Search results

The massive investment in, and development of, automated and connected transport (ACT) technology development has triggered much debate about this breakthrough technology’s potential positive and negative impacts. Multiple studies have explored the potential direct implications for users in terms of road safety, ‘productive’ travel time, mobility of the elderly and physically less mobile persons, as well as indirect impacts such as reduced emissions and freed road space. Through a critical review of the literature on ACT deployment types and discussions with an expert working group on the wider impacts of ACT implementation, this chapter examines four distinct deployment types of ACT technology and their opportunities and threats in transitioning toward inclusive transport systems. Of the four types, we posit that ACT-based public transport has the greatest potential to contribute to a more inclusive mobility future. Examining the case of Singapore using policy documents, academic literature and interviews with representatives of public and private sectors and academia, the chapter draws policy recommendations for governance toward more inclusive ACT innovation and deployment.

Large optical mirror processing systems (LOMPSs) consist of multiple subrobots, and correlated disturbance terms between these robots often lead to reduced processing accuracy. This abstract introduces a novel approach, the nonlinear subsystem adaptive dispersed fuzzy compensation control (ADFCC) method, aimed at enhancing the precision of LOMPSs.

The ADFCC model for LOMPS is developed through a nonlinear fuzzy adaptive algorithm. This model incorporates control parameters and disturbance terms (such as those arising from the external environment, friction and correlation) between subsystems to facilitate ADFCC. Error analysis is performed using the subsystem output parameters, and the resulting errors are used as feedback for compensation control.

Experimental analysis is conducted, specifically under the commonly used concentric circle processing trajectory in LOMPS. This analysis validates the effectiveness of the control model in enhancing processing accuracy.

The ADFCC strategy is demonstrated to significantly improve the accuracy of LOMPS output, offering a promising solution to the problem of correlated disturbances. This work holds the potential to benefit a wide range of practical applications.

This study aims to explore the influence of corporate sustainability on organizational value, specifically focusing on companies ranked in the Just Capital Market ranking. The aim is to establish whether higher sustainability rankings are associated with increased firm value and to investigate how corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities affect both financial and non-financial outcomes.

This study uses the Ohlson model to assess the value-generation potential of the top and bottom ten companies in the Just Capital Market ranking from 2013 to 2018. The analysis involves evaluating stock prices and other financial metrics and incorporating non-financial indicators related to CSR activities to gain a comprehensive understanding of their impact on firm valuation.

The results indicate a strong connection between high sustainability rankings and increased market value. Companies such as Microsoft, Intel and Alphabet, which have robust CSR initiatives, have shown significant improvements in market performance due to greater stakeholder engagement and detailed non-financial disclosures. On the other hand, companies with low sustainability ratings have demonstrated weaker market performance, which indicates the financial risks associated with neglecting CSR activities. This study underscores the critical importance of integrating CSR into fundamental business strategies to create sustainable value.

This study addresses the limitations of traditional financial indicators by incorporating non-financial factors into the valuation process. The study offers a more comprehensive assessment of firm value, reflecting modern business practices and the evolving global economy landscape. Integrating nonfinancial indicators enhances valuation accuracy and provides a holistic view of company performance, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions based on a broader range of factors. This innovative method may reshape firm valuations, leading to more accurate and reliable assessments in contemporary business contexts.

This study has incorporated competitiveness by considering it a significant factor behind determining as well as moderating industrial value added in the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework. This study aims to explore the moderating role of competitiveness policy in EKC with an aim to promote business led sustainability at national level.

Considering the environmental deterioration aspect of industrialization, this study tests the existence of EKC for SAARC countries using the data from 1996 to 2021 using second-generation static panel data model.

Estimated results have validated that moderating effect is responsible for improving environmental sustainability in SAARC countries. Furthermore, population density is responsible for increasing while trade openness is responsible for decreasing carbon emissions.

Higher industrial activities are a symbol of upward-moving economic growth. But its other impact is in the form of environmental deterioration. However, the relationship between industrialization and environmental quality can be identified through EKC.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the significance impact of air quality as a contributing factor on residential property rents by applying geo-informatics to economic issues. Since air pollution poses a severe health threat, city residents should have a right to know about the (invisible) hazards they are exposed to.

Within spatial-temporal modeling of air pollutants in Berlin, Germany, three interpolation techniques are tested. The most suitable one is selected to create seasonal maps for 2018 and 2021 with pollution concentrations for particulate matter values and nitrogen dioxide for each 1,000 m² cell within the administrative boundaries. Based on the evaluated pollution particulate matter values, which are used as additional variables for semi-parametric regressions the impact of the air quality on rents is estimated.

The findings reveal a compelling association between air quality and the economic aspect of the residential real estate market, with noteworthy implications for both tenants and property investors. The relationship between air pollution variables and rents is statistically significant. However, there is only a “willingness-to- pay” for low particulate matter values, but not for nitrogen dioxide concentrations. With good air quality, residents in Berlin are willing to pay a higher rent (3%).

These results suggest that a “marginal willingness-to-pay” occurs in a German city. The research underscores the multifaceted impact of air quality on the residential rental market in Berlin. The evidence supports the notion that a cleaner environment not only benefits human health and the planet but also contributes significantly to the economic bottom line of property investors.

The paper has a unique data engineering approach. It collects spatiotemporal data from network of state-certified measuring sites to create an index of air pollution. This spatial information is merged with residential listings. Afterward non-linear regression models are estimated.

Microwave curing (MC) can facilitate rapid concrete repair in cold climates without using conventional accelerated curing technologies which are environmentally unsustainable. Accelerated curing of concrete under MC can contribute to the decarbonisation of the environment and provide economies in construction in several ways such as reducing construction time, energy efficiency, lower cement content, lower carbonation risk and reducing emissions from equipment.

The paper investigates moisture loss and pore properties of six cement-based proprietary concrete repair materials subjected to MC. The impact of MC on these properties is critically important for its successful implementation in practice and current literature lacks this information. Specimens were microwave cured for 40–45 min to surface temperatures between 39.9 and 44.1 °C. The fast-setting repair material was microwave cured for 15 min to 40.7 °C. MC causes a higher water loss which shows the importance of preventing drying during MC and the following 24 h.

Portland cement-based normal density repair mortars, including materials incorporating pfa and polymer latex, benefit from the thermal effect of MC on hydration, resulting in up to 24% reduction in porosity relative to normal curing. Low density and flowing repair materials suffer an increase in porosity up to 16% due to MC. The moisture loss at the end of MC and after 24h is related to the mix water content and porosity, respectively.

The research on the application of MC for rapid repair of concrete is original. The research was funded by the European commission following a very rigorous and competitive review process which ensured its originality. Original data on the parameters of porosity and moisture loss under MC are provided for different generic cementitious repair materials which have not been studied before. Application of MC to concrete construction especially in cold climates will provide environmental, economic and energy benefits.

This study aims to predict China's carbon emission intensity and put forward a set of policy recommendations for further development of a low-carbon economy in China.

In this paper, the Interaction Effect Grey Power Model of N Variables (IEGPM(1,N)) is developed, and the Dragonfly algorithm (DA) is used to select the best power index for the model. Specific model construction methods and rigorous mathematical proofs are given. In order to verify the applicability and validity, this paper compares the model with the traditional grey model and simulates the carbon emission intensity of China from 2014 to 2021. In addition, the new model is used to predict the carbon emission intensity of China from 2022 to 2025, which can provide a reference for the 14th Five-Year Plan to develop a scientific emission reduction path.

The results show that if the Chinese government does not take effective policy measures in the future, carbon emission intensity will not achieve the set goals. The IEGPM(1,N) model also provides reliable results and works well in simulation and prediction.

The paper considers the nonlinear and interactive effect of input variables in the system's behavior and proposes an improved grey multivariable model, which fills the gap in previous studies.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a double-stator switched reluctance machine (DS-SRM) for electric vehicles (EVs) and to propose multi-mode operations for this machine.

Analysis of flux linkage distributions and torque characteristics using finite element method (FEM). Building a dynamic simulation model based on electromagnetic characteristics, mathematical equations and mechanical motion equations of the DS-SRM drive system. The paper proposes multi-mode operations (inner-stator excitation mode, outer-stator excitation mode and double-stator excitation mode) based on motor working regions. It also conducts simulation and experimental results to verify the effectiveness of the proposed multi-mode operations strategies and control schemes.

There is almost no electromagnetic coupling between the inner and outer stators due to the specially designed rotor structure and optimized windings polarity configuration. Analysis of flux linkage distributions and torque characteristics verified the independence of inner and outer stators. Proposal of multi-mode operations and corresponding control rules achieved the smooth switching between different modes.

The paper introduced the DS-SRM for EVs and proposed multi-mode operations, along with control rules, to optimize its performance. The specially designed rotor structure, optimized winding polarity configuration, and the proposed multi-mode operations contribute to the originality of the research.

This study aims to form composite solid lubricant coatings on the surface of bearing steel, which can significantly improve the tribological properties of thrust cylindrical roller bearings (TCRBs). Phosphating films possess microscopic porosity that typically needs to be sealed with oil, grease or wax. Due to its unique crystal structure, the phosphating film itself also exhibits a certain degree of lubricity. In this study, solid lubricants are used to fill the pores of the phosphating film. By combining the phosphating film with solid lubricants, lubrication and wear reduction can be achieved.

In this study, the surfaces of the shaft washer (WS) and seat washer (GS) were treated with zinc-phosphating. Subsequently, a solid lubricant solution (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE], MoS₂ and graphite) was sprayed onto the phosphated samples at concentrations of 1 , 2  and 3 g/L. The porous and adsorptive nature of the phosphating film was used to embed the solid lubricant particles into the film, thus forming a composite lubrication layer containing solid lubricants on the surface of the bearing steel.

The addition of solid lubricant materials has shown significant potential in reducing wear losses compared with phosphated samples without such additives. Increasing the amount of solid lubricant added can facilitate the formation of a transfer film, which further enhances the protective properties. However, it is important to note that excessive amounts of solid lubricant material can contribute to seizure, leading to increased wear losses of the cage and a higher average coefficient of friction (ACOF).By spraying a PTFE solution with a concentration of 2 g/L, the lowest ACOF and cage wear loss were achieved, resulting in reductions of 60.5% for the ACOF and 89.4% for the cage wear loss. Similarly, when spraying a graphite solution with a concentration of 3 g/L, the lowest wear losses for GS and WS were observed, with reductions of 51.7% for GS wear loss and 38.9% for WS wear loss.

The combination of the phosphating film and solid lubricants aims to achieve lubrication and wear reduction, providing a new approach to wear-resistant technology for TCRBs.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-07-2023-0231/

Independent directors (IDs) in India are required to qualify for the online proficiency self-assessment test to acquire or retain their position on the corporate boards. The purpose of this paper was to examine the perceived positive and negative aspects of the new mandate for the overall quality of corporate boards in India.

This study used a qualitative methodology and applied the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. Data was collected from board members using semi-structured interviews.

This study revealed the positive and negative perceived aspects of the mandatory policy prescription of proficiency test for IDs. It was found that the participants emphasized training and mentoring programs for the IDs.

Drawing upon the actual board experiences of the participants, this study has the potential to assist policymakers in making regulations that are more effective in enhancing the quality of corporate boards. The example of action taken as well as the criticism or positive aspects pointed out can generate interest in other legislators.

The concept of proficiency test for IDs is unique to India. A review of literature did not reveal the existence of any regulatory provisions for a mandatory uniform test for examining the proficiency of IDs, in any corporate law jurisdiction apart from India.