Holistic Assessment Research Articles

Assessing the potential for additive manufacturable spare parts in the railway industry by a data-driven framework

Due to the long-life span of railway vehicles, spare part availability is a major challenge for railway companies. To avoid downtime, high procurement costs, and shortages, railway companies often stock large and costly inventories. However, additive manufacturing (AM) makes it possible to cost-effectively produce spare parts in small quantities to reduce inventory. To assess the suitability of a spare part and choose the optimal supply strategy, economic and technical data must be available in good quality. The lack of centralised information and poor data quality is one of the biggest challenges for AM potential assessment.A workflow was designed, in which system data from various databases was mapped and enhanced with technical information. In addition, the potential for additive manufacturability was evaluated based on costs and savings affected by transportation, design, manufacturing, storage compared to other supply strategies. The resulting database was then used to classify the spare parts based on specific characteristics. The defined classes provide information about the timeline for implementing the part and the type of application. A similarity check based on identified AM spare parts is used to search the entire database to identify additional potential AM parts. The result is a data-driven framework to conduct a holistic potential assessment for additive manufacturable spare parts.

Impact of earthquake on river water quality based on combination of satellite data and groundwater analysis

The impact of an earthquake on river water quality is massive, and the quality of life and environment typically changes as a result of a quick drop in the environment system. A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Ranau area of Sabah, Malaysia, in 2015, affecting the Liwagu River’s water quality. Satellite data on earthquakes, coupled with local water quality data collecting, allows for an accurate assessment of water quality parameters. As a result, the Sabah Water Department provided secondary water quality data from Bambangan and Kimolohing on the Liwagu River. Following that, turbidity, color, pH, electric conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate (NO3−), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), alkalinity, hardness, chloride (Cl-), and sulfate (SO42−) were chosen. The investigation discovered unusually high turbidity and color in the water on June 17, 2015, as well as elevated levels of Al, Fe, and Mn. DO concentrations plummeted to 3.8 mg/L on the same day. Statistical analyses, employing the Kruskal-Wallis test, identified significant parameters—Fe (0.001) and Mn (0.001) at both stations, turbidity (0.001), and color (0.003) in Kimolohing, and Al (0.027) in Bambangan. Recovery in water quality took two weeks to two months, with iron and manganese requiring over six months for restoration. The earthquake didn’t solely dominate the impact but altered pollution sources to the river. The discussion highlights the synthesis of spatial and temporal dynamics enabled by the integration of ground and satellite data. This approach not only refines retrospective analyses but also propels us into predictive modeling, enhancing preparedness for future seismic events. The study’s holistic environmental impact assessment extends beyond water quality, unraveling cascading effects on ecosystems, soil, and vegetation. Informed decision-making for sustainable resource utilization emerges as a pivotal outcome, emphasizing the interconnectedness of seismic activity, rainfall patterns, and water quality. The study serves as a blueprint for future environmental assessments, emphasizing multifaceted approaches to understand and mitigate the complex impacts of seismic events on water resources.

Unveiling diagnostic prowess: a comparative study of exercise treadmill test and CT coronary in coronary artery disease detection in Pakistan (2021-2023).

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a global health concern, with diagnostic modalities and risk factors that exhibit regional variations. This study, conducted at the Islamabad Diagnostic Center, Pakistan, aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of CAD prevalence, severity, and associated risk factors, while also evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of Computed Tomography Coronary Test (CTT) and Exercise Treadmill Test (ETT) in a cohort of 2909 patients. Among the patients assessed via CT Coronary scans, CAD was universally observed, presenting with varying degrees of severity. Our findings indicated that 24.5% of patients had mild CAD, 28.6% exhibited mild to moderate CAD, 16.3% were diagnosed with moderate CAD, 18.4% demonstrated moderate to severe CAD, and 20.4% displayed severe CAD. This spectrum underscores the diverse nature of CAD within the study population. In addition to CTT, we conducted a detailed evaluation of ETT results in 49 patients. These results revealed that 55.1% of patients tested positive for ischemia during the exercise test, emphasizing the prevalence of cardiac stress and underlying CAD. Conversely, 32.7% of patients exhibited negative ETT results, indicating favorable cardiac tolerance during physical activity. A subset of patients yielded non-diagnostic or inconclusive results, necessitating further clinical assessment. Disease history analysis showed a dichotomy within the cohort, with 20.4% having a known medical history and 79.6% possessing an unknown disease history, highlighting the importance of comprehensive medical records in clinical practice. Hypertension, a critical cardiovascular risk factor, was identified in 87.8% of patients, underscoring its significance. Smoking history displayed notable variation, with 69.4% categorized as smokers, 14.3% as ex-smokers, and 10.2% as non-smokers. Lipid profile analysis indicated that 69.4% of patients had abnormal lipid levels. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of CTT and ETT, we calculated Positive Predictive Values (PPV) and Negative Predictive Values (NPV). CTT exhibited a PPV of approximately 5.99% and an NPV of approximately 4.40%, whereas ETT displayed a higher PPV of around 26.44% and a substantially higher NPV of about 49.24%. This study offers valuable insights into CAD prevalence, severity, and associated risk factors in a Pakistani cohort, emphasizing the importance of holistic risk assessment and tailored interventions in clinical practice. Our findings also highlight the diagnostic utility of ETT in CAD assessment.

A Holistic Self-Assessment Tool for Circular Economy Transitions in Cities and Regions

In the European context, cities and regions play a key role in boosting circularity and achieve the European Green Deal action plan mbition to ‘boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy’. To this end, cities and regions will be instrumental in promoting circularity through engagement with key actors and integration of circular economy (CE) goals within their policies and spatial plans. To support this effort, it is essential to develop appropriate metrics and tools for evaluating the progress and transition towards a circular economy. Although numerous new assessment methodologies have been suggested (Corona et al., 2019), they generally focus on quantitatively assessing how circular a project, system, or business is, or on evaluating the extent to which circular strategies align with the principles of a circular economy. Current metrics rarely extend beyond material sustainability assessments, which means they often do not capture the complexity of the CE transition and lack a comprehensive, integrated perspective. In particular, what they omit are the spatial (Williams, 2020), the governance (Korhonen et al., 2018) and the social dimensions (Pitkänen et al., 2020). In this paper, we propose a holistic transition assessment tool developed and tested across several metropolitan regions, including Amsterdam, Naples, Łódź, Hamburg and Pécs, being at different stages of the circular economy transition. The final version of the tool was applied in two cases, the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area and the city of Tomaszów Mazowiecki. The tool focuses on five dimensions: (1) governance structures, (2) awareness, comprehensiveness of the sustainability assessment, (3) tools for measuring material stocks and flows as well as (4) for co-creation of solutions and strategies with stakeholders, and (5) circular built environment. The results of applying the tool in a series of workshops with regional CE stakeholders allow for exploring the following questions: What is the state of the transition towards CE in European urban regions from a holistic perspective? What hinders these transitions? And how to identify means to overcome those barriers? The assessment tool is of interest for regional and urban policy-makers, planners and stakeholders engaged in development of CE strategies and policies. What is more, the results presented in the paper allow for comparative insights into the state of transition towards CE and for drawing lessons on what it takes to nudge the development of regions and cities towards circularity.

Qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis of Leptadenia hastata: exploring a traditional african medicinal plant.

Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne is a commonly used food source and prescribed as a traditional African medicine for treatment of various diseases, such as diabetes, skin disorders, wounds, and ulcers. However, quality control has become a bottleneck restricting the therapeutic development and utilization of this plant. In this study, a reliable method for qualitative and quantitative determination of components in Leptadenia hastata was established. The components of L. hastata were profiled using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Subsequently, an ultra-high performance tandem diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD)-based method was used for simultaneous quantitative analysis of five major constituents in six batches of L. hastata samples. As a result, 35 compounds were tentatively identified. The quantities of the five constituents (vicenin-Ⅱ, orientin, schaftoside, chrysin 6-C-arabinoside 8-C-glucoside, chrysin 6-C-glucoside 8-C-arabinoside) were determined as 124.8-156.9μg/g, 170.5-216.0μg/g, 61.31-93.73μg/g, 85.13-119.3μg/g and 99.82-129.4μg/g, respectively. This method offers a successful strategy for precise and effective evaluation of the constituents of L. hastata, providing a robust foundation for holistic quality assessment of medicinal plants.

Chytrid infections exhibit historical spread and contemporary seasonality in a declining stream-breeding frog.

Species with extensive geographical ranges pose special challenges to assessing drivers of wildlife disease, necessitating collaborative and large-scale analyses. The imperilled foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) inhabits a wide geographical range and variable conditions in rivers of California and Oregon (USA), and is considered threatened by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). To assess drivers of Bd infections over time and space, we compiled over 2000 datapoints from R. boylii museum specimens (collected 1897-2005) and field samples (2005-2021) spanning 9° of latitude. We observed a south-to-north spread of Bd detections beginning in the 1940s and increase in prevalence from the 1940s to 1970s, coinciding with extirpation from southern latitudes. We detected eight high-prevalence geographical clusters through time that span the species' geographical range. Field-sampled male R. boylii exhibited the highest prevalence, and juveniles sampled in autumn exhibited the highest loads. Bd infection risk was highest in lower elevation rain-dominated watersheds, and with cool temperatures and low stream-flow conditions at the end of the dry season. Through a holistic assessment of relationships between infection risk, geographical context and time, we identify the locations and time periods where Bd mitigation and monitoring will be critical for conservation of this imperilled species.

Impact of Belt and Road Initiative on Energy and Environment for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, aims to enhance economic relations between China and global regions, emphasizing sustainable development through renewable energy initiatives. Despite its potential benefits, concerns about the BRI's environmental and energy impacts persist, necessitating a comprehensive analysis. This systematic review and meta-analysis utilized a rigorous search across multiple databases and included studies from database inception to 2024. Criteria included research on the BRI's influence on energy, environment, and sustainable development, focusing on publications in energy, environmental science, economics, econometrics, and finance. Review encompassed 87 relevant documents, employing content analysis, bibliometric analysis, and systematic literature review techniques. Co-authorship, co-citation, and co-word analyses provided insights into research networks, thematic evolution, and keyword relationships. Findings highlighted the BRI's effects on green energy, carbon emission reduction, foreign direct investment, global value chains, and environmental sustainability, with notable contributions to understanding economic structures, trade patterns, and regulatory frameworks. Study contributes significantly to understanding how the BRI influences sustainable development, emphasizing the need for integrated impact assessments, governance frameworks, inclusive development, technological innovation, long-term environmental impacts, and policy evaluations. Future research directions include evaluating environmental laws, assessing social and environmental impacts, and promoting evidence-based policymaking for sustainable BRI initiatives. The Belt and Road Initiative's complex effects on energy, environment, and sustainable development underscore the importance of holistic assessments and interdisciplinary approaches to inform policymaking and achieve sustainable development goals within BRI projects.

Is climate migration successful adaptation or maladaptation? A holistic assessment of outcomes in Kenya

Research is increasingly approaching migration as an adaptation to climate risk. Yet our understanding of the migration-adaptation nexus remains limited, as most studies conceptualize migration as either adaptive or maladaptive and focus on specific aspects of vulnerability. To advance a comprehensive understanding of migration’s successful and maladaptive effects, this study employs a two-dimensional conceptualization of migration outcomes, encompassing a range of vulnerability variables at the migrant and household levels and migrants’ well-being. This framework is applied to the case of drought-influenced migration from agro-pastoralist northern Kenya to the City of Nairobi. Based on semi-structured interviews with 40 long-term migrants, we identify quantitative and qualitative migration-induced changes in the examined variables.The results highlight the complexity of migration outcomes. Effects on the broad range of variables comprising vulnerability’s exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity components are mixed. Migrants’ ability to provide their families’ basic needs has improved, although only half of the households could allocate remittances to reconstruct their drought-stricken livelihood sources in northern Kenya. Moreover, the profound change in social-environmental settings induced by migration exposed migrants to unfamiliar risks, such as urban crime, but also to new sources of adaptive capacity, such as knowledge enabling the development of climate-insensitive livelihoods. However, migration’s partial success in reducing vulnerability came at the expense of migrants’ well-being, which diminished drastically. These findings stress the need for fundamental changes in the migration-as-adaptation literature, including a more thorough engagement with the temporalities and scope of migration’s effects on adaptation, greater attention to the tradeoffs that are integral to migration as adaptation, and a shift to analytical frameworks that consider maladaptive effects alongside successful ones. We argue that these changes are essential to develop interventions that maximize migration’s adaptive potential while minimizing its maladaptive effects.

Chronic wounds of the lower limbs: a guide for non-specialists

Chronic lower-extremity ulcers are a growing public health problem, resulting in significant costs for society and patients, and having a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and informal caregivers. As general practitioners are often solicited early on, the acquisition of basic knowledge regarding wound care management is therefore essential to initiate local care, to make an early diagnosis and identify emergencies and patients that need a referral. The CASE and TIMERS frameworks enable a holistic assessment of the patient and the wound, to propose a treatment of the wound based on its etiology combined with appropriate local wound care. This framework allows also to identify atypical, severe, or recalcitrant wounds requiring specialized advice.

Body mass index is a barrier to obesity treatment.

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) obesity drug guidance is set on the basis of body mass index (BMI), with thresholds of either BMI ≥30 or BMI ≥27 kg/m2 with weight-related comorbidities. While BMI is associated with obesity-related health outcomes, there are known limitations to use as a direct measure of body fat or metabolic health, and the American Medical Association has highlighted limitations of BMI in assessing individual obesity risks. BMI thresholds impose a barrier to treatment. In a sample from the NHANES dataset (n=6,646 men and women), 36% of individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) may not be eligible for obesity pharmacotherapy. This analysis provides quantifiable justification for refinement of the BMI treatment criteria with a more holistic assessment of individual obesity-related disease risk.

A holistic approach to evaluate the synergies and trade-offs of city and country success

The United Nations presented a global action plan of an integrated nature for sustainable development, and the role of cities is seen as central in efforts to implement these goals. Integrating city performance evaluation methods containing sustainability indicators is becoming increasingly popular. The United Nations and other international organizations and researchers analyze urban sustainability in the context of different countries. However, holistic assessment methods that can show if and to what extent a city is sustainable, measure its progress, and provide information for policy development are only just emerging. Our Synergies and Trade-offs Recommendation Method for Sustainable Cities and Communities (the STRICT method) proposes that country and city metrics are connected in multifaceted ways through tradeoffs and synergies. As a result of this analysis, city models and maps were created, and digital evidence-based recommendations were provided to urban and national policymakers based on the findings of the analysis. A 1% improvement in country success individual metrics led to a synergistic effect in 189 out of 219 city indicators (86.3%). The STRICT method suggests a notable impact of a country’s social, cultural, and political success on the city indicators.

Green economy transition in Asia Pacific: A holistic assessment of renewable energy production

This study explores the factors affecting renewable energy production (REP) in the Asia Pacific region, specifically focusing on China, Japan, and India from 2006 to 2022. This research shows impact of renewable energy, government policy and incentives, forest area, green technological innovations, and renewable energy investment on ecological footprints in the Asia Pacific, with a specific focus on how various aspects of the shift towards a sustainable economy. The elasticity coefficient of environmental performance and public support was negative, a 1% increase in the EPI caused 0.166% drop in the ecological footprint. The ecological footprint shrinks by 0.019% for 1% rise in investment in renewable energy infrastructure. The ecological footprint shrinks by 0.795% for 1% rise in government policy and incentives. The ecological footprint shrinks by 0.518% for 1% increase in green technological innovation. The ecological footprint shrinks by 0.734% for 1% rise in renewable energy use. An increase in forest area of 1% is linked to a decrease in the ecological footprint of 0.016%. It is suggested to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach that involves multiple actors and factors at different levels to improve environmental sustainability. Policy should monitor and evaluate the impacts and outcomes of the interventions to improve environmental sustainability. These countries must first carry out substantial structural reforms in an environmentally responsible manner, need to implement measures aimed at decreasing emissions into their plans for economic growth to ensure the long-term sustainability of the environment and the economy. Furthermore, and most they must drastically move away from its main reliance on non-renewable energy sources and raise the percentage in its place of renewable energy. As a result, the nation must greatly boost its energy sector investments, especially in the expansion of the renewable energy. The government should instead reallocate funds to the construction of renewable energy-powered power facilities. These nations must offer financial rewards to encourage the development of new technology. So, this study highlights the importance of fostering environmental awareness, enhancing government policies and incentives, and investing in energy storage capacity to accelerate the transition to a green economy in the region. This research also recommended some future work related to renewable energy technologies.

Personalised care packages for people with rheumatoid arthritis: a mixed-methods study

ObjectivesDisease management in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) requires holistic assessment. We aimed to design personalised care packages suitable for people with RA.MethodsThis study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach and exploratory...

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INNOVATION PATHWAYS IN EAST ASIA: JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, CHINA, AND TAIWAN

This study offers a comparative analysis of innovation strategies employed in East-Asia, with a specific focus on Japan, South-Korea, Taiwan, and China. By examining these models, we explore the factors contributing to Japan’s recent challenges, while acknowledging the substantial efforts South-Korea, Taiwan, and China have produced. It uncovers key similarities and differences among these countries, laying the foundation for a nuanced understanding of regional dynamics. Additionally, this article proposes a definition of innovation tailored to the East-Asian setting to capture the intricate interplay of cultural, societal, and economic factors, and introduces a personalized index of innovation, which considers the recent efforts introduced by each state, offering a comprehensive evaluation framework that allows for a holistic assessment of their innovation performance. In conclusion, we offer insights for Japan's revival prospects. Drawing upon the successful strategies of these neighboring countries directed towards re-boosting Japan’s position as a Global Innovation Leader.

Rural Women Entrepreneurship in South Africa: Issues and Challenges

Despite its importance in rural development, women’s entrepreneurship has faced a series of problems in South Africa. For a holistic assessment of such problems, through a literature review approach, this study aims to review prior research on women entrepreneurship, with a focus on the issues and challenges surrounding rural women entrepreneurship in South Africa. Secondary information sources, such as journal articles, theses, books, abstracts, and credible business-affiliated websites, were used to conduct the review. Among the results emerging from the study, some of the key challenges facing South African rural women entrepreneurs include a lack of adequate financing, education and training, gender bias, inadequate business skills, and difficulties in balancing between family and business. In view of these challenges, this study recommends capacity-building programmes, a robust government policy framework, and opening wider channels of funding and awareness to foster entrepreneurial activities among rural women entrepreneurs in South Africa.

Factors within the clinical encounter that impact upon risk assessment within child and adolescent mental health services: a rapid realist synthesis.

Risk assessment is a key process when a child or adolescent presents at risk for self-harm or suicide in a mental health crisis or emergency. Risk assessment by a healthcare professional should be included within a biopsychosocial assessment. However, the predictive value of risk-screening tools for self-harm and suicide in children and adolescents is consistently challenged. A review is needed to explore how best to undertake risk assessment and the appropriate role for tools/checklists within the assessment pathway. To map research relating to risk assessment for child and adolescent mental health and to identify features that relate to a successful risk assessment. To review factors within the clinical encounter that impact upon risk assessments for self-harm and suicide in children and adolescents: i. to conduct a realist synthesis to understand mechanisms for risk assessment, why they occur and how they vary by context ii. to conduct a mapping review of primary studies/reviews to describe available tools of applicability to the UK. Databases, including MEDLINE, PsycINFO®, EMBASE, CINAHL, HMIC, Science and Social Sciences Citation Index and the Cochrane Library, were searched (September 2021). Searches were also conducted for reports from websites. A resource-constrained realist synthesis was conducted exploring factors that impact upon risk assessments for self-harm and suicide. This was accompanied by a mapping review of primary studies/reviews describing risk-assessment tools and approaches used in UK child and adolescent mental health. Following piloting, four reviewers screened retrieved records. Items were coded for the mapping and/or for inclusion in the realist synthesis. The review team examined the validity and limitations of risk-screening tools. In addition, the team identified structured approaches to risk assessment. Reporting of the realist synthesis followed RAMESES guidelines. From 4084 unique citations, 249 papers were reviewed and 41 studies (49 tools) were included in the mapping review. Eight reviews were identified following full-text screening. Fifty-seven papers were identified for the realist review. Findings highlight 14 explanations (programme theories) for a successful risk assessment for self-harm and suicide. Forty-nine individual assessment tools/approaches were identified. Few tools were developed in the UK, specifically for children and adolescents. These lacked formal independent evaluation. No risk-screening tool is suitable for risk prediction; optimal approaches incorporate a relationship of trust, involvement of the family, where appropriate, and a patient-centred holistic approach. The objective of risk assessment should be elicitation of information to direct a risk formulation and care plan. Many identified tools are well-established but lack scientific validity, particularly predictive validity, or clinical utility. Programme theories were generated rapidly from a survey of risk assessment. No single checklist/approach meets the needs of risk assessment for self-harm and suicide. A whole-system approach is required, informed by structured clinical judgement. Useful components include a holistic assessment within a climate of trust, facilitated by family involvement. This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42021276671. This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR135079) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 12, No. 1. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Derivation and validation of the BIMAST score for predicting the presence of fibrosis due to Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among diabetic patients in the community.

Current screening pathways, developed from tertiary care cohorts, underestimate the presence of Metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the community. We developed, validated, and assessed cost-effectiveness of a new score for screening the presence of fibrosis due to MASLD in primary care. Consecutive T2DM patients underwent screening for liver diseases with transient elastography (TE). Based on predictors of significant/advanced fibrosis, we generated the BIMAST score (based on aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and body mass index (BMI)) and validated it internally and externally (Royal Free Hospital, London and Palermo Hospital). For cost-effectiveness analysis, 6 screening strategies were compared against standard of care: BIMAST score, ultrasound plus abnormal liver function tests, FIB-4, NAFLD fibrosis score, ELF and transient elastography (TE). A Markov model was built based on fibrosis status. Cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were estimated over a lifetime. Among 300 patients enrolled, 64% (186) had MASLD and 10% (28) other causes of liver disease. In the whole population, patients with significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis due to MASLD were 17% (50/287), 11% (31/287), and 3% (8/287), respectively. In primary care, BIMAST performed better than other non-invasive markers at predicting significant and advanced fibrosis. Moreover, BIMAST reduced false negatives from 54% (ELF) and 38% (FIB-4) to 10%. In both validation cohorts, BIMAST performance was as good as FIB-4. In the cost-utility analysis, ICER was £2,337.92/QALY for BIMAST. The BIMAST predicts the presence of significant fibrosis in the community, reduces false negatives and is cost-effective. The BIMAST score should be included in the holistic assessment of diabetic patients.

Path2Green: introducing 12 green extraction principles and a novel metric for assessing sustainability in biomass valorization.

We propose an innovative approach to address the pressing need for efficient and transparent evaluation techniques to assess extraction processes' sustainability. In response to society's growing demand for natural products and the consequent surge in biomass exploration, a critical imperative arises to ensure that these processes are genuinely environmentally friendly. Extracting natural compounds has traditionally been regarded as a benign activity rooted in ancient practices. However, contemporary extraction methods can also significantly harm the environment if not carefully managed. Recognizing this, we developed a novel metric, Path2Green, tailored specifically and rooted in 12 new principles of a green extraction process. Path2Green seeks to provide a comprehensive framework beyond conventional metrics, offering a nuanced understanding of the environmental impact of extraction activities from biomass collection/production until the end of the process. By integrating factors such as resource depletion, energy consumption, waste generation, and biodiversity preservation, Path2Green aims to offer a holistic assessment of sustainability of an extraction approach. The significance of Path2Green lies in its ability to distill complex environmental data into a simple, accessible metric. This facilitates informed decision-making for stakeholders across industries, enabling them to prioritize greener extraction practices. Moreover, by setting clear benchmarks and standards, Path2Green incentivizes innovation and drives continuous improvement in sustainability efforts, being a new user-friendly methodology.

Insights into Banking Sector Grievance Redressal: A Holistic Assessment of Employee Perspectives

Insights into Banking Sector Grievance Redressal: A Holistic Assessment of Employee Perspectives

Holistic Assessment of Decarbonization Pathways of Energy-Intensive Industries Based on Exergy Analysis

The decarbonization of the industrial sector plays a crucial role in a successful energy transition. This transformation is very costly and complex, as many of the existing production processes and plants will have to be partially or completely replaced to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This raises questions about how significant reductions in CO2 emissions resulting from decarbonization will affect the use of resources to produce a certain product and the overall value of sustainability. This article considers the relationship between CO2 reduction and the impact on the resource efficiency of an industrial production process. For this purpose, a methodology was developed that holistically assesses the decarbonization pathway of an industrial sector. This holistic assessment takes into account the energy carriers, raw materials, and auxiliary and construction materials used for the operation and building of the significant plant components and summarizes them as a total use of resources. For this purpose, the use of resources is represented by the thermodynamic quantity exergy, which takes into account both the energy and material components of a production process. The energy and material streams in a production process are balanced by applying exergetic analysis. This methodology is used for current state-of-the-art and future decarbonized production processes in order to quantify the effects of the decarbonization process. By comparing the calculated resource efficiencies, the thermodynamic impact on the sustainability of decarbonization paths can be set in relation to the amount of CO2 saved. For validation, the developed methodology is applied to a conventional and a decarbonized ammonia production process. The conventional production route represents the production of ammonia by methane steam reforming, and the decarbonized production route is represented by synthesis gas production via water electrolysis and an air separation unit. The resource efficiency of the conventional ammonia production route, taking into account the energy sources, raw materials, construction materials, and auxiliary materials used, is 59%, producing a total of 1539 kg of CO2 emissions per ton of ammonia. The decarbonized process has a resource efficiency of 45%, while no CO2 emissions are produced in this manufacturing process. This means that the decarbonization of the production process reduces resource efficiency by 14%. In relation to the reduced amount of CO2, specific resource efficiency decreases by 9.09%/tCO2. The decline in resource efficiency is mainly due to the high level of heat and energy recovery in the conventional process and the very electricity-intensive hydrogen production in the decarbonized production process.