Whole System Research Articles

Формирование контуров феномена политической элиты в контексте методологической триангуляции

The political elite in modern elitology is studied through the prism of multidirectional concepts, each of which provides its own markers for delineating the boundaries of elitism. The author considers the problems of shaping the contours of the phenomenon of the political elite in the evolutionary development of approaches, examines the life cycle processes peculiar to elite groups. It is concluded that there are universal properties as well as concepts justifying them, a study of more specific local features has been conducted, and a corpus of relevant techniques has been disclosed. Having proposed a triad of cluster properties in the context of methodological triangulation, the author highlights the process of aggregation of a more valid integral set of characteristics of political elites.

Simultaneous Life Cycle Assessment and Process Simulation for Sustainable Process Design

Simultaneous Life Cycle Assessment and Process Simulation for Sustainable Process Design

Pyrolytic urban mining of waste printed circuit boards: an enviro-economic analysis.

E-waste, a global environmental concern resulting from supply chain inefficiency, also offers the opportunity to recover valuable materials, including general and rare earth metals. Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) are integral components of e-waste that contains substantial amounts of precious metals, making them a valuable waste category. Pyrolysis has emerged as a promising method for material recovery from WPCBs. Hence, pyrolytic urban mining of WPCBs offers an excellent avenue for resource recovery, redirecting valuable materials back into the supply chain. Under the current study, experimental investigation has been conducted to explore the recovery of materials from WPCBs through pyrolysis followed by process simulation, economic analysis, and life cycle assessment (LCA). An Aspen Plus simulation was conducted to model the pyrolysis of WPCBs and subsequent product recovery using a non-equilibrium kinetic model, which represents a unique approach in this study. Another distinct aspect is the comprehensive assessment of environmental and economic sustainability. The economic analysis has been carried out using Aspen economic analyzer whereas the LCA of WPCB pyrolysis has been conducted using the SimaPro software. The experimental investigation reveals yield of solid residues are about 75-84 wt.%, liquid yields of 6-13 wt.%, and gas yields of 4-21 wt.%, which is in well agreement with the Aspen Plus simulation results. The economic analysis for an e-waste pyrolysis plant with an annual feed rate of 2000 t reveals that the total capital cost of a pyrolysis plant is nearly $51.3 million, whereas the total equipment cost is nearly $2.7 million and the total operating cost is nearly $25.6 million. The desired rate of return is 20% per year and the payback period is 6years with a profitability index of 1.25. From the LCA, the major impact categories are global warming, fossil resource scarcity, ozone formation in human health, ozone formation in terrestrial ecosystems, fine particulate matter formation, and water consumption. The findings of this study can serve as a guideline for e-waste recyclers, researchers, and decision-makers in establishing circular economy.

A Spherical Superhydrophobic Activated Carbon Catalyst for Biodiesel Production ‐Exploring Process Efficiency, Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Life Cycle Cost Analysis

AbstractEngineering the wettability of functional materials holds significant interest, focusing on the need for superhydrophobic catalysts, crucial for their ability to prevent the poisoning of active sites by water, produced in situ or as a by‐product. Herein, for the first time, a superhydrophobic spherical activated carbon (SSAC@PhSO3H) is engineered as a catalyst via a novel synthetic approach and tailored in Jatropha curcas oil (JCO) biodiesel synthesis. With a large surface area (1461 m2 g−1), high acid density (6.26 mmol g−1), and water contact angle (163.4°), the catalyst demonstrates superior performance and remarkable water repellency, firmly establishing its superhydrophobic characteristics. Response Surface Methodology based on the Central Composite Design (RSM‐CCD) approach predicted a maximal biodiesel yield of 98.8% (80 °C, 5 wt%, 15:1 methanol to oil molar ratio (MOMR), and 40 min). Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) estimates biodiesel production cost of 0.37 USD ($) per kg emphasizing high commercial viability. Compared with H2SO4‐sulfonated biochar, SSAC@PhSO3H retains its inherent activity (86.8 ± 0.4% yield in 10th run) and spherical morphology even after nine successive reaction cycles indicating high stability. Nevertheless, JCO biodiesel's fuel properties met European Norm, EN 14 212 and American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM D6757 standards, highlighting its potential for industrial biodiesel production.

NONLINEAR DYNAMICS METHODS APPLICATIONS TO PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT

The research being carried out is aimed at applying nonlinear dynamics methods in product life cycle management to improve communication between processes and achieve environmental sustainability. The purpose of the article is to create a nonlinear mathematical model for analysing product lifecycle management. Chaotic nonlinear dynamical processes of product lifecycle are deterministic but have the property that even small uncertainties in initial conditions lead to exponentially growing errors in the management that limit long-term forecasts. The emergence of chaotic behaviour in processes of product lifecycle was explored, focusing on fluctuations. The study employed methods such as systems analysis, correlation analysis, nonlinear dynamics, and the Surrogate model of chaotic Lorenz waterwheel. It was identified that sharp technological innovations as the primary drivers of short-term fluctuations impacting fixed efficiency and effectiveness of product life cycle process development. The resulting nonlinear dynamic model allowed for flexible operation, transitioning between equilibrium, periodic, and chaotic states based on coefficient values for asset growth rates and time constants reflecting product life cycle process dynamics. The research results are valuable for companies seeking to reduce their environmental impact and implement circular economy principles.

Collaborative projects: sustainable development and risk management in the corrugated cardboard industry

The high costs of environmentally responsible and socially just approaches are some of the factors that hinder the implementation of sustainable projects in the industrial sector. However, upstream collaborative integration in the corrugated cardboard industry in southeastern Brazil is a reality. In this context, this study aimed to highlight the structure of a collaborative sustainable project in the context of the corrugated cardboard industry, to analyze ESG risk management in the corrugated cardboard industry in the Southeast Region of Brazil, the relationship between ESG risk management and social responsibility in corrugated cardboard industries, the strengths and weaknesses of risk management models in use by the consulted participants, and to propose innovations regarding risk analysis, applicable in sustainable projects with a collaborative bias. The methodology adopted was the case study, with consultation with managers in professional activity in the industrial sector, corroborated by document analysis and systematic review of the literature. We identified preliminary risk analysis (PRA) and failure mode analysis (FMEA) as key practices used by managers in the corrugated paper industry in the region. These practices are insufficient in the convergence of objectives, engagement with the community, and extension of the lifecycle of products and processes. Our findings show that the sustainability of a project may be an extension of the risk analyses carried out in the initial phase, mainly about strategic decision-making and the operationalization of investments. Without bias to the need for risk analysis, the life cycle analysis is also an effective way of highlighting the critical factors, weaknesses, and strengths of a sustainable project. The study indicates the so-called GUT matrix approach (gravity – urgency – tendency) as the most suitable for innovation in risk analyses oriented towards sustainable projects in the analyzed sector.

Regionalizing the supply chain in process life cycle inventory with multiregional input–output data: An implementation for ecoinvent with EXIOBASE

AbstractLife cycle inventory (LCI) databases, such as ecoinvent, are crucial for life cycle assessment (LCA), but lack country‐specific resolution in activity details and trade between regional activities in the supply chain. For example, ecoinvent only provides rest‐of‐world and European datasets for photovoltaic panel production, consuming the same global consumption mix of photovoltaic cells. Global or continental activities and trade limit the use of existing country activities, such as electricity production, and the accuracy and granularity of LCA results. We addressed this issue by disaggregating ecoinvent's global and continental unit processes to the country level and by regionalizing trade using country‐sector‐specific consumption mixes of product origins from the multiregional input–output table EXIOBASE. This produced a consistently regionalized ecoinvent at country level. Comparing the climate change impacts of 195,708 non‐market datasets in our regionalized ecoinvent with reference datasets in ecoinvent reveals manufacturing sectors as the most affected. The study of photovoltaic panel production shows that the differences in climate change impacts are mainly due to the different country‐specific suppliers of components and their electricity mixes, which are lost in the aggregated original data. The water consumption impacts of wheat production show the country differences only when regionalized CFs are applied, indicating that regionalized biosphere and technosphere flow amounts are needed for better results. The mapping quality between ecoinvent and EXIOBASE and inconsistent market definitions were discussed along with further limitations. Our study highlights the potential of incorporating better trade information and regional disaggregation in LCI databases to improve the LCA outcomes.

Practical implementation of configuration management in the context of concept ship design – first lessons

The implementation of configuration management (CM) in support of concept design activities at the Products and Proposals department of Damen Naval has put forward a number of challenges that seem to be unique to the shipbuilding industry and the process of concept development therein, that traditional enterprise-level product lifecycle management software and processes are unable to tackle. Information fluidity, an uneven and fast evolving tooling landscape and limited team sizes have driven us to pursue dedicated software implementations in support of CM during concept design. From the first attempts of doing so, we have seen that a number of performance requirements for the software that were completely under the radar are now driving factors for further selection (mostly related to speed and agility of the tool), while some others even impact our way of working and organizational structure as a whole, requiring us to carry system responsibility per discipline, instead of only functional responsibility.

Toward Sustainable Lithium Iron Phosphate in Lithium‐Ion Batteries: Regeneration Strategies and Their Challenges

AbstractIn recent years, the penetration rate of lithium iron phosphate batteries in the energy storage field has surged, underscoring the pressing need to recycle retired LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries within the framework of low carbon and sustainable development. This review first introduces the economic benefits of regenerating LFP power batteries and the development history of LFP, to establish the necessity of LFP recycling. Then, the entire life cycle process and failure mechanism of LFP are outlined. The focus is on highlighting the advantages of direct recycling technology for LFP materials. Directly regenerating LFP materials is a very promising solution. Directly regenerating spent LFP (S‐LFP) materials can not only protect the environment and save resources, but also directly add lithium atoms to the vacancies of missing lithium atoms to repair S‐LFP materials. At the same time, simply supplementing lithium to repair S‐LFP simplifies the recovery process and improves economic benefits. The status of various direct recycling methods is then reviewed in terms of the regeneration process, principles, advantages, and challenges. Additionally, it is noted that direct recycling is currently in its early stages, and there are challenges and alternative directions for its development.

Ontogenetic diet shifts and temporal separations in gonad development of two icefish species in Hongze Lake, China

Abstract Resource partitioning through temporal, spatial and/or trophic dimensions is suggested as a mechanism for long‐term coexistence among sympatric species. However, how the combined effects of the different dimensions contribute to the partitioning during the ontogenetic process is unclear. We sampled two sympatric icefish species [Protosalanx hyalocranius (Abbott, 1901) and Neosalanx taihuensis (Chen, 1956)] monthly from July 2015 to June 2016 in Hongze Lake, China. We evaluated the hypothesis that combined effects of separation in gonad development dynamics and ontogenetic diet shifts facilitate resource partitioning in temporal and trophic dimensions during the entire life cycle process of the two icefish species. Increased gonadosomatic index (GSI) of female P. hyalocranius occurred during October 2015 to January 2016, and that of female N. taihuensis occurred during January to March 2016. Thus, energy and nutrition investments in gonad development separated seasonally between the two species. Consequently, temporal separations in gonad development between P. hyalocranius (GSI peaked in January) and N. taihuensis (GSI peaked in March) indicated potential segregations in spawning time and consequent larval abundance peaks, suggesting reduced overlap of prey consumption during the early life stages. The dominant diet of P. hyalocranius shifted from cladocerans to copepods, and then shrimp, and finally to fish during its ontogeny, whereas the dominant diet of N. taihuensis changed gradually from cladocerans to copepods during its ontogeny. The diet overlap in cladocerans during May was high between the two species. Our findings support the hypothesis of an associative strategy, combining temporal (separations in gonad development and subsequently spawning time) and trophic (ontogenetic diet shifts) dimensions, for the resource partitioning between P. hyalocranius and N. taihuensis, which may be an important mechanism for long‐term coexistence among sympatric short‐lived fishes.

Ship Design in the Era of Digital Transition

The evolution of ship design from a manual toward a computer-aided, digital approach has been drastic after the 1970s, with the explosive development of computer hardware and software systems. In today’s era of smart digitalization in the frame of Industry 4.0, recently introduced digital/software tools and systems increase the efficiency and quality of the life-cycle ship design process, but also the operational complexity and the demand for proper training of users of software platforms. Parametric optimisation and simulation-driven design, product lifecycle management, digital twins and artificial intelligence are nowadays frequently used by the maritime industry during the commissioning/quality control activities and in the various phases of ship design, ship operation and ship production. This paper presents an overview of notable developments in the above areas and the way ahead to respond to present and future challenges of the maritime industry.

Conversion of biodigestate into activated carbon for electrochemical application: Process performance and life cycle assessment

Carbons derived from pyrolysis and activation of waste biomass are attracting much attention as components of energy technologies, such as batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells. This experimental study focuses on the production of a high-surface-area biochar (LAC) obtained from the treatment of lignin-rich waste of a biodigester plant, by applying KHCO3 as an activating agent. The pyrolysis-activation conditions were set by following the process by thermogravimetric analysis and by checking the purity and porosity of the resulting carbon by several analytical techniques. The best pyrolysis condition provided a microporous carbon featuring up to 1840 m2 g−1, which was demonstrated at a 25 g biodigestate batch-scale. Moreover, the production process was critically analyzed by means of life cycle assessment to identify environmental hotspots and thus derive recommendations for process optimization. The impact of substance- and energy-recovery and the use of renewable energy sources on the sustainability of the product was demonstrated in several scenarios, complemented by benchmarking and an outlook regarding further optimization needs. In the best case scenario, the global warming potential of the proposed biochar could be reduced to 15.9 kg CO2-eq per kg of LAC. The activating agent KHCO3 was dominant in almost all environmental impact categories, hence, a theoretical recovery process for this substance was suggested and evaluated via life cycle assessment.

Self-Development in Islam: Ways and Methods

The development concept is a broad and widely understood term and philosophy. Its active presence is ever-present in the multidimensional process of life cycle. The continuous process of development leads to the pinnacle of development. The development of the material side of man is visible and recognized, likewise, the development of its immaterial aspect (souls) is essential. A person is composed of body and soul. Balanced development of both sides of the human being gives recognition to a complete and fulfilled human being. The soul is the main director of the body. The effectiveness and success of his material development depends to a large extent on the development of the soul. The best of creation is seated in the best seat of mankind through the proper development of the soul. Philosophy and principles that play an important role in the development of the soul, it will undoubtedly be identified as a role model for building a developed and ideal human society for generations to come.

DESIGNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY: A SHOPPING MALL ANALYZING LIFE CYCLE IMPACT OF STRUCTURAL DESIGNS AND MATERIALS

The lifespan of construction projects entails significant consumption of resources, energy, and space. Due to sustainability awareness throughout all stages of construction projects, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the tools used for examining the impacts of a product or process at all stages of the product or process's life cycle, including conception, production, use, and disposal. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the choice of design and construction materials, a case study was conducted for a shopping mall. It included a comparison of the environmental impacts of utilizing the LCA approach throughout their lifespan for two structural engineering designs: concrete and steel. The life-cycle environmental impacts of the structures are evaluated throughout their life cycle using SimaPro software and the midpoint technique of the ReCiPe method. Based on the results, it was concluded that the concrete structure design had a greater negative environmental impact over the course of its life cycle than the steel structure design. As a result, the study emphasizes the significant environmental effects of building material choices as well as the value of life cycle assessment in selecting between various design options prior to the construction phase.

DESIGNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY: A SHOPPING MALL ANALYZING LIFE CYCLE IMPACT OF STRUCTURAL DESIGNS AND MATERIALS

The lifespan of construction projects entails significant consumption of resources, energy, and space. Due to sustainability awareness throughout all stages of construction projects, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the tools used for examining the impacts of a product or process at all stages of the product or process's life cycle, including conception, production, use, and disposal. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the choice of design and construction materials, a case study was conducted for a shopping mall. It included a comparison of the environmental impacts of utilizing the LCA approach throughout their lifespan for two structural engineering designs: concrete and steel. The life-cycle environmental impacts of the structures are evaluated throughout their life cycle using SimaPro software and the midpoint technique of the ReCiPe method. Based on the results, it was concluded that the concrete structure design had a greater negative environmental impact over the course of its life cycle than the steel structure design. As a result, the study emphasizes the significant environmental effects of building material choices as well as the value of life cycle assessment in selecting between various design options prior to the construction phase.

Overview of software testing

Software testing is a task conducted to assess the quality of software and enhance its performance. This process ensures that the software behaves as expected according to user requirements. The software development life cycle (SDLC) outlines various stages such as Analysis, Requirements, Design, Development, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance to guide the software development process. The primary objective of SDLC is to deliver error-free software that meets user expectations within specified timeframes. Software testing is an integral part of SDLC, serving to identify issues and ensure the completeness, correctness, and quality of the developed software. The ultimate goal is to create efficient software and maintain high-quality assurance throughout the product's lifecycle. This review paper aims to provide a brief discussion on how the software development life cycle contributes to efficient software development and how the software testing life cycle process ensures better quality assurance for the product.

Economic and environmental implications of carbon capture in an olive pruning tree biomass biorefinery

This study explores the integration of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) in a biorefinery system that converts olive tree prunings into bioethanol and antioxidants. With a capacity to process 1,500 tons of prunings daily, the biorefinery yields an annual production of around 12,000 tons of antioxidants (purity >60 %) and 78,000 tons of bioethanol. Utilizing a holistic approach involving process simulations and life cycle assessment, our analysis covers technical, economic, and environmental dimensions across two scenarios differing in design and heating source: natural gas or a BECCS system using olive prunings. Our findings reveal the potential for BECCS to drastically reduce the carbon footprint, potentially achieving net-negative emissions (−84.37 kg CO2eq per 1.00 kg of bioethanol and 0.15 kg antioxidants produced). However, these environmental gains are counterbalanced by economic and environmental challenges, with investment and operating costs nearly doubling and leading to complex environmental trade-offs related to eutrophication (+75 %), increased water consumption (+45 %), and expanded land use (+80 %). Nevertheless, the premium nature of carbon-negative products, coupled with growing awareness and supportive policy frameworks, may overcome these economic barriers. This study highlights the importance of holistic evaluation when integrating CCS into biorefineries facilitating informed decision-making to address unintended adverse effects and promoting sustainability.

Life Cycle Assessment and Model Optimization for Sustainable Energy Cross-Border E-Commerce

INTRODUCTION: In an in-depth study of the application of sustainable energy in cross-border e-commerce, a comprehensive assessment and model optimization of its life cycle are conducted to promote the practical application of sustainable development in e-commerce. With the increasing global concern for renewable energy and environmental protection, e-commerce, as an international business model, has attracted much attention in terms of the environmental and social impacts of its sustainability.OBJECTIVES: The aim is to provide scientific assessment methods and effective model optimization strategies to promote the feasibility and sustainability of cross-border e-commerce for sustainable energy.METHODS: A comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) model was constructed using the system life cycle assessment (SLCA) methodology by collecting data from various aspects of sustainable energy cross-border e-commerce. The model considers the entire life cycle process from energy production, logistics, transportation, and product manufacturing to final consumption and integrates various factors such as resource utilization, environmental emissions, and social responsibility. Based on the assessment, a series of model optimization strategies are proposed, including suggestions for improving supply chain efficiency, promoting green energy applications, and strengthening social responsibility.RESULTS: This study achieved significant life cycle assessment and model optimization results. In terms of energy use, promoting the application of renewable energy significantly reduces carbon emissions; in terms of supply chain management, optimization leads to an overall efficiency improvement and a reduction in resource wastage; and in terms of social responsibility, the enterprise strengthens employee training and community involvement, which enhances its social image. These results show that sustainable energy cross-border e-commerce can better achieve sustainable development goals through systematic assessment and optimization.CONCLUSION: Life cycle assessment and model optimization provide scientific assessment methods and practical suggestions for sustainable energy cross-border e-commerce. In global sustainable development, the e-commerce industry should actively adopt sustainable energy and minimize its negative impacts on the environment and society by optimizing production and supply chain management. Future research can continue to expand the assessment model and deeply explore the potential of sustainable energy in e-commerce to provide more precise guidance for the industry's sustainable development.

Carbon and water footprint of battery-grade lithium from brine and spodumene: A simulation-based LCA

Increasing demand for lithium driven by e-mobility spurs the expansion of lithium projects and exploration of lower-grade resources. This article combines process simulation (HSC Chemistry) and life cycle assessment tools to develop life cycle inventories considering declining ore grades scenarios for battery-grade Li2CO3 production from pivotal sources and regions (Salar de Atacama - brine and Greenbushes - spodumene). Depending on the ore grades, climate change results range from 5,0 to 25,0 kgCO2eq/kg Li2CO3 for brine and from 17,1 to 22,3 kgCO2eq/kg Li2CO3 for spodumene. Water consumption for brine varies from 0,2 to 7,7 m3/kg Li2CO3, depending on flow accounting, while for spodumene, it ranges from 0,2 to 0,5 m3/kg Li2CO3. The research shows that decreasing ore grade can lead to a fivefold increase in the carbon footprint for brine-based production and a 1.3-fold increase for spodumene. This underscores the importance of decarbonizing energy provision for lithium production to guarantee a sustainable battery supply chain. This research offers insights into using process simulation to enhance existing LCA studies in the raw materials industry and further develop inventory datasets, considering variations such as deposit ore grades.

On the integration of inspection data with seismic resilience assessment of corroded reinforced concrete structures

This research aims to improve the traditional statistical approach to evaluate the seismic resilience of concrete structures exposed to chloride attack. In the mentioned approach, the uncertain parameters are modeled using certain probability distribution functions (PDFs) selected from some standards such as fib. However, the mentioned PDFs should contain the actual conditions of the desired structure. This paper introduces a Bayesian framework for updating PDFs used in deterioration analysis, which is an important part of the life-cycle seismic resilience assessment process of corroded concrete structures. The proposed methodology was applied to a two-story reinforced concrete school in Iran that suffered from chloride corrosion for twenty years. The seismic resilience of the structure was investigated for a 50-year life cycle. The results showed that the updated model can significantly reduce the uncertainty of the influencing parameters in the seismic resilience evaluation process. Using the updated model resulted in a conservative seismic resilience index compared to the non-updated model. This research shows that the role of inspection data in periodically updating the seismic-resistance calculations of corroded concrete structures is not only necessary but also possible and beneficial.