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Social sustainability in architectural practice:Examining experiences of architectural offices in B-Corp certification in the United Kingdom
Full text linkPurpose: Social sustainability (SS) is one of the key pillars of sustainability along with environmental and economic sustainability. Several impact assessment frameworks (IAF) exist to evaluate sustainability in the built environment, yet SS is often neglected. This paper is the first to investigate the effectiveness of the B-Corp certification scheme as an IAF to promote SS in architectural practice. With almost 3.5 folds increase in the number of B-Corp-certified UK-based architectural offices, in the last two years, and the neglect of the social dimension of sustainability in IAF application; the key question of this research is “What roles does B-Corp play in architectural practice to promote SS in the UK?” Design/methodology/approach: This research is based on qualitative data collection and thematic analysis. Eight semi-structured online interviews were conducted with B-Corp-certified architectural offices in the UK. The interview questions focused on understanding the offices' B-Corp experiences around three categories: motivations, challenges and changes. Through a coding process, the interviews were analysed to find the similarities and differences between the offices' approaches to SS and their experiences as B-Corps. Keywords were identified and themes with an inductive approach, applying the research question as a lens. Findings: Data was analysed to understand how B-Corp and its IAF relate to the architectural offices. The study concluded that B-Corp can make it easier to establish inter-actor relationships and B-Corp’s IAF can provide a holistic approach in which architectural offices can better measure their sustainable values by switching the evaluation scale from “building” to “business” unlike common IFAs in the built environment; with these two roles, it can effectively contribute to social sustainability. Originality/value: It is the first research to introduce the B-Corp certification to the architectural literature. Even though over 90 publications are covering B-Corp in other domains, there has yet to be any research looking at B-Corp-certified architectural offices, its merits as an IAF and limitations. This paper presents novel contributions to the knowledge concerning the assessment of social sustainability in architecture.</p
Experimental data and code for "Consensus formation and change are enhanced by neutrality"
No full textThis dataset contains raw and processed data on a number of experiments on marching locust nymphs in a ring-shaped arena. With sufficiently large densities the locusts exhibit coherent motion and directional switching. The code accompanying that data is for processing the raw data, analysing the processed data and simulating both spatial and non-spatial models of the data. This dataset also contains raw and processed data on a number of experiments into consensus formation in which human participants played an iterated voting game. The code accompanying the data is for processing the raw data, analysing the processed data and simulating mathematical models of the process. This dataset also contains code to simulate a model of nucleosome modification. The model describes the modifications of nucleosomes by recruitment of modifying and unmodifying enzymes from their neighbours or in a ‘recruitment-independent’ (spontaneous) manner. In the model, nucleosomes can be acetylated (A), unmodified (U) or methylated (M), hence A and M represent active states, while U is a neutral state. Effective collective decision-making in human and animal groups requires robust mechanisms for consensus formation and change, typically via feedback loops in which individuals adapt their behaviour and opinions based on their perception of others. Such processes have been observed in the onset of motion in insect swarms and is believed to manifest across scales from nucleosomes to entire societies. However, levels of participation can be highly variable over time, with individuals sometimes adopting neutral positions such as moving to the back of a group or abstaining from a vote. In this work we present a new theoretical and experimental analysis showing that neutrality has two important and hitherto unreported benefits to collective decision making. First, it enables the robust formation of consensus in groups of individuals applying simple linear reasoning, updating their state after consideration of at most one other individual at a time. Second, we find that neutral actors can facilitate efficient consensus change by reducing the effective population size during transitions. These findings are derived from a new general mathematical model of collective binary decision problems, and validated against experiments with insect and human populations. Our results provide a parsimonious explanation of how groups of animals and humans quickly reach and overturn consensus, suggesting efficient solutions to collective decision-making problems
Vortex-carrying solitary gravity waves of large amplitude
Full text linkIn this paper, we study two-dimensional traveling waves in finite-depth water that are acted upon solely by gravity. We prove that, for any supercritical Froude number (non-dimensionalized wave speed), there exists a continuous one-parameter family C of solitary waves in equilibrium with a submerged point vortex. This family bifurcates from an irrotational uniform flow, and, at least for large Froude numbers, extends up to the development of a surface singularity or blowup of the circulation. These are the first rigorously constructed gravity wave-borne point vortices without surface tension, and notably our formulation allows the free surface to be overhanging. We also provide a numerical bifurcation study of traveling periodic gravity waves with submerged point vortices, which strongly suggests that some of these waves indeed overturn. Finally, we prove that at generic solutions on C—including those that are large amplitude or even overhanging—the point vortex can be desingularized to obtain solitary waves with a submerged hollow vortex. Physically, these can be thought of as traveling waves carrying spinning bubbles of air.</p
Novel adaptive sliding-mode control of digital hydraulic systems with nonlinear flow prediction and friction identification
Full text linkDigital hydraulics has emerged as a novel technology widely utilized in engineering equipment, heavy-duty manipulators, and new energy vehicles. However, the high-frequency discrete fluid generated by high-speed on/off valves (HSVs) exacerbates the nonlinear characteristics of digital hydraulic systems (DHSs), thereby limiting control accuracy during fluid transmission. To address this issue, a model-based adaptive sliding-mode control method (ASMC) is proposed, which incorporates two soft measurement methods that integrate friction identification for the DHS with nonlinear flow prediction for the HSV to accurately describe the kinetic model. Subsequently, the coupling parameters in the Stribeck friction model are precisely identified using the particle swarm optimization-least squares algorithm, replacing previous empirical values. Additionally, a high-precision output flow prediction model for the HSV is constructed utilizing a back propagation neural network to address the drawbacks associated with mechanical inertia in the flowmeter. A second-order integral sliding-mode surface is designed to eliminate steady-state error. By incorporating a boundary layer saturation function, the error jitter can be effectively suppressed, allowing the DHS to converge rapidly to a quasi-sliding mode. Furthermore, the stability of the controlled system is validated by the Lyapunov theory. Results indicate that ASMC significantly enhances the dynamic-static performance of the DHS compared to the traditional integral sliding-mode control method, which overlooks the nonlinear behaviors of output flow and friction force. The response characteristic’s setting time is dramatically reduced from 0.86 s to 0.36 s, while the maximum average steady-state error under various loads greatly decreases from 112.4 μm to 23.4 μm. Therefore, the proposed ASMC with the two soft measurement methods presents an innovative solution for the high-precision motion control of the DHS and holds significant engineering application value
Irreverent Pessimism (A Planetary Life Without Appeal)
Full text linkPerhaps the most disorienting feature of the long socioecological disaster that makes ever sprawling environmental disasters amplify the effects of ongoing and uneven conditions of poverty, violence, and dispossession, is not its urgency, but its permanence: that there is no foreseeable future in which redemption would prevail. What might it take to refuse the cruel hope for a redemptive future without seeking consolation in the despair that such forlorn hope precipitates? At a time when everyone is extorted to save the world or be damned, this article explores the irreverent pessimism of what, after Camus, one might call a planetary “life without appeal.” Refusing to be content with what is now deemed proper to damned of the earth, irreverent pessimism affirms the insubordinate disposition of a life lived in the most radical immanence of a freedom born not of hope but of the ongoing improvisation of a revolt without future
Adsorption performance and mechanism analysis of hydrotalcite derived CaFe-bimetal materials for highly efficient Cd<sup>2+</sup> removal process from kinetic and isotherm aspects
Full text linkThe removal of toxic and soluble Cd2+ is facing challenges in developing low-cost materials with retention stability and high capacity. To solve this problem, the CaFe-bimetal hydrotalcite (LDH) and its oxide (LDO) were adopted due to their integrated excellent ion exchange and isomorphic substitution property. The influencing factors, including Ca/Fe mole ratio, calcination temperature, the initial Cd2+ concentration and the adjustable ion kinds, were considered to obtain better adsorption performance. Similar ion size of Ca2+ and Cd2+ and the calcined LDOs with expanded channels promoted the Ca2+ dissolution and the mass transfer of Cd2+ entering into the laminate, and thus the isomorphic substitution sufficiently improved the high efficiency of Cd2+ removal of about 1079 mg/g in 20 min with Ca4Fe1-LDO-300. Based on the characterization and DFT results, LDOs exposed more active sites and enhanced the isomorphic substitution of Cd2+ for Ca2+ process. The thermodynamic and kinetic results revealed that the abundant –OH sites in hydrotalcite were beneficial for Cd2+ removal through surface adsorption, electrostatic attraction, and other interactions. The obtained adsorption mechanism offers guidance for the highly efficient Cd2+ removal in an aqueous solution system.</p
Precarious work:A critical review and a proposal for future research
Full text linkThis paper provides an interdisciplinary critical integrative review of research on precarious work. Based on a review of 311 records, we develop an integrated framework that brings together the antecedents, outcomes, and responses to precarious work found in the literature. We also explain the discrepancy between the ideas of key influential thinkers about the existence of political potential of precarity, and the lack of fieldwork evidence that would suggest that this potential is coming to fruition. We highlight that prevailing theorisations do not take appropriate account of the historico-cultural embeddedness, or the intersectional experiences, outcomes of, and responses to precarious work in different locations. We outline a pathway for future research, arguing for: 1) shifting the empirical focus of studies towards greater inclusion of members of currently under-represented geographical contexts, occupations and social groups, and towards appreciation of the different, context-specific forms, impacts, and responses to precarious work; 2) developing a nuanced understanding of the experiences and outcomes of precarious work as an intersectional phenomenon; 3) decolonising our thinking about precarious work through engagement in reflexivity about the assumptions underlying the extant knowledge. Finally, we put forward policy recommendations for addressing the prevalence and impacts of precarious work worldwide
Inelastic behaviour and algebraic characterisation of long cylindrical shells under combined compression and bending
Full text linkLong thin-walled cylindrical metallic shells, widely used in civil engineering infrastructures such as wind turbine towers and pipelines, exhibit complex structural behaviour under combined compression and bending. This complexity arises from interactions between geometric and material nonlinearities, particularly cross-sectional ovalisation under bending. Current design standards, including Eurocode 3 Part 1-6, lack comprehensive guidance for such loading scenarios. As part of the ongoing development of Eurocode 3 Part 1-6, this study investigates the inelastic performance of long cylindrical shells under combined bending and compression through a detailed finite element modelling program. A wide range of geometric parameters, including radius-to-thickness ratios, lengths, and load eccentricities were analysed to assess the influence of nonlinearities on structural response. Based on the modelled results, algebraic calculation methods are proposed to complement existing design rules, offering more accurate predictions for the buckling and ultimate strength of cylindrical shells under combined compression and bending
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