The contribution of ISO 14067 to the evolution of global greenhouse gas standards—A review

Due to the increasing recognition of global climate change, the building and construction industry is under pressure to reduce carbon emissions. A central issue in striving towards reduced carbon emissions is the need for a practicable and meaningful yardstick for assessing and communicating greenhouse gas (GHG) results. ISO 14067 was published by the International Organization for Standardization in May 2013. By providing specific requirements in the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, the standard clarifies the GHG assessment in the aspects of choosing system boundaries and simulating use and end-of-life phases when quantifying carbon footprint of products (CFPs). More importantly, the standard, for the first time, provides step-to-step guidance and standardized template for communicating CFPs in the form of CFP external communication report, CFP performance tracking report, CFP declaration and CFP label. ISO 14067 therefore makes a valuable contribution to GHG quantification and transparent communication and comparison of CFPs. In addition, as cradle-to-grave should be used as the system boundary if use and end-of-life phases can be simulated, ISO 14067 will hopefully promote the development and implementation of simulation technologies, with Building Information Modelling (BIM) in particular, in the building and construction industry.

The history, content and evolution of The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education

The International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education (Int J FYHE) began in 2010 with a specific FYHE focus and has published two issues per year with one issue linked to The International First Year in Higher Education Conference (FYHE Conference). This issue—Volume 6, Issue 1—is the last under this title. In 2015 the Journal will align to a new conference that has a broader focus on Students, Transitions, Achievement, Retention and Success (STARS). At this significant point and before we move on to the new journal, the journal team felt it was appropriate that the Feature in this final issue of the Int J FYHE should summarise the Journal’s activity over the years from 2010 to 2014.

Structure evolution characterization of Anyang anthracites via H2O2 oxidization and HF acidification

The structural characteristics of the raw coal (AY), the H2O2 oxidized coals (AY–H2O2) and the HF acidized AY–H2O2 (AY–H2O2–HF) were investigated by SEM, X-ray diffraction, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The results indicate that the derivative coals show an obvious increase in the aromaticity, crystalline carbon content and hydroxyl content, especially the AY–H2O2–HF. The stacking layer number of crystalline carbon decreases and the aspect ratio (La/Lc) remarkably increases for AY–H2O2 and AY–H2O2–HF. The crystalline layers become much thinner. The particle size of AY–H2O2–HF in width significantly decreases from 1 μm to less than 100 nm. The combination of H2O2 oxidization and HF acidification is effective to reduce the size of the aromatic layers and to increase the reactivity of derivative coals. The process can help us obtain the superfine crystalline carbon materials like graphite structure.

Charge mediated semiconducting-to-metallic phase transition in molybdenum disulphide monolayer and hydrogen evolution reaction in New 1T’ phase

The phase transition of single layer molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) from semi-conducting 2H to metallic 1T and then to 1T' phases, and the effect of the phase transition on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are investigated within this work by density functional theory. Experimentally, 2H-MoS2 has been widely used as an excellent electrode for HER and can get charged easily. Here we find that the negative charge has a significant impact on the structural phase transition in a MoS2 monolayer. The thermodynamic stability of 1T-MoS2 increases with the negative charge state, comparing with the 2H-MoS2 structure before phase transition and the kinetic energy barrier for a phase transition from 2H to 1T decreases from 1.59 eV to 0.27 eV when 4 e- are injected per MoS2 unit. Additionally, 1T phase is found to transform into the distorted structure (1T' phase) spontaneously. On their activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction, 1T'-MoS2 structure hydrogen coverage shows comparable hydrogen evolution reaction activity to the 2H-MoS2 structure. If the charge transfer kinetics is taken into account, the catalytic activity of 1T'-MoS2 is superior to that of 2H-MoS2. Our finding provides a possible novel method for phase transition of MoS2, and enriches understanding of the catalytic properties of MoS2 for HER.

Tectonometamorphic evolution of the Åreskutan Nappe-Caledonian history revealed by SIMS U–Pb zircon geochronology

Secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS) U–Pb dating of zircons from the Åreskutan Nappe in the central part of the Seve Nappe Complex of western central Jämtland provides new constraints on the timing of granulite–amphibolite-facies metamorphism and tectonic stacking of the nappe during the Caledonian orogeny. Peak-temperature metamorphism in garnet migmatites is constrained to c. 442 ± 4 Ma, very similar to the ages of leucogranites at 442 ± 3 and 441 ± 4 Ma. Within a migmatitic amphibolite, felsic segregations crystallized at 436 ± 2 Ma. Pegmatites, cross-cutting the dominant Caledonian foliation in the Nappe, yield 428 ± 4 and 430 ± 3 Ma ages. The detrital zircon cores in the migmatites and leucogranites provide evidence of Late Palaeoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic to Early Neoproterozoic source terranes for the metasedimentary rocks. The formation of the ductile and hot Seve migmatites, with their inverted metamorphism and thinning towards the hinterland, can be explained by an extrusion model in which the allochthon stayed ductile for a period of at least 10 million years during cooling from peak-temperature metamorphism early in the Silurian. In our model, Baltica–Laurentia collision occurred in the Late Ordovician–earliest Silurian, with emplacement of the nappes far on to the Baltoscandian platform during the Silurian and early Devonian, Scandian Orogeny lasting until c. 390 Ma.

Evolution of self-reporting methods for identifying discrete emotions in science classrooms

Emotion researchers have grappled with challenging methodological issues in capturing emotions of participants in naturalistic settings such as school or university classrooms. Self-reporting methods have been used frequently, yet these methods are inadequate when used alone. We argue that the self-reporting methods of emotion diaries and cogenerative dialogues can be helpful in identifying in-the-moment emotions when used in conjunction with the microanalysis of video recordings of classroom events. We trace the evolution of our use of innovative self-reporting methods through three cases from our research projects, and propose new directions for our ongoing development and application of these methods in both school and university classrooms.

Charge mediated semiconducting-to-metallic phase transition in molybdenum disulfide monolayer and hydrogen evolution reaction in new 1T′ phase

The phase transition of single layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) from semiconducting 2H to metallic 1T and then to 1T′ phases, and the effect of the phase transition on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are investigated within this work by density functional theory. Experimentally, 2H-MoS2 has been widely used as an excellent electrode for HER and can get charged easily. Here we find that the negative charge has a significant impact on the structural phase transition in a MoS2 monolayer. The thermodynamic stability of 1T-MoS2 increases with the negative charge state, comparing with the 2H-MoS2 structure before phase transition and the kinetic energy barrier for a phase transition from 2H to 1T decreases from 1.59 to 0.27 eV when 4e– are injected per MoS2 unit. Additionally, 1T phase is found to transform into the distorted structure (1T′ phase) spontaneously. On their activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction, 1T′-MoS2 structure shows comparable hydrogen evolution reaction activity to the 2H-MoS2 structure. If the charge transfer kinetics is taken into account, the catalytic activity of 1T′-MoS2 is superior to that of 2H-MoS2. Our finding provides a possible novel method for phase transition of MoS2 and enriches understanding of the catalytic properties of MoS2 for HER.

Heat-producing element enrichment in granitic rocks, the role of crustal composition and evolution

This study greatly enhanced our knowledge of the potential for geothermal energy development in Queensland as a viable clean energy source in the coming decades. Key outcomes of the project were understanding the first-order controls on the concentration of the heat-producing elements: uranium, thorium and potassium in granitic rocks, and constraining where rocks with the greatest heat-producing potential lie at depth in Queensland. Importantly, new temperature and heat flow maps for southwest Queensland were developed that will greatly assist future exploration efforts.

Business Ecosystems’ Evolution — An Ecosystem Clockspeed Perspective

There is a growing need for measures assessing technological changes in systemic contexts as business ecosystems replace standalone products. In these ecosystem contexts, organizations are required to manage their innovation processes in increasingly networked and complex environments. In this paper, we introduce the technology and ecosystem clockspeed measures that can be used to assess the temporal nature of technological changes in a business ecosystem. We analyze systemic changes in the personal computer (PC) ecosystem, explicitly focusing on subindustries central to the delivery of PC gaming value to the end user. Our results show that the time-based intensity of technological competition in intertwined subindustries of a business ecosystem may follow various trajectories during the evolution of the ecosystem. Hence, the technology and ecosystem clockspeed measures are able to pinpoint alternating dynamics in technological changes among the subindustries in the business ecosystem. We subsequently discuss organizational considerations and theoretical implications of the proposed measures.

A study on the evolution of regional structure of foreign engineering consultation industry in China [我国对外工程咨询业区域结构演变研究]

Based on the construction industry of 27 province over the period of 1995-2008,this paper analyzes the evolution of regional structure of foreign engineering consultation industry.It is found that this industry translates weak overall strength,unbalanced regional structure to a more developed and balanced status,keeps pushing this change can improve the strength of our country’s engineering consultation industry,improve the international competition of construction.

Study of surface evolution in the wheel-rail interface

This paper aims to trace surface evolution in the wheel-rail interface using data obtained from a twin-disc testing machine and the surface replication technique. Changes in the surface profile of the rail testing disc are explicitly analysed according to the wear mechanism, which helps elaborate a better understanding of the attrition of asperities during the wearing-in process of surface modification. The surface profile amplitude was seen to decrease during the initial running-in phase of the experiment cycle, and after reaching a saturation value, the profile amplitude then increased. Ultimately the results show that grinding will roughen the rail surface and the wheel-rail contact conditions will then remove this surface damage to some saturation value of the profile height. The variation in the rail surface profile beyond this point is then only dependant on the contact conditions which exist between the wheel and rail during normal operation.

Wear particle analysis and the evolution of the plastically deformed layer on Australian rail steel

Particle analysis methodology is presented, together with the morphology of the wear debris formed during rolling contact fatigue. Wear particles are characterised by their surface topography and in terms of wear mechanism. Rail-wheel materials are subjected to severe plastic deformation as the contact loading progresses, which contributes to a mechanism of major damage in head-hardened rail steel. Most of the current methodologies involve sectioning of the rail-wheel discs to trace material damage phenomena such as crack propagation and plastic strain accumulation. This paper proposes methodology to analyse the development of the plastically deformed layer by sectioning wear particles using the focussed ion beam (FIB) milling method. Moreover, it highlights the processes of oxidation and rail surface delamination during unlubricated rolling contact fatigue.

Ortho-Dihydroxyl-9,10-anthraquinone dyes as visible-light sensitizers that exhibit a high turnover number for hydrogen evolution

Pt/TiO2 sensitized by the cheap and organic ortho-dihydroxyl-9,10-anthraquinone dyes, such as Alizarin and Alizarin Red, achieved a TON of approximately 10 000 (TOF > 250 h−1 for the first ten hours) during >80 hours of visible light irradiation (>420 nm) for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution when triethanolamine was used as the sacrificial donor. The stability and activity enhancements can be attributed to the two highly serviceable redox reactions involving the 9,10-dicarbonyl and ortho-dihydroxyl groups of the anthracene ring, respectively

Perpendicularly oriented MoSe2/graphene nanosheets as advanced electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution

By increasing the density of exposed active edges, the perpendicularly oriented structure of MoSe2 nanosheets facilitates ion/electrolyte transport at the electrode interface and minimizes the restacking of nanosheets, while the graphene improves the electrical contact between the catalyst and the electrode. This makes the MoSe2/graphene hybrid perfect as a catalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). It shows a greatly improved catalytic activity compared with bare MoSe2 nanosheets.