342 research outputs found
30th European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2023)
This is the abstract book of 30th European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2023
Proceedings of the 8th Workshop on Detection and Classification of Acoustic Scenes and Events (DCASE 2023)
This volume gathers the papers presented at the Detection and Classification of Acoustic Scenes and Events 2023 Workshop (DCASE2023), Tampere, Finland, during 21–22 September 2023
Green tunnel solutions. An overview of sustainability trends in the last decade (2013–2022)
In the last decade, green solutions for road tunnels have steadily emerged in the field of engineering. The focus has been on using renewable energy sources to conserve energy and address issues of disaster risk management, territorial resilience and vulnerability, especially as these issues relate to critical infrastructures (CIs), such as roads and railways. Focusing on the equilibrium of the infrastructure through integrated system services and their external effects guarantees a better evaluation of both effects as they relate to other systems and energy consumption optimisation. To this end, a systematic literature review has been conducted herein that collects and analyses studies carried out in the last decade that relate to green energy solutions in tunnels. Upon a review of the Scopus database from 2013 to 2022, 46 conceptual and empirical studies were selected. Classifications and discussions were then developed according to the main issues identified (e.g., energy saving in road tunnels, zero-energy tunnels, renewable energy sources, tunnel safety lighting, and sustainable infrastructure). Each contribution constitutes a part of the current literature that combines the problems of tunnel safety (as represented by the energy costs of safety devices, e.g., tunnel lighting systems) with issues of renewable energy sources in tunnels. The results of this systematic review offer ideas for future directions of the ‘green’ vision for tunnel infrastructure. This study represents the state-of-the-art of renewable energy solutions currently present worldwide. Gaps in the literature that have yet to be addressed include how to build a green system as well as how to balance its life costs. The review supports the claim that the integration of renewable energy sources can exploit innovative solutions related to the concept of resilience
Demand Response in Smart Grids
The Special Issue “Demand Response in Smart Grids” includes 11 papers on a variety of topics. The success of this Special Issue demonstrates the relevance of demand response programs and events in the operation of power and energy systems at both the distribution level and at the wide power system level. This reprint addresses the design, implementation, and operation of demand response programs, with focus on methods and techniques to achieve an optimized operation as well as on the electricity consumer
A Systematic Review of Intercultural Communication Competence Development in CEFR- Aligned English Proficiency Textbooks
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a well-established outline that describes language learners’ abilities to use language and categorises what a learner can do using a six-point scale from basic users (A1) to proficient users (C2). CEFR offers a structure for developing language curriculum and syllabus, textbook, testing, and measuring and evaluating learning outcomes from kindergarten to tertiary levels (Little, 2016). As CEFR gains prominence within the curriculum and the global landscape becomes increasingly diverse, the question arises as to whether the learning resources in CEFR-aligned English textbooks adequately address ICC’s objectives and provide a comprehensive representation of cultural knowledge. Hence, the primary objective of this systematic review is to analyse current studies that investigate the incorporation of cultural material within English textbooks aligned with the CEFR framework, explicitly focusing on university-level students. The anticipated outcomes of this review are poised to provide a more lucid understanding of the prevailing theoretical and pedagogical challenges concerning integrating cultural elements into CEFR-aligned textbooks and ultimately seek to augment the level of ICC of university students
Nationalism in the 21st Century and its impact on revisionist great powers
Since 2012, there has been a rise in the assertiveness of both China and Russia’s foreign policies. Both countries have framed their actions as justifiable for various reasons including: historical claims; the assertion of territorial sovereignty rights; or, in coming to the aid of an ally. What is most concerning is the nationalistic rhetoric which has accompanied these actions with its central focus on the attainment, or re-establishment, of great power status. Both President’s Xi and Putin contend that this status is a vital part of their countries national identities. Because of the close association between nationalism and the attainment of great power status both China and Russia have become more willing to challenge the international status quo which has led to a rise in great power competition. As a result, they now represent the first revisionist challenge to the liberal international order since the demise of the Soviet Union. This research investigates the impact of contemporary nationalism on revisionist great powers, and does it increase their threat to the international order?
This thesis aims to contribute to the current literature on Chinese and Russian nationalism and how nationalism drives the foreign policy choices of both countries. Whilst work has been done on contemporary nationalism, there is a limited amount that examines its impact on the foreign policy of great powers. Through a case study analysis of China’s foreign policy regarding the South China Sea, the East China Sea and Taiwan, this thesis has investigated if nationalism is responsible for China’s more assertive policy in these instances. Similarly, a case study analysis of Russia’s foreign policy is applied to the Ukraine, Syria and the Arctic to see if nationalism is responsible for Russia’s more robust foreign policy which has resulted in their annexation of the Crimea; their involvement in the Syrian civil war; and the modernisation of their armed forces and attendant military build-up in the Arctic.
The thesis concludes that nationalism largely drives and frames Beijing and Moscow’s foreign policy choices and that both the Chinese and Russian leaders use it for four principal reasons. First, to frame their interests with regards to their territorial integrity. Secondly, as a means to unite the populace around a national goal or objective
Sustainable Real Estate: Management, Assessment and Innovations
Production and consumption activities have determined a weakness of the sustainable real estate economy. The main problems are the subordination of public decision making, which is subjected to pressure from big companies; inefficient appraisal procedures; excessive use of financial leverage in investment projects; the atypical nature of markets; income positions in urban transformations; and the financialization of real estate markets, with widespread negative effects. A delicate role in these complex problems is assigned to real estate appraisal activities, called to make value judgments on real estate goods and investment projects, the prices of which are often formed in atypical real estate markets, giving ever greater importance to sustainable development and transformation issues. This Special Issue is dedicated to developing and disseminating knowledge and innovations related to most recent real estate evaluation methodologies applied in the fields of architecture and civil, building, environmental, and territorial engineering. Suitable works include studies on econometric models, sustainable building management, building costs, risk management and real estate appraisal, mass appraisal methods applied to real estate properties, urban and land economics, transport economics, the application of economics and financial techniques to real estate markets, the economic valuation of real estate investment projects, the economic effects of building transformations or projects on the environment, and sustainable real estate
Environmental Effects of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion, UV Radiation, and interactions with Climate Change: 2022 Assessment Report
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was established 35 years ago following the 1985 Vienna Convention for protection of the environment and human health against excessive amounts of harmful ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280-315 nm) radiation reaching the Earth’s surface due to a reduced UV-B-absorbing ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol, ratified globally by all 198 Parties (countries), controls ca 100 ozone-depleting substances (ODS). These substances have been used in many applications, such as in refrigerants, air conditioners, aerosol propellants, fumigants against pests, fire extinguishers, and foam materials.
The Montreal Protocol has phased out nearly 99% of ODS, including ODS with high global warming potentials such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), thus serving a dual purpose. However, some of the replacements for ODS also have high global warming potentials, for example, the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Several of these replacements have been added to the substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol. The HFCs are now being phased down under the Kigali Amendment. As of December 2022, 145 countries have signed the Kigali Amendment, exemplifying key additional outcomes of the Montreal Protocol, namely, that of also curbing climate warming and stimulating innovations to increase energy efficiency of cooling equipment used industrially as well as domestically.
As the concentrations of ODS decline in the upper atmosphere, the stratospheric ozone layer is projected to recover to pre-1980 levels by the middle of the 21st century, assuming full compliance with the control measures of the Montreal Protocol. However, in the coming decades, the ozone layer will be increasingly influenced by emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuing global warming. These trends are highly likely to modify the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth\u27s surface with implications for the effects on ecosystems and human health.
Against this background, four Panels of experts were established in 1988 to support and advise the Parties to the Montreal Protocol with up-to-date information to facilitate decisions for protecting the stratospheric ozone layer. In 1990 the four Panels were consolidated into three, the Scientific Assessment Panel, the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel.
Every four years, each of the Panels provides their Quadrennial Assessments as well as a Synthesis Report that summarises the key findings of all the Panels. In the in-between years leading up to the quadrennial, the Panels continue to inform the Parties to the Montreal Protocol of new scientific information
"Journey to Self-Actualization”: Al-Ghazali's Lens on Women's Metamorphosis in The Forty Rules of Love Novel
This paper explores the subject of love in literature and its transformative effects on female characters, particularly in Middle Eastern literature. A qualitative study was conducted on the work of renowned feminist author Elif Shafak, who addresses the issue of love and transformation in her novel "The Forty Rules of Love." Shafak’s works have successfully revitalized Middle Eastern literature by challenging stereotypes about women in the region. Instead of depicting them as subalterns or overshadowed by male-dominated tropes, Shafak empowers female protagonists, highlighting their voices and experiences. Hence, drawing on Al-Ghazali's concept of Tazkiyah al-Nafs or Purification of The Soul, a thematic analysis was conducted to explore the experiences of three female protagonists and identify how the concept of love serves a purpose in amplifying their voices and celebrating their spiritual growth. Findings suggest that divine love, tasawwuf, and Sufi teachings play a significant role in enhancing both the spiritual and physical well-being of Shafak’s female protagonists. This paper concludes that contemporary novels such as Shafak’s are breaking away from traditional male-centric narratives and increasingly portraying heroic women as empowered and proactive figures. This shift in the literary representation of women highlights the importance of diverse and empowering storytelling, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and progressive literary landscape. This study hopes to contribute to the understanding of the transformative power of love and its importance in achieving self-actualization and spiritual well-being for individuals, particularly women, in contemporary Society
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