The impact of multi-location work on reaching carbon neutrality objectives:the carbon footprint of ICT equipment use at the University of Oulu

Abstract. This thesis project aimed to quantify the impact of multi-location work on the carbon footprint of the University of Oulu by conducting a survey and monitoring the electricity consumption of ICT equipment. The work presents the concept of carbon neutrality, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol quantifying carbon emissions. In addition, global decarbonization commitments and the pledges of higher education sector are introduced. Furthermore, a benchmarking of decarbonization actions of higher education institutes was done, reviewing 29 case studies. The scopes of emissions considered in their carbon footprint were reviewed, as well as their chosen mitigation methods. The effect of multi-location work on Higher Education Institutions and especially its impacts on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are presented. The carbon footprint of ICT equipment, the internet, and their calculation methods are also illustrated. In addition, a survey was conducted among the staff of the University of Oulu, to collect data about the various types of ICT equipment that staff use on-campus, in their home office, and those being carried in-between these two workplaces. The survey also uncovered information about the staff’s ICT equipment usage habits. In addition, electricity consumption monitoring of laptops and monitors was done to increase the accuracy of the carbon footprint calculation. The results achieved from electricity consumption monitoring of ICT equipment demonstrate that the electricity consumption of laptops during meeting hours is approximately 2.5 times higher than the electricity consumption during regular work. Further, when leaving the laptop on and not using it, it could consume almost as much as using it on a regular basis. On the other hand, putting the laptop in sleep mode consumes only 17% electricity compared with when it is left on and not used. Furthermore, it was also found out that the laptop would consume up to 65% more when the VPN is on. The staff survey also revealed that, on average, staff would prefer working three days from home per week. This would indicate a 36% increase of the carbon footprint of the ICT equipment. It is expected that the results of this work will help raising awareness and change habits regarding ICT equipment usage, in order to contribute to the carbon mitigation goals of the University of Oulu

The Impact of Job Security Elements on the Work Alienation at Private Universities in Jordan (A Field Study from Employees perspective)

This study aimed to identify the impact of job security elements on the work alienation at private universities in Jordan. A questionnaire has been developed to identify the collection of data from a sample study consisted of 209 employees in the private universities. Results showed that there is a significant impact of job security elements as a whole on the feeling of work alienation. In addition this study showed that there is no impact of demographic variables on the feeling of work alienation. At the end researchers recommended that private university is recommended to update policies and procedures continuously to enhance job security and decrease the feeling of work alienation. Key Words: job security, work alienation, private university, isolation, self estrangement, meaninglessness, powerlessness

Taxonomic significance of trichomes micromorphology in cucurbits

AbstractStudies on trichomes micromorphology using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were undertaken in 23 species with one variety under 13 genera of the family Cucurbitaceae (viz., Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn., Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, Cucumis melo var. agrestis Naudin, Cucumis sativus L., Diplocyclos palmatus (L.) C. Jeffrey, Edgaria dargeelingensis C.B. Clarke, Gynostemma burmanicum King ex Chakr., Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino, Gynostemma pubescens (Gagnep.) C.Y. Wu, Hemsleya dipterygia Kuang & A.M. Lu, Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl., Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb., Luffa cylindrica M. Roem., Luffa echinata Roxb., Melothria heterophylla (Lour.) Cogn., Melothria leucocarpa (Blume) Cogn., Melothria maderspatana (L.) Cogn., Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw., Thladiantha cordifolia (Blume) Cogn., Trichosanthes cucumerina L., T. cucumerina var. anguina (L.) Haines, Trichosanthes dioica Roxb., Trichosanthes lepiniana (Naudin) Cogn. and T. tricuspidata Lour.). The trichomes in the family Cucurbitaceae vary from unicellular to multicellular, conical to elongated, smooth to ridges, with or without flattened disk at base and cyctolithic appendages, thin to thick walled, curved at apices to blunt. Trichomes micromorphology in the family Cucurbitaceae was found significant taxonomically

STRATEGI KOMUNIKASI HUMAS (PUSH, PULL DAN PASS) DALAM MEMBANGUN CITRA PERUSAHAAN PELINDO SUB REGIONAL JAWA

This research aims to determine how the Public Relat/ions Communication Strategy of Pelindo Sub Regional Java builds the company's image. This is a descriptive qualitative research using a case study method. The descriptive method uses qualitative research with a qualitative approach to produce a systematic explanation and description of the company's activities, namely CSR. Data collection is obtained through observation and in-depth snowball interviews. The results of this study show that Pelindo Sub Regional Java builds its image through CSR activities in Surabaya City through SMEs and Environmental Development. Pelindo Sub Regional Java also uses a public relations communication strategy through the company's social media. Social media plays an important role in the publication process of every company's activities, especially CSR, in building the company's image through Instagram social media.Penelitian ini bertujuan guna mengetahui bagaimana strategi komunikasi Humas Pelindo Sub Regional Jawa Dalam Membangun citra perusahaan. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian deskriptif kualitatif dengan metode studi kasus. Metode deskriptif yang menggunakan penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan kualitatif yang bertujuan agar menghasilkan sebuah penjabaran dan gambaran yang sistematis mengenai kegiatan perusahaan yaitu CSR. Pengumpulan data didapat melalui observasi dan wawancara medalam secara snowball. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwasannya Pelindo Sub Regional Jawa dalam membangun citranya melalui kegiatan CSR di Kota Surabaya melalui UMKM dan Bina Lingkungan. Pelindo Sub Regional Jawa juga menggunakan strategi komunikasi humas melalui media sosial perusahaan. Media sosial berperan krusial dalam melakukan proses publikasi setiap kegiatan perusahaan khususnya CSR dalam membangun citra perusahaan melaui media sosial instagram

A mathematical model in cellular manufacturing system considering subcontracting approach under constraints

In this paper, a new mathematical model in cellular manufacturing systems (CMSs) has been presented. In order to increase the performance of manufacturing system, the production quantity of parts has been considered as a decision variable, i.e. each part can be produced and outsourced, simultaneously. This extension would be minimized the unused capacity of machines. The exceptional elements (EEs) are taken into account and would be totally outsourced to the external supplier in order to remove intercellular material handling cost. The problem has been formulated as a mixed-integer programming to minimize the sum of manufacturing variable costs under budget, machines capacity and demand constraints. Also, to evaluate advantages of the model, several illustrative numerical examples have been provided to compare the performance of the proposed model with the available classical approaches in the literature

Low-Molecular Weight Cow Colostrum Components in Functional Nutrition

Background: The concept of functional nutrition has been actively developed in recent years. LMWCC contains biologically active compounds of natural origin and can be promising components of functional nutrition.Methods: Wistar rats (intact, rats with Cu-induced toxicosis and rats with Cu-induced toxicosis, who received LMWCC per os in different doses of 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 1, 2, 3 mg / 100 g of body weight of the animal). The effect of low-molecular weight components of cow colostrum (LMWCC) have been studied on the some physiological and biochemical parameters (body weight, temperature, ability to perform work, activity of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, cholesterol, triacylglycerides, creatinine, albumin, gamma-glutamyltransferase and lipid hydroperoxides) in experimental animals with Cu -induced toxicosis.Results: It was found that LMWCC in small doses (0.05-0.1 mg / 100 g of weight) restored the growth rate, body temperature and partially working capacity in the test "swimming with a load" of animals with Cu-induced toxicosis. Restoration of physiological parameters in animals with Cu-induced toxemia correlated with activation of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase and a decrease in serum hydroperoxides in blood serum.It was suggested that LMWCC can be promising components of functional nutrition for various toxicoses.Conclusions: LMWCC has antioxidant properties in relatively small doses (0.05-0.1 mg / 100 g of weight). Restoration of the physiological characteristics of animals with Cu-induced toxicosis correlates with the elimination of oxidative stress. Large doses of 1 mg / 100 g of body weight and more manifest pro-oxidant properties

Geodesic spanners for points on a polyhedral terrain

Let S be a set S of n points on a polyhedral terrain T in R3, and let " > 0 be a xed constant. We prove that S admits a (2 + ")-spanner with O(n log n) edges with respect to the geodesic distance. This is the rst spanner with constant spanning ratio and a near-linear number of edges for points on a terrain. On our way to this result, we prove that any set of n weighted points in Rd admits an additively weighted (2 + ")-spanner with O(n) edges; this improves the previously best known bound on the spanning ratio (which was 5 + "), and almost matches the lower bound

Passivity properties for regulation of DC networks with stochastic load demand

In this paper we present new (stochastic) passivity properties for Direct Current (DC) power networks, where the unknown and unpredictable load demand is modelled by a stochastic process. More precisely, the considered power network consists of distributed generation units supplying ZIP loads, i.e., nonlinear loads comprised of impedance (Z), current (I) and power (P) components. Differently from the majority of the results in the literature, where each of these components is assumed to be constant, we consider time-varying loads whose dynamics are described by a class of stochastic differential equations. Finally, we prove that an existing distributed control scheme achieving current sharing and (average) voltage regulation ensures the asymptotic stochastic stability of the controlled network