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Network diversity, distance and economic impact in a cluster: visualising linkages and assessing network capital
No full textPurpose – Effective policy to support business ecosystems should build on evidence-based analyses of firm level activities and outcomes. This paper aims to contribute to this requirement and makes three contributions. The first contribution is to extend the application of the network capital concept to a variety of eight distinct linkage categories (e.g. suppliers, customers and business support agencies) that support networking and clustering, in both activity and impact terms. The second contribution is outlining a novel method of network visualisation (V-LINC) based on the collection of primary and qualitative data. The third contribution is in applying the method to one cluster, information and communications technologies. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative research on the nature and extent of organisational network linkages was undertaken. Structured interviews with a set of focal firms followed a tailored design approach. The concept of network capital was extended and applied to the cluster context by measuring network inputs and output (i.e. investments and impact). The approach was operationalised via a novel impact measurement approach, denoted as V-LINC, an acronym for visualising linkages in networks and clusters. Findings – The authors develop a business impact framework exploiting novel linkage visualisations and qualitative data from firms in a cluster in one city region across eight linkage types to capture distinct network capital elements. Organisational inputs into network development, measured as investment and involvement indicators and organisational outcomes from those networks, measured as importance and intensity indicators, are used to assess network performance. A comprehensive, systematic and robust analysis of network elements and performance is possible. Distance is found to interact differently across linkage types. Targeted recommendations may be made from the analysis of local or regional business ecosystems in light of measured business impacts of linkages. Research limitations/implications – Due to the resource-intensive nature of data collection, the current study engages a limited sample of firms and interviewees. Applications of this approach in other contexts will permit further research into its usefulness in evaluating business impacts generated through networking activities. Originality/value – The method introduced here (V-LINC) offers a novel means to include both geography network theory into an understanding of knowledge relationships and networks within clusters. Accounting for both distance and linkage type reveals which categories of intra-regional and extra-regional linkages generate the greatest impact, given their frequency. The approach adds to available cluster visualisation and analysis approaches through identifying patterns of disaggregated knowledge flows and their impacts, with application to evaluation demands of policy
Modelling and accelerated testing of catholyte stability in vanadium flow batteries
No full textUsing our standard methodology, we examined the thermal stability of vanadium flow battery positive electrolytes over a range of
temperature from 30 to 70 °C with stable lifetimes from 11 min to 87 days. At higher temperatures (45 °C–70 °C) measurements
showed excellent reproducibility but at lower temperatures (30 °C–45 °C) showed some scatter. Measurements at higher
temperatures are in good agreement with our (single-slope) model which is based on earlier data but there is some divergence from
the model at lower temperatures. Arrhenius plots of the data show two linear regimes: one in the range 45 °C–70 °C and another in
the range 30 °C–45 °C, the latter having a higher Arrhenius slope. Based on linear least-squares best fits in these two regimes, we
have formulated an improved stability model (two-slope model). We use our models to derive expressions for accelerated testing of
thermal stability using increased temperature, increased vanadium concentration and decreased sulfate concentration and estimate
values for the acceleration factors over a range of test and use temperatures and concentrations. We analyse the effect of changing
concentration to counteract the decrease in electrolyte stability at higher temperatures and derive expressions to calculate the
necessary concentrations
Fingerprinting and assessing the reactivity of past and future aggregates
No full textThe Irish construction boom of the early 2000s generated an unprecedented demand for sub floor rock aggregate. However, due to a lack of residential specific material standardisation, unacceptable documentation practices by aggregate retailers and the by passing of any geological input by property developers, deleterious pyritic rock aggregate was emplaced within the foundations of up to 12, 500 homes across Ireland. For almost a decade after the construction of these houses, debate has raged within the Irish and European court system in order to find and bring to account the quarry sources responsible for supplying such unsuitable hardcore material. This thesis investigates the use of pyrite geochemistry alongside advanced machine learning models, to develop an identification mechanism for such pyritic aggregate quarry sources. Within this technique, pyrite major element concentrations are used alongside pyrite trace element concentrations, whole rock δ34S and total sulphur concentrations to comprehensively characterise each quarry source investigated. In addition to this, the geochemical variation of pyrite within an Irish aggregate quarry source was also investigated to ensure that the geochemical variation of the analysed samples was representative of the variation seen within a quarry source. This research gives confidence that, a quarry source
may be determined for an unknown pyritic rock aggregate sample taken from a pyritic heave effected house. This thesis also attempted to investigate the relationship between pyrite trace element concentration and oxidation rate. Unfortunately, this investigation proved unsuccessful due to an unforeseen decrease in SO4 % following an artificial oxidation experiment. Nevertheless, by investigating a correlation between these two variables it is hoped that a much improved experimental procedure can be carried out in the future to more definitively investigate the effect of pyrite trace element concentration of oxidation rate
Identifying students’ sustainability preferences to improve design team performance
No full textIn this paper, we discuss evidence from two studies, which use a mix of individual and team tasks to uncover students’ knowledge and skills related to sustainable design. The research explores two questions: (1) Could a team with a mix of individual student sustainability profiles influence individual team members’ learning? (2) Does a diverse, balanced team enhance project performance? When we look at individual students, preferences or affinities emerge that indicate socially-, environmentally-, economically-, or technically- minded individuals. As part of a team, students influence each other’s design decisions, often by bringing new knowledge or a different perspective into a discussion. Team composition that prioritizes a mix of individual preferences could be a valuable strategy for sustainable design, and help team members appreciate the value of different sustainability aspects
The Centrality of the Eucharist in the Experience of Christ of Saint Teresa of Jesus
No full textThe aim of this research is to explore two aspects of the Christological experience1 of Teresa of Jesus (1515-1582), and to argue for the centrality of the Eucharist in these aspects of her experience of Christ.
Research Question:
This exploration will seek to answer to main research questions as follows:
1. What are the two aspects of Teresa’s Christological experience?
2. How does the Eucharist inform these aspects of Teresa’s experience of Christ
A SKOS taxonomy of the UN global geospatial information management data theme
No full textComplex data domains increase the difficulty of structuring, sharing, discovering and governing information. For the geospatial domain common models such as INSPIRE have been established in the European Union. The United Nations initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) draws together national and regional capacities. Interoperability is the main principle behind these initiatives. Nonetheless there is a lack of published research to date on mapping agency geospatial linked data leveraging the UN-GGIM taxonomy of information management data themes. Thus, we have identified use cases and defined a Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS)footnote{url{https://www.w3.org/TR/skos-reference/}} taxonomy expressing the UN GGIM data themes for national spatial infrastructure. This has been applied in a metadata generation and reporting tool for Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) which underpinned improved governance and reporting infrastructure in OSi. This demonstrated the contribution of Semantic Web technology to spatial data governance as well as its importance for data publishing. This paper presents a documented open license SKOS taxonomy for the UN GGIM data themes that follows Linked Data best practices. It provides a set of three use cases, an overview of UN-GGIM theme definitions and an example application of the taxonomy for deployment in OSi for DCAT metadata generation and data publishing pipeline reporting
Coping with challenges of textile collection through an innovative framework towards a sustainable textile circular economy
No full textTextile collection is a challenging task for all stakeholders in this environment. It is organized
in different ways, there are the commercial and municipal collections and charity organizations. The
collection of used textiles is the beginning of textile recycling and therefore decisive for all further
processes. The aim of the sorting analysis of used textiles is to generate data for high-quality collected
goods in order to ultimately provide them with the highest possible utilization methods. Influencing
challenges like moisture or impurities have a significant negative impact on the collection qualities. In
order to price drops of used garments also the economical aspect should be considered to ensure the
cost-covering collection. As the high-quality textile collection is hindered by various factors, this paper
deals with the challenges of textile collection, and describes and analyses the inherent logistics
processes as an essential part of a textile Circular Economy. Only with additional data it is possible to
improve the logistics processes in textile collection and recycling, which in turn has a positive effect on
the sustainability of textile and logistics industry
Embracing products: prolonging lifetime through product care activities by repair enthusiasts
No full textPeople tend to give more attention to the products they feel attached to and exhibit preservative behaviours to keep them for a longer time (Mugge et al., 2008). Maintenance and repair, named as product care behaviours by Ackermann (2018), are examples of the user’s preservation method that strengthens the user-product relationship and eventually leads to a longer usage period. That is why these activities require a closer look of the researchers in the design for sustainability area, since the pile of prematurely thrown away products is getting bigger every day while resources are constantly depleting. Therefore, in this paper, findings from and insights into a graduate research will be presented, focusing on the implications of product care activities for strengthening the emotional attachment (Hernandez et al., 2020) between people and objects, and empowering people in possible ways in the process of enabling product longevity. To do so, first, the motivations behind product care activities and what is worthy for individuals to preserve are examined through semi-structured interviews conducted with repair enthusiasts that are also the members of repair-related initiatives. Afterwards, the techniques and skills involved in the process of maintenance and repair are explored. Key findings from the graduate research are as follows: the more people are engaged with product care activities, the more the transition of people’s role from passive consumers to active users is eased. The change in user attitudes towards their product strengthens their emotional attachment and eventually serves for product longevity. While the user-product relationship is evolving, formerly obscure objects are transformed to be more open and transparent for their users. Lastly, repair-related initiatives are significant actors in encouraging and helping people to conduct product care behaviours
Variability in greenhouse gas emission intensity of semi-intensive suckler cow beef production systems
No full textEmission intensities from beef production vary both among production systems (countries) and farms within a country depending upon use of natural resources and management practices. A whole-farm model developed for Norwegian suckler cow herds, HolosNorBeef, was used to estimate GHG emissions from 27 commercial beef farms in Norway with Angus, Hereford, and Charolais cattle. HolosNorBeef considers direct emissions of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from on-farm livestock production and indirect N2O and CO2 emissions associated with inputs used on the farm. The corresponding soil carbon (C) emissions are estimated using the Introductory Carbon Balance Model (ICBM). The farms were distributed across Norway with varying climate and natural resource bases. The estimated emission intensities ranged from 22.5 to 45.2 kg CO2 equivalents (eq) (kg carcass)−1. Enteric CH4 was the largest source, accounting for 44% of the total GHG emissions on average, dependent on dry matter intake (DMI). Soil C was the largest source of variation between individual farms and accounted for 6% of the emissions on average. Variation in GHG intensity among farms was reduced and farms within region East, Mid and North re-ranked in terms of emission intensities when soil C was excluded. Ignoring soil C, estimated emission intensities ranged from 21.5 to 34.1 kg CO2 eq (kg carcass)−1. High C loss from farms with high initial soil organic carbon (SOC) content warrants further examination of the C balance of permanent grasslands as a potential mitigation option for beef production systems
Fostering collaboration between reuse, repair and recycling centers for electric and electronic equipment
No full textWhen an electronic device fails, treatment procedures and objectives can differ significantly depending on the actor who receives the device. For example, repair facilities generally focus on product reuse and rely on the expertise of employees to select models suitable for repair and subsequent reselling in second-hand stores, while recycling businesses generally focus on bulk processing to recycle raw materials. Even though devices destined for recycling might still qualify for repair or contain valuable/reusable components, there is no method to identify those models quickly in a cost-efficient manner. In addition, tools are lacking that facilitate the registration and retrieval of information on the repairability of specific models or the value of its spare parts. Therefore, an interactive web application has been developed in close collaboration with one of Europe’s largest networks of reuse and repair centers. The developed application can be used when performing triage to determine whether to repair or recycle a specific model. A photograph of the device label is uploaded to an online model identification pipeline. The latter recognizes text on the image with deep learning techniques and compares the text with a database to identify the model, allowing for model-specific information and previous repair experiences to be displayed to the user. Thereafter, novel triage and repair information can be registered and stored for later use. In the presented research, the triage and registration procedure is tested at two repair facilities on 97 washing machines. Learnings from the co-development as well as improvements made throughout the experiment on to the interactive interfaces and forms of the application are presented in this article