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Model offers insight into long-term costs and payoff of brownfield redevelopment

It can take six to seven years before the financial benefits of brownfield regeneration projects are realised, according to a new study which focused on redevelopment in Michigan, USA. The study examines liability issues, regulatory concerns, clean-up standards and funding mechanisms, and introduces a new model that informs debate on brownfield redevelopment policies and funding mechanisms.




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Policy influence of indicators likely to increase if policymakers are involved in design

Researchers have explored the influence of indicators in transport policy in two case studies at the EU and Member State levels. In both cases indicators were widely used, however, this did not always translate into direct influence on policies. Involvement of policymakers themselves in the development of the indicators and good links to achievable goals were thought to increase the likelihood of policy influence.




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Water for microalgae cultivation has significant energy requirements

A substantial amount of energy is needed to manage all the water used in the mass cultivation of microalgae for biodiesel. A recent study suggests that seven times more energy is required to manage the water, than is delivered by the biodiesel when it is used as fuel.




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Overcoming the challenges of SUDS design

New research into how landscape architects approach the retrofitting of urban areas with sustainable urban drainage systems to manage stormwater has identified 11 main challenges. Importantly, the study also discusses solutions for how to overcome them.




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Reduced meat consumption in the EU would significantly lessen water usage

A study on how diet can affect water usage in the EU has concluded that a vegetarian diet is the most sustainable, but any reduction in meat consumption would be a move towards more sustainable water use.




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Rapid and significant sea-level rise expected if global warming exceeds 2°C, with global variation

The world could experience the highest ever global sea-level rise in the history of human civilisation if global temperature rises exceed 2 °C, predicts a new study. Under current carbon-emission rates, this temperature rise will occur around the middle of this century, with damaging effects on coastal businesses and ecosystems, while also triggering major human migration from low-lying areas. Global sea-level rise will not be uniform, and will differ for different points of the globe.




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'Significant' increase in cybercrime against women during lockdown: Experts

There has been a significant increase in cybercrime against women, especially sextortion, during the COVID-19-induced lockdown with "caged criminals" targeting them online, say experts.




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Facebook sees 'signs of stability' in ad spending after coronavirus drop

Facebook said advertising revenue was roughly flat in the first three weeks of April compared with the same period last year




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Designing for the edge – The ‘smart’ in smart video security systems

AI-based recognition systems, and smart security video networks have led to a paradigm shift in the architecture of security video systems.




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Insights for urban planning — constructed wetlands sited near industry exposed to high levels of pollution

Constructed wetlands serve as a cost-effective and multi-purpose option for storm-water treatment in urban landscapes, offering flood protection as well as wildlife habitat. However, a new study shows that when nearby land use includes industry, wetlands can accumulate high levels of pollution and potentially become toxic to wildlife. This new piece of research offers important insights for the planning and management of wetlands.




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Product design screening method helps reduce toxic materials in consumer goods

A recent study has described a simple method to screen the toxicity of materials used in consumer products. Using utility meter products as examples, the study found, for example, that stainless steel and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) had high toxicity potentials and suggests less toxic, but equally effective and priced, alternatives that could be used instead.




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New insights into multi-century phytoplankton decline in North Atlantic predict further decline under climate change

Rare earth elements (REE) are used to make many low-carbon technologies, including electric vehicles and wind turbines. Mining and processing of REE, which mostly takes place in China, has a reputation for causing environmental damage. A new study presents a method for evaluating the environmental impacts of REE production based on life-cycle assessment (LCA: a way of determining a product's overall impact during some or all of its journey from extraction to end-of-life). The researchers applied the method to a prospective REE mine in Malawi, south-east Africa, to reveal the most environmentally impactful stages of production, and the greenest source of energy.





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Curling Game Update: App Designer and Stateflow

Someone recently challenged me to convert the curling simulator we published a few years ago (See this post and this post) to take advantage of new features not available at that time: App Designer and Stateflow for MATLAB.... read more >>




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Cell studies provide insights into toxic effects of particulate matter

A mixture of fine particles in air leads to harmful effects on human health. Currently, particulate matter (PM) is defined in policy by particle size, but according to a new study, focusing on air pollutants and their toxic effects on cells may provide an effective way to legislate for PM.




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Global air quality to worsen significantly under ‘business as usual’ human activity

Global air quality will significantly deteriorate by 2050 unless further steps are taken to cut current emissions from human activities, according to recent research. Most people around the world will be affected by worsening air quality with hotspots of particularly poor air occurring in China, northern India and the Middle East.




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New insight on the spreading of contamination from Fukushima

A study on the transport of radioactive isotopes from Fukushima in the two months after the nuclear incident suggests that they were at official levels of contamination for 34,000 km2 of Japan, and that 2.8% of iodine radionuclides from the event were calculated to have reached the EU.




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Soil NOx emissions can now be tracked with chemical-signature method

A recent study demonstrates, for the first time, a method for tracking nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and applies it specifically to soils. The ‘chemical fingerprinting’ method allows soil NOx to be distinguished from other sources of NOx, such as vehicles and power plants. It, therefore, paves the way for a more precise understanding of agriculture’s contribution particularly to air pollution, climate change, ecosystems and environmental damage.




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Innovative and effective landscape design to decontaminate and add value to polluted sites

Transforming public spaces with plants that decontaminate soils can add functional, ecological, economic and social value to derelict areas. A new study calls for consideration of social and environmental factors, as well as remediation needs, to produce effective and innovative landscape design.




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Online Home Shopping Activity Signals Buyers Are Returning

Zillow web traffic on for-sale listings and requests to connect with Premier Agents have ticked up recently after slowing in the early days of the U.S. coronavirus pandemic in mid-March




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Home Sales Show First Positive Signs After Dramatic Slowdown in March

The median list price of homes on the market in the U.S. is slightly higher than a year ago




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ALBEMARLE DESIGN-BUILD PUBILC HEARINGS OCT. 9-11 - Public invited to learn about six projects, submit comments by Oct. 21

CULPEPER — The Virginia Department of Transportation invites the public to attend one of three upcoming location and design public hearings about a...





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Design Public Hearing for Business Route 23 widening in Wise Tuesday - October 16 from 4 - 6 p.m. at Wise Municipal Building

BRISTOL – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a design public hearing tomorrow to show plans for the widening of a half-mile section of Business Route 23 in the Town of Wise.




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VDOT ENCOURAGES RACE FANS TO FOLLOW SIGNS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

SALEM – The Virginia Department of Transportation encourages race fans driving to and from Martinsville Speedway for the race on Saturday, September 29, to follow recommended traffic patterns as posted on signs and message boards. VDOT will place signs and changeable message boards throughout the region to assist travelers. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be heavy. Watch for the speed limit to be reduced from 65 mph to 45 mph on the Route 220/Route 58 Bypass as you approach the speedway. From Roanoke and areas north of Martinsville: Race fans traveling south on Route 220 can take the exit onto Route 58 to Martinsville to reach the track or they can continue on the Route 220/Route 58 Bypass to the speedway interchange. From Danville and areas east of Martinsville: Motorists on the Route 58 Bypass should follow signs directing them to use the track’s back gate. This entrance is located off the bypass, east of the track. From Greensboro and areas south of Martinsville: Motorists should watch for electronic message boards and obey police directing traffic. Through traffic should use the left lane. From Stuart and areas west of Martinsville: Motorists should stay on Route 58 east and follow signs and message boards to the track. Those attending the race should closely follow directional information.




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VDOT ENCOURAGES RACE FANS TO FOLLOW SIGNS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY - Drivers traveling from Roanoke to the race should plan ahead for possible delays on Route 220 southbound

SALEM – The Virginia Department of Transportation encourages race fans driving to and from Martinsville Speedway for the race on Sunday, October 28, to follow recommended traffic patterns as posted on signs and message boards. Drivers travelling from Roanoke to the Martinsville Speedway for the race events this weekend should plan for possible delays due to a left lane closure on Route 220 southbound approaching the Boones Mill area. VDOT will place many signs and changeable message boards throughout the region to assist travelers. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be heavy. Traffic is being routed to the speedway in certain patterns to minimize overall congestion as much as possible. Watch for the speed limit to reduce gradually from 65 mph to 35 mph on the Route 220/Route 58 Bypass as you approach the speedway. From Roanoke and areas north of Martinsville: Race fans traveling south on Route 220 are encouraged to allow for extra travel time. A left lane closure is in place for a pipe failure in the median about eight miles south of Roanoke and 1.7 miles north of Boones Mill. Drivers can take the exit onto Route 58 to Martinsville to reach the track or they can continue on the Route 220/Route 58 Bypass past the speedway interchange and turn right onto the access road that leads into the speedway. The entrance is located one mile east of the Route 220 interchange and may provide easier access. Signs are in place designating the entrance to the speedway.  From Danville and areas east of Martinsville: Motorists on the Route 58 Bypass should follow signs directing them to use the track’s back gate. This entrance is located off the bypass, east of the track. From Greensboro and areas south of Martinsville: Route 220 northbound traffic will split into three lanes shortly before reaching the speedway.  Motorists should watch for electronic message boards and obey police directing traffic. Through traffic should use the left lane. From Stuart and areas west of Martinsville: Motorists should stay on Route 58 east and follow signs and message boards to the track.  ADA Parking: Race fans needing ADA Parking are encouraged to enter the Speedway via Old Sand Roa Those attending the race should closely follow directional information and plan to arrive early and expect heavy traffic and delays. Martinsville Speedway has shared the attached graphics for drivers entering and exiting from the race.




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VDOT SCHEDULES LOCATION AND DESIGN PUBLIC HEARING FOR ROUTE 11 AND ROUTE 704 PROJECTS IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a Location and Design public hearing concerning improvements to Route 11 (South Valley Pike) and Route 704 (Cecil Wampler Road) in Rockingham County.  The meeting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, December 6, 2018 at Bridgewater Town Hall, 201 Green Street, Bridgewater, Virginia  22812.  The inclement weather date is Thursday, December 13, 2018, same time and location.




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Pound holds longest streak of gains since January amid mixed signals on Brexit




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Guide for COVID-19 remote consultation by primary carers designed by NTU Singapore scientist and peers

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​Guide for COVID-19 remote consultation by primary carers designed by NTU Singapore scientist and peers

Primary care health workers now have a guide for conducting remote consultation of suspected COVID-19 patients, developed by a team of researchers from Singapore and the UK....




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Sonatrach Signs MOU With Exxon for Algerian Exploration

Algeria has been pursuing foreign partnerships to boost output and exports.




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The V-Spot: Lovey-dovey home design

Not in the gift-giving mood for chocolates, flowers and racy lingerie this Valentine's Day? Consider these 10 lust-worthy home design picks sure to please any s




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Home is where the heart is: Lovey-dovey design for Valentine's Day

On the hunt for the perfect Valentine's Day gift? Consider these handmade and eco-friendly home accessories that not-so-subtly say 'amore.'




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X-ray signal may shed light on dark matter

Two spacecraft have detected a possible signal of dark matter, the mysterious, invisible stuff that makes up most of the material universe.




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How to redesign a van to live out of it

A new generation of do-it-yourselfers is bringing back a trend that started long ago with classic Volkswagens: turning standard vans into full-featured campers.




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Women give off a subtle sign they're ovulating

Women's cheeks get redder when they are the most fertile, but this color change is so subtle that it is undetectable by the human eye.



  • Fitness & Well-Being

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Sign up for the Weekend Without Oil challenge

Don't miss your chance to make a difference during the Weekend Without Oil.




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Watch: Designer opens up dingy, diminutive studio in Athens

Although it may strike some as too minimalist, too clinical, this remodel of a cramped studio apartment in Athens is full of clever, space-expanding tricks.



  • Remodeling & Design

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8 signs you may have a magnesium deficiency

You can get this mineral from many foods, but are you getting what you need? Here are some magnesium deficiency symptoms.



  • Fitness & Well-Being

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Sign language learning made easy

From video games to cell phone apps, people are making sign language easier to learn.



  • Arts & Culture

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Sign of the times: Siemens scraps nuclear division

A historic moment for the energy industry — leading technology company Siemens abandons its nuclear division in favor of growing wind market.




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Design of new U.S. reactors puts priority on cooling

The United States has approved construction of new nuclear reactors for the first time in three decades. The two new reactors approved on Feb. 9 for Georgia wou




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10 fanciful and far-out design concepts for London's new pedestrian bridge

Squiggles, swoops, spires, waterfalls and some truly otherworldly latticework are just the beginning.



  • Arts & Culture

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Wood meets the waterfront in Timber in the City design competition

A winner is announced for Timber in the City, a design competition that challenged entrants to design a wood-centric mixed-use complex for Red Hook, Brooklyn.



  • Remodeling & Design

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Chinese prefab skyscraper builder sets sights higher ... much, much higher

As construction begins on a 32-story prefab tower here in the U.S., Broad Sustainable Building Corp. is preparing for a similar project in China that will resul



  • Remodeling & Design

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With latest design, Blu Homes does modern green prefab Wright

Blue Homes' view-ready Balance prefab finds a most appropriate home on the ancestral stomping grounds of Frank Lloyd Wright in Wisconsin.



  • Remodeling & Design

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Rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed prefab for sale in Hudson Valley

In the bucolic exburbs of New York City, a mass-produced home designed by the legendary architect hits the market.



  • Remodeling & Design

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Vertical House: No-frills prefab abode from Muji is designed for tiny urban lots

In Japan, militantly unfussy retailer Muji sells much more than stationery, travel pillows and slippers.



  • Remodeling & Design

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Danish garbage can manufacturer designs sleek prefab nature retreat

Vipp, the venerable purveyor of high-end trash bins, gets into the prefab vacation home business.



  • Remodeling & Design

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Why Black Friday is such a sign of the times

As the middle class disappears, the rich go hiking and the poor fight over bargains.