A virtual diary companion

Chatbots and embodied conversational agents show turn based conversation behaviour. In current research we almost always assume that each utterance of a human conversational partner should be followed by an intelligent and/or empathetic reaction of chatbot or embodied agent. They are assumed to be alert, trying to please the user. There are other applications which have not yet received much attention and which require a more patient or relaxed attitude, waiting for the right moment to provide feedback to the human partner. Being able and willing to listen is one of the conditions for being successful. In this paper we have some observations on listening behaviour research and introduce one of our applications, the virtual diary companion

Trade and Exchange Rate Policy in Brazil and Turkey

Many of today's most significant socioeconomic problems, such as slower economic growth, the decline of some established industries, and shifts in patterns of foreign trade, are inter- or transnational in nature. Intercountry comparative analyses of recent historical developments are necessary when we attempt to identify the underlying processes of economic structural change and formulate useful hypotheses concerning future developments. The understanding of these processes and future prospects provides the focus for IIASA's project on Comparative Analysis of Economic Structure and Growth. This study analyzes trade flows for eleven countries and examines in detail the effects of depreciation policies for two developing countries

Adaptive Support for Human-Computer Teams: Exploring the Use of Cognitive Models of Trust and Attention

Treur, J. [Promotor]Bosse, T. [Copromotor

Modelling the long-term morphological evolution of tidal embayments

A numerical model was developed to improve the understanding of the long-term morphological evolution of tidal embayments. Morphological change was simulated as a result of the interactions between hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and the evolving topography. Numerical simulations indicate that these morphodynamic interactions can lead to the initiation of tidal channels and potentially give rise to large scale channel pattern development. The tidal range and the depth of the initially unchannelized tidal basin determined the time scale over which the channel network developed. Channels and intertidal areas rapidly formed when the basin was shallow and the tidal range large. For a large tidal range and a deep tidal basin, the tidal flow imported large volumes of sediment. The large water depths inhibited the formation of channels and the imported sediment formed a flood-tidal delta. The flood-tidal delta grew and became shallower over time until it became incised by channels. Ultimately, a complete channel network developed. Changes in the morphology of a deep basin were slowed down when the tidal range was small and the channel network then remained underdeveloped over long time scales. All the simulated morphologies, with different combinations of the tidal range and depth of the basin, evolved toward a state of less morphodynamic activity and obtained a hypsometry which resembles those of natural systems. Basins with well-developed channel networks were used to explore the response of tidal embayments to sea level rise. During sea level rise, the intertidal geometry adjusted to the changing environmental forcing conditions. Tidal channels became larger and more widely-spaced and expanded landward because of headward erosion. This landward shift of the channel network can be accompanied by a change in the asymmetry between the flood and ebb tidal currents. Sea level rise can even lead to a transition from exporting to importing sediment. These findings indicate that morphodynamic interactions need to be included in the study of sea level rise impacts on tidal systems. The morphodynamic model was extended to account for the interactions between mangroves and physical processes. Mangroves affected hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics in a variety of ways. In turn, hydrodynamic conditions controlled the colonization, growth, and dying of mangroves. Mangroves influenced channel network evolution by enhancing the branching of channels because the extra flow resistance in mangrove forests drove flow concentration and thus sediment erosion in between vegetated areas. On the other hand, mangroves hindered the landward expansion of channels. When the sea level was rising, mangroves increased the ability of areas to maintain an elevation above mid tide. Channel network expansion, induced by the rise in sea level, occurred differently when mangroves were present because they hindered both the branching and headward erosion of the expanding channels

Development of scenarios for sectoral adaptive capacity to climate change

Anpassung ist ein komplexes soziales Phänomen, bei dem das Klimarisiko in verschiedenen sozialen und ökologischen Kontexten reduziert wird. Der 6. Sachstandsbericht des Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change zeigt eine besorgniserregende Realität: Mit zunehmender globaler Erwärmung werden der Anpassung Grenzen gesetzt sein, was darauf hinweist, dass Anpassung allein nicht ausreicht, um den Auswirkungen des Klimawandels entgegenzuwirken. Länder im globalen Süden tragen paradoxerweise die Hauptlast des Klimawandels, obwohl sie am wenigsten für sein Auftreten verantwortlich sind. Es besteht die dringende Notwendigkeit, besser zu verstehen, wo und warum Anpassung stattfindet, was ihren Erfolg beeinflusst und wie die Anpassungsfähigkeit gestärkt werden kann. Die Quantifizierung der Anpassung ist aufgrund ihrer Komplexität schwierig, aber entscheidend für fundierte Entscheidungen und globale Zusammenarbeit. Herkömmliche Klimafolgenabschätzungen vernachlässigen oft die Anpassung oder verwenden einen stark stilisierten Ansatz, was das Potenzial für Anpassung verzerrt und die Notwendigkeit des Klimaschutzes herunterspielt. Es ist wichtig, Anpassung in quantitative Bewertungen einzubeziehen, um fundierte Entscheidungen zu treffen. Diese Dissertation entwickelt Indexe für anpassungsrelevante Maßnahmen im Landwirtschaftssektor und projiziert ihre Umsetzung im 21. Jahrhundert auf der Grundlage verschiedener sozioökonomischer Szenarien. Ergebnisse zeigen die Bedeutung von Governance, Bildung und finanziellen Ressourcen für die Maximierung des Anpassungspotenzials. Länder mit geringer Entwicklung und begrenzter Anpassungsfähigkeit zeigen das größte Verbesserungspotenzial. Die Bewältigung dieser Herausforderungen wird jedoch Jahrzehnte dauern. Die Verbesserung der Anpassungsfähigkeit ist von höchster Bedeutung, nicht nur im Bereich des Klimawandels, sondern auch in breiteren Entwicklungskontexten. Diese Dissertation bietet Einblicke zur Verbesserung der Klimaresilienz und umfassenden Klimafolgenabschätzungen.Adaptation is a multifaceted social phenomenon where climate risk is navigated and responded to within various social and environmental contexts. The 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlights a concerning reality: as global warming increases, there will be limits to what adaptation can accomplish, indicating that it will not always suffice to counter the escalating impacts of climate change. Countries in the Global South, often facing the greatest adaptation challenges, paradoxically, are projected to bear the major brunt of climate change despite holding the least responsibility for its occurrence. Given these prospects, there is an urgent need to better understand where and why adaptation is taking place, what drives its success in some places over others, and where efforts are vital for enhancing adaptive capacity. Furthermore, it becomes imperative to determine the upper limit of what adaptation can accomplish and which conditions are necessary to exploit its full potential, in order to fully grasp the risks posed by climate change. Quantifying adaptation is difficult due to its complex multi-level and cross-sectoral nature. Yet, it is crucial for integrating adaptation into climate impact assessments, essential for informed decision-making and global cooperation. Conventional climate impact assessments often neglect the inclusion of adaptation and adaptive capacity, or if addressed, they often adopt a highly stylized approach. This poses the risk of misrepresenting the potential for adaptation, likely overemphasizing its effectiveness while downplaying the need for climate mitigation. Projecting climate impacts without considering adaptation distorts the current reality of societal adjustments, making it essential to provide quantifiable insights into future adaptive capacity. This thesis addresses these challenges by developing three distinct indices for adaptation-relevant measures in the agricultural sector to understand the extent of their implementation and their socioeconomic determinants. These indices are projected throughout the 21st century based on various socioeconomic trajectories. My findings highlight the significance of strong governance, higher education levels, and improved financial resources as key drivers that can empower countries to maximize their adaptation potential. Throughout my analyses, a consistent pattern emerges: countries with modest socioeconomic development and limited adaptive capacity, especially in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, exhibit the greatest potential for improvement. However, overcoming these challenges will span several decades, extending well beyond the latter half of this century. Enhancing adaptive capacity and integrating it into quantitative assessments is of paramount importance not only within the climate change field but also in broader developmental contexts. This thesis encompasses a variety of subjects, providing interconnected insights to enhance the comprehension of pathways to climate resilience and improved impact assessments

Social Adjustments of Physically Handicapped Persons

Life is a series of adjustments to environments, and he who is most versatile in making adjustments is likely to be the first to climb the ladder to success. Success does not consist in achieving a certain standards. It does consist in living up to the limit of one\u27s abilities. If such is the case then it behooves each individual, no matter what his inherited mental capacity or his physical prowess, to make the most of his environment. He who has been deprived of some of his physical faculties has a greater task of adjustment to his environment than the non-handicapped person