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The detection problem: an eight-decade challenge: the difficulty of practically detecting and discriminating mines, booby traps, and victim operated improvised explosive devices
Get PDF© The AuthorsReliably detecting and discriminating mines, booby traps, and victim operated improvised explosive devices remains a stubborn problem for both humanitarian demining organizations and the military. Since mines were widely used during the Second World War, much effort has been expended on the detection problem, with limited success. The aim of being able to positively identify a device first time remains elusive since the scientific challenge of positively identifying different substances in the ground is formidable. This article critically examines the detection problem and suggests that in the continued absence of a ‘silver bullet’ technological solution, the best means currently available to manage the risk of concealed explosive devices is the systematic collection and analysis of relevant operational data from the field.The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destructio
The role of organizational learning and innovative organizational culture for ambidextrous innovation
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In the era of hyper-competitiveness, firms, especially project-based management structures, have to focus on ideas for both new and existing sets of products and services, i.e. ambidextrous innovation. The ambidextrous innovation can be helpful, but achieving such a level is a problem to be solved. This study aims to yield ambidextrous innovation by using innovative culture and knowledge that has been gained from learning.
Design/methodology/approach
The present research collected data from Saudi Arabian public-sector firms. The data collected is analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
The findings of the study suggest that a range of factors can be operationalized in project-based firms to establish organizational learning and innovation culture. These factors include agile-based project management, leveraging existing innovative capabilities and growth mindset in case of innovative organizational culture and additional factors of agile-based knowledge management along with others in case of organizational learning. The PLS-SEM further concluded that both organizational learning and innovative organizational culture, in turn, help project-based Saudi Arabian public-sector firms to develop their ambidextrous innovation capability.
Originality/value
The PLS-SEM further concluded that both the organizational learning and innovative organizational culture, in turn, help project-based Saudi Arabian public-sector firms to develop their ambidextrous innovation capability.The Learning Organizatio
Parametric study for optimizing fiber-reinforced concrete properties
Get PDFConcrete with fiber reinforcement is stronger and more ductile than concrete without reinforcement. Significant efforts have been made to demonstrate the properties and enhancements of concrete after reinforcement with various types and shapes of fibers. However, the issue of optimization in the reinforcement process is still unanswered. There is no academic study in the literature now available that can pinpoint the ideal fiber type, quantity, and shape and, more crucially, the overall technical viability of the reinforcement. The parametric analysis in this study determines the ideal shape, size, and proportion of fibers. The input and output parameters were separated from the optimization design variables. Input parameters included assessment of samples of fresh and mechanical concrete properties and the influence of type, length, and percentage of fiber on concrete performance. The aim was to establish the most efficient relationship between fiber dose and dimension to optimize the combined responses of workability and splitting tensile, flexural, and compressive strength. The mechanical and fresh properties of concrete reinforced with four different fibers, PFRC-1, PFRC-2, SFRC-1, and SFRC-2, were tested. The analysis showed that SFRC-2-20 mm-1%, with compressive, split tensile, flexural, and workability values of 44.7 MPa, 3.64 MPa, 5.3 MPa, and 6.5 cm respectively, was the most effective combination among the materials investigated. The optimization technique employed in this study offers new, important insights into how input and output parameters relate to one another.Structural Concret
Efficient DNA walker guided by ordered cruciform-shaped DNA track for ultrasensitive and rapid electrochemical detection of lead ion
Get PDFThe rational design of DNA tracks is an effective pathway to guide the autonomous movement and high-efficiency recognition in DNA walkers, showing outstanding advantages for the cascade signal amplification of electrochemical biosensors. However, the uncontrolled distance between two adjacent tracks on the electrode could increase the risk of derailment and interruption of the reaction. Hence, a novel four-way balanced cruciform-shaped DNA track (C-DNT) was designed as a structured pathway to improve the effectiveness and stability of the reaction in DNA walkers. In this work, two kinds of cruciform-shaped DNA were interconnected as a robust structure that could avoid the invalid movement of the designed DNA walker on the electrode. When hairpin H2 was introduced onto the electrode, the strand displacement reaction (SDR) effectively triggered movements of the DNA walker along the cruciform-shaped track while leaving ferrocene (Fc) on the electrode, leading to a significant enhancement of the electrochemical signal. This design enabled the walker to move in an excellent organized and controllable manner, thus enhancing the reaction speed and walking efficiency. Compared to other walkers moving on random tracks, the reaction time of the C-DNT-based DNA walker could be reduced to 20 min. Lead ion (Pb2+) was used as a model target to evaluate the analytical performance of this biosensor, which exhibited a low detection limit of 0.033 pM along with a wide detection ranging from 0.1 pM to 500 nM. This strategy presented a novel concept for designing a high-performance DNA walker-based sensing platform for the detection of contaminants.Analytica Chimica Act
Biomonitoring for workplace exposure to copper and its compounds is currently not interpretable
Get PDFThis paper sets out to explore the requirements needed to recommend a useable and reliable biomonitoring system for occupational exposure to copper and its inorganic compounds. Whilst workplace environmental monitoring of copper is used to measure ambient air concentrations for comparison against occupational exposure limits, biological monitoring could provide complementary information about the internal dose of workers, taking into account intra-individual variability and exposure from all routes. For biomonitoring to be of reliable use for copper, a biomarker and the analytical ability to measure it with sufficient sensitivity must be identified and this is discussed in a range of matrices. In addition, there needs to be a clear understanding of the dose-response relationship of the biomarker with any health-effect (clinical or sub-clinical) or, between the level of external exposure (by any route) and the level of the copper biomarker in the biological matrix being sampled, together with a knowledge of the half-life in the body to determine accurate sampling times. For many biologically non-essential metals the requirements for reliable biomarkers can be met, however, for ‘essential’ metals such as copper that are under homeostatic control, the relationship between exposure (short- or long-term) and the level of any copper biomarker in the blood or urine is complex, which may limit the use and interpretation of measured levels. There are a number of types of biomarker guidance values currently in use which are discussed in this paper, but no values have yet been determined for copper (or its inorganic compounds) due to the complexity of its essential nature; the US The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has however indicated that it is considering the development of a biological exposure index for copper and its compounds. In light of this, we present a review of the reliability of current copper biomarkers and their potential use in the occupational context to evaluate whether there is value in carrying out human biomonitoring for copper exposure. Based on the available evidence we have concluded that the reliable use of biomonitoring of occupational exposure to copper and its application in risk assessment is not possible at the present time.International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Healt
Energy flexibility in aerospace manufacturing: the case of low carbon intensity production
Get PDFIn this paper, the prospects of energy flexibility in mitigating the environmental impact of aerospace manufacturing are explored. In collaboration with a UK-based aerospace manufacturing enterprise, demand response, in particular production time, is explored under different stochastic scenarios. This is done through a decision-support framework that consists of a stochastic discrete-event simulation model that tests different scenarios under a full factorial design of experiments framework. The simulation model tests various improvement strategies pertaining to prioritisation rules, production start-up rules, and operating hours. The model aids in scheduling energy-intensive processes, so the time of performing such processes can coincide with times of the day when the energy’s carbon intensity is at its lowest. The use case constitutes a family of aluminium structural aerospace components that are characterised by high production rate. Results demonstrate promising potential of the proposed approach, with the best-case scenario resulting in a 7% reduction in CO2e emissions. Analysis of the results demonstrate that operational decisions that do not require infrastructural changes or capital expenditures can contribute favourably to achieving net-zero targets. This research offers useful insights on leveraging operational short-term decisions to meet the aerospace manufacturing’s sector decarbonisation targets.This work was carried out as part of the Metallic Aerospace Structures Technologies for Eco-social Returns (MASTER) project, under UKRI ATI grant number 103040.Journal of Manufacturing System
Non-fungible tokens: the missing ingredient for sustainable supply chains in the metaverse age?
Get PDFNon-fungible tokens (NFTs), unique digital assets on a blockchain that can represent ownership of digital or physical items, are potentially ground-breaking in their capacity for transforming the sustainability of supply chains. This paper explores and discusses how NFTs, analysed through the lens of the Technology Organisation Environment (TOE) framework, can drive supply chain sustainability and overcome the barriers to Blockchain Technology (BCT) adoption. We elucidate the unique value proposition of NFTs and explore the potential of ‘phygital products’ for linking digital NFTs to physical goods. Based on the existing literature and a review of real-world case studies, we propose that NFTs can (1) incentivise supply chain stakeholders to engage in more sustainable practices; (2) enhance customer willingness to pay for sustainable products; (3) provide anti-counterfeit measures; (4) support circular business model growth. A sustainable 'Mint-to-Order' production strategy starting with the creation (minting) of an NFT is proposed based on a synthesis of the findings. The use of NFTs has significant implications for both digital and physical product offerings and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practice making a compelling case for adoption. This paper is one of the first to explore the potential of using NFTs to drive sustainability in supply chains forming an essential component of a metaverse nexus and delineating a future research agenda
Hydrodynamic analysis of a heave-hinge wave energy converter combined with a floating breakwater
Get PDFResearch interest in breakwater design has increased recently due to the impetus to develop marine renewable energy systems, as breakwaters can be retrofitted to harness wave energy at the same time as attenuating it. This study investigates a novel system of attaching a hinge baffle under a floating breakwater. The floating breakwater itself acts as a heaving wave energy converter, and meanwhile the hinge rotation provides a second mechanism for wave energy harnessing. A computational model with multi-body dynamics was established to study this system, and a series of simulations were conducted in various wave conditions. Both wave attenuation performance and energy conversion ratio were studied, using an interdisciplinary approach considering both coastal engineering and renewable energy. In particular, the performance of the proposed system is compared with contemporary floating breakwater designs to demonstrate its advantage. Overall, a useful simulation framework with multi-body dynamics is presented and the simulation results provide valuable insights into the design of combined wave energy and breakwater systems.Ocean Engineerin
Implementation of digital twins in the food supply chain: a review and conceptual framework
Get PDFDigital Twins (DTs) hold significant promise in addressing the challenges faced by food supply chains (FSCs). This paper aims to provide critical insights into the potential for Digital Twins to meet the key challenges of the FSC and establish a comprehensive conceptual framework for their implementation. Following a systematic literature review (SLR), the study identified 81 peer-reviewed, high-quality papers published over the last decade (2012–2023). The typology-driven thematic analysis emphasises the emergent nature of DTs within FSCs, highlighting their key characteristics including monitoring, real-time simulation, and scenario analysis. The identified characteristics, applications, implementation drivers and barriers of Digital Twin form the basis for a novel conceptual framework for implementing DTs in FSCs. Leveraging insights from Innovation Adoption Theory and the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the study outlines a structured five step implementation process divided into three stages. Notably, technology assessment and performance evaluation emerge as two innovative steps necessary for the successful implementation of DTs specifically, not previously considered by the theory. The study identifies promising avenues for future research. These findings provide invaluable guidance to researchers and practitioners seeking to embrace the potential of Digital Twin within the food industry
Empowering sustainable manufacturing: unleashing digital innovation in spool fabrication industries
Get PDFIn industrial landscapes, spool fabrication industries play a crucial role in the successful completion of numerous industrial projects by providing prefabricated modules. However, the implementation of digitalized sustainable practices in spool fabrication industries is progressing slowly and is still in its embryonic stage due to several challenges. To implement digitalized sustainable manufacturing (SM), digital technologies such as Internet of Things, Cloud computing, Big data analytics, Cyber-physical systems, Augmented reality, Virtual reality, and Machine learning are required in the context of sustainability. The scope of the present study entails prioritization of the enablers that promote the implementation of digitalized sustainable practices in spool fabrication industries using the Improved Fuzzy Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (IMF-SWARA) method integrated with Triangular Fuzzy Bonferroni Mean (TFBM). The enablers are identified through a systematic literature review and are validated by a team of seven experts through a questionnaire survey. Then the finally identified enablers are analyzed by the IMF-SWARA and TFBM integrated approach. The results indicate that the most significant enablers are management support, leadership, governmental policies and regulations to implement digitalized SM. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of digital SM enablers in the spool fabrication industry and offers guidelines for the transformation of conventional systems into digitalized SM practices.Heliyo