24762 research outputs found
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Screw material extrusion of super soft thermoplastic elastomer for additive manufacturing of inflatables
Get PDFThis study managed to successfully 3D print inflatables using 32 Shore 00 soft thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), granules. This TPE is softer than any previously 3D printed TPE in literature and was achieved by using an in-house developed, desktop screw extruder. The first step involved characterising the TPE using various techniques to determine optimal printing parameters and material handling conditions. The second step dealt with extruder calibration for 3D printing and then the production of tensile specimens in the XY and Z orientations. A maximum strain without failure of 3365% was achieved at XY orientation at 310°C. In contrast, the highest strain of the Z orientation was recorded at 290°C reaching 2330 ± 139% at failure. Finally, the system was used to 3D print cubic and hexagonal prisms of different sizes, and then each was inflated till failure. Video procedural analysis of the inflation process determined that the highest, biaxial strain at failure reached 590%. These results enable the development of an innovative elastic inflatable actuator (EIA) to successfully pick and place fragile objects using soft, lightly pressurised inflatables. In conclusion, a production method for prototyping and general fabrication of large expansion AM inflatables has been established.peer-reviewe
Circular economy design and management in the built environment: a critical review of the state of the art
No full textThe construction sector is a major contributor to environmental degradation, prompting the need for integrating sustainability into its practices. This need has driven the development of sustainability assessment methods across various scales of the built environment. Simultaneously, the recent emphasis on Circular Economy (CE) principles has introduced challenges in translating these principles into measurable outcomes within the construction sector. This study aims to investigate the extent to which circularity principles are embedded within existing sustainability assessment methods for new buildings. The study begins by addressing the interrelationships and distinctions between circularity and sustainability concepts, establishing a foundation for the subsequent analysis. Five internationally recognised sustainability assessment methods for new buildings—BREEAM, DGNB, LEED, Level(s), SBTool—were examined to assess their incorporation of circularity aspects. Each component of these methods was scrutinised for alignment with the 10 circularity strategies outlined in the well-established 10-R framework of waste hierarchy. Expert groups, consisting of CircularB COST Action members, independently evaluated the methods and provided opinions on the direct and indirect associations between the assessed components and the 10-R principles. Disagreements were resolved through group discussions. The analysis revealed varying degrees of integration and explicit reference to circularity principles across the assessed methods. The study also highlighted the subjectivity inherent in identifying correlations and the challenges connected to linking certain circularity-related concepts in the built environment—such as resilience and adaptability—with the 10-R strategies. The findings underscore the need for a more in-depth analysis before making direct comparisons of the integration of circularity principles among different sustainability assessment methods, given their methodological differences. The study also identifies directions for future research.peer-reviewe
Personas in scenario building : integrating human-centred design methods in foresight
Get PDFThis paper contributes to integrating human-centred design approaches in foresight. We emphasize design thinking as an approach that incorporates user-centred concepts and artefacts, enabling the creation and visualization of potential futures and mediating the exploration of new perspectives and areas of intervention for innovation. However, there is limited discussion in the foresight literature on the meaningful application of design approaches. We focus on the persona method and its roles and applications in scenario building. To be meaningful in scenario building, personas need to appropriately integrate users’ future needs, expectations and behaviours that shape and in turn are shaped by contexts that are yet to be realised. Based on an analysis of published case studies, the paper underscores the role of personas in fostering creative imagination, enhancing scenario engagement, and prospective sensemaking beyond their application as a storytelling vehicle in scenarios. We link persona characteristics and design to their roles in scenario building, allowing design and foresight practitioners the flexibility to tailor the persona approach to different contexts and critically assess the underlying limitations. From this, we provide recommendations for incorporating personas in scenario building and conclude with suggestions for future research.peer-reviewe
Sustainability and the insurance market : trends and challenges
Get PDFThis open access book focuses on the regulatory framework for the sustainability of the insurance market. It analyzes its potential impact on insurance undertakings governance and product design. The book is structured into three parts. It firstly explores the general framework on the sustainability for the insurance market, focusing on the regulation at the European Union level. Secondly, it examines sustainability and insurers' governance, including topics like sustainable investments and ESG factors. Finally, the book turns to sustainability and insurance products, addressing agricultural insurance systems and pensions.peer-reviewe
Sustainable electrical innovation : a systemic approach to innovation management in the automotive supply chain
Get PDFPURPOSE: The primary objective of this article was to define an innovation management
system comprising the following subsystems: A subsystem for managing internal innovation
maturity, a subsystem for overseeing the processes of acquiring product innovations from
suppliers, a subsystem for managing the innovation maturity of suppliers within the supply
chain and networks of collaborating companies and a subsystem for measuring and
managing innovation performance.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This study aimed to review the key elements that make up
innovation management subsystems through a comprehensive literature review. The research
focused on comparing innovation management practices employed by three automotive
companies producing electric drive systems in Poland. This comparative analysis facilitated
the development of a comprehensive model for a network and supply chain innovation
management system. The proposed research tools can also be utilized to evaluate the
maturity of innovation management in collaborative environments. Furthermore, these tools
can serve as a resource for R&D managers, helping them enhance existing systems by
integrating missing elements.FINDINGS: The examined corporations implement innovation management models among
suppliers. They do this systematically, and their efforts improve innovation growth. However,
their actions cannot be called systemic. The results of the three-case study (three automotive
concerns (producing electro-components in Poland) showed that Toyota is the closest to
building an integrated innovation management system.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study aimed to develop a systemic innovation management
model for the automotive industry's supply chain and evaluate its feasibility in business
practice. This objective was partially achieved, as the research focused solely on assessing
the implementation of the model within car manufacturers. Companies collaborating within
the supply chain, such as suppliers and customers, were not examined. Consequently, only
two subsystems were verified: the subsystem for managing internal innovation maturity and
the subsystem for managing the innovation maturity of suppliers within the supply chain.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The article shows a new systemic management of innovations in the
supply chain. It is an interesting case study of three international companies that are leaders
in patenting product and process innovations.peer-reviewe
On the edge
No full textWe think of and about Mediterranean islands and tourism, and invariably our thoughts wander
playfully to beaches, and all the fun, frolic, entertainment and sport activities that take place in
those privileged, interstitial spaces. But, for destinations like Malta, tourism has never been all, or
even mainly, about beaches. These are too few and too small: the longest, Għadira (or Mellieħa) Bay,
is 700 metres long. And, as the locals know full well, most places that are suitable for swimming in
the Maltese Islands are rocky rather than sandy, and deep rather than shallow, which departs from
island postcard expectations.ON THE EDGE is a publication that showcases the Maltese coastline, but it goes beyond the
obvious and explores instead a series of features – some natural, some cultural, some combined
– that deliberately exclude beaches along the country’s 270+km-long sea-land interface. The
inclusion of and focus on these features in this collection speaks to the diversity of the edge of
the Maltese archipelago, an impressive characteristic for what is, in terms of land area, the tenth
smallest country in the world.The features under review are not all-inclusive; but they should be enough to highlight the
incredible diversity of the natural and cultural coastline of the Maltese islands. We should also
remind ourselves that every part of the edge of the country is never too far away from anywhere
in the Maltese archipelago.peer-reviewe
Unemployment structure in the Visegrad Group countries in 2009-2023
Get PDFPURPOSE: The aim of the article is to analyse the unemployment level and its
interdependencies in the Visegrad Group countries in the years 2009–2023.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research used Eurostat data on unemployment in the
Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. To achieve the research objective, statistical
indicators and verification of statistical hypotheses were used.FINDINGS: There are differences in the percentage distribution of the number of unemployed
people in the years 2009-2023 in the individual Visegrad Group (V4) countries, both for the
entire unemployed population and for women and men. The number of unemployed women
and men in the individual V4 countries does not differ significantly. There is a very strong
positive correlation between the number of unemployed women and men in the V4 countries.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Indicating differences and similarities in the structure of
unemployment between the V4 countries is important due to their similar geographical
location and the same date of accession to the EU structures. Studies indicate that despite
similarities, the structure of unemployment in the given countries in the period under review
is diverse.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The article makes a significant contribution to the development of
knowledge on the differences and relationships between the unemployment structure of the
Visegrad Group countries in recent years, i.e. the period after their accession to the EU
structures. The statistical methods used for the analysis indicate that it is possible to assess
the scale of unemployment in individual countries comparatively.Co-financed by the Minister of Science under the “Regional Excellence
Initiative”.peer-reviewe
Greenness, whiteness and blueness assessment of high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for determination of cannabinoids in cosmetics
Get PDFThe increasing interest in cannabinoids for their therapeutic properties led to their integration into cosmetics, emphasizing the need for greener and precise analytical methods. The study identified chromatographic methods for cannabinoid analysis in cosmetics and assessed greenness, whiteness and blueness of methods. The greenness of identified analytical methods was assessed using the Greenness Index with Spider Diagram, Green Solvents Selecting Tool (GSST), Analytical Eco-scale and carbon footprint calculation. Ethyl acetate was identified as the most environmentally friendly solvent when using the Greenness Index and GSST, while ethanol scored lowest with the Greenness Index and dichloromethane with the GSST. Analytical Eco-scale ranked eight out of the eleven evaluated methods as having excellent greenness. The methods were further evaluated for applicability and practicality using the Red Green Blue 12 model and Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI). Whiteness scores ranged from 61.6 to 88.8, with most methods considered to be highly applicable for real-world use. The practicality, assessed via BAGI, indicated the necessity for methods analyzing multiple compounds per run and employing efficient sample preparation to improve operational feasibility. Findings highlight the importance of integrating green analytical chemistry principles and metrics for development of green and efficient cannabinoid analysis in cosmetics. Incorporation of green, white and blue assessments is important for environmentally conscious and practical analytical methods, while ensuring industry preparedness to meet regulatory requirements as the field of cannabinoid analysis continues to advance. Further work should focus on solvent minimization, energy efficiency, and method optimization to balance ecological responsibility with analytical practicality.peer-reviewe
Management of the security of football matches in Poland : selected legal and organizational aspects
Get PDFPURPOSE: The objective of the article was to conduct analysis and evaluation of selected legal
regulations pertaining to the management of safety during football matches, considered as a
specific category of mass sporting events.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research conducted for the purposes of this article
primarily employed the dogmatic-legal method, which was supplemented by the sociological
method and the case study approach.FINDINGS: In light of the objective pursued in this study, it can be concluded that
contemporary social transformations, coupled with the dynamic advancement of modern
technologies, may constitute both a valuable asset for football match organisers and a
potential instrument for individuals aiming to disrupt public order during or within the
premises of a mass sporting event. Nonetheless, it should be emphasised that the currently
binding legal framework provides adequate and effective mechanisms for preventing and
mitigating potential risks associated with the organisation of football matches classified as
mass sporting events.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings of the study facilitate a comprehensive understanding of
the specific risks associated with the organisation of football matches designated as mass
sporting events, as well as elucidate the significance of the legal regulations governing this
domain within the Polish context.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The subject matter addressed in this article is aligned with the
contemporary demands stemming from the dynamic transformations in security management
within Central and Eastern Europe.peer-reviewe
Rectifying the gaps : the mental wellbeing of female offenders
Get PDFThe paper explores the effectiveness of Malta's correctional and rehabilitative structures in supporting the mental wellbeing of female offenders. It delves into the local service provision gaps that specifically target female offenders. With a primary objective to contribute to the local research on the mental and psychological wellbeing of female offenders, this research explores the perspectives and experiences of professionals and welfare providers working with females during the incarceration and rehabilitation phases. A qualitative approach through the use of two focus groups composed of different professionals and welfare providers, namely social workers, psychologists, family therapists, involved in delivering service provision, was adopted. The research used thematic analysis on the data gathered from these focus groups. In conclusion, the study reconfirms and recommends the need for gender-specific programmes informed through trauma-informed care, therapeutic interventions and halfway houses for female offenders, hence prompting reform in current criminal justice provisions to deal effectively in safeguarding the mental wellbeing needs of female offenders and fill in existing gaps. Other policy related recommendations include the implementation of after care services, support to welfare providers, and incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to support female ex-offenders to navigate life challenges upon their release.peer-reviewe