Scarce Resources Research Articles

Patternable and flexible thermoelectric generators based on Bi2Te3/silk fibroin composites for temperature sensing and wearable applications

Thermoelectric (TE) materials are functional materials that can directly convert heat energy into electrical energy, and have a positive effect on alleviating the energy crisis. Inorganic semiconductor materials have attracted extensive attention due to their excellent TE properties, among which Bi2Te3 is the best and most widely used inorganic TE material at room temperature. However, inorganic TE materials are still restricted by unfavorable factors such as scarcity of raw material resources, heavy metal pollution, high price, high rigidity, and complex processing technology, which greatly limit their development process. Therefore, it is urgent to develop flexible TE materials with high performance, non-polluting, non-toxic and low price. The combination of silk fibroin and inorganic TE materials not only retains the properties of TE materials, but also improves their flexibility. Here, the Bi2Te3/SF TE films are successfully fabricated by the evaporation-assisted self-assembly method with Seebeck coefficient of 199 μV⋅K−1 (p-type) and −240 μV⋅K−1 (n-type). In order to verify the feasibility of collecting and utilizing ambient heat energy in real life, the Bi2Te3/SF TE films are cut into various patterns (such as, flower, rabbit, tree, etc) to collect wasted ambient heat. Further, the Bi2Te3/SF thermoelectric generator (TEG) reaches a maximum power of 21 nW at a temperature difference of 43.5 K. A series of self-power temperature sensing demonstrations from single TE film, TEG, to TEG array are proposed to demonstrate their potential applications in the field of self-power sensors. Finally, by inserting Bi2Te3/SF TEG array into a bracelet, a self-powered smart bracelet can be successfully constructed, demonstrating the feasibility of the Bi2Te3/SF TE film in the development of self-powered wearable electronics.

Efficient Computational Investigation on Accurate Daily Soil Temperature Prediction Using Boosting Ensemble Methods Explanation Based on SHAP Importance Analysis

Accurately predicting soil temperature (Ts) serves as the foundation of geothermal applications, modern irrigation strategies in arid agricultural landscapes, and understanding ecosystem changes. Also, this parameter is crucial for estimating crop water requirements, thereby enabling efficient management of scarce water resources in these moisture-limited environments. Therefore, the development of a sophisticated intelligent algorithm based on boosting ensemble including XGBoost, CatBoost, LightGBM, and AdaBoost models which incorporates nine different scenarios from meteorological variables as input parameters, offers valuable insights into subsurface thermal dynamics at various depths for accurately predicting thermal gradients within the soil profile, is imperative for soil science investigations. To unravel the underlying mechanisms influencing the models' predictions of Ts, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) methodology was employed. This algorithm quantifies the contributory significance of each input variable and facilitates the explication of input-output dependencies. In this study, the model's performance was evaluated at two meteorological monitoring sites, denoted as Penjwen and Bazian, situated within the geopolitical boundaries of the Kurdistan region in Iraq using a suite of statistical indicators, including the correlation coefficient (R), the root mean square error (RMSE), the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and the mean absolute error (MAE). These metrics provided a comprehensive assessment of the model's predictive accuracy and reliability. Moreover, this localized analysis provided insights into the model's efficacy under specific regional climatic conditions. At station Penjwen, the results based on the RMSE values indicated that the LightGBM and CatBoost methods performed better than other models in Ts estimation at depths of 5cm and 10cm, with RMSE values of 2.502°C and 2.164°C, respectively. Also, at station Bazian, CatBoost and LightGBM approaches showed the best results at depths of 5cm and 10cm, with RMSE values of 2.069°C and 1.786°C, respectively. The study's findings suggest that meteorological variables can serve as effective inputs for predicting Ts using the proposed algorithms.

Corporate social responsibility: A Driver for green organizational climate and workplace pro-environmental behavior

In line with the United Nation's sustainable development goals (SDGs), the unsustainable use of scarce natural resources and worldwide environmental degradation call for the immediate implementation of green behaviors across all organizations. As environmental issues originate from human activities, they necessitate the realization and execution of employees' workplace pro-environmental behaviors (WPEB) and their stimulators. Drawing on social exchange and social identity theories, this study first investigates the mediating role of green organizational climate in the relationship between various forms of perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employees' WPEB. It further examines the mediated moderation via green shared vision. An adapted survey questionnaire was distributed to senior-level and middle-level managers of large and medium-sized manufacturing firms in Pakistan, and 349 responses were gathered. The partial least-squares technique was used for data analysis. The findings indicate that all forms of perceived CSR positively correlate with a green organizational climate, which further significantly leads to employees' WPEB. The results also show that a strong shared green vision among employees can improve the relationship between the green organizational climate and employees' WPEB and vice versa. Moreover, multi-group analysis shows that the relationship between customer-centric perceived CSR and green organizational climate was stronger for medium-sized firms than large ones. Thus, to ensure the implementation of SDGs such as decent work and climate action, firms' top management must recognize the importance of investing in both internal and external CSR initiatives to foster a green organizational climate leading to employees' WPEB. Companies should communicate their participation in CSR activities to all stakeholders through public platforms to increase inspiration. Policymakers should further introduce CSR excellence awards and non-compliance penalties to encourage firms' extensive participation.

Can local organizations act as middle actors in energy support? Exploring their functions, motivations, challenges, and needs

Energy efficiency is vital for energy transitions, and energy-poor, vulnerable, and hard-to-reach groups are at risk of being left behind. In this context, local middle actors have been suggested as partners in deploying targeted energy support. Nevertheless, scarce research has engaged with them to assess if they are willing and capable of contributing, if they can reach households, and if they have unmet needs. In this research, we draw on the mapping of 198 local organizations and 34 semi-structured interviews conducted after deploying a pilot energy support service in Setúbal, Portugal. Interviews characterized the organizations and target audiences, assessed energy literacy, explored potential collaborative roles, and recognized drivers, barriers, and solutions. Results show that most organizations are willing to disseminate activities, forward citizens, facilitate contacts, co-organize events, and participate in training. Half can identify vulnerable families for proactive support. Drivers include environmental concerns, community participation, and social support. However, few seem able to conduct energy support, hire/redirect staff, or participate in coordination. Scarce human resources, lack of time, other priorities, and financing concerns severely constrain local organizations. This case study finds some potential for local organizations to act as intermediaries in energy support, building on their communication channels and trusted relationships to fulfill specific roles. However, they are often hard-to-reach themselves and burdened with demanding activities. Thus, we suggest that fostering collaborations with local organizations is challenging but possible. It requires dedicated funding, time, and resources to empower, capacitate, and reward middle actors for their contributions in delivering energy support.

Efficient atomically dispersed Fe catalysts with robust three-phase interface for stable seawater-based zinc-air batteries

The use of seawater-based electrolytes in zinc-air batteries (S-ZABs) presents significant economic and social benefits and mitigates the demand for scarce freshwater resources. However, it is challenging to achieve a metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) catalyst that exhibits high resistance to corrosive Cl- in seawater-based electrolytes and possesses a strengthened binding affinity with O2, which enables catalysts with an optimized oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and enhances the applicability of S-ZABs. Herein, we propose a combined wet chemistry-pyrolysis strategy to obtain atomically dispersed Fe-decorated nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon spheres (N-MCS-Fe-900). Benefiting from the capacity of the Fe decorations to form the edge-hosted aerophilic FeN4-O2 sites at the optimized three-phase interface, N-MCS-Fe-900 affords the enhanced resistance of the active Fe sites to corrosive Cl-, as well as improved interaction with O2, thereby facilitating the ORR process. As expected, the N-MCS-Fe-900 delivers high half wave potential of 0.90V and kinetic current density of 18.61mAcm−2 at 0.85V in seawater-based 0.1M KOH. More importantly, the S-ZABs equipped with N-MCS-Fe-900 exhibited long-term stability under a high current density for over 140h without voltage decay. Theoretical calculations and electrochemical performance evaluations collectively revealed the superior catalytic efficacy and genesis of this activity in N-MCS-Fe-900, which features edge-hosted FeN4-O2 sites at the stable three-phase interface in seawater electrolytes. This study provides new insights for the advancement of ORR catalysts in sustainable energy conversion technologies for seawater-based electrolytes.

Avian prey intake and breeding success parity of the powerful owl in dry, inland Victoria

AbstractApex predators are vulnerable to environmental changes which can cascade through trophic levels of an ecosystem. Investigating prey‐predator relationships is important for directing conservation efforts and understanding how species may respond to ecosystem changes. This case study examined the diet and breeding success of the threatened powerful owl Ninox strenua in central Victoria where the box‐ironbark forests have undergone widespread clearing, fragmentation, and degradation. The powerful owl preys predominantly on arboreal mammals, however, some birds are also consumed. By analysing the contents of regurgitated owl pellets of two owl pairs, we found that birds comprised 29.3% of all prey items and contributed the largest proportion of prey biomass for one pair (34.4%). All mammalian prey species identified in the pellet remains are dependent on tree hollows, which are now a scarce and competitive resource in box‐ironbark forests. Despite consuming a diet lower in mammalian prey than found in other studies, breeding success over five consecutive years was 1.4 chicks fledged per pair per year, which is notably higher than historical observations in the region and similar to powerful owls in other parts of their distribution. Our observations suggest that flexibility in prey selection enables powerful owls to occupy ranges that have undergone significant ecosystem change.

For resilient rural shorelines: reviewing Nature-based Solutions for flood risk reduction in small coastal communities

Coastal flood risk poses a serious, existential threat to shoreline populations around the world both now and in the future. Unsurprisingly, global decision makers are considering their options – one of these being Nature-based Solutions – for effective disaster risk reduction which specifically targets coastal flooding. While strides have been made in the field of Nature-based Solutions for coastal flooding, much of this attention has been directed towards the urban setting, with a wealth of scholastic documentation to support this notion. The sizeable rural populations scattered throughout the world's small coastal communities, meanwhile, have been largely neglected in academic literature. Without this information, it is impossible to properly capture the full potential of Nature-based Solutions in (global) flood risk modelling endeavours or understand their role in the future of equitable disaster risk reduction. In light of this gap, we have reviewed the limited amount of existing literature from around the world involving the implementation and effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions in small coastal communities. We analysed 28 peer-reviewed studies to gather common themes and insights about the barriers and opportunities unique to these rural shorelines. Takeaways we have identified include a near consistent scarcity of resources (e.g., technical, financial, institutional) to implement disaster risk reduction measures; an abundance of space and opportune land use regimes which make Nature-based Solutions a highly plausible option; amplified nature contributions to people leading to larger benefits reaped from investments into Nature-based Solutions; and the presence of local knowledge regarding societal norms, climate patterns, and ecosystem capabilities. We argue that these four common themes point to the fact that more attention must be given to coastal flooding-focused Nature-based Solutions in the rural setting. As such, we present this collation as a starting point for future projects of similar setting and scope. We also recommend improving benefit-cost analysis methods as well as including local knowledge and other perspectives in future global assessments of coastal flood risk.

Hybrid offshore wind projects. Social desirability vs. incentives to invest

To unlock the full potential of offshore wind requires investment in a more integrated offshore grid infrastructure combining generation and interconnection between countries in so-called hybrid projects. Taking the perspective of a social planner, these projects may result in more efficient allocation of scarce resources. Alas, the distribution of this welfare gain may result in disagreement on what grid design is the most attractive, what markets should be connected and whether and when to invest. To examine these dilemmas, we apply real options theory to investments projects with different grid design and market characteristics. We compare the incentives to invest in a) only the wind farm and b) both the wind farm and the grid infrastructure, assuming the project value of the last alternative can serve as a proxy for social welfare. Solutions are derived using a simulation approach called least squares Monte Carlo method. We find: 1) Non-stationary stochastic prices and/or decreasing costs may make it socially optimal as well as commercially beneficial to postpone even profitable investments. 2) Connecting markets is socially desirable but may reduce the offshore wind investor's project value. 3) Connecting markets with different characteristics is socially desirable but reduce the offshore wind investors' project value.

100 Jahre im Dazwischen. Ein- und Ausblicke in die Arbeit kulturwissenschaftlich-volkskundlicher Landesstellen

Regional centres for cultural and folklore studies in Germany are regionally and nationally networked institutions and are organised in different ways. They research, document, advise and communicate topics of everyday culture. They act in the in-between, as an interface between academia and the public. Their work primarily involves the transfer of knowledge into cultural practice and the exchange of knowledge with universities, specialised societies, museums and civil society institutions. To mark the centenary of the Regional Centre for Everyday Culture in Stuttgart, this article looks back at its past and considers the challenges and opportunities of the future. These include new needs and requirements for counselling in the context of intangible cultural heritage, but also with regard to new mediation formats, online presence and the digital availability of collections and archives. As a further challenge in times of scarce resources and public funding, the work and self-image of the regional centres must also be increasingly aligned with the expectations of the funding bodies and the public.

Intermediate inputs in Dutch disease. Copper in Chile

PurposeBy means of a practical model, the paper discusses the role of intermediate inputs in the ability of a booming extractive sector to draw resources out of lagging sectors, giving rise to Dutch disease. MethodsThe model is for the Chilean economy and follows an ‘extended’ input-output structure, with 35 production sectors. Once calibrated and parameterized, the model can be solved numerically to estimate the resource movement effect and the spending effect of a copper boom. FindingsThe numerical exercises show that, when the use of intermediate inputs is taken into account, the resource movement effect is of similar magnitude to the spending effect in explaining deindustrialization in Dutch disease. The key mechanism here is that, when the copper sector expands, its effects on real wages and good prices can be significant, due to the use of intermediate inputs. ImplicationThis implies that the policies that are commonly recommended to avoid Dutch disease (fiscal rules, sovereign wealth funds, etc.) may not be very effective if they are not accompanied by others aimed at promoting greater provision or efficient use of scarce resources. OriginalityThe present study contributes to the literature on Dutch disease in two ways. On the one hand, it provides an estimate of the resource movement effect and the spending effect of a commodity boom. On the other hand, it provides evidence in favour of the hypothesis that extractive activities can lead to direct deindustrialization.

Environmental benefits of valorising food waste into bio-based polyols for the production of polyurethane rigid foams

Under the global pursuit of sustainable development, waste streams are being recognised as renewable feedstocks to produce value-added products. Given this, food waste (FW) was explored to synthesise bio-based polyols to further develop polyurethane rigid foams (PURF). However, relevant environmental aspects are yet to be examined to support this biorefinery scheme as a green and sustainable solution. In this work, we examined the environmental performance associated with the production of PURF using polyols derived from a FW biorefinery scheme by life cycle assessment (LCA). Analysis was first conducted at the polyol level. Different allocation and offset options were examined to configure the LCA model. Based on mass allocation, compared with fossil-based production, the production of FW-derived polyols achieved reductions of 24.30 % and 34.19 % in global warming potential (GWP) and cumulative energy demand (CED), respectively. At the midpoint level, FW-derived polyols had reduced impacts on human carcinogenic toxicity, freshwater eutrophication, and fossil resource scarcity but caused additional burdens on freshwater and marine ecotoxicity. Key environmental hotspots at this level included diethylene glycol, ion exchange resin (epoxidation catalyst), and hydrogen peroxide. The lipid content in FW also played a significant role. It was demonstrated that reducing the use of enzymes for FW hydrolysis to a cost-effective level remarkably mitigated the overall impacts of FW-derived polyol production. At the next level, we examined the production of FW-derived PURF using the obtained polyols. When 70 % of the polyols were replaced with bio-based products, the resultant PURF production achieved a GWP and CED of 5.67 kg CO2eq and 110.66 MJ/kg, respectively. In general, FW-derived PURF leads to environmental benefits compared to fossil-based ones. However, isocyanate used for foam formulation was the dominant contributor, causing almost two-thirds of the total impacts. The flame retardant also caused considerable impacts. Through the systematic examination of FW-derived polyols and PURF, this study demonstrated that FW-derived PURF could benefit the sustainable development of FW biorefineries and bio-based plastic industries, while the identified environmental hotspots need to be further studied and replaced with greener substitutes. AcronymsUnlabelled TableCEDCumulative energy demandDEGDiethylene glycolDALYDisability-adjusted life yearsFWFood wasteGWPGlobal warming potentialLCALife cycle assessmentLCILife cycle inventoryMDIMethylene diphenyl diisocyanateNIPUNon-isocyanate polyurethanespMDIPolymeric 4,4′-methylene diphenyl isocyanatePURFPolyurethane rigid foamsPUsPolyurethanesTPhPTriphenyl phosphateTCPPTris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate

Evaluating the environmental impacts of brick production from waste plastic

The building and construction sector accounts for nearly 40% of the total process-related greenhouse gas emissions, out of which 11% of emissions are related to the production of building materials. To achieve environmental sustainability, it is imperative that these emissions be minimized through a novel approach. We propose that instead of using conventional building techniques of wood-based construction for interior walls of a house, bricks manufactured from waste plastic be used. In this paper, a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) is carried out for the building materials used in the construction of interior walls for a standard 2450 sq. ft. home, and the results are compared to the bricks manufactured from waste plastic. Plastic bricks are manufactured by sorting and shredding the waste plastic and then bailing it in a superheated steam environment. The LCA is modeled in SimaPro 9.5.0.1, using the Ecoinvent v3 database and the ReCiPe Midpoint (H) 2016 impact assessment method. The results indicate that the use of waste plastics in construction leads to reduction in the water consumption by 26%, terrestrial ecotoxicity by 59%, mineral resource scarcity by 81%, and the land use by 99% when compared to conventional construction activities. Our research work provides a novel pathway towards sustainable construction practices through this life cycle assessment study, and the results can be further improved by using eco-friendly energy sources and natural resource-based adhesives. Future work needs to be carried out to explore the mechanical and structural properties of the bricks and their use in large-scale commercial applications, as well as innovative brick designs that eliminate the need for adhesives.

Evaluation method for uniformity of steel slag concrete aggregate based on improved YOLOv8

The use of steel slag as a replacement for natural aggregates in concrete effectively alleviates the issue of natural resource scarcity. The uniformity of aggregates in steel slag concrete directly affects its performance and durability. Therefore, precise segmentation of aggregates in sedimentation images is crucial for evaluating their uniformity. This paper not only proposes an improved instance segmentation model for accurate segmentation of steel slag concrete aggregates but also introduces a new method for assessing the uniformity of aggregates when steel slag replaces natural aggregates. This method quantitatively analyses the area, replacement rate, and spatial distribution of the aggregates and conducts a comprehensive quantitative analysis using the comprehensive uniformity evaluation coefficient, K. This approach allows for the evaluation of the uniformity of aggregates in sedimentation images of steel slag concrete. Experimental results show that the proposed improved model achieved an mAP50 of 98.3 %. Furthermore, the aggregate uniformity assessment method based on the improved model can objectively and accurately evaluate the uniformity of steel slag concrete aggregates.

Circularity assessment in buildings and built environment: an integrated multiscale framework

Abstract Circular transition requires systematic interventions in the built environment, particularly at the urban level, to close resource loops locally. The adoption of a design-operational approach focused on the life-cycle perspective and circularity, in line with the Green Building Approach, at the same time responds to resource scarcity and cuts CO2 emissions in the regeneration and integration of urban settlements. In this view, the dimension of the urban neighbourhood offers an ideal field of experimentation to test and scale up circular strategies and solutions, starting from the building scale. The contribution reports the results of an ongoing research whose aim is to propose a methodology to identify basic characteristics and performances allowing a neighbourhood to be defined as circular, and to promote their spread through design both in regeneration and new construction. Thus, the research addresses an important gap due to the limited number of studies on circularity metrics at the neighbourhood scale. From a methodological point of view, the research analyses a selection of case studies and, in parallel, existing circularity metrics at different levels, systematizing them with a set of indicators coming from sustainability protocols at the neighbourhood scale. The research therefore defines an integrated multiscale framework supporting circular design and assessment, valid at the building level but also - in a multiscale perspective - at the neighbourhood level, aiming to develop a support tool for public administrations and designers.

Preface

This NEXTBUILT 2024 Conference Proceedings comprise the selected papers contributing to the 2024 International Conference on Challenges for the NEXT generation BUILT Environment, held in Bologna on two years basis, with the ambition to become a reference event to share and discuss drivers of change, barriers and solutions for shaping the future built environment considering the impact of Climate Change. The Conference is one of the main outcomes of the NEXTBUILT Observatory, whose main scope is to collect, analyse, and report information, research, and studies dealing with the most urgent and hot topics influencing the transformation directions in contemporary cities with a forward-looking perspective. The initiative is supported and fed by the research activity run at the Department of Architecture of the University of Bologna as well as by the constant transformative plans led by the City of Bologna. NEXTBUILT 2024 was held in Bologna on May 9th and 10th 2024, with the chance to join the conference online for those who were not able to attend in person, under the overarching theme of “a reflection on the future of the built environment within a context of resource scarcity or heavily influenced by climate change impacts, assuming a strong future oriented approach”. List of Scientific Committee members and Reviewers are available in this Pdf.

Life cycle assessment of photovoltaic panels including transportation and two end-of-life scenarios: Shaping a sustainable future for renewable energy

This research study addresses the growing environmental concerns associated with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems which is a pivotal component of renewable energy transition. The primary objective is to advance the comprehension of the environmental sustainability of solar PV technology, with a specific focus on the context of Mexico. This study applies a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework, employing an up-to-date methodology (ReCiPe 2016) and database (Ecoinvent 3.8) for midpoint and endpoint indicators in this problem by considering a specific focus on end-of-life and transportation scenarios which have been absent in the current state-of-the-art research. An LCA approach bridges the gap between midpoint and end-point indicators, bringing transparency to the environmental impact assessment. This research entails a cradle-to-grave LCA of a 1 kW crystalline silicon solar panel over a 25-year lifespan while adapting to ISO 14044 standards for LCA and encompassing both midpoint and end-point indicators, specifically including end-of-life and transportation scenario. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to evaluate the variations in environmental indicators considering the life-cycle data. It is reported that recycling processes can cause a substantial mitigating effect on environmental impacts across multiple categories, leading to reductions of up to 89 % in mineral resource scarcity. Notably, the cell processing phase emerges as the most environmentally impactful stage, accounting for 37 % of the total impact. This high impact is predominantly attributed to silver usage and heightened electricity consumption. The sensitivity analysis revealed that various performance indicators exhibited differing degrees of sensitivity to uncertainty in the design variables, highlighting the importance of careful consideration, particularly in addressing theimpact on theecosystem, when aiming to reduce environmental impacts in the life cycle of silicon solar panels. Our results have also indicated that transportation significantly impacts resource protection, accounting for 15 % of the total impacts in this category, with lesser yet notable contributions to ecosystems and human health. The implications of this work suggest a need for stringent policies to fabricate complete solar photovoltaic modules in Mexico to reduce the environmental burden caused by transportation. Additionally, the insights from this study offer a gateway for the Mexican government to reform current energy transition policies by including multiple recycling scenarios for solar photovoltaic systems, ultimately leading to sustainable growth in this market.

Environmental impact assessment of the production of biomethane from landfill biogas and its use as vehicle fuel

Biogas and biomethane are expected to play an increasing role in the short-term future of the energy market. It is imperative to identify alternative sources of these gases and minimize the utilization of those derived from fossil sources. One such source is biogas obtained from landfill gas, which can be subsequently upgraded to produce biomethane. This can then be used to replace the fossil natural gas for both energy generation and vehicle use. This paper employs the Life-Cycle Assessment methodology to analyze the environmental impact of the production of biomethane derived from landfill biogas. The objective was to identify the unit processes that have the greatest environmental impact. These processes were CO₂ removal, which contributed 84% to the impact category of 'global warming', and the second stage of biogas compression, which contributed 37% to the impact category of 'fossil resources scarcity'. Based on these results, we propose recommendations to reduce the environmental impact of both processes. Furthermore, an analysis was conducted on the use of biomethane as a vehicle fuel, which revealed that it has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of driving both light and heavy-duty vehicles in comparison with the use of diesel and petrol.

Reducing Unnecessary Transfusions of RBCs in Inpatients Admitted Across Niagara Health Community Hospitals.

Blood products are scarce resources. Audits on the use of red blood cells (RBCs) in tertiary centers have repeatedly highlighted inappropriate use. Earlier retrospective audit at our local community hospitals has demonstrated that only 85% and 54% of all requests met Choosing Wisely Canada guidelines for pre-transfusion hemoglobin (Hb) of 80 g/L or less and single unit, respectively.We sought to improve RBC utilization by 15% over a period of 12 months (meeting Choosing Wisely Canada criteria of pre-transfusion Hb ≤80g/L by >80% and single-unit transfusion by >65%). Following repeated PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycles, we implemented educational strategies, prospective transfusion medicine (TM) technologist-led screening of orders, and an RBC order set. The 3-month median percentages of appropriate RBC use for pre-transfusion Hb and single unit (September-November 2021) across all 3 hospitals were 90% and 71%, respectively. Overall, the rate of appropriate RBCs based on pre-transfusion Hb remained above target (>80%), with minimal improvement across all hospitals (median percentage at pre- and post-technologist screening periods of 87% and 90%, respectively). The median percentage of appropriate RBCs based on single-unit transfusion orders has improved across all Niagara Health hospitals with sustained targets (3-month median percentage at pre- and post-technologist screening and most recent time periods of 54%, 56%, and 71%, respectively). We have taken a collaborative, multifaceted approach to optimizing utilization of RBCs across the Niagara Health hospitals. The rates of appropriate RBC use were comparable with the provincial and national accreditation benchmark standards. In particular, the TM technologist-led screening was effective in producing sustained improvement with respect to single-unit transfusion. One of the balancing outcomes was increasing workload on technologists. Local and provincial efforts are needed to facilitate recruitment and retention of laboratory technologists, especially in community hospitals.

An investigation of the mechanical strength, environmental impact and economic analysis of nano alkali-activated composite

The current study explores both the mechanical strength and life cycle assessments of fly ash (FA)-based alkali-activated concrete (AAC) with/without colloidal nano-silica (NS) addition at high and low molar concentrations of sodium hydroxide in the activator fluid (12 M and 3 M). The cradle-to-gate approach is used to establish the system boundaries for life cycle assessments (LCA). The environmental impact of AAC (with/without NS) and conventional cement concrete (CC) mixtures was determined using the ReCiPe midpoint and endpoint approaches across various impact categories. The AAC mixes with and without NS addition reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 % and 25 % with respect to CC mix, respectively. Within the majority of impact categories, sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide production are the primary contributors, accounting for up to 91 %. However, in water depletion, global warming potential, and fuel depletion, the overall contribution is as high as 65 %. Also, the AAC mix with and without NS addition consumes 34 % and 14 % less electricity during its production with respect to the CC mixture. The CC mixes have almost 70 % more ecological damage and approximately 30 % more health risk than AAC with and without NS. However, the NS-modified AAC shows 20 % lower ecological and health risks than AAC without NS. The effect of resource scarcity on NS modified AAC is 50 % less than that of other mixes, including both AAC mix without NS and CC mix. In comparison to AAC without NS, the NS modified AAC demonstrates an 18 % reduced impact on resource scarcity. Finally, cost analysis demonstrates that AAC with NS is 16 % less expensive than CC, while AAC without NS is 26 % cheaper than CC. AAC containing 6 % NS inclusions exhibits environmental and economic benefits in addition to its enhanced mechanical performance, indicating its potential for widespread practical usage.

Multifunctional HxMoO3-y-MoO2/Carbon Composite Particles for Water Remediation.

Solving a scarcity of freshwater resources is an urgent global challenge by a safe and sustainable approach using renewable energy. We demonstrate the multifunctional catalyst of HxMoO3-y-MoO2/carbon composite particles toward highly efficient water remediation. A one-step mechanochemical reaction successfully upgraded the composites from commercially available MoO3-polypropylene (PP) powders without introducing hydrogen gas. The composite particles exhibited broad light absorption in the UV-visible (Vis)-near-infrared (NIR) region (200-2000 nm), with an optical band-gap narrowing to 1.03 eV. The plasmonic properties of HxMoO3-y-MoO2 allowed a fast water evaporation rate (3.29 kg m-2 h-1) with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 88.8%. In addition, the HxMoO3-y-MoO2 heterojunction dominated wide-spectrum activity under Vis and NIR light irradiation, up to 3 orders of magnitude higher than pristine MoO3 in the photocatalytic degradation of azo-dye pollutants. Furthermore, the byproduct carbon with abundant oxygen-containing groups efficiently eliminated water pollutants as a Brønsted acid catalyst and performed exceptional adsorption capacities of heavy metal ions in the dark.