Phases Of Life Cycle Research Articles

Lifecycle Support for IoT-Driven Business Rules

The Internet of Things (IoT) is prevalent in various areas and enables a variety of smart applications such as smart factory, smart home, and smart health. The IoT corresponds to a network of physical objects, fostering the collection and exchange of data over the Internet. Each physical object is equipped with sensors, actuators, and other technologies, and is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system. Business Process Management (BPM), in turn, is concerned with the modeling, execution, discovery, analysis, and monitoring of business processes. By enriching business processes with real-world IoT data and IoT-driven business rules, process automation as well as real-time process monitoring and decision making can be enhanced. Despite the increasing interest in IoT-enhanced business process support, IoT-driven business rules have not been well integrated with business process execution so far. In this context, providing integrated lifecycle support for IoT-driven business rules in BPM systems constitutes a challenge. This paper discusses how to integrate lifecycle support of IoT-driven business rules with BPM systems covering the modeling, execution, monitoring, analysis, and evolution of IoT-driven business rules. Furthermore, all lifecycle phases need to be covered by holistic approaches to IoT-driven business rules. For each lifecycle phase, we elaborate on the requirements emerging in this context and discuss existing approaches.

GraphSTEP: concurrent, cloud-based, lifecycle-oriented editing and updating of product data

A product's digital representation enables various activities in its lifecycle. In a neutral, file-based exchange format, like the STandard for the Exchange of Product model data (STEP), asynchronous access is possible throughout different software solutions, increasing the work interoperability across different stakeholders. However, the file-based handling of product data from the top to the shop floor and further lifecycle phases, subject to industrial practice, contradicts the Digital Twin (DT) concept embodying a centralized, single source of trust. To address this deficit, we propose GraphSTEP: a cloud-based platform to store, access, and manipulate product data, enabling concurrent, collaborative data management while preserving history through versioning.

Review of ways to apply machine learning methods in software engineering

This article reviews the integration of machine learning (ML) techniques into Software Engineering (SE) across various phases of the software development life cycle (SDLC). The purpose is to investigate the applications of ML in SE, analyze its methodologies, present findings, and draw conclusions regarding its impact. The study categorized ML applications in SE and assessed the performance of various ML algorithms. Authors identified ML applications in SDLC phases, including requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. ML algorithms, such as supervised and unsupervised learning, are employed for tasks like software requirement identification, design pattern recognition, code generation, and automated testing. In summary, we find that ML-based techniques are experiencing a substantial surge in adoption within the field of software engineering. Nevertheless, it is evident that substantial endeavors are needed to establish thorough comparisons and synergies among these approaches, perform meaningful evaluations grounded in detailed real-world implementations that are applicable to industrial software development. Therefore, our key takeaway is the necessity for a shift in focus towards reproducible research, prioritizing this over isolated novel concepts. Failure to do so may result in the limited practical implementation of these promising applications.

Enhancing a Comprehensive View of the Infrastructure Life Cycle through Project-Based Learning

This paper describes a teaching innovation project that adopts the project-based learning approach to introduce civil engineering students to their future professional roles and tasks throughout the infrastructure life cycle. The successful development of the whole process and completion of the infrastructure in the best technical and sustainable conditions require a comprehensive view of the infrastructure life cycle. Courses on Project Design and Project and Business Management at the B.Sc. in Civil Engineering simulated practical experiences in bidding, design, estimation, preliminary analysis, and construction planning, linking theory to professional practice. This study describes the organization of both courses to implement the simulations. To analyze the experience from the student’s point of view, a survey examined the students’ perceptions of the achievement of higher-order learning and their comprehensive view of the infrastructure life cycle. In addition, the learning results were compared with the students’ perceptions. Results indicated that students are aware of the learning improvement after performing the proposed activities. In addition, this approach helps the students to develop the professional competencies needed for the curricula. The coordination of the courses to align the learning activities with the life cycle phases enables students to deepen their understanding of the phases of the infrastructure life cycle while they acquire a comprehensive view of the process. In addition, this approach has improved the motivation and engagement of the students. This teaching innovation project is easily adaptable to other engineering curricula.

The imperative of social sustainability and procurement in the Nigerian construction industry

The social sustainability transition in the construction sector seeks to improve safety and health of workers, gainful employment and total inclusiveness. However, it is novel in the Nigerian construction industry and a less debated domain within this framework is how employment requirements provide opportunities for the socially disadvantaged such as the poorly educated, youths, immigrants and disabled individuals to be employed in the construction industry. In Nigeria alone, there are over 27 million disabled human species, most of who are living in extreme poverty with poor quality of life. Furthermore, there are evidence of development projects designed and built in developing countries that have failed socially and many mass housing scheme in Nigeria suffices as examples. Drawing on a systematic review of relevant literature, this research qualitatively examines social sustainability practices in the Nigerian construction industry, and highlight strategies for diffusing the approach at each phase of the project life cycle. The outcome of the result will initiate a novel research domain and promote sound academic debate towards improving total inclusiveness in Nigerian and Africa’s built environment. The potential impact of this research is that it will contribute to the knowledge base of the social sustainability concept and provide an alternative solution to the increasing shortage of skilled labour force in the construction industry. Its conclusion surmises that social procurement is a strategic tool for creating employment for the disadvantaged in the construction sector.

Digitalna dimenzija preduzetništva kao značajna dimenzija socijalne sigurnosti

Digital entrepreneurship represents an important component of economic development. This paper tries to emphasize the importance of the factors that belong to the digital dimension of the entrepreneurial ecosystem according to the EIDES methodology, in the early phase of the company's life cycle, from the area of human capital. The goal is to point out the role of these factors in improving economic stability and the ability of individuals to effectively respond to the challenges and opportunities of the modern digital environment. Understanding the importance of this dimension becomes crucial when defining policies and strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of individuals and the social community as a whole, ensuring fair access to economic and professional opportunities of importance for social security in the 21st century.

Iso-performance retrofit solutions adopting a Life Cycle Thinking approach

Since the requalification of the existing building stock has become a priority, many national incentives have been allocated in the last years. To avoid a waste of such relevant economic effort, a deep and systematic integrated approach to the retrofit of the built environment should be considered, also pursuing sustainability, safety, and resilience at the same time. This may be pursuit only if a Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) approach is addressed, aimed at reducing costs and impacts in each phase of a building life cycle. A LCT approach not only may affect the material to be used for the retrofit, but it undermines the usual modus operandi right from the preliminary design phase of the intervention; for example, the structural details of the strengthening solution must be conceived to be easily off-site prefabricated, transported and assembled, and demounted and re-assembled in a different way at the end-of-life. In this paper, different iso-performance strengthening solutions are compared through the application to a reference case study considering the whole life cycle of the retrofitted building. All the considered structural solutions were then coupled to the same energy recovery intervention, allowing the building to shift from an energy class E to a class A1.

Test Design Optimisation of factors and levels by Covering double and triple mode Combinations using Orthogonal Array test strategies and Random Forest Algorithm

= Testing is a process of trying to find out every believable fault or weakness in a project. In today’s world, software products and components play a vital part in our life. Software testing is a world, it contains its own life cycle consists of the following stages – Requirements, Test Plan, Test Design, Test Execution, Defect reportingtracking. The core of software testing lies in writing test cases based on specifications. Software testers play a vital role writing the test cases during test design phase of software testing life cycle. Research have proved that writing test cases is the most time killing and challenging activity among other testing life cycle phases. It is very crucial to sequence and write optimized test cases to increase the rate of fault identification during test design phase as early as possible. There are various proven test design techniques available which focuses on optimizing test cases in different test stages. Our key focus in this paper is to identify the optimized test cases minimizing the actual number of test cases with minimal effort using OATS (Orthogonal Array Test Strategy) techniques covering double mode and triple mode test combinations and Random Forest algorithm.

The Role of Cytosolic Lipid Droplets in Hepatitis C Virus Replication, Assembly, and Release.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic hepatitis by establishing a persistent infection. Patients with chronic hepatitis frequently develop hepatic cirrhosis, which can lead to liver cancer-the progressive liver damage results from the host's immune response to the unresolved infection. The HCV replication process, including the entry, replication, assembly, and release stages, while the virus circulates in the bloodstream, it is intricately linked to the host's lipid metabolism, including the dynamic of the cytosolic lipid droplets (cLDs). This review article depicts how this interaction regulates viral cell tropism and aids immune evasion by coining viral particle characteristics. cLDs are intracellular organelles that store most of the cytoplasmic components of neutral lipids and are assumed to play an increasingly important role in the pathophysiology of lipid metabolism and host-virus interactions. cLDs are involved in the replication of several clinically significant viruses, where viruses alter the lipidomic profiles of host cells to improve viral life cycles. cLDs are involved in almost every phase of the HCV life cycle. Indeed, pharmacological modulators of cholesterol synthesis and intracellular trafficking, lipoprotein maturation, and lipid signaling molecules inhibit the assembly of HCV virions. Likewise, small-molecule inhibitors of cLD-regulating proteins inhibit HCV replication. Thus, addressing the molecular architecture of HCV replication will aid in elucidating its pathogenesis and devising preventive interventions that impede persistent infection and prevent disease progression. This is possible via repurposing the available therapeutic agents that alter cLDs metabolism. This review highlights the role of cLD in HCV replication.

The importance of automating the “Construction” phase of the construction project life cycle

Significant innovations in the regulatory framework of the construction industry of the Russian Federation force construction organizations to change their attitude to digital technology in general and automation in particular. The existing objective differences of construction companies, carrying out their activities at different stages of the life cycle of construction products, put them in different initial conditions on the way to solving the problem. In the present study, the authors analyze the level of elaboration of a number of issues that arise at different stages of the construction project life cycle (CPLC). As a result of the analysis, the authors conclude that there is a lack of attention to digitalization at the stage “construction”. In particular, it is noted that little attention is paid to the automation of the management activities of companies at this stage of CPLC lifecycle. The authors analyze possible approaches to the automation of management tasks of a construction organization that directly erects buildings and structures. As a result, key features of approaches to the formation of task complexes for automation for two different groups of departments of the management apparatus of a construction organization are formulated. Based on the results of the study, the authors conclude that in order to ensure the effective functioning of construction companies and organizations the use of digitalization technologies at all stages is mandatory.

Geometric and kinetic digital twin of a body-in-white assembly system for virtual commissioning

Producing companies face enormous challenges due to increasing customer expectations, global competition and sustainability considerations. In recent years, the concept of the digital twin (DT) has found rising attention, because this concept has the potential to enable, amongst others, superior monitoring, process control, diagnosis, traceability and quality control. Additionally, the concept of a DT may intensify the integration of product development, production planning and production, because it is sensible to initiate the creation of the digital twin already in product development and the potential of this concept can only be fully realized if all phases of the system lifecycle are considered. Extensive research has already covered the application of DTs during production operation, but concerning the application in the product design stage many questions remain. The research described in this paper is focused on the question how design automation concepts can contribute to an automated creation of a DT. The paper explains a novel concept for realizing a digital twin. The novel concept is employing an engineering framework based on graph-based design languages. It is applied to an automotive body-in-white assembly system and aims at supporting virtual commissioning. The digital twin includes geometric and kinetic models and simulations and its creation already starts in product development.

Virtual Reality as a tool for designing accessible public transportation services

Due to the ability to deliver realistic experiences in fully simulated environments, Virtual Reality (VR) can be applied to aid various design activities. Nevertheless, in the context of public transportation, the application of VR as a tool for accessibility design is not fully explored. This article presents the concept of re-utilizing VR software to design for accessibility in the early phases of the design lifecycle in the context of public transportation and related service design. We investigated how VR can be applied to service design through workshops with academic and industrial experts, focusing on the accessibility aspects. Our findings demonstrate the value of VR in designing and rapidly testing services related to public transportation, ensuring accessibility for various user groups. We further formulated guidelines to support the adoption of VR for designing accessible services.

Развитие организационной инфраструктуры инновационной экосистемы взаимодействия университетов, бизнеса и власти на основе цифровых платформенных решений

In the context of the growing uncertainty of economic and political conditions, the rapid development of technologies, there is an increasing need to develop tools to support and improve the effective interaction of universities, business, and government for prompt introduction of innovative products to the ecosystem of regions. Within this study, the authors substantiate the need to improve the organizational infrastructure of various forms of integration of the subjects of the region’s innovation ecosystem based on universities using digital platforms. An improved infrastructure should ensure the implementation of all stages of the life cycle of innovative projects. The authors proposed using digital innovation platforms as the main structural element of the infrastructure for the integration of competencies and resources. It is proposed to build and develop the architecture and digital services of the platform based on the end-to-end information technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data, etc. The authors developed a conceptual model to support the procedure for the formation of a trajectory for the implementation of innovative projects using the services and tools of the digital innovation platform. The model is based on the processes of assessment, selection of integration subjects that have the resources and competencies necessary to obtain a product in accordance with the terms of reference, and to implement all tasks of all life cycle phases of innovative projects, including complex projects. The use of the proposed conceptual solutions will allow improving the innovation ecosystem organizational infrastructure, which will create an opportunity to increase the rate of the output of innovative products in the context of set limits.

Relations of Digital Twin Fidelity and Benefits: A Design-to-Value Approach

Digital Twin (DT) is an important concept in research and practice. Its relevance spans across all product life cycle phases, including design, prototyping, manufacturing, service, and disposal. Despite its attention, practical examples of DTs in product design and manufacturing are scarce. One of the reasons for this is little understanding of the benefits. Organizations face problems in predicting whether applying DTs will achieve benefits. However, realistic benefit expectations and a qualitative understanding of the evolution of benefits are essential for successfully applying DTs. Fidelity is thereby a crucial factor influencing costs and savings potential. Consequently, the Digital Twin Benefit Curves (DT-BC) were developed using Design Science Research while drawing on existing literature. Results were evaluated in a focus group with 5 DT experts from 3 different aerospace and automotive OEMs and 1 university, along with additional interviews. The developed curves serve as a reference for managerial decisions concerning DT design and application. Additionally, they strengthen the understanding of DT benefits and prevent stakeholders from developing false expectations that lead to acceptance issues. By doing so, DT-BCs facilitate Digital Transformation. The results provide a novel approach to make DT benefit evolution clear and tangible by visualizing its relation to fidelity.

Literature Review and Model Proposal on the Machine Life Cycle in Industrial Automation from Different Perspectives

The life cycle model of machines as idealistic subsequent phases is often used to analyze industrial automation systems. Depending on their focus, literature holds a number of different state of the art approaches for the machine life cycle with various phases. However, the consideration is mainly from the perspective of machine manufacturers. Often, the life cycle of the product, that is manufactured with the corresponding machine or the life cycle of the components installed in the machine are thoroughly considered. The development, production and operation of these assets can also be divided into corresponding phases. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of existing approaches of machine life cycles based on a structured literature review. This will also address the differences in the life cycle phases for the typical stakeholders of the industrial value chain. Since the life cycles of the individual stakeholders of the industrial value chain are coupled, a chronological classification of the individual life cycle models based on the product creation process is presented one above the other.

Procurement and contract management deficiencies: analysis of state audit reports

State governments obligate trillions of dollars on contracts for needed products and services. These contracts must be in compliance with statutory requirements focused on achieving public policy objectives. However, these objectives are not always achieved and the government risks not receiving the best value for funds expended. State agencies continue to identify deficiencies and monitor their contracts to ensure they meet mission and public policy objectives. The purpose of this research is to analyse contracting deficiencies identified in state auditor reports to determine how they align with type of product and service, contract life cycle phase, and auditability theory component. Based on an analysis of 165 deficiencies, the findings indicate that the majority of deficiencies were aligned with the procurement of professional services and occurred during the acquisition planning, source selection, and contract administration contracting phases. We also found that the contracting deficiencies were aligned with lack of capable processes and in-effective internal controls.

The Coming of Age of Space Satellite Industry: Transitioning from a Growth to a Maturity Life Cycle Phase

From the perspective of the evolution of modern mass-production industrial sectors, the establishment of an industry can occur in a typical sequence of four conceptual phases: the introduction phase, in which a new technological concept is introduced; the growth phase, in which application of this concept in the form of a product or service is undertaken; the maturity phase, in which the direct use of the product and the advent of product-enabled services establish the new economic sector, and an eventual decline phase when one or more substitute products appear. Most of the current industrial products may be considered systems. The application of established concepts, such as interchangeable parts, permits firms to manufacture systems on a large scale, making sophisticated products available to society at manageable prices. The large availability of a product in a socioeconomic environment favors the use of this product in innovative ways, many of them unprecedented. In this way, introducing an innovative product in the market may nucleate a whole new industry over time, which may experience growth either through the continual evolvement of the product or expansion of the breadth of applications. Recent years have shown impressive development in the space industry. This article presents data that suggests that the global satellite space industry is transitioning from a growth to a maturity stage. It will be argued that barriers to entry are still at a level that permits Brazil, given its current position, to engage in the global space industry.

Atmospheric Cold Plasma (ACP) Treatment for Efficient Disinfestation of the Cowpea Weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus

Highlights The exposure of C. maculatus to reactive gas species (RGS) from atmospheric cold plasma treatment (ACP) resulted in significant mortality at all life stages tested. Three-minute ACP treatments at voltages of 70 kV have the best insecticidal effect. The greatest impact of treatment was during the egg and young larval stages of C. maculatus. Abstract. The insecticidal capability and mechanism of high-voltage atmospheric cold plasma were studied using a dielectric barrier discharge reactor against Callosobruchus maculatus, a significant insect pest in stored grain degradation. The mortality rate of > 90.0% for egg and larval stages can be achieved with a longer treatment time of 3 minutes and a higher voltage of 70 kV. However, this treatment condition, paired with a post-treatment retention time of 4 days, is required to kill 95% of adult insects. The use of atmospheric cold plasma has a considerable impact on the mortality of a range of insect life stages. Sufficient toxicity can be achieved by plasma process management using modified atmospheric pressure with a working gas of 65% oxygen, 30% carbon dioxide, and 5% nitrogen to address the insect lifecycle phases that are vectors for pathogens, which can increase mycotoxin contamination and degrade grain quality. Introducing atmospheric cold plasma treatment as an alternative to chemical fumigation may provide a safer alternative for integrated pest management. Keywords: Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP), Cowpea weevil, Dielectric barrier, Insecticidal effect, Integrated pest management (IPM), Pesticide, Reactive gas species (RGS).

Design for Circularity – Identification of Fields of Action for Ecodesign for the Circular Economy

The prevailing production and consumption patterns mostly follow a linear logic: produce, consume and dispose. This orientation of the economic system is highly resource-intensive and exceeds planetary boundaries. In order to decouple the economic growth from resource consumption circular economy is an important enabler by creating and closing resource loops. The goal of a circular economy is the sustainable return of resources into the value chain. Thereby, the design of the products plays a decisive role. Ecodesign is a systematic design approach for products in order to reduce environmental impacts over the entire life cycle by defining design principles. Therefore, ecodesign has the potential to allow the implementation of a circular economy by identifying design principles that enable critical resources to be preserved in cycles. For this reason, a framework with nine fields of action for the realization of circular economy by ecodesign was derived. The fields of action are based on the circular economy strategies "Closing the Loop" and "Slowing the Loop" as well as the product lifecycle phases addressed by ecodesign “production”, “use” and “recycling”. Practical use cases deal with the impact of the various design principles at the material, component and product levels of analysis.

Digital Twin for Safety and Security: Perspectives on Building Lifecycle

As digital twins are gaining importance in various industries, research on their impact, use cases, and implementation in the field of construction is accelerating. In this study, we examine the impact of digital twins on building safety and security throughout their lifecycle, utilizing two state-of-the-art use cases for fire and anomaly detection. The solution employs advanced sensors, 3D visualizations for detecting safety and security threats, and data analysis to predict potential future threats. Using the data that was collected over a seventeen-month period, we present an implementation architecture for safety and security digital twins in buildings, explore the benefits and shortcomings of such a system, and discuss the learnings applicable to different lifecycle stages of a building. This paper contributes to the creation and study of a digital twin for fire safety, analyzing its performance using two real-world use cases and reporting the implementation results. Additionally, we extrapolate the learnings from the use phase of a facility to other lifecycle phases of buildings and facilities.