Expect: EXplainable Prediction Model for Energy ConsumpTion

With the steady growth of energy demands and resource depletion in today’s world, energy prediction models have gained more and more attention recently. Reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint are critical factors for achieving efficiency in sustainable cities. Unfortunately, traditional energy prediction models focus only on prediction performance. However, explainable models are essential to building trust and engaging users to accept AI-based systems. In this paper, we propose an explainable deep learning model, called Expect, to forecast energy consumption from time series effectively. Our results demonstrate our proposal’s robustness and accuracy when compared to the baseline methods.

Critical-like bistable dynamics in the resting-state human brain

Brain activity exhibits scale-free avalanche dynamics and power-law long-range temporal correlations (LRTCs) across the nervous system. This has been thought to reflect "brain criticality", i.e., brains operating near a critical phase transition between disorder and excessive order. Neuronal activity is, however, metabolically costly and may be constrained by activity-limiting mechanisms and resource depletion, which could make the phase transition discontinuous and bistable. Observations of bistability in awake human brain activity have nonetheless remained scarce and its functional significance unclear. First, using computational modelling where bistable synchronization dynamics emerged through local positive feedback, we found bistability to occur exclusively in a regime of critical-like dynamics. We then assessed bistability in vivo with resting-state magnetoencephalography and stereo-encephalography. Bistability was a robust characteristic of cortical oscillations throughout frequency bands from δ (3–7 Hz) to high-γ (100–225 Hz). As predicted by modelling, bistability and LRTCs were positively correlated. Importantly, while moderate levels of bistability were positively correlated with executive functioning, excessive bistability was associated with epileptic pathophysiology and predictive of local epileptogenicity. Critical bistability is thus a salient feature of spontaneous human brain dynamics in awake resting-state and is both functionally and clinically significant. These findings expand the framework of brain criticality and show that critical-like neuronal dynamics in vivo involves both continuous and discontinuous phase transitions in a frequency-, neuroanatomy-, and state-dependent manner.

Platform riders' occupational stigma consciousness and workplace deviant behavior: the mediating role of self-depletion

PurposeThe study aims to analyze how occupational stigma consciousness affects workplace deviant behavior.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a time-lagged research design. Data from 354 riders working on the platform were gathered, and multiple regression and bootstrapping were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsBased on the ego depletion theory and resource perspective, the study explores the relationship between the occupational stigma consciousness and workplace deviant behavior of platform riders in China. Occupational stigma consciousness promotes workplace deviant behavior; self-depletion mediates the positive relationship between occupational stigma consciousness and workplace deviant behavior and workplace mindfulness exerts a negative moderating effect on the relationship between occupational stigma consciousness and self-depletion.Originality/valueThe study provides a resource perspective to understand how occupational stigma consciousness is related to workplace deviant behavior and how workplace mindfulness alleviates resource depletion caused by occupational stigma consciousness. The research results provide practical information for managers to reduce deviant behavior, which helps to promote riders' performance on the platform.

Span of Supervision and Repercussions of Envy: The Moderating Role of Meaningful Work

Though the current research stream has provided some risk factors for envy at the workplace, little is still known about the drivers and consequences of envy. Based on Vecchio’s theory, this study investigates the ripple effect of the span of supervision on envy. Moreover, it sheds light on the moderating role of meaningful work in their relationship. The data comprising sample size 439 were collected from confrères of four fast food companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Pakistan. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was implemented through SmartPLS 3.3.2 to analyze the measurement and structural relationships. The results demonstrate that a narrow span of supervision will increase work engagement, and reduce instigated incivility via decreasing envy and resource depletion in sequence. Moreover, meaningful work would help regulate the inimical stream of dénouement of envy. Theoretical and practical implications, along with the limitations and future directions, have also been discussed.

Sustainability Evaluation of Cold In-Place Recycling and Hot Mix Asphalt Pavements: A Case of Qassim, Saudi Arabia

The construction of conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements results in a number of economic and environmental issues, such as the cost of new overlays and associated impacts on natural resources. Although the cold recycling with an emulsified asphalt-recycling agent holds certain benefits over the HMA, its implementation on different road types, ranging from farm-to-market roads to expressways, is yet contentious due to the need for sophisticated equipment and trained workforce. The present research developed a methodology to evaluate all the three dimensions of sustainability, including economic (construction cost), environmental (natural resource depletion), and social (need for advanced equipment and skilled labor) of various scenarios of RAP and conventional asphalt pavements. The present study evaluated an equivalent thickness of the Cold In-place Recycling (CIR) pavement, which behaves similar to HMA pavement under the influence of different traffic loads. Fifty CIR and HMA scenarios for different traffic volumes and pavement layers thicknesses were developed. Finally, the sustainability of all the scenarios was evaluated for traffic designation in Saudi Arabia using fuzzy-based multicriteria analysis. Ranking of scenarios found CIR as a more sustainable overlay option for the feeders, collectors, main urban streets, expressways, and heavily trafficked highways in industrial areas where ESALs (Equivalent Single Axle Loads) range between 2,000,000 and >31,000,000. Considering the limited availability of advanced equipment and skilled labor for CIR pavements, HMA was found be a more sustainable option for farm-to-market roads with the “very light” traffic class. The methodology will help the pavement managers in decision making regarding the selection of sustainable pavement technologies for different road types in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world.

Teaching Circular Economy and Lean Management in a Learning Factory

Traditionally, industries followed a linear process of resources consumption: taking raw materials from nature, transforming them into products, and selling them to consumers (who discarded them when they were no longer useful). Nowadays, due to the sustainable development concerns, there is an increasing awareness on the society for reuse, repair, recycling, and remanufacturing to avoid resource depletion and achieve waste reduction. Following this idea, with the aim to train students and practitioners in lean manufacturing and circular economy concepts and tools, a learning process organized in three sequential phases was developed, starting with the manufacture of a toy car (25 kg and over 100 pieces) using a traditional push system, then reengineering the process to implement pull system and lean manufacturing concepts, and finally, considering a circular economy pull system through the reuse and recycling of parts and components. In this way, the importance of reducing waste in manufacturing and the reduction in the use of raw materials by considering the 3Rs is highlighted.

Shopping Motivation and Green Consumption: A Study about Green Buying Behavior of Pakistani Consumers

Natural resource depletion, increase in global population, climate change, and unsustainable consumption behaviors have all wreaked havoc on the ecosystem around the world. Increased consumption of green products is among the most effective strategies in adoption of sustainable consumption. The purpose of current research is to investigates the effect of shopping motivation (utilitarian) antecedents’ impact on utilitarian motivation and also discussed the mediating effect of utilitarian motivation on the association between utilitarian motivation antecedents and intention to purchase green products. Online survey was used to collect the data and SEM(structural equation modeling) was used to analyze data. The antecedents of shopping motivation (utilitarian) influence the intention of consumer about green buying. Four out of five hypothesis were supported. The findings of current research enable practitioners and managers to formulate strategies for sustainable consumption.

Environment Problems and Sustainable Development: with Special Reference to Thoothukudi District of Tamil Nadu

Productive resources, which are vital for economic development of nations, are primarily scarce among nations. Capital being an important productive resource is abundant in industrialized economics. Structural adjustments in developing economics due to the introduction of globalization, since 1991, enabled Indian economy to attract these productive resources in a massive scale. Being the second largest populated nations of the world, India is unable to exploit its labour resources fully, due to the scarce availability of capital. This is one of the main reasons, why India had not achieved the desired level of economic growth, as expected. However the flow of capital movements to India during the post reform period is encouraging. As a result, India has achieved the growth rate of GDP at 7.2% per annum recently. But due to the uncontrolled growth of urbanization and industrialization, expansion and massive intensification of agriculture and the destruction of forests has created heavy pressure on land, forests, water and biodiversity. In the era of globalization, water has considered as an economic goods due to the higher demand. Water quality problem arises due to the extractive industries as well as from various manufacturing and agricultural production processes. Various pollutants are generated as the by product in the production of Pesticides, leather goods, detergent, plastic, pulp and paper. These pollutants have led to major environmental issues such as Forest and Agricultural land degradation, Resource depletion (water, mineral, forest, sand, rocks etc.,), Environmental degradation, Public Health, Loss of Biodiversity, Loss of resilience in ecosystems, Livelihood Security for the Poor. In recent years there has been growing concern about degradation and pollution of environment and climate change as they impact on future development of both the developing and developed countries. In 1992, representatives of over 150 countries met at Rio in Brazil to discuss the environmental issues and their implications for future development of the world. This meeting at Rio is called the ‘Earth summit’ or the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

Economic Theories and Sustainable Development

In this chapter, I provide a brief introduction of some of the key economic theories, and how and to which extent they apply to sustainable development and corporate responsibility. How economics, international trade, organizations, tax, values, banks, governments, and so on work today can all be attributed to one or more of the economic theorists introduced in this chapter. Still, these theories were developed at the time when environmental challenges such as climate change and resource depletion were not pressing issues, and therefore not considered. I conclude with an overview of the key economists and philosophers who explicitly consider sustainability and corporate responsibility in their assessment of society and business. This chapter concludes with discussing new trends and theories capturing the sustainable element of business models.

Future Trends and Aging Analysis of Battery Energy Storage Systems for Electric Vehicles

The increase of electric vehicles (EVs), environmental concerns, energy preservation, battery selection, and characteristics have demonstrated the headway of EV development. It is known that the battery units require special considerations because of their nature of temperature sensitivity, aging effects, degradation, cost, and sustainability. Hence, EV advancement is currently concerned where batteries are the energy accumulating infers for EVs. This paper discusses recent trends and developments in battery deployment for EVs. Systematic reviews on explicit energy, state-of-charge, thermal efficiency, energy productivity, life cycle, battery size, market revenue, security, and commerciality are provided. The review includes battery-based energy storage advances and their development, characterizations, qualities of power transformation, and evaluation measures with advantages and burdens for EV applications. This study offers a guide for better battery selection based on exceptional performance proposed for traction applications (e.g., BEVs and HEVs), considering EV’s advancement subjected to sustainability issues, such as resource depletion and the release in the environment of ozone and carbon-damaging substances. This study also provides a case study on an aging assessment for the different types of batteries investigated. The case study targeted lithium-ion battery cells and how aging analysis can be influenced by factors such as ambient temperature, cell temperature, and charging and discharging currents. These parameters showed considerable impacts on life cycle numbers, as a capacity fading of 18.42%, between 25–65 °C was observed. Finally, future trends and demand of the lithium-ion batteries market could increase by 11% and 65%, between 2020–2025, for light-duty and heavy-duty EVs.