Chapter 5: The Role of Design in Conserving Product Value in the Circular Economy

Design is integral to human activity and has been practised since humans first made tools to fulfil specific functions. It was formalised during the first industrial revolution; since then it has evolved to become a multidisciplinary profession. Before, the industrial revolution products and buildings were ‘circular’ by default. However, the development of synthetic and composite materials, and product and component miniaturisation, has encouraged linear economic practices in design and manufacture. This has raised concern in the European Union about rising waste, demand on resources, and risk to supply. In this chapter we explore the role of design in the value chain through four industrial sectors and discuss their evolution to understand the potential for circularity and the extent to which design can influence and contribute to circular practice and sustainable development goals now and in the future

Expression patterns of chondrocyte genes cloned by differential display in tibial dyschondroplasia

AbstractTibial dyschondroplasia (TD) appears to involve a failure of the growth plate chondrocytes within growing long bones to differentiate fully to the hypertrophic stage, resulting in a mass of prehypertrophic chondrocytes which form the avascular TD lesion. Many biochemical and molecular markers of chondrocyte hypertrophy are absent from the lesion, or show reduced expression, but the cause of the disorder remains to be identified. As differentiation to the hypertrophic state is impaired in TD, we hypothesised that chondrocyte genes that are differentially expressed in the growth plate should show altered expression in TD. Using differential display, four genes, B-cadherin, EF2, HT7 and Ex-FABP were cloned from chondrocytes stimulated to differentiate to the hypertrophic stage in vitro, and their differential expression confirmed in vivo. Using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, the expression patterns of these genes were compared in chondrocytes from normal and TD growth plates. Surprisingly, none of these genes showed the pattern of expression that might be expected in TD lesion chondrocytes, and two of them, B-cadherin and Ex-FABP, were upregulated in the lesion. This indicates that the TD phenotype does not merely reflect the absence of hypertrophic marker genes, but may be influenced by more complex developmental mechanisms/defects than previously thought

Micromagnetic simulations of sweep-rate dependent coercivity in perpendicular recording media

The results of micromagnetic simulations are presented which examine the impact of thermal fluctuations on sweep rate dependent coercivities of both single-layer and exchange-coupled-composite (ECC) perpendicular magnetic recording media. M-H loops are calculated at four temperatures and sweep rates spanning five decades with fields applied normal to the plane and at 45 degrees. The impact of interactions between grains is evaluated. The results indicate a significantly weaker sweep-rate dependence for ECC media suggesting more robustness to long-term thermal effects. Fitting the modeled results to Sharrock-like scaling proposed by Feng and Visscher [J. Appl. Phys. 95, 7043 (2004)] is successful only in the case of single-layer media with the field normal to the plane.Comment: 7 pages, 14 figure

Silicon-on-ceramic process: Silicon sheet growth and device development for the large-area silicon sheet task of the low-cost solar array project

The technical feasibility of producing solar cell quality sheet silicon to meet the DOE 1986 cost goal of 70 cents/watt was investigated. The silicon on ceramic approach is to coat a low cost ceramic substrate with large grain polycrystalline silicon by unidirectional solidification of molten silicon. Results and accomplishments are summarized

Threshold concepts in the discipline of pharmacology - a preliminary qualitative study of students’ reflective essays

Purpose: Pharmacology is widely experienced as a difficult to learn discipline. Unfamiliarity with its technical and medical terms,and how pharmacological principles transfer from theory to practice, is especially troublesome. This known state of affairs is evenmore compounded where English is not the first language of students in question. This study aimed to discern the crucial aspects ofhealth science students’ reflections from an Eastern e Mediterranean context on the learning and practice of pharmacology usingthreshold concept framework.Methods: 21 students enrolled in the pharmacology component of a four years’ undergraduate optometry program were recruitedfor this study. They were provided with prompts and guidelines to write reflective essays related to their learning e teachingexperience of pharmacological concepts and constructs in preparation for clinical practice.Results: The reflective qualitative accounts were thematically analysed using a recent version of NVivo©. The themes were crossreferencedagainst two main criteria of threshold concept framework which included transformation and troublesomeness. The keycharacteristics that eventuated was transformation - in that students felt they had transformed into students who could learn andmaster.Discussion: This study observed that learning process, when accompanied by challenges such as difficulty in understanding‘foreign’ concepts and overwhelming content, motivated the students to adopt various strategies that not only aided their understandingof the subject but also transformed them as learners. The key attribute of threshold concept framework that thematicallyemerged through this study included transformation; in that students felt they had transformed into persons who could learn (andmaster) pharmacology alongside ‘creative’ teaching methods and ‘working out’ individual coping strategies

Data Centres in 2030: Comparative Case Studies that Illustrate the Potential of the Design for the Circular Economy as an Enabler of Sustainability.

Data centres are facilities that house digital data processing (IT) equipment that enables networked communication activity. Since the launch of the world wide web in 1989 the number of DCs around the world has grown to 8.6 million; they cover 180m m2 floor space, 6% (10m m2) of which is located in Europe and 70% being concentrated in the NW Europe. European and global economies are dependent on data processing and storage and consequently the DC industry’s priority is 100% uninterrupted operation. Reliance on and demand for data centres will increase significantly as more smart products and services are connected via the Internet of Things (IoT) and in NWE capacity will increase 15%+ per year (300%) by 2025 while a global increase of 500% is predicted by 2030. At present the largest environmental impact from DCs derives from operational energy; this is being addressed by improved operational efficiency and use of renewable electricity generation technologies. However, in view of the above growth the embodied impact of DCs must be not ignored. During DC life (60 years) 15% of embodied environmental impact derives from the building and facilities while 85% derives from IT equipment. Impact is high because equipment is typically refreshed every 1–5 years, and although accurate data has not been published DCI is a significant contributor to the global total of 11.8 Mt/year of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE). WEE is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU; it contains CRM that are of high economic importance and vulnerable to supply disruption. In addition to this, manufacture is energy intensive and therefore contributes to the environmental impact of the sector. Both the speed and volume of growth of waste associated to digital technologies is unprecedented but this has not been matched by the development of supporting recycling infrastructure and reuse, recycling and materials rates are low. At present WEEE recycling in NWE is limited to 32% and much of the rest is exported and reprocessed overseas and/or sent to landfill and consequently, millions of tonnes of valuable resources are wasted and/or made inaccessible by export every year from this sector. While some ‘waste’ materials are hazardous and have detrimental environmental and social impacts, many others are regarded as Critical Raw Materials because reliable and unhindered access to them is threatened and substitution with other materials is currently unfeasible. This paper considers and compares two future case studies for what has become essential industry in 2030 and beyond: the first is based on current practice while the second includes a sector‐specific circular economy. Both scenarios are feasible and while the first explores the wide‐ranging economic, social and environmental impacts that will derive from restricted growth in DC capability, the second explores the immediate and long‐term positive impacts associated with the development of a circular economy for the sector. It also discusses the various design, manufacturing and behavioural challenges to CE development. The case studies also illustrate the potential of CE as an enabler of sustainabilit

The Use of Microtechnology to Quantify the Peak Match Demands of the Football Codes: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Quantifying the peak match demands within the football codes is useful for the appropriate prescription of external training load. Wearable microtechnology devices can be used to identify the peak match demands, although various methodologies exist at present. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to identify the methodologies and microtechnology-derived variables used to determine the peak match demands, and to summarise current data on the peak match demands in the football codes. METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases was performed from earliest record to May 2018; keywords relating to microtechnology, peak match demands and football codes were used. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies met the eligibility criteria. Six football codes were reported: rugby league (n = 7), rugby union (n = 5), rugby sevens (n = 4), soccer (n = 6), Australian Football (n = 2) and Gaelic Football (n = 3). Three methodologies were identified: moving averages, segmental and 'ball in play'. The moving averages is the most commonly used (63%) and superior method, identifying higher peak demands than other methods. The most commonly used variables were relative distance covered (63%) and external load in specified speed zones (57%). CONCLUSION: This systematic review has identified moving averages to be the most appropriate method for identifying the peak match demands in the football codes. Practitioners and researchers should choose the most relevant duration-specific period and microtechnology-derived variable for their specific needs. The code specific peak match demands revealed can be used for the prescription of conditioning drills and training intensity

Developing a Circular Economy for the Data Centre Industry – how the CEDaCI project contributes to sustainable decision making

Data centres (DCs) house data processing and storage equipment. The data centre industry (DCI) is evolving rapidly, as society is becoming more dependent on digital technologies. Currently, there are 7.2 million DCs globally and provision is predicted to grow fivefold by 2030. The sector already utilises millions of tonnes of resources, including Critical Raw Materials, and the demand will only increase. DCI is based on a linear economy; recycling and materials reclamation infrastructure are also inadequate. At the end-of-life, many materials are either lost to landfill, incinerated, or unaccounted for. Furthermore, many virgin materials are located in geopolitically sensitive locations, which poses a threat to the supply chain that the sector relies on. The CEDaCI project aims to increase overall sectoral sustainability by addressing the various technical, cultural, and behavioural barriers across the DCI, such as fragmentation and sole focus on the energy efficiency. This paper describes the whole-systems approach and CEDaCI project outputs, including bespoke Eco-design guidelines, strategies, and digital tools to extend product life and recycling, and enable better decision-making to increase circularity in the DCI, prepare and support the implementation of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and ensure a secure, sustainable resource supply chain

Design Thinking for Sustainability and the significance of Stakeholder Engagement in the development of the Circular Economy for the Data Centre Industry

The World Wide Web developed during the 1980s and was formally introduced in 1989; since then it has facilitated rapid communication between people and objects and revolutionised business models and services across all major sectors. Such is the popularity of the technology that 59% of the global population is now ‘connected’ (1). Digital communication is facilitated by human-centred technology (e.g. laptop and desktop computers and mobile phones) and data centres (DCs) which house digital data processing, networking and storage (ICT) equipment. The sector has already expanded rapidly to manage the increasing volume of data and it is predicted to grow 500% globally by 2030 (2). DC operation is energy intensive and the sector currently consumes 1% global electricity (3). It is also resource intensive and although the mass of materials utilised across the sector is unknown, it is estimated to be millions of tonnes. Sectoral focus has always been provision of 100% uninterrupted service and performance and although economic and environmental considerations have encouraged operational energy efficiency, the impact of design and manufacture have been largely overlooked and consequently, most DC equipment is designed for a linear economy. This is becoming an increasing problem because the first life of much DC equipment is only 1 to 5 years; to date circular practices such as refurbishment, reuse and recycling at end-of-life are limited by human and technical factors and consequently the sector contributes to the growing global electrical and electronic equipment waste stream. The CEDaCI project was initiated to kick-start a sectoral Circular Economy ahead of the predicted growth, in order to simultaneously increase resource efficiency and reclamation of Critical Raw Materials and reduce waste. The DC sector is comprised of highly specialised sub-sectors; however it is silo-based and knowledge exchange between sub-sectors is rare. Conversely, a Circular Economy is holistic by default and therefore expertise from all constituent sub-sectors is essential to enable development. In order to overcome these and other challenges the CEDaCI project employs design-based methodologies, namely the four-stage Double Diamond design process model (introduced by the Design Council in 2004) and Design Thinking (developed and popularised by IDEO from 2009). The importance of stakeholder engagement to the development of the Circular Economy as a whole cannot be under-estimated and the presentation shares examples of tools and practice from the CEDaCI project to illustrate the value of design-process-based strategies to support development of the CE in other sectors. 1. Simon Kemp, Hootesuite Digital 2020 Global Overview Report, 30 January 2020, https://wearesocial.com/digital-2020 https://wearesocial.com/blog/2020/01/digital-2020-3-8-billion-people-use-social-media 2. Infiniti Research Ltd., August 2015, High Power Consumption is Driving the Need for Greener Data Centres. Available http://www.technavio.com/blog/high-power-consumpton-is-driving-the-need-for-greener-data-centers. [14 August 2018] 3. Masanet, E., Shehabi, A., Lei, N., Smith, S., and Koomey, J., Recalibrating global data center energy-use estimates Science 28 Feb 2020: Vol. 367, Issue 6481, pp. 984-986 DOI: 10.1126/science.aba3758 4. Brown, T., Change by Design: How Design Thinking Creates New Alternatives for Business and Society (2009) Harper Collins, New York 5. Design Council, Double Diamond Design Methodology (2004) and Evolved Double Diamond Design Methodology (2019) https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/news-opinion/double-diamond-universally-accepted-depiction-design-process https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/news-opinion/what-framework-innovation-design-councils-evolved-double-diamon