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Reviewing the parameters that affect sustainability and energy efficient concepts in road and urban lighting design
No full textIn our days, having all the necessary literature and methods for the implementation of street lighting design, it is possible to propose sustainable solutions that offer benefits in energy saving, the environment and optimization of living conditions. However, so far, research has shown that studies either follow the Standards or are carried out empirically, taking into consideration certain parameters at a time rather than all the parameters concerning a street lighting design. The present work's aim is to elucidate the critical design parameters involved in road lighting analysis, covering both theoretical aspects of the design process and practical implementation in field applications, highlighting their importance in terms of energy savings and their contribution to sustainable development. The analysis concluded in a large number of parameters which form a lighting analysis. It was noted that many researchers tend to adopt an one-sided perspective on the subject by focusing on specific parameters within a single case category. This approach does not provide reliable results regarding the overall energy efficiency and savings of a system. Parameters such as energy indicators, adaptive lighting, road surface characteristics, mesopic vision, etc. require further investigation to explore efficient and sustainable solutions that prioritize both human well-being and environmental impact. Simultaneously, the frequent use of new technologies has led to their overuse, that sometimes has as a concequence the increase of energy consumption and operational cost rather than reducing it. It is also obvious that design loses its value compared with technology that continuously gains ground. At the moment, by having all the relevant information, it seems to be the time to proceed to a new holistic design approach, that combines all the necessary parameters that formulate a road lighting analysis. This approach aims to deliver more accurate results, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable urban environment. Contribution to science: A systematic scientific literature review on energy management and energy saving in road lighting is conducted, investigating parameters such as energy indicators, adaptive lighting, mesopic vision, road surface, design parameters, on-site elements and technology-equipment that constitute a road lighting study, identifying the lacking points and highlighting the areas for further research towards a more efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly urban environment.</p
BREXIT, NEW EUROPE AND NEWNESS CHASM: CROSS-CHANNEL CONCEPTUALIZATION OF NEWNESS AND TRADITION:Offensive and defensive legitimation – perceptions at the interface between the organisational and the socio-political.
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Iron oxide doped carbon fibers with synergistic photo-Fenton catalytic-evaporation properties for complex water treatment
No full textAddressing the dual challenge of freshwater scarcity and pollution, we develop Fe-embedded carbon nanofiber mats (FeOy@CNFMs) through aerodynamic spinning and low-temperature carbonization. During low-temperature carbonization, Fe3+ ions are embedded into the carbonaceous skeleton, catalyzing the graphitization of carbon fibers, which facilitate defect repair and microcrystalline fusion. The 3D architecture fabricated via aerodynamic spinning, integrated with microcrystalline fusion to form a continuous graphite network, endows FeOy@CNFMs with the combination of water transport capacity, broadband light absorption, and efficient photothermal conversion capabilities. Under one-sun irradiation, 1kWm−2 solar irradiation, the membranes achieve an evaporation rate of 1.89 kg m−2 h−1 with a solar-to-vapor efficiency of 97.3 %. FeOy@CNFMs exhibit exceptional durability in simulated seawater, sustaining 1.6–1.7 kg m−2 h−1 evaporation over 40 days and 10 cyclic tests via salt-resistant self-cleaning. Furthermore, with the addition of hydrogen peroxide (50 ul H2O2), the membranes synergistically integrate interfacial solar evaporation with photo-Fenton catalytic mechanisms and the high conductivity of the carbon fibers minimizes electron hole-electron recombination to generate abundant reactive oxygen species (ROS) for efficient organic pollutant degradation and bacterial inactivation. Specifically, 96 % degradation of methylene blue (10 mg/L MB) is achieved within 90 min, while antibacterial efficiencies exceeding 99 % against E. coli and S. aureus are obtained.</p
Mixed alkali effect on chemical durability and mechanical properties of a borosilicate glass series
No full textUnderstanding the mixed alkali effect (MAE) on the chemical durability of glass is crucial for optimizing the composition of nuclear waste immobilization glasses. In this work, we investigated the impact of the substitution of K2O for Na2O on structure, chemical durability, and some physical properties of a borosilicate glass series. We found that the fraction of four-coordinated boron (N4) exhibited a drastic decrease when the molar ratio of potassium ions surpassed a certain threshold. Beyond this threshold, the N4 fraction remained constant. The structure analyses showed that the additional potassium ions were inclined to break the ring structure, leading to the formation of chain structure. Furthermore, the leaching of the different cations took place through synergistic mechanisms involving {Na&B}, {K&B} and {Al&Ca} pairs. Both the coefficient of thermal expansion (α) and the hardness (H) manifested a pronounced mixed alkali effect. This work provides insights into the correlation between the mixed alkali effect and the physical and chemical properties
Lightweight RFID-enabled authentication protocol in post-quantum environment
No full textRFID technology is widely used for contactless identification and tracking across various sectors. However, the rise of quantum computing threatens classical cryptographic protocols. To address this, we propose a lightweight RFID protocol based on the Ring Learning With Errors (RLWE) problem, ensuring post-quantum security while maintaining efficiency for resource-constrained environments. The RLWE problem provides a strong foundation for constructing quantum-resistant cryptographic schemes. Formal security proofs using the random oracle model and Scyther tool confirm its robustness against attacks. Additionally, we evaluate the protocol's security, computation, and communication costs, demonstrating its feasibility for RFID systems. This work advances post-quantum cryptographic solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) and other ubiquitous computing environments, ensuring long-term security and privacy.</p
SAGEA:A toolbox for comprehensive error assessment of GRACE and GRACE-FO based mass changes
No full textThe level-2 time-variable gravity fields obtained from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its follow-on (GRACE-FO) mission are widely used in multi-discipline geoscience studies. However, the post-processing of these gravity fields to obtain a desired signal is rather challenging for users who are not familiar with the level-2 products. In addition, the error assessment/quantification of these derived signals, which is of increasing demand in science application, is still a challenging issue even among professional GRACE(-FO) users. In this paper, we review the known steps of post-processing, along with their implementation strategies. We also make a comprehensive investigation into the error of GRACE(-FO) based mass changes, and for the first time, we define the so-called error into three independent categories. This work, including the post-processing steps and the assessment of each error, is integrated into an open-source Python toolbox called SAGEA (SAtellite Gravity Error Assessment). With diverse options, SAGEA provides flexibility to generate signals along with the full error from level-2 products. In addition, a novel in-depth optimization of our post-processing implementation gains a speed-up of ∼100 times better than traditional method. For verification, a number of case studies are carried out with SAGEA to obtain a comprehensive error assessment of GRACE(-FO) level-2 product at global and local scales.</p