Concrete Results Research Articles

Correlation of Accelerated Corrosion and Real Reinforced Concrete Water Structures

The service life of reinforced concrete constitutes the initiation and propagation period. Accelerated corrosion tests are carried out to obtain results in modelling the Service life of reinforced concrete structures. Its erroneous to undertake a direct linear extrapolation of accelerated test results to real structures in predicting their service life. This research examines the relationship between the result from accelerated corrosion and real reinforced concrete water structures. The physical and chemical properties of the materials used in the study were investigated for compliance for use in reinforced concrete water structures. Concrete of three classes M25, M30 and M35 were used to cast accelerated corrosion test samples. For each class 9 concrete samples of diameter 100 mm,130 mm and 150mm respectively and 300mm long were prepared. A 10 mm diameter bar,400mm long was centrally inserted during casting. After curing the test samples were immersed in a 3.5% solution of sodium chloride solution under 6 V. The accelerated corrosion specimens were monitored for onset of cracks and stopped when the cracks were 0.2 mm in width. Using the accelerated corrosion and real reinforced concrete results, a parametric study of the propagation period was done and a model proposed. From the results the proposed and published propagation period model compares well. The result from accelerated corrosion and real reinforced concrete water structures lineally increase for the propagation period. The proposed model can be considered as an input parameter for the service life of actual reinforced concrete water structures and contribute to their optimum performance.

R-primitive k-normal elements in arithmetic progressions over finite fields

Let be a finite field with qn elements. For a positive divisor r of , the element is called r-primitive if its multiplicative order is . Also, for a non-negative integer k, the element is k-normal over if in has degree k. In this paper we discuss the existence of elements in arithmetic progressions with being ri -primitive and at least one of the elements in the arithmetic progression being k-normal over . We obtain asymptotic results for general and concrete results when for .

Effects of Graphene Oxide on the Properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites: Multi-Objective Optimization Technique Using RSM

Despite the excellent ductility and energy absorption properties of engineered cementitious composites (ECCs), a low modulus of elasticity and excessive drying shrinkage remain some of its major disadvantages. With the current trend in the application of nanotechnology in cementitious composites research, the effect of graphene oxide (GO) on the properties of ECCs is yet to be fully investigated, despite its promising results in ordinary cement paste, mortar, and concrete. ECCs need extensive material tailoring to provide the required mechanical characteristics and controlled fracture size with strain-hardening behavior. Striking a balance between these crucial hardened aspects of ECC without compromising any desired properties is a challenge. Hence, the main aim of the study reported in this paper is to use the response surface methodology (RSM) multi-objective optimization technique to identify an appropriate GO content via the weight of cement and also the volume fraction of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber as input variables that positively impact ECCs’ properties. Using RSM’s central composite design (CCD), 13 mixtures of various combinations of the variables (GO: 0.05%, 0.065%, 0.08%; PVA: 1%, 1.5%, 2%) were developed. Six responses were studied, including compressive strength, direct tensile strength, tensile capacity, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, Poisson’s ratio, and drying shrinkage. Moreover, the microstructural properties of the composites were assessed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The outcomes revealed that all the properties of ECCs were significantly enhanced by adding an optimum amount of 0.05% GO and 1–1.5% PVA fiber volume fractions. A maximum increase in 30%, 35%, 49%, and 33.9% in the compressive strength, direct tensile strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity, respectively, of the mixes with 0.05% GO addition was recorded. It is demonstrated that the use of 0.05% GO as a nanoscale particle can provide good outputs for the construction industry.

AUTOMATED PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN TRANSPORT LOGISTICS

The article is a continuation of regular research on project management based on efficient transportation. The purpose of the work is to improve the efficiency of management decision-making in the implementation of projects in transport logistics through the use of automated planning and analysis systems. The object of study is the process of forming organizational support for project management in transport logistics using automated planning and analysis systems for project efficiency. The subject of the study is the practical tools for organizational support of project management in transport logistics using automated systems for planning and analyzing project performance. Methods. In the course of the study, a systematic approach was implemented, general scientific methods were used, including logical analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, analogy, and modeling. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is the fundamental provisions of project management, management efficiency theory, scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists on project management at the micro, meso, and macro levels. Given the purpose of the work, several tasks were set and solved, in particular, the applied imperatives of resource and budget planning were outlined on the example of a logistics center based on the Odesa seaport and the project implementation was monitored in Microsoft Project. In terms of resource and budget planning, the expediency of using the method and indicators of the volume utilized is proved. The actual progress of the project against the planned indicators is analyzed. A new project was created using the Microsoft Project software and data entry method. In terms of monitoring, conclusions were drawn on the course of events in the project implementation and the status of implementation by individual types of work was clearly shown. All this made it possible to achieve concrete results. In terms of resource and budget planning, it was determined to what extent there is a deviation from the planned project implementation timeframe. In terms of monitoring, the need to optimize staffing, budget, and time parameters was identified. The essence of this optimization boils down to the decision to attract additional labor resources with the corresponding cost of work per hour. This made it possible to get rid of the conflict and obtain positive dynamics in the project implementation, as evidenced by the date of its completion, which remained unchanged after the resources were equalized. The need to continue the study and focus on project risk management is outlined.

Artificial intelligence-based prediction of strengths of slag-ash-based geopolymer concrete using deep neural networks

The construction and building industry, one of the greatest emitters of greenhouse gases, is under tremendous pressure because of the growing concern about global climate change and its detrimental effects on societies. Given the environmental problems connected to cement production, geopolymer concrete has become a viable alternative. In addition, if the concrete strength results failed to meet the specified strength after being cast, modifications are impossible. Thus, it is particularly desirable to predict strength prior to casting concrete. This study presents the first effort in applying deep neural networks (DNN) of AI techniques to predict the mechanical strengths (GGBFS) of geopolymer concrete (GPC) produced from corncob ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag. The mixes were activated with 12–16 M of alkali solutions at ambiently cured conditions for 7–90 days. Following that, back propagation learning algorithms were created for forecasting the concrete strengths based on concrete mix proportions. The mechanical strengths estimated by the DNN were verified by laboratory testing results. Results revealed that GGBFS, mix grade, curing days, and alkali precursor are variables that govern the mechanical strengths of the GGBFS-CCA-GPC. Forecasting the mechanical properties of GPC produced using DNN shows that the relationship between the input and output arguments could be most accurately predicted by a 10–20–20–20-1 network topology, evident by approximately 99% correlation coefficient between the actual and predictive values for compressive and flexural strengths. However, the 10–17–17–17-1 network architecture showed the best DNN for predicting split tensile strength, with a 97% correlation coefficient between the actual and projected values. This study demonstrated that the DNN techniques are efficient in predicting the mechanical strengths of GPC based on the mix proportions. Application of these techniques will greatly advance concrete quality assurance.

Numerical Detection of Concrete Slump by Fusion of Target Segmentation and Image Classification Network

In construction, concrete compatibility is an important comprehensive index to ensure the construction, and the concrete slump is an important criterion to judge concrete compatibility in the actual construction process. In this study, we propose to extract new data sets from concrete mixing video sequences and correlate the image features characterized in the concrete mixing and transportation process with the concrete performance features, starting from the concrete transportation process [1]. First, the UNet network model for semantic segmentation is used to identify and locate the concrete regions, and the localized concrete regions are zoomed in using interpolation; then the ResNet image classification network is used to determine the slump category of the processed concrete regions; finally, the results of the semantic segmentation network and the image classification network are fused to obtain the final concrete slump detection results. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can guarantee real-time concrete slump detection with improved accuracy.

Pemanfaatan Limbah Fly Ash dan Spent Bleaching Earth sebagai Substitusi Semen pada Beton Mutu Normal Skala Produksi

In the era of industry and technology in Indonesia, environmental problems due to waste are problems that require wise handling. Fly Ash (FA) waste from PLTU activities and Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE) waste resulting from the palm oil production process are very abundant, thus polluting the environment. Indonesia is currently prioritizing physical infrastructure development, which aims to improve connectivity and encourage economic growth in every sector. The development process that occurs increases the use of concrete. Concrete has a tremendous impact on the environment because most of its composition is cement. The use of cement in the manufacture of concrete results in the emission of large amounts of CO2 gas into the atmosphere, which causes an increase in global warming. The use of concrete can have a lower environmental impact if the use of cement is reduced as much as possible by adding a mixture of FA and SBE wastes. This research will utilize FA and SBE waste in the manufacture of normal concrete production weights and aim to determine the optimal composition of FA and SBE waste that is economically and environmentally feasible. The results of the research by applying FA and SBE substitutions show that FA is better than bleaching earth in the resulting compressive strength. The optimal composition of FA as a substitute for cement to achieve the quality of the planned concrete is 15%, while the composition of SBE as a substitute for cement is 10%. Keywords: concrete, Fly Ash (FA), Spent bleaching earth (SBE), concrete compressive strength ABSTRAK In the era of industry and technology in Indonesia, environmental problems due to waste are problems that require wise handling. Fly Ash (FA) waste from PLTU activities and Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE) waste resulting from the palm oil production process are very abundant, thus polluting the environment. Indonesia is currently prioritizing physical infrastructure development, which aims to improve connectivity and encourage economic growth in every sector. The development process that occurs increases the use of concrete. Concrete has a tremendous impact on the environment because most of its composition is cement. The use of cement in the manufacture of concrete results in the emission of large amounts of CO2 gas into the atmosphere, which causes an increase in global warming. The use of concrete can have a lower environmental impact if the use of cement is reduced as much as possible by adding a mixture of FA and SBE wastes. This research will utilize FA and SBE waste in the manufacture of normal concrete production weights and aim to determine the optimal composition of FA and SBE waste that is economically and environmentally feasible. The results of the research by applying FA and SBE substitutions show that FA is better than bleaching earth in the resulting compressive strength. The optimal composition of FA as a substitute for cement to achieve the quality of the planned concrete is 15%, while the composition of SBE as a substitute for cement is 10%. Kata kunci: beton, Fly Ash (FA), Spent bleaching earth (SBE), kuat tekan beton

The Right of Ownership and Legal Protection in Kosovo’

Background: The Republic of Kosovo is a country located in Southeast Europe with partial diplomatic recognition. Kosovo declared its independence on 17 February 2008, and has since gained diplomatic recognition from 116 member states of the United Nations. On 22 July 2010, the International Court of Justice rendered an advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s declaration of independence, which was not in violation of neither general principles of international law, nor specific international law. In 2022, Kosovo filed a formal application to become a member of the European Union. In the Republic of Kosovo, the Constitution is the highest legal act. Laws and other legal acts shall be in accordance with this Constitution. Civil law is not codified but divided into separate laws. The property right is regulated by the Law on Property and Other Real Rights Law No. 03/ L-154. Property rights and other real rights in the Republic of Kosovo originate from this law. Keeping this in mind, in our article, we are going to highlight the range of problems related to property rights’ regulation and protection, including gaps in primary and secondary legislation, analysing case law, courts, state attorneys, and administrative authorities’ activities. Methods: In this paper, we analyse the institution of property rights. We used comparative and analytical methods based on the current legislation in Kosovo, utilising resources from the former Yugoslavia. Additionally, we used some historical methods to derive concrete results. Kosovo has inherited the relics of the former Yugoslav legal system; building a new system is a challenge in and of itself. In the context of property law in general, its legal protection is crucial for the owner to use and dispose of his property. Results and Conclusions: With the knowledge that the institution of property law is one of the main institutions of civil law, and is the fundamental institution of real law, we have analysed this law institution as a constitutional principle, regulated by special laws in Kosovo. Additionally, given the importance of the property institution, Kosovo has adopted laws that protect property rights, enjoying civil legal protection, criminal legal protection, and international protection. These laws should be in accordance with the country’s Constitution, with international human rights instruments, as well as with EU legislation.

Recognition of the initial status of the Finca la Esperanza experience in the Department of Caquetá

This article focuses on the systematization of experiences, its main purpose was to recognize the initial state and history and the understanding and interpretation of the lived process of the conceived experience. The systematization is an important technique through which it was possible to produce and transfer new knowledge, carry out analysis and reflections on the particularities of a practice, as well as carry out a record on the different processes, which was very necessary to have progress in the future experiences. The research carried out is descriptive, with a qualitative approach and the data is produced from field stays in the Department of Caquetá, using participant observation and interviews. In this way, the use of the Atlas. ti software was also implemented, which facilitated the time of collecting, transcribing and coding the data. By systematizing we link social processes to options and actions to maintain the transformation, which we can frame theoretical practices and a dialectical relationship between farmer and student. The systematization of experiences is concluded as a tool to understand the operation of the productive units, which includes a sustainability evaluation methodology, allows to know the weaknesses of each one of the experiences, in social, ecological, economic terms and facilitates the rethinking. of indicators to be evaluated in order to have concrete results

Significant Development Potential of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell for the Technical Progress of the Marine Main Propulsion Plant in the Context of Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has proposed a series of strict pollutant emission regulations and carbon emission reduction targets, and the shipping industry is seeking new types of the marine main propulsion plant with advantages of high-efficiency and low-emission. Among the possible alternatives, the marine electric propulsion technology whose electric power source is fuel cell has gained sufficient attentions. At present, the worldwide research of the marine applications for fuel cell supplying propulsion power focuses more on the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with low power instead of other types of fuel cell, and a series of research projects have achieved concrete results such as the industrialized marine fuel cell system or practical demonstration application. But the development trends of the application of the marine fuel cell supplying propulsion power are from the small boat to the great ship, from the navigating zone with low environmental complexity such as coastal water, inland waters to the ocean with complex navigation conditions. Thus, the power demand of the marine fuel cell in the future will show steady growth, which will create more development opportunities for the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with the advantages of higher power, greater efficiency, long life span and fuel diversity. Although some challenges exist, the solid oxide fuel cell with significant development potential can certainly lead the technical progress of the marine main propulsion plant in the context of energy conservation and emission reduction.

The political rationalities of governing deforestation in Colombia

Reducing emissions by deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is a mechanism that aims to reduce global carbon emissions by protecting tropical forests. The practice of REDD+ implementation varies considerably in different contexts and studies have pointed its persistence despite concrete results. In this article, we focus on how rationalities of government intervene in the translation of REDD+ from the global level to national policy practice in Colombia. From our empirical analysis, we identify four distinct rationalities that intervene in the translation of REDD+: 1) a legal rationality that is derived from the securitization of nature and that aims to implement command-and-control measures in forest margins; 2) a spatial rationality that is rooted in the techno managerial aspects of the international negotiations and that has the ambition to order the forest and make it productive; 3) a market rationality that sees organized enterprises as a promising tool to control deforestation; and 4) an ethnic rationality that pushes to recognize rights and knowledge of ethnic minorities and emphasizes their role in stopping deforestation. The article concludes with discussing the intersection of these different rationalities and the overlapping visions of government that these embody to explain why REDD+ persists as a policy solution. Specifically, while some of these rationalities disenfranchise local actors, the engagement of Indigenous groups with the political rationalities provides an opportunity to leverage local power and authority.

Experimental study on mechanical properties of concrete using mineral admixtures

An experimental study on the compact effects of mineral admixtures on the properties of mechanical regarding concrete is presented in this abstract. Fly ash and silica fume were two examples of mineral admixtures that were included in the concrete mixes. Parameters like compressive strength, tensile strength, and durability were tested. The findings shed light on how mineral admixtures can improve the properties of concrete.The benefits of using admixtures such fly ash, silica fume, and granulated blast furnace slag in concrete are shown in this research. Various mechanical parameters, including compression, split tensile, and flexural strength, are measured for specimens of various classes. The M35 grade samples include fly ash (at 0.5, 0.10, and 0.15 concentrations), silica fume (at 0.5, 0.10, and 0.15 concentrations), and granulated blast furnace slag (at 0.5, 0.10, and 0.15 concentrations), all in lieu of cement. The ratio of water to cement used in all tests was 0.45. The chemical activity is slowed and the density is increased thanks to the ground granulated blast furnace sand. The use of a variety of admixtures in concrete results in improved performance in that material's construction. Compression, split tensile strength, and flexural strength are only some of the mechanical parameters that may be measured after 28 days.Therefore the findings are able to provide and compile valuable insights into the enhancement of “concrete properties” through the utilization of mineral admixtures. With the help of “incorporating mineral additives” like fly ash and silica fume into the concrete mixes, a series of fundamental tests were conducted and approved for the evaluation of parameters including compressive strength, tensile strength, and durability.

Study on sustained-release polycarboxylate superplasticizer prepared by EPEG macromonomer

Ethylene glycol monomer polyoxyethylene ether (EPEG) is a new macromonomer that has been introduced in recent years. Its special molecular structure enables it to form copolymers with acrylic acid (AA) that are closer to the ideal copolymerization structure. However, the current production capacity is relatively small, so there are not many related studies. Therefore, this paper uses EPEG as the main raw material to prepare a slow-release polycarboxylate superplasticizer SP-YH. By studying the effects of different reaction conditions on the properties of SP-YH, the optimum synthesis conditions were determined. The structure of the polymer was characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, the concrete test and hydration heat test results show that it has better slump protection performance and compression resistance than the commercial slump protection polycarboxylic acid water reducer.

Effects of Jute Fiber on Fresh and Hardened Characteristics of Concrete with Environmental Assessment

Concrete is a widely utilized construction material globally; however, it is characterized by a fundamental deficiency in its tensile strength when it is not reinforced. The incorporation of diverse novel materials into concrete is being pursued with the aim of mitigating its limitations while concurrently enhancing its reliability and sustainability. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that concrete embodies a significant quantity of carbon. The primary cause of this phenomenon can be attributed to the utilization of cement as the principal binding component in concrete. Recent advancements in research have indicated that jute fiber, commonly referred to as JF, exhibits considerable potential as a novel material for enhancing the mechanical robustness of concrete. Although there is a significant body of literature on the application of jute fiber in concrete, there has been a dearth of research on the capacity of jute fiber (JF) to improve the mechanical strength of concrete and mitigate its carbon emissions. This study aims to cover a gap in the existing literature by analyzing and enhancing the application of JF in relation to its mechanical properties and environmental impact. The study involved conducting experiments wherein JF was added at varying weight percentages, specifically at 0%, 0.10%, 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%. The investigation encompassed a number of examinations of both the fresh and hardened states of concrete, in addition to assessments of its durability. The fresh concrete tests included the slump test, while the hardened concrete tests involved measuring compressive strength (CS), split tensile strength (STS), and flexural strength (FS). Additionally, the durability tests focused on water absorption (WA). The study involved the computation of embodied carbon (EC) ratios for various mix combinations. The findings suggest that incorporating JF into concrete results in a decrease in environmental impact relative to alternative fiber types, as demonstrated by a rise in eco-strength efficiency (ESE). Based on the findings of the conducted tests, an optimal proportion of 0.10% JF has been determined to be conducive to enhancing the CS, STS, and FS by 6.77%, 6.91%, and 9.63%, respectively. The aforementioned deduction can be inferred from the results of the examinations. Using data obtained from extensive experimentation, the RSM (Response Surface Methodology) was used to construct a model. The model was optimized, resulting in the establishment of definitive equations that can be used to evaluate the effects of incorporating JF into concrete. Potential benefits have been identified for the advancement of concrete in the future through the utilization of JF.

Social Being of Human and Phenomenology of Death

Introduction. Phenomenology is concerned with the systematic reflection and study of the structures of consciousness and the phenomena that manifest themselves in acts of consciousness. It does not consider the world as objects interacting with each other. Therefore, many philosophers believe that phenomenology is not a philosophical school or doctrine, but rather a style of thinking, a kind of philosophical method. The phenomenology of death does not provide concrete research results; it understands it both as a creative force and as an absurd phenomenon. The key essence of death Sartre calls the absurdity, its meaninglessness, contrary to common sense. Materials and Methods. In the course of the study, methods of a predominantly theoretical and methodological nature were used: integrative, causal-genetic, the implementation of which, in conjunction with a synergistic technique, gives certain results. The empirical basis of the study was the results of the experiments of the oncologist Jeffrey Long, presented in the book “Proof of Life After Death”, Raymond Moody “Life after Life”. Discussion and Conclusion. Particularly significant in European existentialism and humanism are analyzes of the social functions of death: the equalizer of social statuses, the function of not ending life, but completion, the creative function of death lies in a person’s awareness of the essence of true existence, death, according to Schopenhauer, is the inspirer, or muzaget of philosophy. Death is an objective reality, it is destructive, puts an end to all plans, prospects. But there is also the subjective side of death – thoughts and reflections about it. They are sometimes dangerous, harmful. But on the other hand, they help to see the important, eventful, to get rid of the petty, accidental, to overcome envy, that is, they make certain adjustments to behavior, regulate it in a certain way.

Effect of Micro-Nano Bubble Water and Silica Fume on Properties of C60 Concrete.

Micro-nano bubble water (WNBW) in concrete is relatively uncommon due to its newness as a technology. This paper presents the preparation of C60 concrete with 35% fly ash (FA) through WNBW and varying amounts of silica fume (0%, 4%, 7%, and 10% SF). The study examines the impact of WNBW and SF on the working performance, compressive strength, and durability of concrete. The findings indicate that applying WNBW and SF independently or jointly deteriorates the working performance of fresh concrete. However, compared to regular mixing water, WNBW reduces the concrete passing time through the V-funnel, decreasing by 40%, 39.1%, 42.9%, and 50.5% for the four varying SF contents. Furthermore, using WNBW, SF, or both resulted in the increased compressive strength of concrete at 7 days and 28 days, with 7% SF content yielding a 12.2% and 6.6% increase, respectively. Using a combination of WNBW and SF has been shown to decrease the impermeability of concrete effectively. The addition of 4% SF results in the lowest electric flux when using regular mixing water, with a discernible decrease of 30.1% compared to the control group. Conversely, using WNBW as mixing water yields a decrease in electric flux at each SF content, with the maximum decrease being 39.7%. Furthermore, both the single and combined use of these materials can contribute to the reduction in the carbonation resistance of the concrete. C60 concrete mixed with 7% SF and 100% WNBW boasts enhanced frost resistance, as indicated by the mass loss and dynamic elastic modulus loss being the least following freeze-thaw under the same SF content. According to the findings of the tests, there is evidence that the incorporation of 7% SF and 100% WNBW into C60 concrete results in lowered viscosity, a highly advantageous attribute for actual construction. Additionally, this mixture displays impressive compressive strength and durability properties. These results provide technical support regarding the integration of WNBW and SF in C60 concrete.

Sustainability in times of crisis: Female employment during COVID‐19

AbstractIn periods of crisis, companies face a financial reality that forces them to decide whether to maintain their commitment to sustainability or prioritize their financial returns. The study of what happened during the COVID‐19 pandemic is vital, given the hard blow it has implied for business and, consequently, for employment. Thus, this paper seeks to determine whether the business commitment to sustainability policies focused on employment and gender diversity translates into concrete results. In a sample of 1761 multinationals (8963 observations) during the 2015–2020 period, we found that the pandemic has harmed employment at the microeconomic level. However, this impact is moderated by the level of responsibility that companies have with their workers. Therefore, the most sustainable companies have been more reluctant to reduce their workforce and even more so when they are women. These results help to position sustainability performance as a way to achieve gender equality at the business level.

European stakeholders' perspectives on implementation potential of precision weed control: the case of autonomous vehicles with laser treatment.

Weed control is a basic agricultural practice, typically achieved through herbicides and mechanical weeders. Because of the negative environmental impacts of these tools, alternative solutions are being developed and adopted worldwide. Following recent technical developments, an autonomous laser-based weeding system (ALWS) now offers a possible solution for sustainable weed control. However, beyond recent proof of performance, little is known about the adoption potential of such a system. This study assesses the adoption potential of ALWS, using a mixed-method approach. First, six macro-environmental factors regarding the adoption of ALWS were determined. This assessment is referred to as a Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environmental (PESTLE) analysis and is conducted in a form of a literature review initiated by expert consultations. Second, a range of European stakeholders' perceptions of ALWS was evaluated in four focus-group discussions (n = 55), using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis. The factors identified in the PESTLE and SWOT analyses were subsequently merged to provide a comprehensive overview of the adoption potential of ALWS. Labour reduction, precision treatment and environmental sustainability were found to be the most important advantages of ALWS. High costs and performance uncertainty were identified as the main weaknesses. To promote the adoption of ALWS, this study recommends the following: (1) Concrete performance results, both technical and economic, should be communicated to farmers. (2) Farmers' knowledge of precision agriculture should be improved. (3) Advantage should be taken of policies that are favourable towards non-chemical methods and the high demand for organic products. This article also extensively discusses regulatory barriers, the risks posed to the safety of both humans and the machines involved, technological challenges and requirements, and policy recommendations related to ALWS adoption.

PROLEAD_SW

A decisive contribution to the all-embracing protection of cryptographic software, especially on embedded devices, is the protection against Side-Channel Analysis (SCA) attacks. Masking countermeasures can usually be integrated into the software during the design phase. In theory, this should provide reliable protection against such physical attacks. However, the correct application of masking is a non-trivial task that often causes even experts to make mistakes. In addition to human-caused errors, micro-architectural Central Processing Unit (CPU) effects can lead even a seemingly theoretically correct implementation to fail to satisfy the desired level of security in practice. This originates from different components of< the underlying CPU which complicates the tracing of leakage back to a particular source and hence avoids making general and device-independent statements about its security.PROLEAD has recently been presented at CHES 2022 and has originally been developed as a simulation-based tool to evaluate masked hardware designs. In this work, we adapt PROLEAD for the evaluation of masked software, and enable the transfer of the already known benefits of PROLEAD into the software world. These include (1) evaluation of larger designs compared to the state of the art, e.g. a full Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) masked implementation, and (2) formal verification under our new generic leakage model for CPUs. Concretely, we formalize leakages, observed across different CPU architectures, into a generic abstraction model that includes all these leakages and is therefore independent of a specific CPU design. Our resulting tool PROLEAD_SW allows to provide a formal statement on the security based on the derived generic model. As a concrete result, using PROLEAD_SW we evaluated the security of several publicly available masked software implementations in our new generic leakage model and reveal multiple vulnerabilities.

Recycled Concrete Aggregates: A Promising and Sustainable Option for the Construction Industry

The recycling of locally collected concrete waste is being promoted toward reducing the carbon footprint. In the preparation of concrete, recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) are encouraged instead of natural aggregates (NA), as they can help reduce the consumption of virgin materials, the extraction and transportation of which can be costly and environmentally damaging. In this context, we conducted an experimental study on various concrete mixes to evaluate the effect of using RCA instead of NA on the physical and mechanical properties of fresh and hardened concrete. The main novelty of our study lies in meeting one of the principles of circular economy, i.e., reducing the carbon footprint, by recycling concrete waste collected locally. We prepared and investigated test specimens containing 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% of fine and coarse recycled concrete aggregates. Results for fresh concrete were determined for temperature, consistency, air content, and density, while on the other side, in hardened concrete, results were determined for compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, and density. All results were determined experimentally and then compared. Our results showed that, with the use of RCA in the concrete mix, construction companies can significantly reduce their carbon footprints and help conserve natural resources. RCA can help create a more sustainable and affordable construction industry and is better suited to meet future challenges. Our study can serve as a basis for advancing the application of RCA in the preparation of concrete for sustainable construction. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2023-04-02-03 Full Text: PDF