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The development of eco-friendly polymer composites with multifunctional properties aligns with the goals of the circular economy agenda, which aims to minimize waste and promote the sustainable use of resources by closing the loop of product life cycles. Eco-friendly polymer composites play a crucial role in achieving these objectives. The present work focuses on the preparation of fully biobased blends obtained by melt mixing a bio-polyester, poly(butylene succinate- co -adipate) (PBSA), with orange peels up to 20 wt%, to yield active polymer composites. Orange peels, employed here as natural filler, are largely available from food wastes, they are rich in phenolic compounds and possess antioxidant activity as shown by the experimental tests carried out. The thermal stability of the formulated composites is almost unchanged by the filler addition, showing only a slight decrease of the crystallization temperatures and crystalline fraction within the composites. The mechanical properties of the compounds evidence an increase in the elastic modulus together with a decrease in the tensile strength, while the elongation at break remains almost constant. The incorporation of the natural filler enabled the integration of antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which were absent in the original pristine polymer. • PBSA containing up to 20 wt% of orange peels have good antioxidant and antibacterial properties. • Biocomposites formulated with orange peels are found to retain good mechanical properties in terms of elongation at break. • The thermoplastic material produced can be used in the packaging industry or in the organic or integrated farming sector application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally recognized that the use of physical and digital information-based solutions for tracking plastic materials along a value chain can favour the transition to a circular economy and help to overcome obstacles. In the near future, traceability and information exchange between all actors in the value chain of the plastics industry will be crucial to establishing more effective recycling systems. Recycling plastics is a complex process that is particularly complicated in the case of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic because of its versatility and use in many applications. This literature study is part of a larger EU-funded project with the acronym ABSolEU (Paving the way for an ABS recycling revolution in the EU). One of its goals is to propose a suitable traceability system for ABS products through physical marking with a digital connection to a suitable data-management system to facilitate the circular use of ABS. The aim of this paper is therefore to review and assess the current and future techniques for traceability with a particular focus on their use for ABS plastics as a basis for this proposal. The scientific literature and initiatives are discussed within three technological areas, viz., labelling and traceability systems currently in use, digital data sharing systems and physical marking. The first section includes some examples of systems used commonly today. For data sharing, three digital technologies are discussed, viz., Digital Product Passports, blockchain solutions and certification systems, which identify a product through information that is attached to it and store, share and analyse data throughout the product's life cycle. Finally, several different methods for physical marking are described and evaluated, including different labels on a product's surface and the addition of a specific material to a polymer matrix that can be identified at any point in time with the use of a special light source or device. The conclusion from this study is that the most promising data management technology for the near future is blockchain technology, which could be shared by all ABS products. Regarding physical marking, producers must evaluate different options for individual products, using the most appropriate and economical technology for each specific product. It is also important to evaluate what information should be attached to a specific product to meet the needs of all actors in the value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of failures serves as a critical indicator that dynamically impacts the reliability of self-announcing failure products, making it highly practical to incorporate the failure count into reliability management throughout the entire product life cycle. This paper investigates comprehensive methodologies for effectively managing the reliability of self-announcing failure products throughout both the warranty and post-warranty stages, taking into account factors such as the failure count, mission cycles, and limited time duration. Three renewable warranty strategies are introduced alongside proposed models for post-warranty replacements. By analyzing variables like the failure number, mission cycles, and time constraints, these proposed warranties provide practical frameworks for efficient reliability management during the warranty stage. Additionally, the introduced warranties utilize cost and time metrics to extract valuable insights that inform decision making and enable effective reliability management during the warranty stage. Moreover, this study establishes cost and time metrics for key post-warranty replacements, facilitating the development of individual cost rates and model applications in other post-warranty scenarios. Analyses of the renewable free-repair–replacement warranties demonstrate that establishing an appropriate number of failures as the replacement threshold can effectively reduce warranty-servicing costs and extend the coverage duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of integrated sustainable product design has recently emerged, aiming to incorporate downstream life cycle performance into the initial product design to enhance sustainability. Various sustainable product design tools based on life cycle assessment or quality function deployment have been established while the impact of reliability on circular practices has received limited attention. Recognizing the critical role of product reliability in post-design performance, this paper develops a product design optimization model that considers the warranty performance and the effect of end-of-use options. The model takes into account the effect of uncertain operating conditions on product reliability. Two optimization goals including the minimization of expected unit life cycle cost and environmental impact are achieved by the model. To demonstrate the benefits of the integrated approach, the model is applied to an electric motor design problem. The results highlight that integrating end-of-use options in the early design phase leads to adjustments in component selection and reliability design. Moreover, the circular utilization of used products enables cost savings throughout the product's life cycle and contributes to environmental impact reduction. Lastly, the study analyzes the effects of operating conditions, warranty policies, and take-back prices for used products on design decisions, providing valuable insights for product designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models of long-term product innovation depict the trajectory of products through an evolutionary selection metaphor in which product designs converge toward a dominant design. The product innovation literature favors trajectory descriptions based on the physical architecture of products while neglecting to account for the functional architecture. This paper offers a new way to explain the life cycle of product innovation by identifying motifs that describe a product's functions. Functional motifs are recurrent function blocks across multiple generations of designs for a product. A collection of functional motifs defines the functional architecture of the product. Using some key examples from innovations in sewing machines, the paper illustrates the occurrence of motifs as the basis for detecting the emergence of a dominant design. Patents related to the sewing machine over 177 years are analyzed to identify functional motifs characterizing the evolution and convergence toward a dominant design. Results show that motifs do not change over long periods once a dominant design emerges, even though components continue to change. This observation confirms a view of dominant designs as a technological frame but refutes the notion that design no longer matters in the era of incremental change. These motifs refine our understanding of how designs evolve along a particular path over the course of product innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concept of "stretch teaching assignments" and the challenges and benefits they present to instructors. The author shares their personal experience of being asked to teach a business course despite having no prior knowledge in the subject. They highlight the importance of embracing these assignments, finding ways to compensate for lack of knowledge, and utilizing guest lecturers to enhance student learning. The article also emphasizes the value of stepping out of one's comfort zone and the potential for personal and professional growth. [Extracted from the article]

Software problem resolution and change control processes are crucial for the performance, safety, and regulatory clearance of a medical device. Software changes are frequent throughout the whole life cycle of a product; therefore, iterative analysis and risk assessment are necessary to determine the impact of changes on the whole system. IEC standard 62304 clarifies software medical device life cycle processes including problem and modification analysis and requirements. The aim of this work is to describe a cost‐effective and fully customizable solution for software medical devices problem and modification management implemented in our group. Key features of the problem and modification management related to the software life cycle have been identified and taken into account. A digital commercial platform for software development and maintenance has been identified and used to implement an architecture satisfying the standard. The architecture solution (SWMA, software maintenance architecture) has been successfully developed and a description of how it addresses IEC 62304 standard requirements both in terms of problem resolution and in terms of change control has been provided. The presented system can be useful for manufacturers/groups to establish software maintenance plans that include activities and tasks related to software problem resolution and change control processes. The approach can be adopted for analyzing and resolving problems arising before and after the release of a medical device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the product life cycle progresses, the impact of product design change gradually extends from design to production and supply. Companies must minimise the impact of design change dissemination to improve delivery speed and enhance corporate competitiveness. Considering that design change will causes change in other links of product, enterprises need to establish an evaluation index system to explore the influence of multiple fields on the change propagation intensity. Therefore, this paper proposes an optimisation model of design change propagation routing based on multi-domain network collaboration for enterprises to evaluate intensity of change propagation. Firstly, component, production and supply networks are constructed based on complex network theory and mapped to multi-domain networks. Secondly, the optimisation model of change propagation routing is established. By quantifying the change propagation probability, node crucial, change cost and change time, the minimum value of change propagation intensity of multi-domain network collaborative design is calculated. Finally, taking the medical call system as an example, the hybrid genetic ant colony algorithm is used to find the optimal change propagation routing of multi-domain network collaboration, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method and provides a reference for enterprises to minimise the impact of product design change propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, when discussing agri‐food products, it is important to talk about sustainable production methods. Environmental sustainability has become a production issue, especially when it comes to the design of a product, service, or process. Using frozen fresh cauliflower gnocchi marketed in different packaging and in different global areas as a case study, we aim to highlight the importance of the impact of product eco‐design on the entire life cycle. RESULTS: The environmental impact of cauliflower gnocchi was assessed based on the life cycle assessment methodology. With the cradle‐to‐gate approach, the most influential factors are the cultivation, distribution, and packaging phases. Considering the cradle‐to‐grave approach, home storage has proven to be the most influential factor for a quarter of the entire life cycle of cauliflower gnocchi. The eco‐design of packaging has demonstrated how, by analysing only the packaging, it is possible to achieve significant reductions in impact (−47%), but when compared with the entire life cycle these actions have no significant responsibility (approximately 10%). If, however, the field of action is broadened and eco‐design solutions are sought to reduce the impact deriving from the conservation phase, the consumer has the ability, through their decisions, to reduce the impact relating to conservation as much as possible or to double the impact of the product life cycle. CONCLUSION: Overall, to promote prosperity while protecting the environment, according to Agenda 2030, the agri‐food system must analyse the supply chains without neglecting any step involved in the life cycle of the product. The eco‐design must go beyond the usual factors analysed and shall include downstream activities to aim for more sustainable products, including consumer behaviours, following the cradle‐to‐grave approach. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been increasing emphasis on the development of new technology to mitigate unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular disease. This emphasis results in part from recognition that many devices, although being initially developed in the United States, were studied, and then eventually approved abroad before being returned to the U.S. for clinical application. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) guidance document on Early Feasibility Studies (EFS) and then the 21st Century Cures Act from 2013 to 2016 focused on these issues. There are multiple components of medical device translational pathways to be considered in continuing to reach the goal of providing early access to safe and effective products to the U.S. population. This review article documents the various stages from early idea innovation to device design and iteration to clinical testing and then potential approval and application in the wide clinical practice of cardiovascular health care. The CDRH (Centers for Devices and Radiological Health) has focused on key components including EFS, Breakthrough Devices Program, Total Product Life Cycle, the Unique Device Identification Program, the establishment of a Digital Health Center of Excellence, and leveraging Collaborative Communities. Each of these initiatives focuses on improving the Medical Device Development Ecosystem. Major changes in device translational research have improved the device research climate in the United States. Goals remain including increased training and education for constituencies aspiring to work in the field of device development and regulation as part of a continuous health care learning system. • Stakeholders recognize that there have been hurdles in ensuring patients with cardiovascular disease have access to safe and effective devices. • CDRH focused on mitigation of these issues. • Progams include EFS, Breakthrough Devices, Total Product Life Cycle, and Leveraging Collaborative Communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to investigate the role of intrinsic and extrinsic cues on consumers' perceptions of product quality, and the moderating role of product knowledge using products that are at different stages of product life cycle. Two survey-based studies were conducted with distinct samples for products (automobiles and smartwatches) in an emerging market. The findings suggest that consumers use more (less) diagnostic extrinsic marketing cues such as country of origin (COO) effects, event sponsorships, and celebrity endorsements to develop perceived quality for automobiles (smartwatches). Furthermore, product knowledge moderates the impact of cues on the perceived quality of products, which further depends on the product life cycle stage. This research brings out significant differences between consumers with differing knowledge levels across a wide range of marketing cues, especially given that first-time buyers have limited exposure to the category before their first purchase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to establish a multicriteria-based model for understanding green logistics in Taiwan's maritime freight transport industry. Prior studies have emphasized certain successful results from using green measures on the operational logistics operations, including establishing a competitive advantage and economic benefits. However, the literature tends to be inadequate and fragmented when discussing how green logistics relate to environmental sustainability. This study proposes a framework containing 5 aspects and 35 criteria. The fuzzy Delphi and best-worst methods are adopted to evaluate the validity and reliability. A decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method is used to examine how the attributes' interrelationships. The results reveal that green packaging and green transportation become the determining aspects to enhance green logistics. The top five criteria to prioritize is presented including product life cycle impact, green packaging material, use of energy at facilities, intermodal transport, emissions of transporting vehicles within the area of facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this manuscript is to collect, classify, and compile all available data about secondary mineral sources of REEs in the South-Eastern Europe (SEE). The material is generated from the extracting and processing sector, that might be possibly transformed in the business process becoming an important raw material for another industry. The management inventory guide will strengthen communication and dissemination efforts and simultaneously contribute to Europe's self-sufficiency and support transitioning to green and digital technology. Identification of the knowledge gaps associated with secondary sources of REEs in SEE will contribute to connections between all partners being involved at the beginning, during the lifetime of products and at the end of the life cycle, represented with deposit owners, technology developers and potential processors, producers, and potential users. At the investigated area it was found 1835 individual landfills, most of them belonging to waste rocks. The total quantity of all material in SRM is about 3.2 billion tons on an area of about 100 km2. The largest 95 individual landfills were selected as potential prospective landfills, containing about 1600 million tons of material. The estimated total potential of REEs (ΣREE) is more than 200 Kt. The largest quantities are found in landfills for coal fly ash and Cu flotation, which correspond to more than 80% of the ΣREE. Most of the promising sites are located in Serbia and North Macedonia. It has been calculated that the valorisation potential and perspectivity of REE2O3 is about 32.5 billion USD (prices from December 2022). According to the average concentrations of REEs, the most prospective are the red mud dams but their total volume is limited compared to massive amounts of coal fly ash landfills. The REEs content in all type of investigated materials, especially in coal fly ash in North Macedonia is twice as high as in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of the presence of dissolved oxygen (DO) in virgin olive oil (VOO) is neglected in literature. Available information is limited to the extraction stage of the product life cycle, and studies focused on the subsequent stages from extraction to bottling are virtually absent. The present work aims to fill this gap through a dissolved oxygen monitoring experiment performed at industrial scale. Seven different unit‐operations of the routine working procedure of an Italian industrial company specializing in the marketing of VOO were studied: oil discharge from tanker truck; blend formation; oil transferring to filtration; oil transferring to bottling; precoat‐bodyfeed filtration; polishing filtration; bottling. The overall concentration of DO averages to 2.2 mg L–1, while the oil incoming the company was at 1.5 mg L–1. The unit‐operations can be ordered as "mixing‐for‐blend > precoat‐bodyfeed filtration > transfer‐to‐bottling > bottling," with a decreasing oxygenation effect. Polishing filtration does not determine a significant DO variation. In the immediate term, the increase in DO does not result in oxidative deterioration of the oil, at least detectable with the peroxides value. Practical Applications: The results provide important information for the management of virgin olive oil on an industrial scale in the postproduction stages up to bottling. First, it was clearly demonstrated that bulk transport operations led to oxygenation of the oil. From this point on, the oil underwent further oxygenation, the extent of which depends on the specific processing operation considered. The oxygenation effect of each operation is different, which means that different interventions with varying intensity in terms of complexity and cost could be applied on a case‐by‐case basis to preserve the oil from oxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Biologics are being developed more and more as parenteral combination products with drug delivery devices. The maintenance of sterility is imperative for such medical devices throughout their life cycle. Therefore, the container closure integrity (CCI) should, preferably, be built into the overall process, and not just demonstrated during the final testing of the combination product. The integrity is an important Critical Quality Attribute (CQA) and in the scope of specific considerations and studies during the combination product life cycle i.e., design robustness, assembly processes, storage (to end of shelf life), and shipping prior to patient use. The goal of this paper is to summarize an industry holistic approach to ensure CCI, for a combination product, and to build a scientifically based justification that Quality (in terms of CCI) is built into the overall process. Current analytical approaches used for characterization or Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) CCI testing during combination product development will be described. However, the use of quality by design (QbD) during product development can reduce or eliminate routine batch level or stability testing of the combination product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Lean-Circular is a new approach to promote circular flows and create added-value. • The Lean-Circular Maturity Model (LCMM) is a self-assessment tool for companies. • The LCMM encourages conservation of material, water, energy, chemicals, and waste. • The LCMM was applied to nine companies of various sizes, sectors, and locations. • Maturity levels are tied to company-specific attributes (sector, size, and region) Rapidly diagnosing the status of resource efficiency and waste generation throughout the entire value chain is considered one of the key future advancements towards achieving more sustainable production. This study aimed to develop and implement a self-assessment tool to assist companies in decision-making processes for establishing circular flows based on the principles of Lean Manufacturing (LM) and Circular Economy (CE). The self-assessment tool employed a maturity model comprising several stages, which were designed through a combination of design science research and scenario planning. The Lean-Circular Maturity Model (LCMM) consisted of maturity levels ranging from 0 to 4, assessing strategies such as Resource Efficiency, Energy Management, Water and Wastewater Management, Materials and Solid Waste Management, and Chemicals and Emissions Management. The model was applied to nine companies varying in sector, size, region, and nationality. Their engagement in LM, and CE, differed, as did their strategy maturity metrics. Primary sector companies showed higher maturity in water-waste and chemical-emissions management. Larger enterprises focused on these strategies, with nuances based on region. The main findings indicated that 66% of the companies sought cleaner alternatives prior to mapping their production processes, which could lead to errors in planning and prioritizing improvement actions. Furthermore, 61% of the companies lacked sufficient training and employee awareness regarding the efficient utilization of resources. The absence of comprehensive actions to manage the life cycle of products throughout the value chain emerged as the primary barrier identified. To address these gaps, the LCMM offers a set of tailored recommendations for each company to enhance processes, products, and the value chain based on the final score obtained from utilizing the LCMM self-assessment tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entire life cycle of a product, from the obtaining of the raw materials by mining or agriculture to the end of life (recycling or disposal), consists of many steps, some of which are much more harmful than the others. Whether we're considering global warming, ecotoxicity, or resource consumption, there are typically only one or two steps that cause the vast majority of the harm of the entire life cycle. These steps, known as hotspots, are the ones that we, as green chemists and chemical engineers, should be working on. There is little benefit to be obtained by fixing a step in the life cycle that is a minor contributor to harm. However, traditional practice in the field of green chemistry has been to spend time, energy, and materials to make a selected step greener without first checking whether the selected step is the one causing most of the harm. Therefore there is a need for greater utilization of life cycle assessments (LCA) of existing processes to identify the hotspots and for that identification to be the driver for the selection of new research projects and directions. Hotspot-driven research will maximize the environmental benefit of green chemistry research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firm life cycle theory is a non-deterministic concept derived from the product life cycle and based on the understanding that a firm has certain life stages. In this study, the effect of firm life cycle on the capital structure of the enterprise was examined. The study utilizes the data of 294 companies traded on Borsa Istanbul between 2013 and 2020 and the model developed by Dickinson (2011) as a firm life cycle indicator. Short-Term Liabilities (STL), Long-Term Liabilities (LTL) and Shareholders' Equity (ROE) are used as capital structure indicators. Correlation and regression are used in the empirical analysis. According to the results of the analysis, statistically significant relationships are observed between the ownership structure of firms and the life cycle stages. It is concluded that firms use more STLs especially in the entry stage, while the use of ROEs is higher in the maturity stage. The study also examined the relationship between firm life cycle and firm characteristics and statistically significant results were obtained. The high costs of firms in the entry and decline stages lead to low profitability and sales. In the other stages of the life cycle, profitability increases and costs decrease due to the increase in sales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, issues related to the impact of human activity on the natural environment have become pressing, and the challenge of global warming necessitates immediate action. To support environmental protection efforts, it has become imperative to adopt a broader perspective when evaluating various products and systems. A valuable tool for such assessments is a life cycle assessment (LCA), which enables a comprehensive analysis of the entire life cycle of a product. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the hull of a fast patrol craft, fabricated using three different materials: steel, aluminium, and composite materials. The LCA covers every stage from material production, through the construction and use of the hull, to its eventual disposal. A specific criterion was established to evaluate the impact of the hull on the environment, with clearly defined system boundaries. In the final section, we draw some conclusions that underscore the importance of reusing construction materials. By emphasising this approach, ecological footprints can be minimised and a sustainable future can be created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction of environmental pollution sources is the main target of green chemistry; it is applied across the life cycle of a chemical product. Scientists try to switch to eco-friendly practices to diminish the negative impact of chemicals and solvents on the environment. Analytical chemistry is one of the main fields that mounted green chemistry approach. In this work, sensitive and selective green chromatographic methods with UV detection are described for the simultaneous determination of aspirin, rosuvastatin and clopidogrel. The first proposed method is an RP-HPLC one, which was described and successfully validated for the simultaneous separation and determination of the three components on Prontosil Hyperchom C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column using an isocratic elution. The second method was a TLC spectrodensitometry in which the three components were separated, identified and quantified. The drugs were applied on silica gel plates, and developed using n-heptane: acetone: glacial acetic acid (60:40:0.4, by volume). The three drugs resolved bands were quantified by spectrodensitometric scanning at 240 nm. Both methods were validated according to ICH, statistically compared to the official methods with full greenness investigation to confirm that the proposed methods are viable alternatives for quality assessment of this combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main assets and the primary drivers of the Industrial Age were machines and capital. People were necessary, but replaceable. This is because machines controlled the speed of workers' labor through the assembly line, and management controlled the speed of workers' labor through the quota system. In other words, management used the carrot-stick approach to motivate employees so they could perform the physical labor needed to produce the products and services. In the Fourth Industrial Age, however, knowledge workers produce most goods and services with their mind. Thus, the challenge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is how companies can secure talent acquisition and motivate their knowledge workers to release their human potential. This article consists of four related topics. First, there are similarities between the four industrial revolutions and the five ages of civilization. Therefore, we may infer the opportunities of the four industrial revolutions through the characteristics of these five ages of civilization. Second, product life cycle theory explains the major reason for the rise and fall of many products and/or companies. When companies face a do-or die situation, the theory explains why they must take big risks to avoid failure. Third, we will use the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) as a case study to explain why the company became one of the World's top 3 automakers according to sales in 2022. Fourth, this article discusses how business leaders can secure talent acquisition and self-motivate employees to make their market-creating innovations successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assembly and testing are the last stages in the design phase to obtain proof of concept for a certain product. Although it is time and cost consuming, assembly fit and test are crucial for the future development of any complex product, unveiling potential consequences in the future product life cycle. The current paper addresses the main assembly stages, testing strategies, feedback implementation, and redesign decisions involved in the development of a programmable equipment in personalized football training. Demountable subassemblies are used for the manufacture of the final prototype, encouraging interchangeability of parts, and modularity of the final product. Coupling, gear, key, and bearing assemblies are mainly used to physically obtain the programmable equipment prototype. Since some components are bespoke and are 3D printed specifically for this product, fit tests are undertaken to ensure proper functioning of all mechanical and electronic components. Software and electronic testing are also done to both calibrate and ensure proper code functioning. Optimization of the prototype is implemented in all three main systems that make up the personalized football training equipment: mechanical, electronic, and software. The optimized functional prototype of the equipment will be subjected to endurance tests in order to evaluate the life expectancy of individual components, subassemblies, and, finally, of the general product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simplified life cycle of any product or service consists of three main stages – manufacturing, including obtaining, transformation, combination of raw materials; transportation, as well as packaging; consumption from purchase up to actual use. Energy is not an exception, it is also an item offered by the market in different forms, and everyone in need of it has the right to buy it in case the price is acceptable. Heat power is one of the energy types required by households and important for proper maintenance. Without heating, as well as electricity, modern houses cannot function appropriately, are not attractive to their inhabitants, do not provide comfort and safety. Nevertheless, heat power often is considered as a by-product of electricity production, nowadays a swift price increase for both types of energy is inevitable. Energy efficiency is the level of appropriate usage of energy resources, which can be determined as the relation between final product type, quality, quantity and consumption of energy necessary to create this product [1]. Indirectly energy efficiency impacts health of the society in general and each individual in particular. Renovated energy efficient apartment buildings have a better ventilation system and microclimate. The problem of moisture and mold is at least partly solved, comfort is reached by consuming less energy, especially, heat power [2]. The aim of the paper is to research the impact of different energy efficiency increasing measures on heat consumption in multi-apartment buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to examine the impact between foreign direct investment (FDI) and net exports (NE) for unveiling international trade dynamics, and the economic development of different geographical regions. It yields sharp insights into how FDI inflows, driven by theories such as backward linkage, export platform, and knowledge transfer, enhance a host country's export capacity and contribute to economic growth. Moreover, studying the reciprocal linkages between FDI and NE helps recognise the aspects of domestic factors, such as productivity and the product life cycle, in attracting FDI and increasing export performance. Based on those theories, the study aims to ascertain the dynamic causality or correlation between FDI and NE across all regions with the utilisation of panel data gathered from 110 countries, considering the period from 2002 to 2020. The Wavelet coherence method is used to investigate the relationship between these variables across different frequencies and periods, followed by a Granger causality test. The findings demonstrated that FDI and NE have a significant relationship in most regions, with a bidirectional relationship between FDI and NE across all continents. The results could assist respective governments and policymakers in formulating policies related to FDI flows and offer insights into how a host country can attract more FDI and boost NE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semiconductor industry is a rapidly growing sector. As collection technologies for production data continue to improve and the Internet of Things matures, production data analysis improves, thus accelerating progress towards smart manufacturing. This not only enhances the process quality, but also increases product lifetime and reliability. Under the assumption of exponential distribution, the ratio of lifetime and warranty has been proposed as a lifetime performance index for electronic products. As unknown parameters of the index, to use point estimates to assess lifetime performance may cause misjudgment due to sampling errors. In addition, cost and time limitations often lead to small sample sizes that can affect the results of the analysis. Type-II censored data are widely applied in production and manufacturing engineering. Thus, this paper proposes an unbiased and consistent estimator of lifetime performance based on type-II censored data. The 100(1 − α)% confidence interval of the proposed index is derived based on its probability density function. Overly small sample sizes not only make the length estimates of lifetime performance index intervals for electronic products too long, but they also increase sampling errors, which distort the estimation and test results. We therefore used the aforementioned interval to construct a fuzzy test model for the assessment of product lifetime and further help manufacturers to be more prudent and precise to evaluate the performance of product life cycles. A numerical example illustrates the applicability of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the annual specialist conference of the SEPAWA Professional Cleaning & Care specialist group, which took place in May 2023 in Konstanz. The conference addressed topics such as supply security during the Corona pandemic and environmental protection, particularly the avoidance of microplastics. Solutions for biodegradable components in floor care products were discussed, and presentations were given on solar cleaning and questionable cleaning methods. Another presentation dealt with the economic situation of the European chemical industry and the shortage of skilled workers. New findings on fibrous microplastics from textiles were also presented, and measures to avoid microplastics throughout the product life cycle were introduced. Alternative solutions such as biodegradable polymers and natural waxes were discussed, and the importance of cleaning photovoltaic systems was emphasized. Different cleaning methods such as UV-C light, dry steam, and ozone were critically examined. [Extracted from the article]

The discipline of International Relations (IR) in Australia, as elsewhere, is steeped in historical and ongoing violence, including violences of colonisation. The way that IR is taught and practised in Australia reproduces the discipline's erasures and ignorance of the effects of colonisation and ongoing forms of marginalisation, knowledge extraction, and harm that normalise existing structures of power. In this article, we ask how mainstream theories, pedagogies, and practices of IR scholarship in Australia contribute to the ongoing coloniality of the discipline and reproduce these geospatial hierarchies and structures of marginalisation and exclusion. We argue that, as teachers, we have to consistently engage in un‐doing the violence of disciplinary history. We theorise that this is so because the artefacts we teach are the product of a knowledge life cycle immersed in, and structured by, coloniality and hierarchy. Drawing on a survey of Australian universities' IR curricula and interviews with their instructors, in addition to our own research training and practice as Australian IR academics, we examine how, if, and when it is possible to connect decolonial theory with practice and to thus generate decolonial praxis in the production of IR knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim is to develop a hierarchical framework that assesses the interdependence of digital metrics impacting clean energy in the European energy market. The framework is evaluated to determine its applicability to clean energy and implementation. We utilize a taxonomy of digital metrics with the MICMAC ("Matrice d'Impacts Croisés-Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement") methodology and a questionnaire-based survey using DEMATEL to validate the framework. This results in an efficient hierarchy and contextual relationship between key metrics in the European energy industry. We investigate and simulate ten key metrics of digital conversion for clean energy in the energy domain, identifying the most significant effects, including the "decision-making process" the "sustainable value chain" the "sustainable supply chain", "sustainable product life cycle", and the "interconnection of diverse equipment". The MICMAC methodology is used to classify these parameters for a better understanding of their structure, and DEMATEL is employed to examine causeand-effect relationships and linkages. The practical implications of this framework can assist institutions, experts, and academics in forecasting essential metrics and can complement existing studies on digital conversion and clean energy. By prioritizing these key parameters, improvements in convenience, efficiency, and the reduction of product fossilization can be achieved. The value and originality of this study lie in the novel advancements in analyzing digital conversion metrics in the European energy industry using a cohesive ISM, MICMAC, and DEMATEL framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, virtual reality training technology (VRTT) has been considered by many scholars as a new training method instead of traditional training (TT) to reduce unsafe behaviors ascribed to construction workers (CWs) and corporate accident rates. However, in this process, a conflict of interest arises among the government, construction enterprises (CEs), and CWs. Therefore, this study introduces a quantitative research method, the three-party evolutionary game and creatively combining them with the product life cycle (PLC) to solve this problem by analyzing the equilibrium and evolutionarily stable strategies of the system. Finally, collaborative players' decision-making behaviors and their sensitivity to critical factors are examined. This paper will illustrate these in each stage through numerical simulations. The results of the study indicate that the government plays a dominant role in the VRTT introduction stage. When the government gives CEs appropriate subsidies, CEs will eventually realize the importance of VRTT for CWs. Then the government will gradually reduce the amount of the subsidies in this process. In addition, we also find that the continually high cost will lead to negative policies by the government, which requires the active cooperation and attitude change from CEs and CWs. Ultimately, the government, CEs and CWs adopt the best strategy in the evolutionary process to facilitate the promotion, application and sustainability of VRTT in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing processes have a significant contribution to energy consumption and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a product's life cycle. Today, information on GHG emissions is increasingly demanded from companies in a life cycle perspective, based on the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment. Manufacturing companies supply producers of final products and are, therefore, requested to provide data on GHG of their manufacturing processes and resulting products. Obtaining such data for real-world manufacturing processes represents a huge effort. This challenge can be overcome with the use of a parameterized model, the Extended Energy Modeling Approach (EEMA), that has been developed for the machining process, which is a widespread industrial manufacturing process. The model calculates the total energy demand from power key values, which report the average power consumption of the constant and variable units of the machinery equipment, the consumer groups, as well as the different operating states of the equipment. Therefore, EEMA enables the reuse of a single measurement campaign for follow-up investigations of the specific machine tool, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of data acquisition for the calculation of the total energy demand and life-cycle-based GHG emissions. To use EEMA for the compilation of life cycle inventory datasets, methodological requirements were analyzed to derive a procedure for LCA-compliant datasets for machine tools. The key findings of applying the EEMA for the case study of a turning machine show that the constant consumer groups have a significant influence on the total energy demand. The share of the variable consumer groups in the total energy demand increases with increasing machine utilization but is always below 5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by the wide application of industrial software integrated with digital technologies, the real information of task cycles for some products in the real world can be monitored in real time and transmitted to the management center. Monitored task cycles hide consumers' usage characteristics, which are signals of the products' usage heterogeneity because they vary from one consumer to another consumer. By classifying monitored task cycles into different categories, this paper customizes two random maintenance models to ensure the life cycle reliability of the product with monitored task cycles on the basis of usage categories. The first model is customized using usage categories, the key objective of which is, from the perspective of heterogeneity, to ensure warranty-stage reliability. In view of using minimal repair service, the first model is named a random free repair warranty with heterogeneity (RFRW-H), which is modeled from the viewpoints of cost and time measures. By calculating the limits of cost and time measures, some specific cases are presented to model other warranties. The second model is customized using the same usage categories, which aims to ensure post-warranty-stage reliability. In view of using each of 'whichever occurs first/last', the second model is named a customized random periodic replacement first (CRPRF) model or a customized random periodic replacement last (CRPRL) model, respectively, which are modeled from the viewpoint of the cost rate function. By calculating the limits of the cost rate function, the cost rate functions of other maintenance models are obtained. Finally, from the numerical viewpoint, some of the features of the customized models are mined, and the performances are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study argues that the disruptive transition of the auto industry toward a new industrial paradigm of electrification and new mobilities is generating a new product life cycle (plc) that favors investment in countries like Mexico. The confluence of this with companies' new nearshoring strategies, the break-up of chains, and the ongoing wars result in making Mexican artificial intelligence (ai) more attractive. The author puts forward a conceptual model for capturing the change in the plc of the auto industry in transition, plus another for understanding the change in the country's industrial and labor regime as a long-term socio-technical transition. So, with evidence of the evolution of global and Mexican ai, and reconstructing the trajectories of Ford and Tesla, he illustrates why Mexico will come out the biggest winner in North America in the industry's radical reorientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Horizon Europe funded EcoReFibre project (www.ecorefibre.eu) is concerned with recycling fibreboards and, in particular, Medium Density Fibreboard. This paper covers our research on determining the typical lifespans of products containing fibreboard. Knowing the lifespan of a product is important as it is the main determining factor that influences the age when it becomes waste. This paper proposes that the average age at which a product containing MDF becomes waste is between 10.7 and 12.1 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modularization of process plants with its standardization activities is one of the current responses to react to dynamic markets, shorter product life cycles, and uncertain supply chains. Standardized solutions for intelligent process equipment assemblies with own automation promise high potential for chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Despite the standardized description of the module type package (MTP) and the corresponding service concept, the implementation of the service logic is left to the manufacturer, which often leads to finding various granular services for different process functions or assemblies. In this contribution, different service design approaches for a generic 'separate' service are investigated on the example of a solvent extraction and a distillation column. Additionally, a Raman spectroscope device for process analysis is implemented via MTP with an 'analyze' service. Pros and cons of the different service design approaches are discussed in the context of a fast and flexible process development in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Product Lifecycle Management which is essential to enhance the lifespan of the patients which facilitates to face the completion which facilitates for pricing strategies and maximises the revenue of the organization and sustaining in the long-run further the cost leadership advantage facilitates a lot to gain the competitive advantage. Those firms which will take the competitive advantages to sustain in the longrun should study the concept of product life cycle management (PLM). There are various aspects like: workflow, information sharing, market analysis, information management related to product at various stages, new inventions and innovations, sophisticated technology available, patient requirements, cost concepts, market growth rate are the various aspects need to be studied under the product life cycle management(PLM). The aim of the present research is to explore the pharmaceutical products and its life cycle management at various stages in the contemporary context. The present research purely based on secondary data sources. The research can be better understood after all taking the advantage of primary data sources by applying SPSS AMOS and structural equation modelling algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]