Servitization in Construction and its Transformation Pathway: A Value-Adding Perspective

Against the current social and technological background dominated by services and technology,new opportunities are opening up for the industrial transformation and upgrading of the construction industry.Considering the successful transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry through servitization,scholars and practitioners have begun to explore the possibility of servitization in the construction industry.Current practices and theory show that different understandings of servitization in the construction sector exist;however,they are still in their infancy and lack a deep and systematic awareness,which does not benefit the transformation and upgrading of construction through servitization.Therefore,this paper systematically analyzes the motivation,definition,and implications of servitization in construction based on the value-adding nature of servitization and considers the problems confronting the construction industry.To facilitate this development,transformation pathways for servitization in construction are analyzed from multiple angles,including value co-creation,service innovation,and networked operation,which are in line with the new trends in digital construction.In addition,based on the supporting elements of construction,which include finance,human resources,technology,materials,and equipment,this paper examines the impact of servitization on the construction industry’s ecology.In short,we expect that this systematic analysis and exposition can provide a holistic view of servitization in construction from the inside out for scholars and practitioners and can help to promote servitization in construction.

Valorization of Camellia oleifera oil processing byproducts to value-added chemicals and biobased materials: A critical review

The C.oleifera oil processing industry generates large amounts of solid wastes,including C.oleifera shell(COS)and C.oleifera cake(COC).Distinct from generally acknowledged lignocellulosic biomass(corn stover,bamboo,birch,etc.),Camellia wastes contain diverse bioactive substances in addition to the abundant lignocellulosic components,and thus,the biorefinery utilization of C.oleifera processing byproducts involves complicated processing technologies.This reviewfirst summarizes various technologies for extracting and converting the main components in C.oleifera oil processing byproducts into value-added chemicals and biobased materials,as well as their potential applications.Microwave,ultrasound,and Soxhlet extractions are compared for the extraction of functional bioactive components(tannin,flavonoid,saponin,etc.),while solvothermal conversion and pyrolysis are discussed for the conversion of lignocellulosic components into value-added chemicals.The application areas of these chemicals according to their properties are introduced in detail,including utilizing antioxidant and anti-in-flammatory properties of the bioactive substances for the specific application,as well as drop-in chemicals for the substitution of unrenewable fossil fuel-derived products.In addition to chemical production,biochar fabricated from COS and its applications in thefields of adsorption,supercapacitor,soil remediation and wood composites are comprehensively reviewed and discussed.Finally,based on the compositions and structural characteristics of C.oleifera byproducts,the development of full-component valorization strategies and the expansion of the appli-cationfields are proposed.

Upcycling plastic wastes into value-added products via electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis

Plastic,renowned for its versatility,durability,and cost-effectiveness,is indispensable in modern society.Nevertheless,the annual production of nearly 400 million tons of plastic,coupled with a recycling rate of only 9%,has led to a monumental environmental crisis.Plastic recycling has emerged as a vital response to this crisis,offering sustainable solutions to mitigate its environmental impact.Among these recycling efforts,plastic upcycling has garnered attention,which elevates discarded plastics into higher-value products.Here,electrocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic treatments stand at the forefront of advanced plastic upcycling.Electrocatalytic or photoelectrocatalytic treatments involve chemical reactions that facilitate electron transfer through the electrode/electrolyte interface,driven by electrical or solar energy,respectively.These methods enable precise control of chemical reactions,harnessing potential,current density,or light to yield valuable chemical products.This review explores recent progress in plastic upcycling through electrocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic pathways,offering promising solutions to the plastic waste crisis and advancing sustainability in the plastics industry.

Optimal Pricing Strategies for a Manufacturer and a Value-Adding Retailer in a Dual-Channel Environment

In this paper,we study a supply chain that consists of a manufacturer and a value-adding retailer that sell a product to customers through dual channels,i.e.a traditional channel(TC)and an online channel(OC).Observing that in practice,the manufacturer may or may not offer an OC guide price to the retailer and/or act as the leader in the supply chain,we discuss and compare two practical pricing strategies,with and without an OC guide price,under two different power configurations based on which member of the supply chain acts as the leader.Our results show that if the manufacturer does not provide a guide price,the retailer might/might not set a higher TC price than the two OC prices,depending on the level of migration effectiveness and the potential market demand.However,if the manufacturer does provide a guide price,the retailer will always charge a higher TC price than the guide price(or the two OC prices)when the retailer acts as the leader.Moreover,we show that the two players in the supply chain might or might not prefer the pricing strategies with an OC guide price.Our results also indicate that migration effectiveness harms the retailer's profit,and the manufacturer may benefit from mild competition between the two channels.Finally,we show that regardless of whether the manufacturer chooses to offer an OC guide price or not,both the manufacturer and the retailer prefer to act as the follower for high migration effectiveness and the profit of the supply chain will increase when the retailer acts as the leader for low migration effectiveness.

Reactive ball-milling synthesis of Co-Fe bimetallic catalyst for efficient hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to value-added hydrocarbons

Catalytic hydrogenation of CO_(2) using renewable hydrogen not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions,but also provides industrial chemicals.Herein,a Co-Fe bimetallic catalyst was developed by a facile reactive ball-milling method for highly active and selective hydrogenation of CO_(2) to value-added hydrocarbons.When reacted at 320℃,1.0 MPa and 9600 mL h^(-1) g_(cat)^(-1),the selectivity to light olefin(C_(2)^(=)-C_(4)^(=)) and C_(5)+ species achieves 57.3% and 22.3%,respectively,at a CO_(2) co nversion of 31.4%,which is superior to previous Fe-based catalysts.The CO_(2) activation can be promoted by the CoFe phase formed by reactive ball milling of the Fe-Co_(3)O_(4) mixture,and the in-situ Co_(2)C and Fe_(5)C_(2) formed during hydrogenation are beneficial for the C-C coupling reaction.The initial C-C coupling is related to the combination of CO species with the surface carbon of Fe/Co carbides,and the sustained C-C coupling is maintained by self-recovery of defective carbides.This new strategy contributes to the development of efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO_(2) to value-added hydrocarbons.

“China Shock”or China Dividend?-China GVC Participation’s Effects on Trading Partners’Technological Progress

This paper explores the effects of China’s global value chain(GVC)participation on technological progress in trading-partner countries based on estimated data on value-added trade between China and 52 trading partners.We find that,first,although China’s exports lowered the total factor productivity(TFP)of its trading partners(competitive effect),its imports greatly increased trading partners’TFP(effect of scale).This implies that China’s GVC participation is beneficial to its trading partners’technological progress in the form of a considerable technology dividend effect.Second,China’s export dividend effect compensates for the negative effect of Chinese competition on trading partners’technological progress;the innovation effects attributable to China’s imports reinforce the positive effects of scale on technological progress.When innovation is factored in,the China dividend thus becomes further reinforced.Third,China’s merchandise imports have a diminishing positive effect on technological progress in trading partners as geographical distance increases,but trade in services transcends geographical boundaries,and the positive technological progress effect of China’s service imports do not diminish as distance increases.We find that the“China dividend”from China’s GVC participation is a significant contributor to technological progress in partner nations,and China’s imports are conducive to innovation and technological progress in developed countries in the long run.

Exploration of the “Four-Three-Four” Internship and Training Mode in Higher Vocational Colleges Under the Modern Vocational Education System

This article mainly introduces the innovative internship and training model of vocational colleges,including five aspects such as“four-party collaboration,three-stage progression,four-way integration,value-added evaluation,and double selection and promotion.”The model aims to improve students’practical skills and professional quality to better adapt to market demand and social development.The article also presents the prospects of the future internship and training model,including strengthening cooperation and communication with industry enterprises,focusing on students’personalized development and practical skill cultivation,and establishing a scientific and objective evaluation and feedback mechanism.

Artificial photosynthesis for high-value-added chemicals:Old material,new opportunity

Solar energy utilization has drawn attention due to ever-increasing environmental and energy issues.Photoelectrochemical(PEC)and photocatalytic(PC)water splitting for hydrogen production,which is the most popular and well-established solar-to-chemical conversion process,has been studied thoroughly to date but is now facing limitations related to low conversion efficiency.To resolve this issue,research in PEC cells or photocatalysts has recently aimed to produce alternative value-added chemicals by modifying their redox reactions,which potentially enables high economic reward to compensate for the low efficiency.Here,various kinds of redox reactions that decouple classic water splitting reactions to produce value-added chemicals via PEC and PC processes are introduced.Successful coupling of CO_(2) reduction,O_(2) reduction and organic synthesis with either water oxidation or water reduction is comprehensively discussed from the perspective of basic fundamental and product selectivity in terms of the band structure of materials,cocatalyst design,and thermodynamics and kinetics of the reactions.Throughout the review,future challenges and opportunities are suggested with respect to the redesigned artificial synthesis,which might be an alternative development for the commercialization of PEC or PC value-added chemical production technologies in the near future.

Food processing wastewater purification by microalgae cultivation associated with high value-added compounds production——A review

Microalgae have been considered as an efficient microorganism for wastewater treatment with simultaneously bioenergy and high value-added compounds production.However,the high energy cost associated with complicated biorefinery(e.g.microalgae cultivation,harvesting,drying,extraction,conversion,and purification)is a critical challenge that inhibits its large-scale application.Among different nutrition(e.g.carbon,nitrogen and phosphorous)sources,food processing wastewater is a relative safe and suitable one for microalgae cultivation due to its high organic content and low toxicity.In this review,the characteristic of different food wastewater is summarized and compared.The potential routes of value-added products(i.e.biofuel,pigment,polysaccharide,and amino acid)production along with wastewater purification are introduced.The existing challenges(e.g.biorefinery cost,efficiency and mechanism)of microalgal-based wastewater treatment are also discussed.The prospective of microalgae-based food processing wastewater treatment strategies(such as microalgae-bacteria consortium,poly-generation of bioenergy and value-added products)is forecasted.It can be observed that food wastewater treatment by microalgae could be a promising strategy to commercially realize waste source reduce,conversion and reutilization.

Influence of Pt/Ru anodic ratio on the valorization of ethanol by PEM electrocatalytic reforming towards value-added products

The ethanol electro-reforming process was studied over PtRu/C catalysts synthesized by the modified polyol method with different compositions.In particular,this work reports the influence of anodic Pt:Ru ratio(5:1,2:1 and 1:2)on the organic product distribution(acetaldehyde,acetic acid and ethyl acetate)and pure hydrogen generation at different current densities operation levels.Physicochemical characterization of the catalysts was made by X-ray diffraction(XRD),temperature-programmed reduction(TPR)and N_(2) adsorption-desorption measurements.XRD patterns showed that Ru is introduced into the Pt structure,forming an alloy between both metals.Also,the degree of alloy was higher by increasing the Ru amounts.From TPR profiles Pt was found to be properly reduced while Ru was both in metallic state and forming RuO2.The electrochemical behaviour of each catalyst towards ethanol electroreforming process was investigated through electrochemical techniques in a half cell and a single proton exchange membrane(PEM)cell systems.An intermediate Pt:Ru ratio was found to result in high current density and electrochemical surface area(ECSA)values along with lower amounts of adsorbed species.Also,Ru addition seems to diminish the degree of degradation of the catalyst.Based on characterization and in agreement with essays carried out in a PEM cell at mild conditions(80℃ and 1 atm),PtRu/C 2:1 anode provided the best electrocatalytic results in terms of current density(740 mA cm^(-2)),hydrogen production and selectivity toward acetic acid(up to 15%apart from acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate)while requiring the lowest energy consumption.

Evolution trends and structural decomposition of China's green value-added over 40 years of reform and opening-up

China's 40-year history of reform and opening-up includes rapid economic development as well as pollution and environmental governance.Using a four-stage division,this study explores the evolution trend and structural decomposition of China's green value-added by constructing a non-competitive input-output table for environmental pollution from 1978 to 2017.The results indicate that pollution production coefficients increased continuously,and the green value-added index decreased.Additionally,the structural decomposition showed that investment and export were critical for economic growth during the period,though they were accompanied by serious pollution problems.The pollution generated by the raw material(represented by coal mining)and processing industries(represented by the textiles)were not controlled effectively.Pollution treatment for these industries should be strengthened in the future.The study has implications for government officials,policy makers,and academics.First,China should make green development a core concept for economic development,increase environmental pollution governance,develop a“green GDP,”incorporate the external costs of environmental pollution into the national economic accounting system.Second,it must change the investment and export structure as well as the traditional economic development pattern that exacerbates pollution.Specifically,the country should develop industries with low pollution and promote the export of industries producing high value-added products and increase green GDP per capita.Third,it should closely monitor the development of highly polluting industries.Upgrading technology to reduce pollution and strengthening pollution treatment will reduce the number of polluting industries and improve environmental governance efficiency.

PoC: An IMS-based Wireless Value-added Service

This article introduces the Push-to-talk over Cellular( PoC) service, a new mobile value-added service based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Its implementation scheme is discussed and its Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling exchange flow is described. Target user groups are predicted based on the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the PoC service. The article purports that the PoC system could undoubtedly be used as a platform for new services such as multimedia messaging, instant messaging, presence, and picture receiving and sending. Just like the short message service, the PoC service will help the terminal vendors, equipment vendors, content providers and operators setup a win-for-all industrial value chain.

Distribution of Value-added Income of Collective Construction Land Entering the Market Based on the Subject Input Contribution and TOPSIS

In order to promote the revitalization and development of rural areas and protect the property rights of farmers,it is necessary to explore the reasonable distribution ratio of land value-added income in collective operating construction land.Under the existing land value-added income distribution model,the land value-added income obtained by the government is much greater than that of village collectives,and it is difficult for village collectives and farmers to enjoy greater benefits.This distribution model is not conducive to protecting the property rights of farmers.The results show that there was a positive correlation between land value-added income and land level,that is,the higher the land level was,the higher the value-added income and its ratio to the market transaction price were.According to calculation,the reasonable distribution ratio of the value-added income of collective operating construction land entering the market among the government,village collectives and farmers was 28.6%,51.1%,and 20.3%respectively.The actual land value-added income obtained by farmers was greatly improved compared with the current situation.In actual operation,this distribution mode has universal applicability.The reform of entering the market in the future also needs to raise the standards for entering the market,explore diversified interest protection channels,and strengthen the construction of rural collective management system.

Operational mechanism of comprehensive benefit evaluation of existing building energy efficient renovation project based on value-added life

The comprehensive benefit evaluation of the existing building energy efficient renovation project cannot be separated from the scientific and effective evaluation mechanism.Based on the value-added life perspective,this paper analyzes the implementation subject,standard,system and principle of the comprehensive benefit evaluation of the existing building energy efficient renovation project.It plans the process of comprehensive benefit evaluation,and builds a scientific and reasonable operation platform of evaluation system,with a view to promoting the effective implementation of the comprehensive benefit evaluation of existing building energy-saving retrofits.

Value-added Evaluation System for Vocational School Students Construction and Practice Research

Student evaluation in the new era should be rooted in the educational macro background of"cultivating people by virtue"and comply with the overall policy orientation of educational evaluation reform.This research focuses on the construction and implementation of value-added evaluation system.Combined with the characteristics of vocational school students,this paper constructs a four-level index system and refines the student evaluation standards.The evaluation subjects are students,head teachers,teachers,parents and enterprise managers.Through the development of the related APP,it is convenient for each evaluation subject to input information,and finally use K-line chart to visually present the change process of the appreciation in students'literacy.A value-added evaluation system with strong timeliness,objectivity,motivation and operability is constructed.

A Practical Study on Value-Added Assessment in Primary English Education

As a programmatic document to guide the reform of educational assessment,the“General Plan for Deepening the Reform of Educational Assessment in the New Era”clearly points out the requirement for exploring value-added assessment[1].In the process of exploring,Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System(TVAAS),which was implemented in Tennessee,United States in 1992,has a certain referential significance to the practice of assessment reform in primary English education[2].This study aims to build a value-added assessment model in line with China’s learning conditions by using big data and carry out pilot experiments in order to promote the development of educational assessment in primary schools.

Exploring the moderating role of financial development in environmental Kuznets curve for South Africa:fresh evidence from the novel dynamic ARDL simulations approach

The extant literature has produced mixed evidence on the relationship between finan-cial development and ecological sustainability.This work addresses this conundrum by investigating financial development’s direct and indirect consequences on ecologi-cal quality utilizing the environmental Kuznets curve(EKC)methodological approach.Our empirical analysis is based on the novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulations approach for South Africa between 1960 and 2020.The results,which used five distinct financial development measures,demonstrate that financial develop-ment boosts ecological integrity and environmental sustainability over the long and short terms.In the instance of South Africa,we additionally confirm the validity of the EKC theory.More importantly,the outcomes of the indirect channels demonstrate that financial development increases energy usage’s role in causing pollution while attenuating the detrimental impacts of economic growth,trade openness,and foreign direct investment on ecological quality.Moreover,the presence of an inadequate financial system is a requirement for the basis of the pollution haven hypothesis(PHH),which we examine using trade openness and foreign direct investment variables.PHH for both of these variables disappears when financial development crosses specified thresholds.Finally,industrial value addition destroys ecological quality while tech-nological innovation enhances it.This research provides some crucial policy recom-mendations and fresh perspectives for South Africa as it develops national initiatives to support ecological sustainability and reach its net zero emissions goal.

Revisiting the nexus between fiscal decentralization and CO_(2)emissions in South Africa:fresh policy insights

The argument over fiscal decentralization and carbon dioxide emission(CO_(2))reduction has received much attention.However,evidence to back this claim is limited.Economic theory predicts that fiscal decentralization affects environmental quality,but the specifics of this relationship are still up for debate.Some scholars noted that fiscal decentralization might lead to a race to the top,whereas others contended that it would result in a race to the bottom.In light of the current debates in environmental and development economics,this study aims to provide insight into how this relationship may function in South Africa from 1960 to 2020.In contrast to the existing research,the present study uses a novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulation approach to assess the positive and negative changes in fiscal decentralization,scale effect,technique effect,technological innovation,foreign direct investment,energy consumption,industrial growth,and trade openness on CO_(2)emissions.The following are the main findings:(i)Fiscal decentralization had a CO_(2)emission reduction impact in the short and long run,highlighting the presence of the race to the top approach.(ii)Economic growth(as represented by the scale effect)eroded ecological integrity.However,its square(as expressed by technique effect)aided in strengthening ecological protection,validating the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis.(iii)CO_(2)emissions were driven by energy utilization,trade openness,industrial value-added,and foreign direct investment,whereas technological innovation boosted ecological integrity.Findings suggest that further fiscal decentralization should be undertaken through further devolution of power to local entities,particularly regarding environmental policy issues,to maintain South Africa’s ecological sustainability.South Africa should also establish policies to improve environmental sustainability by strengthening a lower layer of government and clarifying responsibilities at the national and local levels to fulfill the energy-saving functions of fiscal expenditures.

β-Glucans: Characterization, Extraction Methods, and Valorization

β-glucans are bioactive compounds with a wide range of biological properties, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulating properties. Due to their specific physical properties, such as (in)solubility, viscosity, and gelation, β-glucans are increasingly being used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the different types of β-glucans, their sources, especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts, and the methods of extraction, isolation, and purification of β-glucans, with the aim of optimizing these methods for the efficient production process. Moreover, the physico-chemical properties, modifications, current applications and future prospects of the use of β-glucans in food, medicines, cosmetics and other potential value-added products are summarized. The data presented indicate that β-glucans will play an increasingly important role in the sector of special-purpose food products as well as in other current and future areas.