Challenges of implementing biophilic design principles in hospital infrastructure development: A review

The implementation of biophilic design principles and strategies has become a popular and acceptable idea in both developed and developing economies. While studies acknowledge the potential of biophilic design in hospital settings, the implementation of biophilic principles in developing healthcare infrastructure faces numerous challenges that are neither highlighted nor well documented. This study examined important issues that typically limit the use of biophilic features, based on a review of published literature. The study identified regulatory compliance and cost constraints as the main categories of challenges faced in the implementation of biophilic design. The study recommends awareness and engagement of all stakeholders from the design stage to the implementation stage and post occupancy evaluations, as well as financial incentives to encourage the adoption, innovation and development of specialized skills and business ventures in biophilic design and sustainable infrastructure development

Navigating the complexities of marketing decision-making in uncertain supply chains: A quantitative exploration

Making rational decisions in times of uncertainty is an important capability required of marketing managers. However, choosing the precise quantitative decision-making technique or a combination of such tools usually presents managers with a score of challenges. To lessen this challenge, this single case research demonstrates how the choice of three Bayesian decision models (Laplace criterion, Savage minimax regret, and Hurwicz coefficient of realization) can reduce uncertainty in content marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and referral marketing decision. We employed the case study approach to enable direct access to the decision-making process of the case organization, and to collect relevant data relating to the three marketing decision variables. Results show that, although the Laplace criterion may not have a direct effect on content marketing decisions, it influences the decision-making process leading to the creation and promotion of content. The Savage minimax regret had a direct bearing on SEO decisionmaking. Hurwicz's coefficient of realization yielded no direct impact on referral marketing but shows the possibility of influencing decision-making processes that led to the development and implementation of referral marketing campaigns. The implications are discussed

Design methodology and implementation of stand-alone solar photovoltaic power system for daily energy consumption of 9.16kWh

This stand-alone solar photovoltaic power system was designed to power a daily energy consumption of 9.16 kWh reliably, by means of photovoltaic only. The design involves different components whose capacities depend on 9.16 kWhdaily energy consumption and 1-day autonomy, including several factors that determine the choice of selection. After implementation, the system was put to the test for two days to ascertain the design validity and check if it would be able to sustain the daily load demand for 24 h without failure. The results reveal that the design methodology employed for the stand-alone system in this study is accurate and reliable because the system was able to power the load interminably for 34 h, with a resulting 0.6%DoD at the end of the test. This was due to the complete energy balance that the design methodology offers. Day 1 shows that the overall PV array power was 208% higher than the daytime load power and 61.2% higher than the overall daily load power. While Day-2 shows the overall PV array power to be 130% higher than the daytime load power and 56.3% higher than the overall daily load power, The energy balance between PV array, battery, and load size was completely and sufficiently achieved on both days, as the highest depth of discharge recorded during the test was 48.7%. The study reveals that through a complete energy balance between PV, battery, and load size, a standalone PV system can reliably sustain daily energy demand. It aims to design a stand-alone PV system capable of reliably sustaining daily energy demand without the need for long days of autonomy, so as to help prevent failures in solar PV projects that come as a result of inappropriate sizing, planning, and a lack of technical know-how

Trends in The Residential and Commercial Property Rental Values in Ikeja Metropolis of Lagos State, Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis

Both residential and commercial properties are germane and basic needs of man. While residential properties are needed for man’s occupation and resident, commercial properties are needed for business and commercial purposes. This study is basically set out to compare the developments in leasing or rental values of housing and profitable assets in Ikeja metropolitan axis of Lagos State, Nigeria. The study examined the trends in the rental values of residential and commercial properties in Ikeja from 2009 to 2018 with a view to comparing the trends of the two purposes of property use. The study used questionnaires to collect information from respondents in the area of study while some residents/landlords were selected for the purposes of personal interview. Information retrieved was evaluated via simple percentage and revealed general upward movement in the development of rent payment values of both residential and commercial properties in Ikeja metropolis even though the rate of increase is higher with the commercial properties

Navigating the complexities of marketing decision-making in uncertain supply chains: A quantitative exploration

Making rational decisions in times of uncertainty is an important capability required of marketing managers. However, choosing the precise quantitative decision-making technique or a combination of such tools usually presents managers with a score of challenges. To lessen this challenge, this single case research demonstrates how the choice of three Bayesian decision models (Laplace criterion, Savage minimax regret, and Hurwicz coefficient of realization) can reduce uncertainty in content marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and referral marketing decision. We employed the case study approach to enable direct access to the decision-making process of the case organization, and to collect relevant data relating to the three marketing decision variables. Results show that, although the Laplace criterion may not have a direct effect on content marketing decisions, it influences the decision-making process leading to the creation and promotion of content. The Savage minimax regret had a direct bearing on SEO decisionmaking. Hurwicz's coefficient of realization yielded no direct impact on referral marketing but shows the possibility of influencing decision-making processes that led to the development and implementation of referral marketing campaigns. The implications are discussed

NomadicBTS-2: A Network-in-a-Box with Software-Defined Radio and Web-Based App for Multiband Cellular Communication

The proliferation of mobile communications technologies has greatly contributed to the development of emerging economies. However, a significant digital divide remains in many remote and hard-to-reach regions due to the high Capital Expenditure (CapEx) and Operating Expenditure (OPEX) of mobile network operators. This study addresses the issue by developing and prototyping a cost-effective, software-defined base station, called NomadicBTS-2, utilizing open-source technologies and the Software-Defined Radio (SDR) paradigm. NomadicBTS-2 incorporates the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) B200 as the Radio Frequency (RF) hardware front-end. The software backend is built on open-source solutions, including the USRP Hardware Driver (UHD) and services such as OpenBTS, Asterisk, SIPAuthserve, and SMQueue. Additionally, a custom web-based software, NomadicBTS WebApp, was developed to configure and monitor the UHD and software services via a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The system was tested using two mobile stations (MSs) for simplex and duplex communication, while network link quality parameters were evaluated to assess users’ Quality of Experience (QoE). Experimental results demonstrated that, within a pico-cell environment, the link quality is sufficient for call routing and Short Messaging Services (SMS) between user-to-user and network-to-user communications. NomadicBTS-2 presents a robust solution for a Network-in-a-Box, ideal for short-range communication in rural and hard-to-reach areas, emergency response scenarios, and IoT sensor networks. It can also be deployed to alleviate network congestion in existing mobile networks. Furthermore, this prototype offers a viable testbed for teaching and research laboratories to explore advancements in SDR, cognitive radio, and other wireless communication technologies, thus opening new frontiers in wireless communications researc

A critical review on enhancement and sustainability of energy systems: perspectives on thermo-economic and thermo-environmental analysis

Given the increased natural resource consumption of contemporary energy conversion systems, as well as the emissions, waste disposal, and climate changes that accompany them, a critical review of new techniques - known as thermo-economic and thermo-environmental analyses - has been carried out for the evaluation and optimization of energy conversion processes, from the perspectives of thermodynamics, economics, and the environment. Such a review study is essential because of the energy system’s impacts on sustainability and performance management requirements, and more importantly, it is crucial to understand the whole picture of performance evaluation of energy systems from the sustainability perspective. The study evaluated the performance and optimization of energy systems and examined the different approaches that integrate the economic, environmental, and second law of thermodynamics for sustainable development. Moreover, to assess the technical, economic, and environmental worth of energy systems and guarantee that the chosen designs are well-suited to a sustainable development framework, a mix of thermodynamic, economic, and environmental indicators is taken into consideration. In this regard, thirteen sustainability indicators for the design, analysis, and performance improvement of energy systems from the viewpoints of thermodynamics, economics, and the environment are presented and discussed. The outcome of this study shows that (i) the sustainability of energy conversion systems can be enhanced with the use of exergy techniques assessment; (ii) by reducing energy losses, exergy efficiency initiatives can lessen their adverse effects on the environment; (iii) the best methods for efficient use of energy resources, low energy production costs, and less environmental impact can be provided by hybrid energy systems; and (iv) use of a single performance metric to optimize the energy process results in improbable outcomes. Hence, multicriteria techniques should be utilized, allowing for a more comprehensive optimization and planning of sustainable energy systems. Researchers and field engineers working on energy systems’ design, modeling, assessment, and performance optimization would find great value in this comprehensive review study

Evaluation of Vitis vinifera seed oil as a green corrosion inhibitor for highcarbon steel and ferrovanadium alloys in sulfuric acid

The corrosion inhibition performance of Vitis vinifera seed oil (VVSO) was investigated on highcarbon steel (HCS) and ferrovanadium (FV) alloy in 0.25 M H₂SO₄ solution using gravimetric, potentiodynamic polarization, open circuit potential (OCP) measurements and optical microscopy. Gravimetric studies revealed superior inhibition efficiency on HCS, where corrosion rates decreased progressively with increasing VVSO concentration, reaching 95% efficiency at 0.5% VVSO after 360 hours of exposure. In comparison, FV alloys exhibited moderate inhibition, peaking at 73.95% at 2% VVSO. Potentiodynamic polarization results confirmed mixed-type inhibition behavior, with significant reductions in corrosion current density for HCS, correlating with efficiencies exceeding 70%. Conversely, for FV alloys, the highest inhibition efficiency of 72.95% was recorded at 2% VVSO, suggesting adsorption saturation at higher concentrations. Open circuit potential studies highlighted shifts to less negative potentials, indicative of enhanced corrosion resistance. For HCS, stabilization occurred around -0.490 V at 0.5% VVSO, forming a protective layer, while for FV, the potential stabilized at -0.495 V at 3% VVSO, demonstrating uniform inhibitor adsorption and reduced anodic dissolution. Overall, VVSO demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition, exhibiting superior protection on HCS and moderate efficacy on FV as evident in the difference between the optical images of the inhibited and non-inhibited alloy surfaces. The findings underscore the potential of VVSO as an eco-friendly and effective corrosion inhibitor, with optimal performance influenced by substrate material and inhibitor concentration

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICE IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR: A REVIEW OF ONLINE LEARNING AND GAMIFICATION STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

This paper delves into the dynamic realms of online learning and gamification, pivotal innovations within the education sector, and aims to foster sustainability practices and improve student engagement and learning outcomes. It embarks on a comprehensive journey through the literature, meticulously examining the definitions, merits, obstacles, and exemplars of these transformative approaches. Online learning, encompassing the digital delivery of educational content via diverse platforms such as websites, mobile apps, and learning management systems, has emerged as a prime player in reshaping pedagogical landscapes. Simultaneously, gamification, hinging on the strategic infusion of game elements such as points, badges, leaderboards, and feedback into educational contexts, emerges as a potent motivator and engagement catalyst. However, this paper also casts a discerning eye on the hurdles and constraints that accompany adopting these methodologies. By synthesizing the collective wisdom of prior research, this paper unveils the novel possibilities and improvements that online learning and gamification bring to education, elucidating their role in advancing sustainability goals and enhancing the educational experience. The synthesis of existing knowledge leads to the formulation of valuable recommendations tailored to educators and researchers aspiring to integrate online learning and gamification strategies into their pedagogical toolbox, invigorating learning environments and propelling education toward a more sustainable and engaging future

Microbial biotechnology for bioenergy: general overviews

Bioenergy technologies are environment-friendly, renewable, and a clean way of powering the global community. Bioenergy technology is an innovation that improves the quality of life by simply reducing water and air contamination; this also mitigates energy dependence through creation of renewable resources locally. Bioenergy sources include wind, water, geothermal, nuclear power, solar, and natural gases. The most interesting and important part of bioenergy is the environmental benefits as part of a global energy future, which are aided by microorganisms. The future of bioenergy, however, seems bright because recent global information in this field proved that more renewable energy capacity has been fixed globally than new fossil fuel and nuclear capacity combined. As the global population progressively increases, there is an everincreasing demand for clean energy. The only safe answer to this is sustainable energy, which will protect the earth from climate change and make it a good habitat for all living organisms. This chapter provides a general overview to microbial biotechnology for bioenergy, sources, and challenges of bioenergy, role of microorganisms in bioenergy generation, innovations in bioenergy, and the environmental conservation of bioenergy