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Found 6334 publications

ISO 14000 as a driver of sustainability: Exploring its alternative drivers beyond ISO 9000 standards

Santi Setyaningsih Heba F. Zaher

Publication Name: Journal of Infrastructure Policy and Development

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 12

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study replicates and extends Corbett and Kirsch (2001) and Vastag (2004) using a new data set to investigate the drivers of ISO 14000 certification diffusions using decision tree analysis. The findings indicate that at the national level, ISO 14000 certification diffusions are influenced by factors other than ISO 9000 certification diffusions, such as the number of environmental treaties signed and ratified, industrial activities as a percentage of GDP, and GDP per capita, thus provides a range of managerial insights and enhances scholarly understanding of sustainability beyond the influence of ISO 9000. Future studies might extend the countries included in this study to see if the results are the same. Future research may include other factors like a country’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) indicators to better understand its commitment to sustainability, including environmental sustainability. The country’s culture may influence customers, investors, and other stakeholders’ knowledge and desire for sustainable practices and inspire firms to obtain ISO 14000 certifications. Since larger firms may seek ISO 14000 certification, future studies may evaluate the influence of the number of large firms in various countries as drivers of ISO certification diffusions.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.24294/jipd.v8i12.8161

Effect of Waist Strap Reinforcement in Backpacks on Children Gait Parameters During Walking and Running: A Randomized Cross-Over Prospective Study

Yaodong Gu Gusztáv Fekete Yining Xu Li Huang

Publication Name: Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 59

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 538-545

Description:

As academic demands increase, school-aged children and adolescents often carry heavy backpacks, impacting their posture and musculoskeletal health. This study examines how backpack carriage affects children's gait, focusing on the influence of waist strap design. In this study, twelve children underwent biomechanical tests while walking and running with and without backpacks, with weights adjusted based on daily habits. It can be found that waist strap-equipped backpacks significantly increased load response (F = 58.031, P < .001) and pre-swing phases (F = 58.031, P < .001) during both activities. In running, these backpacks also prolonged load response (F = 3.10, P = 0.004) and pre-swing phases (F = 3.10, P = 0.004). The study concludes that waist strap-equipped backpacks alter gait dynamics in children, affecting phases and contact times without impacting symmetry. This underscores the importance of waist straps in enhancing stability and reducing fatigue during backpack carriage.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3233/ATDE240591

Non-Square Inverse Function Jacobians in Controlled Multibody Systems: Numerical and Application Examples

Ambrus Zelei

Publication Name: Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 59

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 112-120

Description:

When control algorithms of robots are constructed, the joint coordinates and the coordinates describing the dynamics might be different and the transformation between them might be necessary in both directions. The back-and-forth transformations are related to the inverse function theorem, which is well understood for single and multivariable continuous functions: the conditions are described under which the inverse function exist, furthermore the method is provided to calculate the Jacobian of the inverse function. A generalization of the theorem is necessary, when there are fewer dependent variables than independent ones, and furthermore there are constraint equations for the independent variables. It is exactly the case for model-based inverse dynamics control of multibody systems, when the dynamic model is given in terms of a redundant coordinate set, but the controller is formulated for minimum set coordinates. The widely used so-called natural coordinates are a typical redundant set. Minimum-coordinates come in the picture when the control is formulated for the joint coordinates. Clearly, when the natural coordinates are transformed to joint coordinates, there is information loss. The inverse transformation is however still possible, since there are constraint equations for the redundant set. This paper demonstrates a method for the transformation from minimum to redundant coordinates and vice versa with the help of the generalized inverse of the non-square constraint Jacobian and the projection matrices related to the constrained and admissible subspace of the redundant set. An illustrative numerical example and a robotic application demonstrate the theory. The results are relevant in the model-based control of complex-structure parallel kinematic chain robots.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3233/ATDE240534

POSSIBILITIES OF CREATING CROSS-BORDER TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN EAST-CENTRAL EUROPE

Eva Happ Nikoletta Nemes

Publication Name: Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 55

Issue: 3

Page Range: 1066-1075

Description:

Tourism development is one of today's popular tools for mitigating regional inequalities, thus many regions see tourism as an opportunity to break out. This is no different in the case of border regions, where development in this direction is also supported by cross-border, EU-financed or (co-)financed programs. The aim of the paper is to investigate whether there is a real possibility of connecting the areas along the national borders for tourism purposes and creating sustainable tourism in these regions. The study examines the possibility of creating cross-border tourist destinations in three pre-selected areas in the Hungarian-Croatian, Hungarian-Slovenian and North-Western Hungarian-Slovakian border regions during the last two, already closed programming periods. Results of the research show, that cooperation between border countries for real tourism purposes is still possible today, and it only really aimed at creating uniform reception areas that ignore borders in a few cases. After the implementation of the programs, cross-border destinations as sellable tourist products were not created. The study shows that, in the case of two regions, the potential is given and the initiatives aimed at creating cross-border destinations are promising.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.30892/gtg.55308-1280

Fake News Classification on Social Media in the Field of Environmental Engineering

Ferenc Erdos K. Kovacs Richard Nemeth

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 114

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 961-966

Description:

Environmental engineering plays a crucial role in addressing the sustainability challenges of the environment and everyday life. These areas cover a wide range of aspects, from environmental impacts, efficient use of natural resources, waste management and recycling, and improving air and water quality to preventing, managing and mitigating environmental hazards and disasters. For example, climate change, global warming, pollutant emissions, etc., are frequently discussed on social media. Unfortunately, however, these platforms, as the primary means of mass information, provide scope for misinformation, manipulation and influencing opinions through dubious or outright fake news and posts. Despite the prevalence and growing volume of research on detecting fake news, there is a significant lack of quality publications focusing specifically on this environmental engineering-related area. In this paper, the authors aim to bridge this gap by developing a supervised machine-learning model for detecting fake news in this field of science. To build a robust model, a training dataset was constructed by using a specific dataset of labelled social media posts containing keywords from Chemical Engineering Transactions journal articles, with a particular focus on sustainability and environmental aspects. This research contributes to enhancing the integrity of environmental engineering in social media discourse by providing a tool for identifying and mitigating the spread of misinformation, promoting informed decision-making and critical thinking, and improving public awareness of environmental matters.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET24114161

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS FOR LEGAL REGULATION OF INNOVATIONS IN DIGITAL AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES OF THE LABOUR MARKET IN KAZAKHSTAN

Laszlo Vasa Altyn S. Ualtayeva Saule A. Kaliyeva Mukhtar D. Ualtayev

Publication Name: Transformations in Business and Economics

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 23

Issue: 3

Page Range: 325-344

Description:

The subject of this research is digital technologies, increasingly applied in the key processes of labour market organisation and the implementation and formalisation of employment relationships. The article provides an analysis of the use of information technologies in the labour sector, forming the basis for researching new forms of employment. The relevance of this study is driven by the need to adapt to the modern digital labour market, dictated by global innovative changes and the application of digital and information technologies, which require normative legal regulation of new forms of employment relationships. These evolving paradigms are poised to shape the future labour market, which is increasingly predicated on electronic formats and the rapid development of new employment constructs, encompassing self-employment, remote work, and freelancing modalities. The scholarly novelty of this study resides in the systematic categorisation and analysis of the principal trends reflecting shifts in the dynamics between employers and employees, influenced by pivotal information technologies in the modern labour market.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: DOI not available

Enhancing Seismic Performance: A Comprehensive Study on Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Structures Considering Soil Properties and Environmental Impact Assessment

O. Kegyes-Brassai Nurullah Bektaş Benjamin Labar

Publication Name: Advances in Civil Engineering

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 2024

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Approximately 20,000 people are killed annually on average by building and infrastructure collapses and failures caused by seismic activities. In earlier times, seismic design codes and specifications set minimal requirements for life safety performance levels. Earthquakes can be thought of as recurring events in seismically active areas, with severity states ranging from serviceability to ultimate levels. Buildings designed in accordance with site-specific response spectra, which take into account soil properties based on ground motion amplification data, are better at withstanding such forces and serving their design purposes. This study aims to investigate the site response of reinforced and masonry buildings, considering the effect of soil properties based on the amplification of ground motion data, and to compare the life cycle assessment of the buildings under consideration based on the design and the site-specific response spectrum. In terms of soil properties and site-specific response spectra, STRATA is used to determine the site-specific response for the considered locations for a return period of 475 years for 100 realizations based on the randomization of site properties. For structural analysis, AxisVM software, which is a compatible finite element analysis, is used for building design and analysis, generating comparative results based on the design- and site-specific spectra. To determine and identify potential failures in the model, response spectra were applied to understand the difference in horizontal deflection in two different instances (for elastic design- and site-specific spectra). After building design and analysis is performed, a life cycle analysis in terms of environmental impact assesments using OpenLCA and IdematLightLCA is done. This is done to ascertain the additional expenses in terms of ecocosts and carbon footprints on some failed elements in the structure which are required to make the buildings more resilient when the site-specific response spectrum is applied and to compare the potential economic losses that may occur based on ecological costs. The study presents a comprehensive investigation into the seismic response of masonry and reinforced concrete buildings in Győr, Hungary, incorporating advanced geophysical techniques like multichannel surface wave (MASW) and structural analysis software, AxisVM. Additionally, tailored retrofitting strategies are explored to enhance structural resilience in seismic-prone regions. Significant ground amplifications in soil properties across different profiles are revealed, emphasizing the effectiveness of these strategies in reducing structural deflection and improving resilience. Highlights of the results are observed where the site-specific response spectra are higher than the EC8 design response spectrum. Furthermore, the research underscores the substantial environmental impact, considering both ecocosts and CO2 emissions associated with retrofitting measures, highlighting the importance of sustainable structural interventions in mitigating seismic risks.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1155/2024/4505901

Unlocking the insights of dynamics through experimentation of an electric drive

Balázs Vehovszky Zoltán Gazdagh B. Fukker

Publication Name: Proceedings of ISMA 2024 International Conference on Noise and Vibration Engineering and Usd 2024 International Conference on Uncertainty in Structural Dynamics

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 2022-2030

Description:

This experimental example shows a study of the e-drive lamellae package, where the layered, punched sheets are axially compressed and the permanent magnets are embedded in the laminations. When studying such systems, using Restoring Force Surface (RFS) method allows users to create a snapshot of the behavior of the dynamic system. Due to the potential impact on the end user's perception of vehicle quality, the consideration of the changes in resin stiffness over time, the evolution of the time-dependent dynamic response in systems like Laminated Rotor Cores (LRC) remains an aspect in development. Technology development of nonlinear characterization of Laminated Rotor Cores (LRC) under different conditions allows engineers to understand how the dynamics evolve in time. Aging and hardening of polymer resin coating change the dynamics of the system. This change may be accelerated through thermal and centrifugal stress cycles or micro crack propagation of the resin coating. This investigation guides through the approach of nonlinear detection, and characterization and gives suggestions on how to linearize such systems.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: DOI not available

Probabilistic Topology Optimization of Steel I-Beam Web Configurations Under Varied Load Positions

Majid Movahedi Rad Muayad Habashneh

Publication Name: Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 59

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 30-36

Description:

This study investigates the impact of uncertain load positions through an innovative optimization technique. It seamlessly integrates reliability-based design into the optimization of the structural topology, with a specific focus on the web portion of steel I-beams and including geometrical imperfection analysis. The study operates under the premise that the applied load is randomly positioned, engaging in a comprehensive probabilistic analysis. This methodology extends its considerations to additional factors, such as material properties, volume fraction, and geometric imperfections. The assumption of a normal distribution for each of these parameters aids in quantifying uncertainties. Moreover, the proposed work leverages the notion of plastic ultimate load multipliers to illustrate how the algorithm can improve the performance of steel beams. To evaluate the algorithm, the results of a benchmark problem were meticulously analyzed. While exploring the probabilistic nature of externally applied force positions, a numerical example was conducted involving a steel I-beam within the context of reliability-based imperfect geometry topology optimization. The outcomes of the proposed method underscore that the integration of probabilistic design significantly influences the topology optimization process.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3233/ATDE240523