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TiO₂ thin films were deposited by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) on glass substrates at 27°C and 100°C. The extraction efficiency of evanescent light from the deposited nanolayers and their thickness profiles in the range of (1-100) nm was evaluated using the Differential Evanescent Light Intensity (DELI) imaging method. This optical microscopy technique is based on capturing the evanescent light emitted by the material layer deposited on the substrate. The results were analyzed and discussed in terms of the effective penetration depth parameter. The effective scattering cross-section of the TiO₂ nanometer particles was estimated.

As a result of environmentally conscious production requirements in the world, the concept of disassembly has been a focus of interest by researchers and practitioners over the last two decades. Disassembly is an important process in circular economy to recover and reuse of parts and materials. End-of-life and large-sized products such as minibuses and trucks may be disassembled on two-sided lines. The ability of using both right and left sides of two-sided lines may increase line efficiency and reduce space requirements across the line. This paper aims to address a two-sided disassembly line balancing problem (TSDLBP), which deals with assigning disassembly tasks, various equipments and assistants to the workstations to maximize total net recovery profit of the line.

A detailed explanation of the TSDLBP is first presented in the paper. A new 0–1 integer linear programming model is then proposed for the TSDLBP, aiming at maximizing total net recovery profit from disassembly of products. A set of test problems is generated, and an experimental analysis is conducted to make a comparison between traditional one-sided disassembly lines (TOSDL) and two-sided disassembly lines by means of performance improvement rate.

Optimal results are obtained in 132 (81.48%) out of 162 the TOSDL balancing problems, while 92 (56.79%) out of 162 the TSDLBP using the proposed model. Total net recovery profits are compared on 88 problems for which optimal solutions are obtained in both the TOSDL and the TSDLBP. Results showed that implementing two-sided disassembly lines provides 29.18% increment in total net recovery profit compared to the TOSDL. Furthermore, the effects of different parameter levels on the net recovery profit are analyzed using two-way analysis of variance. According to the results, implementing two-sided disassembly line configuration increases total net recovery profit of the line significantly compared to traditional disassembly line configuration.

The use of disassembly lines has become essential because of increasing consumption that results in a huge number of end-of-life products in the world. Two-sided disassembly lines may be preferred for dismantling large-sized products due to their high disassembly capacity and fewer space requirements. This paper proposes a new mathematical model for disassembly line balancing problem. The proposed model differs from the existing models by means of efficiently assigning limited disassembly resources as well as assigning disassembly tasks to the workstations to maximize total net recovery profit of the production system. The model allows decision-makers to consider several resource limitations when balancing their disassembly lines. The paper also provides a comprehensive experimental study to compare traditional and two-sided disassembly lines by means of profitability of disassembly processes.

End‐of‐life (EOL) products have become a major environmental issue among countries and manufacturers. This is due to the growing number of EOL products and their hazardous contents. Many collection strategies and pilot projects have been conducted to manage EOL products, especially Waste Electrical and Electronics equipments (WEEEs). However, as characteristics of a population are different to one another, a customized collection strategy is required. The purpose of this paper is to find an effective collection strategy which considers cost and environmental impact simultaneously.

This paper presents an integrated collection strategy which combines a Fuzzy Colored Petri Net forecasting method and collection network model to collect EOL products. Colored Petri Net is used in modeling the integrated collection strategy. To test the collection strategy, a case study on mobile phone collection in Australia is presented.

The integrated collection strategy developed in this paper finds that by providing demographic data and historical sales of a relevant product in a certain location, the best strategy to collect EOL products in that location can be determined. This paper finds that the best strategy that suits one location might be different to other locations.

This paper presents a model which provides a customized collection strategy that follows the characteristics of a population. This strategy allows government organizations or manufacturers to simulate the strategies to collect EOL products in different locations.

The purpose of this paper is to present an interactive system to enable product design for disassembly and to offer robust and quick design solutions based on designers’ input.

The system utilizes an interactive questionnaire to communicate with the designer. The questionnaire is in the form of binary questions (Yes/No) and design questions that would enable the system to learn the objectives of the design. Solutions are based on a CAD supported design platform. The efficiency of each design is calculated using disassembly time as the metric of measurement using motion-time measurement (MTM). The designer would be able to make an informed decision with respect to component functionality, ease of disassembly and disassembly time. The paper presents a detailed framework and structure of this system.

The value of the system is corroborated by means of a case study of an actual product design. The system is structured to offer multiple solutions to a design problem so as to enable the designer to choose the option that best serves their needs.

This novel interactive system would accept customers’ design preferences as input and offer multiple solutions in order to solve the design problem. Process time is directly calculated using the MTM system of measurement by converting design features into time measurement units. Disassembly time can then be easily converted into disassembly cost by using standard conversion rates. The value to designers is obvious.

This paper aims to report the conductivity measurement of ten different surfactant-free microemulsions (SFMEs)

The variations of electrical conductivity as a function of water volume fraction are examined at one constant alcohol (or DMF, ethyl lactate, γ-valerolactone)/water, alcohol (or DMF, ethyl lactate, γ-valerolactone)/oil volume ratios for each sample.

Most of the results are consistent with percolation character. The conductive mechanism of these SFMEs is discussed by the percolation model, and it is found that it might be described with the static percolation model below the percolation threshold.

Our report gives a systematic research on the percolation mechanism of as many species of SFMEs as possible by the theoretical models

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive methodology and a case study about the successful integration of FCA with continuous improvement tools for strategic decision-making processes. Reliable knowledge of the condition of tangible assets and their ability to fulfill their target activities over time are required for an assertive strategical decision process. Facility condition assessment (FCA) is a recognized methodology that allows the systematic evaluation of this performance. For those companies whose primary objective is the production of goods, decisions associated with improvements on the productive system or re-adaptation of existing assets may also require the implementation of alternative methodologies, with a direct impact on the indicators of the company and therefore on the FCA.

This study presents a methodology for the integration of FCA and lean manufacturing (LM) as a tool in strategic decision-making process that involves the integration of continuous improvement processes or significant changes in the production process, in which the condition of the installation impacts decisively the productivity of the system.

The results of the implementation on an insecticide and herbicide production plant indicate an increase of 33 per cent in the capacity of the formulation process and over 20 per cent reduction in the internal quality claims associated with the packaging system.

Those methodological stages are applicable to facilities in which the FCA shows the need for significant reconditioning of assets, the need to increase the efficiency and/or the production capacity. This methodology integrates elements of continuous improvement and redesign of production systems.

The original value of this paper is oriented to the capacity to integrate different FCA and LM tools through the company indicators of productivity key performance indicators and, in addition, of a comprehensive illustration based on a study case.

This paper aims to illustrate the extensive benefits of qualitative data analysis as a rarely undertaken process in post-occupancy evaluation surveys. As a result, there is limited evidence of what occupants say about their buildings, especially for operational parameters, as opposed to how they rate them. While quantitative analyses provide useful information on how workers feel about workplace operational factors, qualitative analyses provide richer information on what aspects of the workplace workers identify as influential to their comfort, well-being and productivity.

The authors analysed 6,938 comments from office buildings worldwide on workers’ perception of workplace operational factors: design, storage, needs, space at desks and storage in their work environments. These factors were analysed based on the buildings’ design intent and use, and the associated comments were coded into positive, negative and balanced comments. The authors used a combination of coding, descriptive analysis, content analysis and word cloud to dissect the comments.

The findings showed that whereas workers rated these operational factors favourably, there were significantly more negative comments about each factor. Also, the Chi-square test showed a significant association (p < 0.01) between the satisfaction scale and the type of comments received for all the operational factors. This means that when a factor is rated high in the satisfaction score (5–7), there were fewer negative and more positive comments and vice versa. The word cloud analysis highlighted vital aspects of the office environment the workers mostly commented on, such as open plan design, natural lighting, space and windows, toilets, facilities, kitchens, meeting room booking systems, storage and furniture.

This study highlights the importance of dissecting building occupants’ comments as integral to building performance monitoring and measurement. These emphasise the richness and value of respondents’ comments and the importance of critically analysing them. A limitation is that only 6,938 comments were viable for analysis because most comments were either incomplete with no meaning or were not provided. This underlines the importance of encouraging respondents to comment and express their feelings in questionnaire surveys. Also, the building use studies questionnaire data set presents extensive opportunities for further analyses of interrelationships between demographics, building characteristics and environmental and operational factors.

The findings from this study can be applied to future projects and facility management to maintain and improve office buildings throughout their life cycle. Also, these findings are essential in predicting the requirements of future workplaces for robust workplace designs and management.

The authors identified specific comments on the performance of workplaces across the globe, showing similarities and differences between sustainable, conventional, commercial and institutional buildings. Specifically, the analysis showed that office workers’ comments do not always corroborate the ratings they give their buildings. There was a significantly higher percentage of negative comments than positive comments despite the high satisfaction scores of the operational factors.

Achieving an appropriate indoor environment quality (IEQ) is crucial to a green office environment. Whilst much research has been carried out across the globe on the ideal IEQ for green offices, little is known about which indoor environment New Zealand office workers prefer and regard as most appropriate. This study investigated New Zealand office workers' preference for a green environment.

Workers were conveniently selected for a questionnaire survey study from two major cities in the country – Wellington and Auckland. The perception of 149 workers was analysed and discussed based on the workers' demographics. The responses to each question were analysed based on the mean, standard deviation, frequency of responses and difference in opinion.

The results showed that workers' preferences for an ideal IEQ in green work environments depend largely on demographics. New Zealand office workers prefer work environments to have more fresh air and rely on mixed-mode ventilation and lighting systems. Also New Zealand office workers like to have better acoustic quality with less distraction and background noise. Regarding temperature, workers prefer workspaces to be neither cooler nor warmer. Unique to New Zealand workers, the workers prefer to have some (not complete) individual control over the IEQ in offices.

This study was conducted in the summer season, which could have impacted the responses received. Also the sample size was limited to two major cities in the country. Further studies should be conducted in other regions and during different seasons.

This study provides the opportunity for more studies in this area of research and highlights significant findings worthy of critical investigations. The results of this study benefit various stakeholders, such as facilities managers and workplace designers, and support proactive response approaches to achieving building occupants' preferences for an ideal work environment.

This study is the first research in New Zealand to explore worker preferences of IEQ that is not limited to a particular building, expanding the body of knowledge on workers' perception of the ideal work environment in the country.

Photon absorbance and reflectance are the most important parameters for the recombination of electron-hole pairs. Bandgap energy plays a vital role in photon absorption. That is, the photons with energy greater than band gap energy are absorbed. Also, the refractive index of semiconductors is responsible for photon reflection, as the surface with the highest refractive index will reflect more photons than a surface with have a low refractive index. The purpose of this paper is to improvise the absorbance and reduce the reflectance of photons on the front surface of solar cells.

Photon reflection is results in reduction in electron-hole pair generation due to the high refractive index of semiconductive materials. To overcome this problem, an Anti-reflection (AR) coating of TiO₂ and SiO₂ is undertaken on solar cells through the Sol-spin coating method. Finally, the effectiveness of the Anti-Reflection coating is scrutinized through UV Vis-Spectroscopy, which provides details regarding reflectance, absorbance and bandgap energy characteristics.

UV–visible spectroscopy was used to measure the responses from the samples. The samples responded to the ultraviolet and visible range of electromagnetic radiation perfectly. UV spectroscopy was done before and after the antireflection coating of TiO₂ and SiO₂ over the solar cell to find their corresponding extreme reflectance and absorbance values. The effects of TiO₂ and SiO₂ were evaluated from the results.

In this research work, the authors have done anti-reflection coating over solar cells with nanoparticles derived from sol-gel process. Absorbance of photons observed through diffuse reflection method.

The purpose of this research is to discover equipment losses and assess the accomplishment of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) values.

Industries specialized in die shops often have issues regarding their efficiencies, conferring to statistics further production line department procedure for various machines frequently suffered restrictions owing to excessive downtime and speed losses in machines thus, reducing their effectiveness and efficiency. OEE is a means of determining how effective a piece of equipment is when in working condition. Calculation of OEE finds the heart of the issue and the root cause for the underlying problem.

The dimensional outcomes suggest that the average machine effectiveness has not attained the norm of >85%, but there is still room for progression.

One recommended procedure to reduce losses is to keep the actual pace of operation and downtime of equipment constant. Many such suggestions are provided to reduce the losses.