Philanthropy or solidarity? Ethical dilemmas about humanitarianism in crisis afflicted Greece

That philanthropy perpetuates the conditions that cause inequality is an old argument shared by thinkers such as Karl Marx, Oscar Wilde and Slavoj Zizek. I recorded the same argument in conversations regarding a growing humanitarian concern in austerity-ridden Greece. At the local level a number of solidarity initiatives provide the most impoverished families with humanitarian help. Some citizens participate in such initiatives wholeheartedly, while some other citizens criticize solidarity movements drawing primarily from Marxist-inspired arguments, such as, for example, that humanitarianism rationalises state inaction. The local narratives presented in this article bring forward two parallel possibilities engendered by the humanitarian face of social solidarity: first, its empowering potential (where solidarity initiatives enhance local social awareness), and second, the de-politicisation of the crisis and the experience of suffering (a liability that stems from the effectiveness of humanitarianism in ameliorating only temporarily the superficial consequences of the crisis). These two overlapping possibilities can help us problematise the contextual specificity and strategic employment of humanitarian solidarity in times of austerity

Sulfided heterogeneous, bimetallic Ru/Mo catalysts derived from mixtures of Ru 3 (CO) 12 (or RuCl 3 ) and a molybdenum heteropolyanion: The reactions of ethanol with tetrahydroquinoline

Efforts have been made to develop Ru/Mo bimetallic catalyst systems for hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of tetrahydroquinoline (THQ). In the course of these studies, it was discovered that in ethanol, under hydrogen and in the presence of carbon disulfide (CS 2 ), precatalyst solutions containing ruthenium [as Ru 3 (CO) 12 or RuCl 3 ] and molybdenum [as the H 3 PMo 12 O 40 heteropolyanion (HPA)] decompose to form bimetallic, sulfided particles. Particle diameters run from 0.1 to 5Μm depending on the rate of stirring. Catalyst particles with sizes ranging from 0.1 to 1Μm can be prepared reproducibly. BET-measured surface areas for these size particles ranged from 2 to 20m 2 g −1 . These sulfided particles were found to catalyze, at temperatures of 200–250°C and hydrogen pressures of 200–1000 psig (1.4–6.9 MPa) hydrogen, the N -ethylation of THQ to form N -ethyltetrahydroquinoline ( N -Et-THQ), rather than the formation of propylcyclohexane or propylbenzene, reaction products expected for HDN of THQ. Monometallic heterogeneous catalysts prepared from the individual precatalyst complexes, under identical conditions, show minimal activity for N -ethylation by comparison with the bimetallic catalyst. In the absence of hydrogen, the reaction proceeds so that THQ is converted to quinoline, N -Et-THQ, N -C 4 H 9 -THQ and N -C 6 H 13 -THQ. The latter products appear to arise via acetaldehyde, formed as an intermediate by dehydrogenation of ethanol. Acetaldehyde either condenses with THQ to form N -Et-THQ, or self-condenses (aldol condensation) prior to reaction with THQ, thereby giving higher-homolog alkylation products.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/38297/1/590060505_ftp.pd

Thermal analysis of the residential envelope built with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and comparison of results to the Stick Frame Construction

Magistritöö Maaehituse erialalEesmärgiga vähendada hoonete energiakasutust peavad Euroopa Liidu hoonete energiatõhususe direktiivi kohaselt kõikide liikmesriikide uusehitised pärast 31. detsembrit 2020 vastama liginullenergiahoonete kriteeriumitele (avalikud hooned pärast 31. detsembrit 2018). Karmistuvate nõuete valguses suureneb ühe enam vajadus uute energiatõhusate ehitusmaterjalide ja -tehnoloogiate järele. Lõputöö eesmärgiks oli uurida konstruktiivsete soojusisolatsioonipaneelidega (SIP-paneelid) ehitatud väikeelamu piirdetarindite soojustehnilisi omadusi ja võrrelda neid puitkarkasshoone omadega ning kehtivate energiatõhususe miinimumnõuetega. Energiaarvutuste teostamiseks ja tulemuste võrdlemiseks koostati võrdlushoone arhitektuurne projekt koos põhilisemate sõlmelahendustega ning lahendati see kahes erinevas variandis: SIPpaneelidega ja puitkarkassiga. Kehtivate standardite ja arvutusvälja programmi Therm abil arvutati mõlema hoone piirdetarindite ja liitekohtade soojusläbivused. Arvutustulemuste järgi oli mõlema konstruktsioonitüübi välispiirete summaarne soojuserikadu jagunenud samas proportsioonis välispiirete ja välispiirete liitekohtade vahel (vastavalt 83% ja 17% summaarsest soojuserikaost). Saadud tulemuste järgi oli SIP-hoone välispiirete summaarne soojuskadu 7,5% madalam kui puitkarkasshoonel. Saadud 7,5% erinevus ei ole Eesti ehitusturul piisav argument otsustamaks SIP-paneelide kasuks. Teoreetiliste arvutuste põhjal SIP-paneelidel suuri eeliseid puitkarkasshoone ees välja ei joonistu. SIP-paneelide õhupidavus omaduste uurimine katsemaja baasil võib tuua välja selle materjali potentsiaali.With the aim of reducing energy use in buildings, according to the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, all new buildings in the member states are subject to the requirements for near zero-energy buildings starting from 1 January 2021 (public buildings starting from 1 January 2019). In the light of the tightening requirements, there is an increasing need for new energy-efficient building materials and technologies. The aim of the thesis was to study the thermal characteristics of the building envelope of residential houses constructed with Structural Insulation Panels (SIP) as well as to compare them with stick frame construction and the minimum energy efficiency requirements. In order to perform energy calculations and compare results, an architectural project of the reference building was drawn up along with the main intersection drawings, presented in two different options: with Structural Insulated Panels and stick frame construction. Applying the current standards and using the calculation program Therm, the thermal transmittances of the builiding envelope and joints of the two buildings were studied. According to the results of the calculations, the total heat loss of the outer walls of both types of construction was divided in the same proportion between the outer walls and the joints of the outer walls (83% and 17% of the total heat transfer respectively). According to the results, the total heat loss of the outer walls of the building with SIPs was 7.5% lower than the one of the building with stick frame. The resulting 7.5% difference is not enough to justify the sue of SIPs in the Estonian construction market. Based on the theoretical calculations, the advantages of SIPs do not outweigh the ones of stick frame. Examining the properties of air permeability of SIPs by the example of an experimental building allows to outline the potential of this material

Mediterranean conundrums : pluridisciplinary perspectives for research in the social sciences

This paper has two purposes. First, it summarises the various papers presented at a Pluridisciplinary Conference on the Mediterranean treating the region from a variety of perspectives, a selection of which are published in this issue of History and Anthropology. Second, it attempts to explore some of the tensions between historians and anthropologists, and political scientists and geographers, in the treatment of the region.peer-reviewe

Low Severity Conversion of Activated Coal. Final Report

The results suggest that coal contains regions with structural components significantly reactive under the hydrothermal environment. Although the specific mechanism for this process remains to be developed, this activity is reminiscent of findings in studies of accelerated maturation of oil shale, where hydrothermal treatment (hydrous pyrolysis) leads to the production of petroleum hydrocarbons. In line with what has been seen in the oil shale work, the pretreatment-generated hydrocarbons and phenols appear to represent a further or more complete maturation of some fraction of the organic material within the coal. These observations could have an impact in two areas. The first is in the area of coal structure, where immature, reactive regions have not been included in the structures considered at present. The second area of interest is the more practical one of conversions to coal liquids and pyrolytic tars. It seems clear that the hydrothermal pretreatment changes the coal in some manner that favorably affects the product quality substantially and, as in the CO/water liquefaction case, favorably affects the yields. The conversions of coals of lower rank, i.e., less mature coals, could particularly benefit in terms of both product quality and product quantity. The second portion of this project also shows important benefits to coal conversion technology. It deals with synthesizing catalysts designed to cleave the weak links in the coal structure and then linking these catalysts with the pretreatment methods in Task 2. The results show that highly dispersed catalysts can effectively be used to increase the yields of soluble material. An important aspect of highly dispersed catalysts are that they can effectively catalyze coal conversion even in poor liquefaction solvents, thus making them very attractive in processes such as coprocessing where inexpensive liquefaction media such as resids are used

Fragmented in space: the oral history narrative of an Arab Christian from Antioch, Turkey

This study uses the case of Can Kılçıksız, an Arab Christian refugee youth from Antioch, Turkey, to argue that globalization may result in fragmented families and subjectivities and can also accelerate processes initiated by modernity and the construction of national identities. Can Kılçıksız and his siblings now live in Turkey, Germany, France and Finland. His life story suggests that males of Arab Christian origin from Antioch who had access to schooling are more likely to be involved in politics whereas females tend to be drawn to evangelical Christian organizations. The case also suggests that sibling ties might prove more durable in the course of transnational migration than conjugal ties. The case of Can Kılçıksız shows that the time/space linked to childhood through memory can play an important role in identity construction of subjects circulating in transnational space

Iphigenia’s sacrifice: generational historicity as a structure of feeling in times of austerity

Iphi, an unemployed actor in austerity-ridden Greece, imagines a theatre adaptation of a classic tragedy, Iphigenia at Aulis, in which the heroine is sacrificed on the altar of austerity by politicians. While writing her play-script, Iphi has a dream: she is taken to the sacrificial altar, not by politicians, but by her own parents, the generation who lived through the affluent years before austerity. Iphi’s generational-analogical thinking introduces a politically inspiring historicity, which offers insights into the accountability of austerity. It also allows us to reassess the notion of generations as a local category and an anthropological analytical construct. The article indicates the emergence of an as yet not fully articulated generational awareness—a new structure of feeling—about austerity, which is outlined here as it develops in an incipient form. I argue that the emerging generational historicity communicates a critical message, but also hides from view less visible inequalities