Technological Issues Research Articles

Designing circular supply chains with digital technologies for competitive sustainability: An operation management perspective

The objective of this research is to investigate how digital technologies, specifically blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), can be integrated into circular supply chains to enhance sustainability and preserve a competitive advantage. The goals of circular supply chains, which are founded on the ideas of the circular economy, are to reduce waste, promote resource regeneration, and lessen their negative effects on the environment. The study highlights the critical role that digital technologies play in guaranteeing transparency, promoting real-time monitoring, and optimizing resource distribution. Blockchain offers traceability and trust, IoT boosts visibility and operational efficiency within supply chains, and AI improves demand forecasting and resource efficiency. Though the benefits are obvious, there are significant obstacles to overcome, including high implementation costs, complex technological issues, scalability issues, and regulatory barriers. The research demonstrates how these digital technologies can effectively promote sustainability while enhancing operational efficiency through case studies of well-known companies like HP, Walmart, and Philips. The report also highlights important future trends and makes suggestions for companies looking to develop their workforces, invest in digital technologies, and work together on circular economy platforms. In the end, digital tool adoption is essential for creating supply chains that are more sustainable and competitive in the modern global economy.

Analysis of Enterprise Internet of Things Maturity Models: A Review

Maturity models are valuable tools when assessing the readiness and progress of technology incorporation in organizations, providing information for decision-making, resource allocation, and competitive advantage. The Internet of Things is a technology paradigm of global importance, especially for organizations, as it supports productivity improvements, real-time analysis, and customer satisfaction. Therefore, adopting and implementing this technology in enterprises brings several challenges, such as technological, organizational, security, and maturity issues. However, secondary studies that systematically compile the existing literature on these specific mechanisms for the enterprise domain are still being determined. This article aims to address this knowledge gap by conducting a review to deepen and synthesize the existing knowledge. This research followed established methodologies and protocols to synthesize and analyze the state of the art in the area; 489 documents were retrieved from seven bibliographic databases, and, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 36 primary studies were selected. The results indicate that the typical structures of maturity models incorporate technological, organizational, human, performance, and security dimensions through graded levels that denote the sophistication of the Internet of Things. Measurement techniques and metrics vary from model to model. There are few empirical validations or standardized improvement frameworks. The main conclusion is that there is a diversity of models, dimensions, indicators, and methods and a need for more comprehensive, adaptable, and user-friendly tools to help companies assess their Internet of Things maturity and inform future development strategies.

Fair Energy Trading in Blockchain-Inspired Smart Grid: Technological Barriers and Future Trends in the Age of Electric Vehicles

The global electricity demand from electric vehicles (EVs) increased by 3631% over the last decade, from 2600 gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2013 to 97,000 GWh in 2023. The global electricity demand from EVs will rise to 710,000 GWh by 2030. These EVs will depend on smart grids (SGs) for their charging requirements. Like EVs, SGs are a booming market. In 2021, SG technologies were valued at USD 43.1 billion and are projected to reach USD 103.4 billion by 2026. As EVs become more prevalent, they introduce additional complexity to the SG landscape, with EVs not only consuming energy, but also potentially supplying it back to the grid through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies. The entry of numerous independent sellers and buyers, including EV owners, into the market will lead to intense competition, resulting in rapid fluctuations in electricity prices and constant energy transactions to maximize profit for both buyers and sellers. Blockchain technology will play a crucial role in securing data publishing and transactions in this evolving scenario, ensuring transparent and efficient interactions between EVs and the grid. This survey paper explores key research challenges from an engineering design perspective of SG operation, such as the potential for voltage instability due to the integration of numerous EVs and distributed microgrids with fluctuating generation capacities and load demands. This paper also delves into the need for a synergistic balance to optimize the energy supply and demand equation. Additionally, it discusses policies and incentives that may be enforced by national electricity carriers to maintain grid reliability and manage the influx of EVs. Furthermore, this paper addresses emerging issues of SG technology providing primary charging infrastructure for EVs, such as incentivizing green energy, the technical difficulties in integrating diverse hetero-microgrids based on HVAC and HVDC technologies, challenges related to the speed of energy transaction processing during fluctuating prices, and vulnerabilities concerning cyber-attacks on blockchain-based SG architectures. Finally, future trends are discussed, including the impact of increased EV penetration on SGs, advancements in V2G technologies, load-shaping techniques, dynamic pricing mechanisms, and AI-based stability enhancement measures in the context of widespread SG adoption.

Review of Research Progress on Acoustic Test Equipment for Hydrate-Bearing Sediments

When acoustic waves propagate through hydrate samples, they carry extensive information related to their physical and mechanical properties. These details are comprehensively reflected in acoustic parameters such as velocity, attenuation coefficient, waveform, frequency, spectrum, and amplitude variations. Based on these parameters, it is possible to invert the physical and mechanical indicators and microstructural characteristics of hydrate samples, thereby addressing a series of issues in hydrate development engineering. This study first provides an overview of the current applications and prospects of acoustic testing in hydrate development. Subsequently, it systematically elaborates on the progress in research on acoustic testing systems for hydrate samples, including the principles of acoustic testing, ship-borne hydrate core acoustic detection systems, laboratory hydrate sample acoustic testing systems, and resonance column experimental systems. Based on this foundation, this study further discusses the development trends and challenges of acoustic testing equipment for hydrate-bearing sediments.

Santykis su atliekomis žiedinėje ekonomikoje: rūpesčio etikos perspektyva

This article examines the ethical dimension of waste management within the context of the circular economy. The authors argue for a shift in focus from technological and practical issues in waste management to a more holistic consideration of the ontological and ethical aspects of waste. By building on the ethics of care perspective, the article proposes a relational approach which prioritizes attentiveness, responsibility, competence, responsiveness, and involvement in addressing waste issues. By examining the five stages of care within the ethics of care framework, the study shows how ethical considerations can inform individual and collective actions within the paradigm of the circular economy. Ultimately, the article reconceptualizes waste as an integral part of our moral and ethical landscape by highlighting relationships embedded in care across private, domestic, institutional, and public domains.

Periodically Sinusoidal Magnetic Stray Field and Improved Film Quality of CoMnP Micro-Magnet Arrays for Magnetic Encoders by Electrodeposition with the Assistance of Ultrasound

Magnetic encoders are composed of a magnetic sensor, a hard magnetic recording medium and a signal processing circuit. Electrodeposited micro-magnet arrays produced by micro-fabrication are promising recording media for enhancing encoder performance. However, two major engineering issues have yet to be resolved. One issue is an unknown relationship between the feature sizes of micro-magnet arrays and their stray field shapes, and another issue is the formation of micro-cracks due to the built-up residual stresses of thick films. In this study, we investigated the effect of feature sizes on the emanating stray field shape at various observation heights. Feature sizes include two height (i.e., film thickness) values of 78 μm and 176 μm, and both width and spacing with three values of 360 μm, 520 μm and 680 μm. Ultrasound-assisted agitation was adopted for investigating the effects of electrodepositing current densities on the film crystalline microstructures and magnetic properties. Narrowing the width of micro-magnets helps the stray field to become a sinusoidal profile. Thinner film, i.e., thickness 78 μm in this study, supports the stray field taking on a sinusoidal profile. Moreover, the spacing between the micro-magnets plays a key factor in determining the shape of the stray field. Under 37 kHz/156 W ultrasound agitation, the optimal hard magnetic properties of electrodeposited CoMnP films are residual magnetization 2329 G and coercivity 968 Oe by a current density of 10.0 mA/cm2. Ultrasound-assisted electrodeposition, along with duly designed feature size, facilitates the micro-magnet arrays having a sinusoidal stray field shape using high quality films. Furthermore, for the first time, a systematic understanding of feature-size-dependent stray field evolution and improved polarities quality has been realized for the recording media of sinusoidal magnetic encoders.

Enhanced desalination performance of flow capacitive deionization with the addition of conductive polymer in redox couples and activated carbon

Freshwater scarcity is a critical global issue and desalination of brackish water and seawater technologies are regarded as effective solution to mitigate the increasing severity of water shortage. Flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) is an emerging electrochemical desalination technology capable of continuous deionization behavior. However, reducing energy consumption and enhancing desalination rate are now markedly needed for its advancement. Herein, we propose a FCDI system with energy consumption as low as 88.08 kJ mol−1 and a desalting rate of 1.75 μg cm−2 s−1. This is achieved by using flow electrodes containing 0.03125 wt% conductive polymer, 5 wt% activated carbon/carbon black and 80 mM/80 mM ferricyanide/ferrocyanide at a current density 3 mA cm−2 (3.36 mA current for a 1.12 cm2 active area). We further investigate the effects of polymer content, redox pair content, salt content and current densities on desalination performance. Seawater with a conductivity of 52.78 mS cm−1 was successfully desalinated to 0.50 mS cm−1 in continuous process. This research provides a promising approach to enhance FCDI system by achieving a low energy consumption and high salt removal rate, representing a significant advancement in continuous electrochemical desalination technology.

Ethical Issues in Memory Modification Technology: A Scoping Review.

Memory modification technology (MMT) refers to the use of neurotechnologies to intervene in memories. Many scholars have reflected on the ethical issues in MMT, but a comprehensive review of this topic has not been seen. This article presents the first scoping review study of ethical issues in MMT using a bibliometric and systematic approach. After thorough examination, 133 records of key literature are included in this scoping review. Six core ethical themes are extracted: (1) self, identity, and authenticity; (2) autonomy and informed consent; (3) welfare and happiness; (4) safety and risks; (5) responsibility and obligation; (6) social and legal justice. More detailed analyses are conducted on the moral stances and reasons held by different scholars concerning these ethical themes. As can be seen, current debates exhibit certain shortcomings, including ambiguous ethical concepts and a restricted scope of analysis. Therefore, we call for deeper reflections on the philosophical foundations, more precise definitions of ethical terms, and more comprehensive examinations of neurotechnological applications, in order to better address the ethical challenges in the future.

Fecal microbiota transplantation: a step into the past or the future? A review

New data on the association of intestinal microbiome changes with some serious diseases raised the question of the role of the bacteria living in the intestine in maintaining human health. One way to study the composition and function of the microbiome and adjust it is fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which refers to the transfer of the donor's intestinal microbiota into the recipient's body to modify species diversity. Currently, FMT is included in the standards of care for relapsed and refractory types of clostridial infection in many countries. Its possible effect on the course of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, metabolic syndrome, and some neurological and other diseases is being studied. Fecal biomaterial storage banks have been established in Europe, Asia, and the USA to facilitate donor selection, storage and delivery of the biomaterial to the recipient and simplify the control of the procedure, safety and adverse events. In Australia, a medicinal product is approved, which includes feces of specially examined and prepared donors. Despite many unresolved technological, legal and ethical issues, FMT has already been established as a promising potential treatment for many diseases.

Shear Capacity Prediction of Extremely-Loaded Box Culvert on Elastic Soil Using Artificial Neural Network

A box culvert, buried at shallow depths beneath roadways, may experience deflections caused by the dynamic impact of traffic loading and the vertical pressure exerted by the soil fill. A computational model commonly employed used to various engineering issues, including those in geotechnical applications, is the beam-on-elastic-foundation model. In this context, the Moment Distribution Method (MDM) must be applied to account for the elastic foundation. To achieve this, the internal forces acting on the ends of both exterior and interior walls are transferred to the beam-like bottom slab of the culvert, which rests on an elastic soil bed. Subsequently, the secondary internal forces are determined by refining the structural parameters, taking into account the characteristics of the elastic soil bed. This study presents the development and application of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to predict the shear capacity of box culverts on elastic soil under traffic loading conditions. The proposed model is trained and validated using a comprehensive database of beam on elastic foundation solutions. The input parameters include the geometrical and mechanical properties of the culvert and the soil, as well as the loading conditions. The results of the ANN model show R2 values of 0.9633 and 0.9581 for the training and testing sets, respectively, indicating the model's excellent accuracy. These findings suggest that the ANN model can reliably predict the shear capacity of culverts.

The practicality of long-term blended teaching and learning at a South African institution

Background: The rapid revolutionisation of technology and other factors such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, prompted higher education institutions to consider the possibility, necessity and implications of officially adopting a blended teaching and learning approach on a long-term basis.Aim: This research aimed to explore the practicality of a long-term blended teaching and learning model at a South African higher education institution.Setting: This research was conducted at a selected South African higher education institution.Methods: The article adopted a qualitative case study approach, and one-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data collected was then analysed using thematic analysis.Results: Although the institution was generally ready for blended teaching and learning during the pandemic, best practices such as further training and development for both lecturers and students on the pertinent systems and technology are imperative if a long-term blended teaching and learning is to be successful. There were also concerns regarding external, technological, and socio-economic issues that could hinder a successful long-term blended model.Conclusion: While the research revealed the institution’s overall ability to swiftly transition from face-to-face, to distance online and blended teaching and learning approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic, it also revealed that work still had to be done to fully prepare the institution for formalised blended teaching and learning in the future.Contribution: This research builds on limited research on blended teaching and learning at South African contact higher education institutions and adds new theory regarding some best practices for successful blended teaching and learning.

Numerical Investigation of Film Formation Characteristics and Mechanisms through Airless Spraying on Spherical Surfaces

This paper focuses on key engineering issues, particularly the overall turbulent transport of paint spray and coating film distribution characteristics, in the process of airless spraying film formation. By deeply considering the geometric features of spherical surfaces and their impact on the near-wall region of the flow field, an airless spraying film formation model consisting of the Eulerian multiphase model, the realizable k–ε turbulence model, and the Eulerian Wall Film model was established. Through numerical simulations of static spraying on the inner and outer walls of spherical surfaces with different radii, the influence of geometric features on the spray flow field and film formation characteristics on spherical surfaces was investigated. Subsequently, based on numerical simulations of dynamic spraying on different nozzle trajectories, the film formation characteristics were analyzed, and the optimal spray trajectory planning method was determined. Additionally, this study examined the coating distribution characteristics during dynamic spraying on spherical surfaces with varying geometric dimensions. Finally, a kind of chlorinated rubber anti-corrosion primer was chosen to carry out spraying experiments, which validated that the airless spray coating model and the corresponding numerical simulation methods established in this paper were reasonable and feasible for investigating the film formation characteristics on spherical surfaces. This work is expected to further promote the application of airless spray techniques in machinery, automotive, shipbuilding, and aviation industries.

Briefing: Time for transformation – the opportunity for civil engineering to contribute to a nature-positive future

A nature-positive special issue of Civil Engineering is being published this year, and it could not be more timely. We are living in a time of biodiversity loss and we need to move into a new era of nature recovery – a nature-positive future. Working towards a nature-positive future can provide a multitude of benefits, including restoring lost biodiversity and mitigating and adapting to climate change. Globally, we need positive action at massive scale, and civil engineering projects are uniquely placed to contribute to the change we need. As a first step, we can take a similar approach to the early days of carbon dioxide management, applying our efforts to improve outcomes and helping work towards that nature-positive future. By adopting a nature-positive approach across civil engineering, we could contribute to restoring and enhancing biodiversity on this massive scale, while at the same time as addressing critical environmental risks.

Hierarchical pore-enhanced ion transport and defect-induced dual strong interactions for highly efficient lithium extraction

In the past decade, adsorption method has attracted great attention on the lithium extraction. The key issue in adsorption technology is to develop adsorbents with high adsorption capacity, selectivity, and recycle-stability. Here, the highly efficient metal–organic framework adsorbents were developed for lithium extraction, which were fabricated by the in-situ conversion of MIL-121 in alkali solution. The adsorbent after acid activation, termed as H-CAOMIL, was featured with the hierarchical porosity, enhanced density of free carboxylic groups, and exposed aluminum-oxygen defect sites to enhance the ion transport and provide dual strong interaction for Li+. H-CAOMIL exhibited the remarkable Li+ adsorption capacity (QLi+ = 5.28 mg/g) and selectivity (αKLi = 21.33, αNaLi= 9) from low-concentration lithium-containing solutions. Moreover, the H-CAOMIL can be easily regenerated in weakly acidic solution. Impressively, Li+ adsorption capacity retained at 92 % of the initial capacity even after five adsorption–desorption cycles. Furthermore, the comprehensive characterizations and theoretical calculations indicated that the specific coordination of COO-Li and AlO-Li played a crucial role in the recovery capacity and selectivity of Li+. This work offers precious insights for the future exploration of highly efficient adsorbents for lithium extraction.

Influence of Simulations on Students' Achievement in Physics in Secondary Schools in Nandi East, Kenya

Many secondary schools in Kenya are yet to incorporate Mobile Technologies into their educational practices, despite widespread ownership and use by both students and teachers. This study investigated the influence of simulations on students' achievement in physics in secondary schools in Nandi East, Kenya. The dismal performance in physics locally and nationally may be linked to slow technological integration, hence the need for the study. The target population consisted of Form Three physics students and 30 Heads of Department (HODs) from 31 secondary schools. A descriptive survey design was utilized. Random and purposive sampling was used to select participants, and data collection involved questionnaires and interviews. Using Taro Yamane’s Formula, the sample size was determined to be 300 students, 30 HODs, and 30 schools. Data were analyzed using SPSS, providing descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, pie charts, means, and standard deviations (SD). The reliability of the questionnaire items was confirmed with a Cronbach Alpha coefficient above 0.7. The findings emphasize the significant benefits of integrating simulations on students' academic achievement in secondary school physics learning. While the study offers important insights, its geographical limitation, technological access issues, and narrow scope constraints must be considered. These results have implications for various stakeholders including learners, parents, teachers, school administrators, curriculum developers, and policymakers. Learners will benefit from improved effectiveness, engagement, and personalized instruction, while policymakers will gain insights for future improvements. The study recommended learners be allowed to bring their own devices to school to ensure equality and equity in access to digital learning materials.

Thermal runaway evolution of a 4S4P lithium-ion battery pack induced by both overcharging and unilateral preheating

To clarify the thermal runaway characteristics of lithium-ion battery pack, this study has established a thermal runaway experimental platform based on actual power battery pack. A 4 in series and 4 in parallel battery pack was assembled using 86 Ah lithium iron phosphate batteries, and the experiment of thermal runaway induced by overcharging and unilateral preheating was carried out. The behavior and characteristics including the temperature change characteristics of each cell, the heat generated and transfer paths during thermal runaway propagation, the voltage changes of each serial module and the total voltage, flame evolution behavior, gas generation characteristics, debris, and mass loss were investigated. The research results show that module 1 was the first to experience thermal runaway due to preheating. The redistributed current caused the batteries in the remaining modules to rapidly generate heat. Subsequently, the heat transfer from module 1 triggered thermal runaway in modules 2, 3, and 4 in sequence. The entire flame combustion process lasted for 38 min, with the maximum temperature reaching 937.1 °C, resulting in thermal runaway in all batteries. The sequence of thermal runaway has been clarified, with the flame generated by the ignition of the battery casing, connecting tabs, and combustible gases emitted from the batteries serving as the primary paths for heat transfer and thermal radiation. The experimental results provide valuable insights into the thermal engineering issues of large-scale lithium-ion battery pack.

Выдел как способ образования земельного участка на землях сельскохозяйственного назначения

Agricultural lands are the main potential for modern agricultural production. A participant in shared ownership has the right to dispose of his land share at his discretion after allocating a land plot to the account of the land share. The article discusses the issues of organization and technology of cadastral works on the allocation of land from agricultural land.

Reducing the risk of social engineering attacks using SOAR measures in a real world environment: A case study

The global cost of successful cyberattacks is increasing annually, with there being a shift towards social engineering threats in recent years. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting humans rather than technical systems, recognizing data as a critical resource, especially in the finance industry where breaches can lead to substantial losses and reputational damage. The present case study proposes measures to reduce human susceptibility to social engineering attacks, leveraging SOAR (Security Automation, Orchestration, and Response) technology for incident response automation. The study covers various issues in cybersecurity, SOAR, and social engineering, through analyzing interviews with expert practitioners in the field, addressing cybersecurity skills shortages and current cyber threats. Four social engineering vignettes were developed, representing real threats, along with specific SOAR measures implemented using Microsoft Sentinel. These measures were simulated to demonstrate their effectiveness by reducing the employee's vulnerability to social engineering attacks. The risk of social engineering attacks was successfully reduced by implementing a responsive approach through the developed SOAR measures. Some of the measures reduced the risk by locking user accounts or forcing password changes after a detected cyber incident while another measure was developed for awareness enhancements. Given the current shortage of cybersecurity professionals, technologies like SOAR are becoming increasingly relevant for security teams. However, SOAR alone cannot address all challenges posed by social engineering and should be viewed as a complementary measure rather than a standalone solution.

Research on the ethical issues of digital communication technologies in the context of new media and their countermeasures

Research on the ethical issues of digital communication technologies in the context of new media and their countermeasures

Cyanobacterial blooms management: A simulation-based optimization method

Controlling cyanobacterial blooms is not only an engineering and technical issue but also an optimization problem in environment management. Under budget constraints, a novel simulation-based optimization model for cyanobacterial control is constructed in this study. The simulation model is used for simulating cyanobacteria growth and diffusion processes. The optimization model is utilized to determine the optimal search and treatment path. Through the interactive coupling of simulation modeling and resource allocation optimization, this research provides decision-makers with new operational guidelines for cyanobacterial control. Our test results demonstrate that the initial invasion frequency has a greater economic impact than invasion abundance. The nearby cells to the initial invasion are affected first, and then the influence radiates outward in a diffusion pattern. Using a slow search speed and a treatment frequency of every 10 days can achieve the lowest possible economic losses in most test scenarios. Moreover, we also find that the optimal search and treatment paths revolve around the initial invasion location. This study is a typical interdisciplinary research, which can assist water resource managers in making more accurate decisions regarding cyanobacteria removal paths, removal frequencies, and treatment speeds.