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Publications - 6374

Deindustrialization, Tertiarization and Suburbanization in Central and Eastern Europe. Lessons Learned from Bucharest City, Romania

Tamás Hardi Radu Săgeată Ines Grigorescu Bianca Mitrică Andreea Loreta Cercleux

Publication Name: Land

Publication Date: 2023-09-01

Volume: 12

Issue: 9

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This paper intends to delve deeply into the current understanding of the ways in which the transition from a central-based economy to an economy relying on free competition has led to changes in the big urban centers, bringing about a change in the relationships with the suburban areas. The authors take into account the high population density, the lack of space, and the elevated price of land within the big cities, which leads to urban functions migrating beyond the administrative boundaries, thus favoring the process of suburbanization. Given the context, commercial forces shift, migrating from the center to the urban peripheries or even outside them. This research is based on a comprehensive process of participative investigation (2012–2022) in Bucharest, Romania’s capital city. The research relies on field investigation, statistical and quantitative analyses and bibliographical sources. The conclusions rely primarily on the idea that political changes cannot be separated from economic, cultural and environmental ones, highlighting globalizing flows and the development of big cities. Industrial activities, strongly developed within a central-based economy, have significantly declined, which is partly compensated for by the development of the tertiary sector and, in particular, of commercial services leading to a functional reconversion of the urban peripheries and of suburban areas. The conclusions suggest that it is very important to be highly careful regarding the dilemmas and challenges ensuing from uncontrolled urban growth; therefore, several measures of urban planning should be taken with a view to achieving a better cooperation between urban stakeholders and those from the metropolitan areas so as to attain some common objectives in infrastructure in order to reach an integrated regional development.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/land12091731

Legal Risk Assessment of Re-using Building Materials and Elements in Historic Structures

Jolanta Tamošaitienė Ulrike Quapp Klaus Holschemacher

Publication Name: Rilem Bookseries

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 64

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 2952-2962

Description:

Construction processes intensively contributes to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The resulting climate change affects historic buildings and complicates built heritage preservation. However, there are several actions under way, such as the European Green Deal, to reduce CO2 emissions in construction. Revaluation of existing structures under application of recycled materials and by re-use of available building elements may save resources and thus reduces emission of CO2 in construction industry. This contributes to a more environmentally friendly construction process. Furthermore, re-using of existing building materials or elements may preserve the historical appearance of structures, in the interest of future generations. For production and usage of new building materials and elements, a plethora of legislation and codes needs to be considered. The same applies to re-use of existing building materials and elements which increases the danger for construction defects and thus expensive claims. Thus, beside the advantages, re-using of building materials and elements bears risks to all stakeholders in a construction project. In the interest of avoiding conflicts between the construction contract parties, a legal risk analysis is necessary to support them in decision about the re-use of existing building materials and elements. The authors examined current international, European and German law, codes, and policy dealing with re-use of building materials and elements. Furthermore, they reviewed existing literature about that topic and analyzed relevant court cases of the last twenty years. The conclusion is, that there is a need for a detailed contract specification which kind of existing building elements and materials can be re-used and who takes the responsibility for known or unknown defects under the aspect of liability. The paper provides suggestions under which legal aspects a re-use of building elements may be recommendable and which requirements need to be met.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-13469-1_234

Modeling of railway transition zones under dynamic loading

Edina Koch Peter Hudacsek

Publication Name: Icsmge 2017 19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

Publication Date: 2017-01-01

Volume: 2017-September

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 1369-1372

Description:

Transition zones of railway tracks are intended to provide a smooth transition of the riding train, minimizing the effect of the discontinuities that exist along the track. When a train rides from an embankment onto a stiff structure, such as a bridge, tunnel or culvert, an abrupt change in the support stiffness occurs possibly inducing differential settlements. This in long term can yield to the degradation of the tracks and foundations in the transition zones. The differential settlement is especially problematic for high speed rail infrastructure as the "bump" at the transition is accentuated at high speeds. A number of techniques have been proposed or implemented to provide gradual stiffness transition at the problem zones, such as methods to ensure gradually changing pad stiffness, application of long sleepers or installation of auxiliary rails in the transition zone. The problems associated with the transition zones require a complex analysis. For efficient modeling of the mechanisms resulting in gradual line deteriorations in the transition zones the understanding of the 3D and dynamic effects associated with the problem seems to be essential. To enhance our understanding regarding the problem a 3D numerical model has been developed and presented for time domain analysis.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: DOI not available

Computer aided formulation design based on molecular dynamics simulation: Detergents with fragrance

Lei Zhang Haiqiu Tang Yan Qi Lifeng Zhao Rafiqul Gani

Publication Name: Computers and Chemical Engineering

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: 192

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Computer-aided formulation design is a methodology that utilizes domain knowledge and selected methods and tools suitable for computer-based applications to assist in formulation (product) design. In this paper, molecular dynamics simulation and Bayesian neural network algorithms are combined with well-known engineering models to help accelerate the development and optimization of formulation-based detergent products with a view to improve product quality and performance. In particular, the mechanism of the behavior of polymers (an active ingredient in the product) to improve the product quality in terms of the fragrance and its residence time is highlighted. Results from molecular dynamic simulation applied to study the molecular interaction mechanism show that the polymers have an attraction effect with fragrance molecules and could adsorb more to make them to stay on the surface of clothes. In addition, the polymer attenuates the diffusion of the fragrance molecules, lengthening the entire process of fragrance diffusion, which is the essence of the ability of the polymer to slow down the release of the fragrance. A Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship (QSPR) model between component proportions and fragrance diffusion is established through Bayesian Neural Network (BNN) and the product formulation is optimized based on this model. Keeping polymer and perfume ingredients unchanged, the surfactant amounts are optimized to provide improved product quality.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2024.108919

Fuzzy extension for Kano's model using bacterial evolutionary algorithm

János Botzheim Peter Foldesi Ĺaszĺo T. Ḱoczy

Publication Name: Isciii 07 3rd International Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics Proceedings

Publication Date: 2007-09-25

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 147-151

Description:

For designing and developing products/services it is vital to know the relevancy of the performance generated by each technical attribute and how they can increase customer satisfaction. Improving the parameters of technical attributes requires financial resources, and the budgets are generally limited. Thus the optimum target is to achieve maximum customer satisfaction within given financial limits. Kano's quality model classifies the relationships between customer satisfaction and attribute-level performance and indicates that some of the attributes have a nonlinear relationship to satisfaction, rather power-function should be used. For the customers' subjective evaluation these relationships are not deterministic and are uncertain. This paper proposes a method for fuzzy extension of Kano's model and presents numerical examples that can prove the efficiency of bacterial evolutionary algorithm in as well. © 2007 IEEE.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/ISCIII.2007.367379

The aptness of import-led growth hypothesis for sustainable development in South Asia: Do energy utilization and natural resources matter?

Laszlo Vasa Mara Madaleno Buhari Doğan Saba Javeed Zahoor Ahmed

Publication Name: Resources Policy

Publication Date: 2023-10-01

Volume: 86

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

In recent years, the escalating trade activities (imports and exports) have spurred a growing body of research on their linkages with economic progress and sustainability. However, the impacts of imports and export diversification on sustainable economic growth have been rarely explored. This paper aims to fill this gap by exploring the role of import product diversification in the sustainable economic performance of South Asian countries. More precisely, this paper introduces the export-led growth hypothesis and explores the role of import product diversification, natural resources, and human capital for sustainable economic growth. Empirically, this paper uses data from 1995 to 2020 with 9 South Asian economies and runs advanced panel cointegration techniques along with long-run estimation techniques robust to endogeneity, cross-sectional dependence, autocorrelation, and other panel data problems. The outcomes display a significant correlation between import product diversification, natural resources, and sustainable development. The findings can provide insights to formulate efficient import diversification strategies for sustainable growth, especially in developing countries.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.104262

Overcoming emotional barriers for tacit knowledge sharing

Viktoria Magyar-Stifter

Publication Name: Proceedings of the European Conference on Knowledge Management Eckm

Publication Date: 2017-01-01

Volume: 2

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 617-623

Description:

I concluded from previous exploratory research that there is currently no company in Hungary that has not heard of knowledge management. In fact, many are able to isolate tacit and explicit knowledge, while consciously seeking to share only the latter. Answers to questions regarding objections to sharing tacit knowledge are that there is no time for it, not enough money for it, or the classic "the employees are all just gossip, if there are more of them" response. There are a wide range of barriers to knowledge transfer in the literature as explanations as to why the transfer of tacit knowledge is not encouraged, in addition to "our organisation is not ready for knowledge sharing". However, what is overlooked is that one of the conditions for success during knowledge sharing is a human factor: staff attitude. After all, the sharing of tacit knowledge is voluntary in most cases and thus stems from the intrinsic motivation of participants. The organisation is able to influence employees to have a positive attitude about knowledge transfer and motivate them to satisfy higher order needs. If an organisation intends to increase employee satisfaction, they can promote cooperation and team tasks and communicate a clear vision, that is, emotional intelligence. In this paper, I deal only with the latter in detail. What kind of individual and group capabilities should companies have to build their competitive advantage based on the knowledge of individuals? What is more, I wish to project that companies need to operate more successfully. How can company's employees' satisfaction, positive attitude, and work efficiency be increased for better performance. How can emotional intelligence be improved for more success? To answer these questions, I intend to examine the emotional competences of companies in North Transdanubia with empiric, quantitative and qualitative methods, a basket of typical competences that are characteristic of emotionally intelligent companies, and its effect on a company's knowledge transfer processes. I intend to prove the relationship of factors involved in the design of corporate emotional intelligence by investigating hypotheses and then placing the established model within the known family of emotional intelligence models. Finally, I will also investigate the knowledge transfer processes of emotionally intelligent companies.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: DOI not available

The nexus between agricultural land use, urbanization, and greenhouse gas emissions: Novel implications from different stages of income levels

Giovanni Cerulli Cosimo Magazzino Salahuddin Khan Umer Shahzad

Publication Name: Atmospheric Pollution Research

Publication Date: 2023-09-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 9

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The current study establishes theoretical and empirical linkages among urbanization, economic growth, land use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The prime objective of this article is to draw novel conclusions and policies for the different income levels of countries regarding the urbanization and agriculture sector land on environmental pollution. Employing panel data of 50 countries for the period 1990 to 2019, this study uses the lasso regression and non-parametric regression panel data methods to investigate the impacts of land use (arable, permanent pastures, and cropland), urbanization growth, and economic progress on the pollution levels. After estimating a Lasso regression to find the best auto-regressive predictive specification, we used an auto-regressive partially linear regression where each of the drivers’ effects was modelled non-parametrically. The elasticity effect of the urban population on emissions is significantly positive and sizable. In addition, the effect distribution shows a non-negligible share of observations with an elasticity higher than one. Urban population growth is a serious threat to climate change, as it seems to increase sharply CO2 emissions (although with an elasticity pace smaller than one). The elasticity effect of GDP is significantly negative, which implies that the scale of production, by triggering efficiency, can have a positive effect on emissions reduction. The results argue that agglomeration negative effects put in place by larger urban population can partly explain this finding. Overall, the study argues that urbanization growth and economic activities lead to GHG emissions, whereas the study also discusses novel implications and the role of agricultural land use apropos Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The empirical findings allow us to draw novel conclusions and guidelines in line with SDGs. The agricultural reforms might include irrigation and farming techniques such as spin farming, solar tube wells, tunnel farming, technology use agreements, plant double helix, etc.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2023.101846

NDSP: A platform for audiophile software audio processing

Claudiu Radu Pozna Adrian Sebastian Paul Radu Codrut David Radu Emil Precup

Publication Name: Iccc Conti 2010 IEEE International Joint Conferences on Computational Cybernetics and Technical Informatics Proceedings

Publication Date: 2010-08-06

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 431-436

Description:

This paper proposes a platform referred to as nDSP to interconnect different software audio signal processing effects which are modularized. The new platform is focused on having all processing done by the system CPU at higher quality than that achieved using hardware DSPs. The software representation of the module inside the platform is defined such that its state can be externally controlled, therefore the design of self-tuning filters is allowed. The design aims the further use of software audio signal processing in low-cost audiophile loudspeaker systems taking full advantage of the new personal computer hardware products. © 2010 IEEE.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/ICCCYB.2010.5491235