A new weighting factor in combining belief function

Dempster-Shafer evidence theory has been widely used in various applications. However, to solve the problem of counter-intuitive outcomes by using classical Dempster-Shafer combination rule is still an open issue while fusing the conflicting evidences. Many approaches based on discounted evidence and weighted average evidence have been investigated and have made significant improvements. Nevertheless, all of these approaches have inherent flaws. In this paper, a new weighting factor is proposed to address this proble

A participatory system dynamics model to investigate sustainable urban water management in Ebbsfleet Garden City

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordGrowing urban populations, changes in rainfall patterns and ageing infrastructure represent significant challenges for urban water management (UWM). There is a critical need for research into how cities should adapt to become resilient to these impacts under uncertain futures. UWM challenges in the Ebbsfleet Garden City (UK) were investigated via a participatory process and potential sustainable solutions were explored using a System Dynamics Model (SDM). Collaborative development of the SDM by the Ebbsfleet Learning and Action Alliance developed stakeholders’ understanding of future UWM options and enabled a structured exploration of interdependencies within the current UWM system. Discussion by stakeholders resulted in a focus on potable water use and the development of the 2 SDM to investigate how residential potable water consumption in the Ebbsfleet Garden City might be reduced through a range of interventions, e.g., socio-environmental and economic policy incentives. The SDM approach supports decision-making at a strategic, system-wide level, and facilitates exploration of the long-term consequences of alternative strategies, particularly those that are difficult to include in quantitative models. While an SDM can be developed by experts alone, building it collaboratively allows the process to benefit from local knowledge, resulting in a collective learning process and increased potential for adoption.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC

Water-energy-carbon nexus : a system dynamics approach for assessing urban water systems

Water, energy, and carbon emissions of Urban Water Systems (UWSs) are intertwined and have complex interactions forming a water-energy-carbon (WEC) nexus. A comprehensive methodology to quantify dynamic WEC nexus is required. The main objective of this research is to develop a decision support system (DSS) for assessing the WEC nexus for sustainable planning and management of UWSs. This research has been accomplished in five distinct steps. In the first step, key Sustainability Performance Indicators (SPIs) of small to medium-sized UWSs have been identified. The SPIs related to water consumption, energy use, carbon emissions, and cost were used for developing the DSS. In the second step, a WEC DSS has been developed for an operational phase of an UWS using system dynamics and then applied to the City of Penticton. The highest energy consumer was found to be indoor hot water use in the city. In the third step, a framework has been developed to study the impacts of neighbourhood densification on the WEC nexus. A higher net residential density will result in lower per capita water demand, energy use, net carbon emissions, and life cycle cost of water distribution system. The proposed framework provides an optimal residential density and energy intensity of water distribution, which can be used as inputs to the WEC DSS. In the fourth step, microbial water quality guidelines for reclaimed water have been developed for various non-potable urban reuses. Moreover, the FitWater tool has been developed for evaluating fit-for-purpose wastewater treatment and reuse potentials based on cost, health risk, and the WEC nexus. The outputs of FitWater can be used as inputs to the WEC DSS. In the last step, the economics of the WEC nexus of net-zero water communities has been analyzed using the WEC model. The DSS developed based on this research is capable of quantifying dynamic water consumption, energy use, carbon emissions, and the cost of UWSs. The DSS can analyze different WEC-based interventions. The DSS can be used by utilities, urban developers, and policy makers for long-term planning of urban water in communities.Applied Science, Faculty ofEngineering, School of (Okanagan)Graduat

Filter trapping protocol to detect aggregated proteins in human cell lines

Summary: The loss of protein homeostasis results in cytotoxic protein aggregates, a common hallmark of aging and neurological diseases. Here, we present an adjusted filter-trapping assay protocol to detect global aggregated proteins in human cell lines, via a high-sensitive protein staining method. This protocol also details an alternative approach to monitor specific protein aggregates trapped in the filter membrane, by subsequent immunoblotting of ectopically expressed and endogenous proteins.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Chhipi-Shrestha et al. (2022). : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics

System dynamics modelling for an urban water system : net-zero water analysis for Peachland (BC)

A Net-zero water (NZW) community limits the consumption of freshwater resources and returns water back to the same watershed, so as not to deplete the groundwater and surface water resources of that region in quantity and quality over the course of a year. A NZW study includes the analysis of various combinations of water supply sources, water conservation, and reuse over time. Such dynamics can be modelled by using system dynamics. This article aims to develop a system dynamics model (SDM) to achieve NZW at the urban community level. The SDM was developed by including all life cycle stages of urban water using STELLA® software. The developed SDM was validated using the historical data of Peachland water consumption (BC). Moreover, the model was applied to analyze NZW of the Peachland community during 2015-34 by considering six different scenarios. In the base case scenario, two thirds of the supplied water will be used for irrigation and will not be directly available to the community for reuse. As the community is in a semi-arid region, the Peachland community can only achieve NZW or even net-plus water for the initial five years by considering Peachland as a typical urban community without agriculture, and by implementing various water efficiency improvement measures. However, due to the projected increase in water demand, the NZW cannot be achieved after 2019.Other UBCUnreviewedFacultyOthe

A Comprehensive Review on Construction Applications and Life Cycle Sustainability of Natural Fiber Biocomposites

The construction industry is continuously searching for sustainable materials to combat the rapid depletion of global resources and ongoing ecological crises. Biocomposites have recently received global attention in various industries due to their renewability, low cost, and biodegradability. Biocomposites’ potential as a sustainable substitute in construction can be understood by identifying their diverse applications. Moreover, examining their life cycle environmental and economic impacts is important. Therefore, this study is a novel attempt to encompass biocomposites’ construction applications and their environmental life cycle performance. Statistical analysis is done related to the temporal distribution of papers, publishers, literature type and regions of studies. First, this paper reviews the latest research on the applications of natural fiber biocomposites in construction with their key findings. The applications include fiber reinforcements in concrete, external strengthening elements, internally filled hollow tubes, wood replacement boards, insulation, and non-structural members. The second part covers the life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost studies on biocomposites. The life cycle studies are currently rare and require more case-specific assessments; however, they highlight the benefits of biocomposites in cost savings and environmental protection. Finally, this study provides key suggestions for increasing the applicability of biocomposites as sustainable construction materials

A Comprehensive Review on Construction Applications and Life Cycle Sustainability of Natural Fiber Biocomposites

The construction industry is continuously searching for sustainable materials to combat the rapid depletion of global resources and ongoing ecological crises. Biocomposites have recently received global attention in various industries due to their renewability, low cost, and biodegradability. Biocomposites’ potential as a sustainable substitute in construction can be understood by identifying their diverse applications. Moreover, examining their life cycle environmental and economic impacts is important. Therefore, this study is a novel attempt to encompass biocomposites’ construction applications and their environmental life cycle performance. Statistical analysis is done related to the temporal distribution of papers, publishers, literature type and regions of studies. First, this paper reviews the latest research on the applications of natural fiber biocomposites in construction with their key findings. The applications include fiber reinforcements in concrete, external strengthening elements, internally filled hollow tubes, wood replacement boards, insulation, and non-structural members. The second part covers the life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost studies on biocomposites. The life cycle studies are currently rare and require more case-specific assessments; however, they highlight the benefits of biocomposites in cost savings and environmental protection. Finally, this study provides key suggestions for increasing the applicability of biocomposites as sustainable construction materials.Applied Science, Faculty ofEngineering, School of (Okanagan)ReviewedFacultyResearcherGraduat

Carbon Capture Systems for Building-Level Heating Systems—A Socio-Economic and Environmental Evaluation

The energy consumption of buildings contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Energy use for space and water heating in buildings causes a major portion of these emissions. Natural gas (NG) is one of the dominant fuels used for building heating, emitting GHG emissions directly to the atmosphere. Many studies have been conducted on improving energy efficiency and using cleaner energy sources in buildings. However, implementing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) on NG building heating systems is overlooked in the literature. CCUS technologies have proved their potential to reduce GHG emissions in fossil fuel power plants. However, their applicability for building-level applications has not been adequately established. A critical literature review was conducted to understand the feasibility and viability of adapting CCUS technologies to co-function in building heating systems. This study investigated the technical requirements, environmental and socio-economic impacts, and the drivers and barriers towards implementing building-level CCUS technologies. The findings indicated that implementing building-level CCUS technologies has significant overall benefits despite the marginal increase in energy consumption, operational costs, and capital costs. The information presented in this paper is valuable to academics, building owners and managers, innovators, investors, and policy makers involved in the clean energy sector.Applied Science, Faculty ofNon UBCEngineering, School of (Okanagan)ReviewedFacult