thermal results to ensure the safety of hydrogen tanks by design, with a particular emphasis on temperature hotspots forming upstream of the inlet. These results provide novel insights into the effect of inlet diameter and pre-cooling on the temperature of hydrogen tanks for automotive applications and inform their design to meet relevant regulations inherent to their filling. Moreover, these findings are anticipated to contribute to future regulatory development and the wider adoption of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel.

Üzeyir Pala, Taseer Salahuddin

International Journal of Automotive Science And Technology • 2024

The automotive sector ranks as the 4th largest contributor to the global economy, accounting for approximately 5% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Additionally, employment in the automotive industry generates a fivefold multiplier effect on job creation in other sectors. This study focuses on the sustainable science, technology, and innovation indicators relevant to Türkiye’s automotive industry, which holds the 7th position in terms of its contribution to the country’s GDP. Drawing on previous research and 33 years of data that reflect the state of Türkiye's automotive sector, as well as its science and technology landscape, this research identifies 10 key indicators that influence the sector’s technological development and innovation capacity. To analyze the similarities and differences among these indicators, a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) method was initially employed. Subsequently, a non-hierarchical cluster analysis (NHCA) was conducted to validate the HCA findings. Additionally, multidimensional scaling (MDS) was utilized to assess the similarities and distances among the economic, science, and technology indicators. The formation of 2 clusters was later verified through correlation analysis and factor analysis. The research findings indicate that the R&D and science-related parameters in Türkiye operate in a cohesive manner as anticipated. The percentage changes in the production of automobiles, commercial vehicles, and total domestic output show similar trends, forming a distinct group. In contrast, the indicators for high-technology exports and automotive exports are influenced by different dynamics, displaying separate and unique patterns. Based on these results, the study concludes with recommendations for sector-specific improvement initiatives.

Joerg D. Weigl, ZiZi Wang, Helia Mohammadi Sepahvand

ECS Transactions • 2012

<jats:p>Fuel cell vehicles are aimed to be a new way of environmentally friendly transport. But they face significant problems in terms of costs and infrastructure. Only with demonstration projects and governmental or company subsidies fuel cell vehicles are so far possible. But there is a market for private fuel cell vehicles for personal transport which is viable even without subsidies based on latest current fuel cell technology. It is the niche market of high end fuel cell electric bicycles. Based on latest cost reduction of fuel cell systems and the strong growing market of the high end electric bicycles in Europe, USA and Japan there is a market for fuel cell electric bicycles coming up.</jats:p>

Emily Donaldson, Edgar Tetahiotupa

The Oxford Handbook of Global Indigenous Archaeologies • 0

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>In this chapter, the authors excavate the long, sometimes troubled evolution of a UNESCO World Heritage List (WHL) nomination in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. The challenges faced by this project over the course of almost three decades illustrate the internal dissonance of two conflicting understandings of heritage, two differing ontologies, and the complicated task of interpreting and protecting Indigenous archaeological resources. While the UNESCO WHL nomination process is deeply rooted in Western perspectives on heritage, preservation, capitalism, and the division of nature and culture, Marquesan views of the past and present draw upon a more fluid, relational understanding of exchange and a material world animated by ancestral spirits and mana that demand respect. The resulting “dissonant heritage” belies a problematic tension between the relationships and aspirations of historic resources that represent both unique value and the promise of a better, more sustainable future. In the face of these challenges, the ultimately successful Marquesas WHL nomination stands as an example of how the strict regulatory, Western structures of UNESCO’s approach to heritage can be challenged to embrace and honor more diverse and indigenous understandings of the world.</jats:p>

Stefania De Gregorio, Eleonora Laurini, Mariangela De Vita

Heritage • 0

<jats:p>Heritage rehabilitation can be a sustainable operation when it succeeds in conveying the intangible, historical, artistic, and symbolic value of the building and, at the same time, to ensure the preservation of soil and material resources. The sustainability of the operation must cover the entire life cycle of the building, starting with the management of materials on the construction site, which allows for an increase in its durability while safeguarding its residual performance. This paper, therefore, outlines a process for the sustainable management of materials at the building redevelopment site using the history of the building and the life cycles of related materials. In particular, the following are explored: residual performance of historical and coeval materials, their endogenous and exogenous reuse of materials in the redevelopment project, the traceability aimed at controlling the supply chain, and the material/component identity card. The latter evolves dynamically, providing useful information for carrying out environmental assessments and monitoring the building’s maintenance cycle. The process is applied to a case study involving the redevelopment of the historical built heritage following the 2009 earthquake that struck the city of L’Aquila and neighbouring territories. The case study demonstrated the validity of the method and at the same time made it possible to introduce an innovative process in the territory, raising awareness among those working in the sector of the value of choices that have environmental and economic advantages.</jats:p>

Ricardo Puppe, Till Schmäing

Heritage • 0

<jats:p>Species knowledge of local animal species is of great importance for one’s own environmental awareness and is a major component for managing present and future crises in education for sustainable development. For this reason, this study is the first to survey the species knowledge of visitors to the UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site the Wadden Sea of the North Sea, which is the largest mudflat area in the world. In this context, the self-assessment of the respondents and the extent of their connectedness with nature are also examined. To answer the research questions, a questionnaire survey was carried out to determine the species knowledge and degree of connectedness with nature. For data analysis, various statistical methods such as t-tests and correlation analyses were used. The results show that the 126 visitors to the Wadden Sea Visitor Centre have a rather low level of species knowledge. In this regard, the European Herring Gull is the only very well-known species among the respondents. In addition, a further construct was investigated in the form of connectedness with nature, between which a significant positive correlation was found with species knowledge.</jats:p>

Noorfathehah Abdullah Sani, Yusnita Yusof

• 0

<jats:p>This research investigates the intersection of family business practices and cultural heritage management in Malaysia, a country rich in cultural diversity. The study was motivated by the need to understand how family-run businesses contribute to preserving and promoting cultural heritage in Malaysia. Through a qualitative analysis, we examined the business strategies, cultural values, and operational models of family businesses engaged in cultural heritage sectors. Our findings reveal a unique blend of traditional values and modern business understanding, highlighting how these businesses play a crucial role in sustaining cultural heritage. Family businesses in Malaysia have developed distinctive approaches to cultural heritage management, blending traditional values with innovative strategies to navigate the challenges of modernisation and globalisation. This has implications for business practices and cultural preservation, offering insights into sustainable cultural heritage management in a rapidly evolving global landscape. The study underscores the importance of family business-based culture in the stewardship of cultural heritage. It argues for greater recognition of these businesses in policy formulation and heritage management strategies. It shows that Malaysia&amp;#039;s symbiotic relationship between family businesses and cultural heritage presents a model that balances economic viability with cultural preservation, offering lessons for the business world and cultural heritage sectors globally.</jats:p>

L. Dei, R. Giorgi

Nanoscience for the Conservation of Works of Art • 2013

<jats:p>This chapter deals with the general physicochemical properties of works of art materials, strictly correlated to the degradation and alteration processes. The principal chemical and physico-structural properties of both organic and inorganic materials constituting wall paintings and easel paintings are discussed. The mechanisms leading to the degradation of these works of art are analysed, classifying them into three broad categories: natural weathering; pollution – indoor and outdoor; and general chemical, physical and mechanical stresses. The natural weathering of artworks materials is then discussed, focusing on the role of temperature, humidity and light, with particular attention to the phenomenon of salt crystallization. The environmental conditions for the best conservation of indoor and outdoor works of art are highlighted. The remaining chemical effects driving decay processes are analysed by referring to condensation of water, with consequent wetting and capillary suction. In this frame the effects of deliquescent and hygroscopic salts are taken into account, together with the topic of salt efflorescence. Finally, the physical alteration associated with the combined action of light and oxygen from air is treated in relationship to two classes of compounds particularly sensitive to these phenomena, i.e. drying oils and natural varnishes.</jats:p>

Xiaolan Ye, Fei Dong, Xiangyang Lei

Natural Resources Conservation and Research • 0

<jats:p>ABSTRACT Pesticides play an important role in preventing insect pests and weeds in crops. However, due to the serious threat of pesticide residues to environmental and human health, this paper reviews the hazards of pesticide residues, the mechanism of microbial degradation of pesticides, the factors that affect the degradation of pesticides and the new application of microbial degradation of pesticides.</jats:p>

Kay Yeoman, Beatrix Fahnert, David Lea-Smith et al.

Microbial Biotechnology • 2020

<p>This chapter looks into microbial biotechnology in built environments. It explains that the built environment is a microbial habitat providing an abundance of substrates. Microorganisms occur naturally in these habitats and can be introduced by humans. Understanding the complex interactions and activities of microbial communities that cause biodeterioration allows for the development and selection of optimal preservation approaches and technologies. The chapter also explains the impact of microorganisms on our cultural, urban, and industrial heritage. It then presents novel sustainable materials and tools based on microorganisms and the technologies that minimize microbial growth and prevent biodeterioration.</p>

J. Peretó

Microbial Biotechnology • 2020

Dedicated to the memory of Arren Bar-Even (19802020), one of the most brilliant biochemists of our times. Living beings are the result of a cocktail made with unknown doses of chance and necessity. Consider a thought experiment, in which we could rewind the ‘tape of life’ starting from the same initial conditions, what biochemical traits and cellular features would finally be the same as those we observe today? It is clear that what is real in biology is a subset of what is possible, and this issue has been discussed at different scales. Thus, structural and dynamic developmental constraints limit the space of solutions for animal bodies (Alberch, 1989), whereas physicochemical restrictions and historical contingencies shape the possible at the molecular level (Jacob, 1981). Meteorite analysis and many organic syntheses performed under prebiotic conditions indicate that the primitive Earth was home of a moderately complicated chemodiversity, including the most common biological building blocks – sugars, fatty acids, amino acids, nucleobases, etc. (Lazcano, 2018). In this period of chemical evolution, physicochemical constraints (i.e. thermodynamics and kinetics in a given environment) determined the origin and maintenance of the abiotic chemical landscape. The chemically possible was the scenario for the organization of the most simple and primitive biochemical systems: autocatalytic cycles for self-maintenance of a set of building blocks, self-reproduction of lipid vesicles, and self-replication of genetic templates (Peret o, 2012). Presumably, all these cycles kicked off in the absence of catalysts or with the involvement of very simple and unspecific facilitators (e.g. mineral surfaces). The emergence of optimizable catalysts through natural selection (e.g. ribozymes) was a phase transition to a period of a more efficient and creative functional screening of the possible (de Duve, 2005). Diverse lines of evidence indicate that metabolic surveys of alternative sources of matter and energy were rapid and explosive, performed by the first microbial communities. Biogeochemical closing of the recycling of bioelements was a vital step for a sustainable and long-term continuity of terrestrial life (Falkowski et al., 2008). Thus, the boundaries of the metabolically possible were expanding in parallel to the coevolution of life and the planet. For instance, after the emergence in some cyanobacterial ancestors of the enzymatic machinery able to extract electrons from water to feed the photoelectronic chain, molecular oxygen accumulated in oceans and afterwards in the atmosphere. Those microorganisms able to cope with this new-to-life compound took advantage of its reactivity and dramatically expanded the world of the metabolically possible: many new metabolites, including steroids, and processes (e.g. oxygen respiration) became available to life. Thus, recurrent patterns in actual cell metabolisms are the result of a long evolutionary exploration within the chemically constrained space of the possible solutions under specific yet changing conditions (de Lorenzo et al., 2014). The beginnings of the scientific study of metabolism focused on model systems (e.g. yeast and skeletal muscle) and well-defined physiological processes (e.g. alcohol fermentation and cellular respiration). Describing chemical transformations in cell-free systems and the use of inhibitors, mutants or isotope labelling helped to draw the first metabolic pathways (Morange, 2020). More recently, functional inference from environmental metagenomes combined with experimental validation (e.g. metabolomics and fluxomics) has expanded the spectrum of known metabolisms, albeit the scrutiny of old model systems still delivers surprises, as for example sulphoglycolysis in Escherichia coli K12 (Denger et al., 2014). Public databases now offer beautiful metaReceived 7 October, 2020; accepted 9 October, 2020. *For correspondence: E-mail juli.pereto@uv.es; Tel. +34 963 543 666; Fax +34 963 543 576. Microbial Biotechnology (2021) 14(1), 41–44 doi:10.1111/1751-7915.13691 Funding information EU H2020 : 210491758 : PCI2019‐111845‐2 Agencia Estatal de Investigación AEI, MiCIn, ERDF : RTI2018‐ 095584‐B‐C41‐42‐43‐44

J. Cooney, D. Oloke, Louis Gyoh

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology • 2021

Purpose This study aims to demonstrate the possibility of showing the functionality of complex microbial groups, within ancient structures within a process of refurbishment on a heritage building information modelling (BIM) platform. Design/methodology/approach Both a qualitative and qualitative research method will be used throughout, as observational and scientific results will be obtained and collated. This path being; phenomena – acquisition tools – storage – analysis tools – literature. Using this methodology, one pilot study within the scope of demolition and refurbishment, using suitable methods of collecting and managing data (structural or otherwise), will be used and generated by various software and applications. The principle methods used for the identification of such micro-organisms will incorporate a polymerase chain reaction method (PCR), to amplify DNA and to identify any or all spores present. The BIM/historical BIM (HBIM) process will be used to create a remotely-based survey to obtain and collate data using a laser scanner to produce a three-dimensional point cloud model to evaluate and deduce the condition, make-up and stature of the monument. A documentation management system will be devised to enable the development of plain language questions and an exchange information requirement, to identify such documentation required to enable safe refurbishment and to give health and safety guidance. Four data sampling extractions will be conducted, two for each site, within the research, for each of the periods being assessed, that being the Norman and Tudor areas of the monument. Findings From laboratory PCR analysis, results show a conclusive presence of micro-organism groups and will be represented within a hierarchical classification, from kingdom to species. Originality/value The BIM/HBIM process will highlight results in a graphical form to show data collected, particularly within the PCR application. It will also create standardisation and availability for such data from ancient monuments to make available all data stored, as such analysis becomes substantially important to enable the production of data sets for comparison, from within the framework of this research.

Bo-Siyuan Jian, Shao-Lun Chiou, Chun-Chia Hsu et al.

ACS Chemical Biology • 2023

The traditional natural product discovery approach has accessed only a fraction of the chemical diversity in nature. The use of bioinformatic tools to interpret the instructions encoded in microbial biosynthetic genes has the potential to circumvent the existing methodological bottlenecks and greatly expand the scope of discovery. Structural prediction algorithms for nonribosomal peptides (NRPs), the largest family of microbial natural products, lie at the heart of this new approach. To understand the scope and limitation of the existing prediction algorithms, we evaluated their performances on NRP synthetase biosynthetic gene clusters. Our systematic analysis shows that the NRP biosynthetic landscape is uneven. Phenylglycine and its derivatives as a group of NRP building blocks (BBs), for example, have been oversampled, reflecting an extensive historical interest in the glycopeptide antibiotics family. In contrast, the benzoyl BB, including 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate (DHB), has been the most underexplored, hinting at the possibility of a reservoir of as yet unknown DHB containing NRPs with functional roles other than a siderophore. Our results also suggest that there is still vast unexplored biosynthetic diversity in nature, and the analysis presented herein shall help guide and strategize future natural product discovery campaigns. We also discuss possible ways bioinformaticians and biochemists could work together to improve the existing prediction algorithms.