scholarly journals Resilient Built Environment: Critical Review of the Strategies Released by the Sustainability Rating Systems in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 11164
Author(s):  
Antonio Marotta ◽  
César Porras-Amores ◽  
Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Preventive Strategies ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Major Infection ◽  
Weak Sustainability ◽  
Policies And Measures

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, buildings have been viewed as a facilitator of disease spread, where the three main transmission routes (contact, droplets, aerosols) are more likely to happen. However, with proper policies and measures, buildings can be better prepared for re-occupancy and beyond. This study reviews the strategies developed by several Sustainability Rating Systems (SRS, namely WELL, Fitwel and LEED) to respond to any infectious disease and ensure that building occupants protect and maintain their health. The best practices, that are similar between each SRS, highlight that the overall sustainability of the spaces increases if they are resilient. Results indicate that SRS promote a weak sustainability approach since they accept that economic development can reduce natural capitals. SRS are also characterized by an aggregated level of assessment of different criteria that does not allow to map different choices. However, the decomposition of the concept of sustainability in its three bottom lines (i.e., environmental, social and economic) shows that preventive strategies are likely to be systematically adopted as the state-of-the-art. Finally, even if the latest research points out the airborne transmission as the major infection route, the SRS lack analytical measures to address issues such as social distancing.

scholarly journals Experimenting With Online Governance

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofer Tchernichovski ◽  
Seth Frey ◽  
Nori Jacoby ◽  
Dalton Conley
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Institutional Logic ◽  
Social Feedback ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Community Rating ◽  
Fast Pace ◽  
Test Outcomes

To solve the problems they face, online communities adopt comprehensive governance methods including committees, boards, juries, and even more complex institutional logics. Helping these kinds of communities succeed will require categorizing best practices and creating toolboxes that fit the needs of specific communities. Beyond such applied uses, there is also a potential for an institutional logic itself to evolve, taking advantage of feedback provided by the fast pace and large ecosystem of online communication. Here, we outline an experimental strategy aiming at guiding and facilitating such an evolution. We first review the advantages of studying collective action using recent technologies for efficiently orchestrating massive online experiments. Research in this vein includes attempts to understand how behavior spreads, how cooperation evolves, and how the wisdom of the crowd can be improved. We then present the potential usefulness of developing virtual-world experiments with governance for improving the utility of social feedback. Such experiments can be used for improving community rating systems and monitoring (dashboard) systems. Finally, we present a framework for constructing large-scale experiments entirely in virtual worlds, aimed at capturing the complexity of governance dynamics, to empirically test outcomes of manipulating institutional logic.

scholarly journals A pilot for implementing environmental DNA (eDNA) based methods into environmental and biomonitoring

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiina Laamanen ◽  
Veera Norros ◽  
Sanna Suikkanen ◽  
Mikko Tolkkinen ◽  
Kristiina Vuorio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Environmental Dna ◽  
Bulk Sample ◽  
The State ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Dna Metabarcoding

Environmental DNA (eDNA) and other molecular based approaches are revolutionizing the field of biomonitoring. These approaches undergo rapid modifications, and it is crucial to develop the best practices by sharing the newest information and knowledge. In our ongoing project we: assess the state-of-the-art of eDNA methods at Finnish Environment Institute SYKE; identify concrete next steps towards the long-term aim of implementing eDNA methods into environmental and biomonitoring; promote information exchange on eDNA methods and advance future research efforts both within SYKE and with our national and international partners. assess the state-of-the-art of eDNA methods at Finnish Environment Institute SYKE; identify concrete next steps towards the long-term aim of implementing eDNA methods into environmental and biomonitoring; promote information exchange on eDNA methods and advance future research efforts both within SYKE and with our national and international partners. Scientific background Well-functioning and intact natural ecosystems are essential for human well-being, provide a variety of ecosystem services and contain a high diversity of organisms. However, human activities such as eutrophication, pollution, land-use or invasive species, are threatening the state and functioning of ecosystems from local to global scale (e.g. Benateau et al. 2019; Reid et al. 2018; Vörösmarty et al. 2010). New molecular techniques in the field and in the laboratory have enabled sampling and identification of much of terrestrial, marine and freshwater biodiversity. These include environmental DNA (eDNA, e.g. Valentini et al. 2016) and bulk-sample DNA metabarcoding approaches (e.g. Elbrecht et al. 2017) and targeted RNA-based methods (e.g. Mäki and Tiirola 2018). The eDNA technique uses DNA that is released from organisms into their environment, from which a signal of organisms’ presence in the system can be obtained. For example, in aquatic ecosystems, eDNA is typically extracted from sediment or filtered water samples (e.g. Deiner et al. 2016), and this approach is distinguished from bulk DNA metabarcoding, where organisms are directly identified from e.g. complete biological monitoring samples (e.g. Elbrecht et al. 2017). Despite the demonstrated potential of environmental and bulk-sample DNA metabarcoding approaches in recent years, there are still significant bottlenecks to their routine use that need to be addressed (e.g. Pawlowski et al. 2020). Methods and implementati on The project is divided into three work packages: WP1 Gathering existing knowledge, identifying knowledge gaps and proposing best practices, WP2 Roadmap to implementation and WP3 eDNA monitoring pilot. Please see more details in the Fig. 1

scholarly journals Successive Approximation, Variational Iteration, and Multistage-Analytical Methods for a SEIR Model of Infectious Disease Involving Vaccination Strategy

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-126
Author(s):  
Sudi Mungkasi
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Successive Approximation ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Analytical Method ◽  
Vaccination Strategy ◽  
Approximate Solutions ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Seir Model ◽  
Variational Iteration ◽  
Iteration Methods

We consider a SEIR model for the spread (transmission) of an infectious disease. The model has played an important role due to world pandemic disease spread cases. Our contributions in this paper are three folds. Our first contribution is to provide successive approximation and variational iteration methods to obtain analytical approximate solutions to the SEIR model. Our second contribution is to prove that for solving the SEIR model, the variational iteration and successive approximation methods are identical when we have some particular values of Lagrange multipliers in the variational iteration formulation. Third, we propose a new multistage-analytical method for solving the SEIR model. Computational experiments show that the successive approximation and variational iteration methods are accurate for small size of time domain. In contrast, our proposed multistage-analytical method is successful to solve the SEIR model very accurately for large size of time domain. Furthermore, the order of accuracy of the multistage-analytical method can be made higher simply by taking more number of successive iterations in the multistage evolution.

Employing Agent-based Modeling to Mitigate Infectious Disease Spread

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 390-394
Author(s):  
Michael Schwartz ◽  
Paul Oppold ◽  
Boniface Noyongoyo ◽  
Peter Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Agent Based Modeling ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Personal Learning ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Interpersonal Factors ◽  
Reduce Risk

The current pandemic has tested systems in place as to how to fight infectious diseases in many countries. COVID-19 spreads quickly and is deadly. However, it can be controlled through different measures such as physical distancing. The current project examines through simulation model of the UCF Global building the potential spread of an infectious disease via AnyLogic Personal Learning Edition (PLE) 8.7.0 on a laptop running Windows 10. The goal is to determine the environmental and interpersonal factors that could be modified to reduce risk of illness while maintaining typical business operations. Multiple experiments were ran to see when there is a potential change in infection and spread rate. Results show that increases occur with density between 400 and 500. To curtail the spread it is therefore important to limit contact through physical distancing for it has been proven an effective measure for reducing the spread of viral infections.

Deployment of State-of-the-Art Horizontal Pumping System HPS Technology in Two Water Wells to Avoid ESP Workovers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majed Nahed Alrabeh ◽  
Zulkiflie Bin Samsudine ◽  
Salvador Alejandro Ruvalcaba Velarde ◽  
Faisal Mohammed Alhajri
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Artificial Lift ◽  
Cooling Unit ◽  
Trial Test

Abstract The objective of this paper is to present the findings obtained from a detailed engineering evaluation resulting from trial testing two state-of-the-art surface horizontal pumping systems (HPS's) in two water supply wells. The two horizontal pumping systems were deployed as an alternative to downhole electrical submersible pumps (ESPs) to provide the benefits of eliminating ESP workover costs, modularity regarding wellsite deployments, and enhanced maintenance operations. For this trial test evaluation method, two HPS's were deployed to boost water production to the water injection plant (WIP). To ensure a thorough evaluation, the trial test well candidates were designed to accommodate both a subsurface ESP as well as a surface HPS to provide an accurate comparison, and representation, between the different artificial lift methods. The trial test and comparison method described in this paper focused primarily on the following items; maintenance and well intervention requirements, evaluation of operational availability, including potential for cavitation and effects of interference, maximum production rates, as well as root cause engineering evaluations for mechanical seals and cooling unit auxiliary motors. Various best practices and mitigation measures were identified and are presented in this paper. With regard to the results, it was observed that each artificial lift method comprised a set of advantages and disadvantages. The decision on which type of technology to use can be dependent on several factors. Overall, the HPS's demonstrated the ability to supply water production to the WIP. The HPS did experience operational challenges in providing higher production requirements. Additional challenges were also observed in the sealing mechanism as well as the auxiliary cooling unit. Precautionary pump tripping automated protocols were taken to prevent pump cavitation due to sub-optimal intake pressure resulting from possible interference. The HPS, unlike the ESPs, did not require any workover as it is located at the wellsite and therefore resulted in substantial cost savings and was easy to maintain due to its surface application. In summary, this paper adds a new and very beneficial evaluation of HPS's, and highlights best practices and lessons learned to the existing body of literature. The new information discussed in this paper is highly beneficial to engineering selections of artificial lift methods and to the successful implementation of HPS's in the industry.

Understanding Requirement Engineering Practices

2013 ◽  
pp. 109-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saqib Saeed ◽  
Ashi Iram ◽  
Kiran Nazeer ◽  
Tayyaba Ayub
Keyword(s):  
Software Engineering ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Software Process ◽  
Requirement Engineering ◽  
Public Private Partnerships ◽  
Main Task ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Medium Scale ◽  
Engineering Practices

Requirement engineering is a main task in software process. In Software Engineering literature, many best practices and guidelines are present to construct quality software. However, adoption of such uniform guidelines is not in practice across the globe. In this chapter, the authors discuss requirement engineering practices followed in Pakistani small- and medium-scale enterprises. In order to understand work practices the authors conducted a survey and analyzed the responses. They found that cost and budgeting is one of the major issues of Pakistani industry: higher management is not willing to invest to adopt state-of-the-art standardized practices. This situation can be improved by enhancing public private partnerships to get desired quality software in the local IT industry.

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