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  • Articles  (8,656)
  • Oxford University Press  (8,656)
  • Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology  (4,934)
  • Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering  (3,219)
  • Law  (2,327)
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  • 1
    Publication Date: 2020-10-09
    Description: Diffuse nutrient pollution from agriculture has been the concern of policymakers for several decades, and yet it remains a persistent environmental issue. The current approach to mitigating the problem is predominantly via command and control regulation within the Nitrates Directive and the Water Framework Directive. This article will set out how diffuse pollution can be considered a wicked policy problem which acts as an explanation of how it has eluded the current regulatory regime. It will further establish that the traditional planning process overlooked the complexity of the problem. Finally, it will illustrate the ineffectiveness of the current regulatory framework to mitigate the problem. This will be exemplified through the legal framework of Northern Ireland.
    Print ISSN: 0952-8873
    Electronic ISSN: 1464-374X
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Law
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  • 2
    Publication Date: 2020-10-09
    Description: This analysis explores new developments in judicial review of planning policy interpretation. It shows how the nature of policy, often contextual and judgment-dependent, has led the UK Supreme Court to rethink the standard of review applicable to this issue. By considering the recent decision in Samuel Smith as part of a trilogy of cases—including Tesco Stores and Hopkins Homes—this analysis reveals a change in judicial attitudes, away from the expansive judicial supervision upheld in Tesco Stores. Furthermore, this study reflects on how this change is related to two wider ideas. The first is the Court’s understanding of the law and policy divide in the planning field, whilst the second is to do with a pragmatic stance regarding the purpose of the planning system and the institutional role of the courts in it. Finally, this analysis shows how the new approach emphasises the distinctive character of policy in the planning context.
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    Electronic ISSN: 1464-374X
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Law
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  • 3
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    Oxford University Press
    Publication Date: 2015-08-09
    Print ISSN: 0022-0744
    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 4
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    Unknown
    Oxford University Press
    Publication Date: 2015-08-09
    Print ISSN: 0022-0744
    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 5
    Publication Date: 2015-08-09
    Description: Fluorescence microscopy allows us to observe fluorescently labeled molecules in diverse biological processes and organelle structures within living cells. However, the diffraction limit restricts its spatial resolution to about half of its wavelength, limiting the capability of biological observation at the molecular level. Structured-illumination microscopy (SIM), a type of super-resolution microscopy, doubles the spatial resolution in all three dimensions by illuminating the sample with a patterned excitation light, followed by computer reconstruction. SIM uses a relatively low illumination power compared with other methods of super-resolution microscopy and is easily available for multicolor imaging. SIM has great potential for meeting the requirements of live-cell imaging. Recent developments in diverse types of SIM have achieved higher spatial (~50 nm lateral) and temporal (~100 Hz) resolutions. Here, we review recent advancements in SIM and discuss its application in noninvasive live-cell imaging.
    Print ISSN: 0022-0744
    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 6
    Publication Date: 2015-08-09
    Description: One of the most popular super-resolution microscopies that breaks the diffraction barrier is stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy. As the optical set-up of STED microscopy is based on a laser scanning microscopy (LSM) system, it potentially has several merits of LSM like confocal or two-photon excitation LSM. In this article, we first describe the principles of STED microscopy and then describe the features of our newly developed two-photon excitation STED microscopy. On the basis of our recent results and those of other researchers, we conclude by discussing future research and new technologies in this field.
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    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 7
    Publication Date: 2015-08-09
    Print ISSN: 0022-0744
    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 8
    Publication Date: 2015-08-09
    Description: The electrically automated ultrathin sectioning apparatus, which has been developed in recent years, can produce consecutive ultrathin sections with a diamond knife and a gallium ion beam. These newly developed apparatuses, however, have several shortcomings, such as the limited block cutting area, thermal damage to the sample by the focused ion beam and a sample electronic charge. To overcome these faults and for easier scanning electron microscopy three-dimensional fine structural reconstruction, we have developed a new cutting method using a deep ultraviolet laser, which we have named the ‘LANTome (Light Ablation Nanotome)’. Using this method, we confirmed the widening of sectioning areas, shortening of the sectioning time, automatic smoothing of rough surfaces, no sample electronic charge and minimal heat effects on the sample tissue, such as thermal denaturation.
    Print ISSN: 0022-0744
    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 9
    Publication Date: 2015-08-09
    Description: Recent advances in nanoscopy, which breaks the diffraction barrier and can visualize structures smaller than the diffraction limit in cells, have encouraged biologists to investigate cellular processes at molecular resolution. Since nanoscopy depends not only on special optics but also on ‘smart’ photophysical properties of photocontrollable fluorescent probes, including photoactivatability, photoswitchability and repeated blinking, it is important for biologists to understand the advantages and disadvantages of fluorescent probes and to choose appropriate ones for their specific requirements. Here, we summarize the characteristics of currently available fluorescent probes based on both proteins and synthetic compounds applicable to nanoscopy and provide a guideline for selecting optimal probes for specific applications.
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    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 10
    Publication Date: 2015-08-09
    Description: As one of the most powerful tools in the biological investigation of cellular structures and dynamic processes, fluorescence microscopy has undergone extraordinary developments in the past decades. The advent of super-resolution techniques has enabled fluorescence microscopy – or rather nanoscopy – to achieve nanoscale resolution in living specimens and unravelled the interior of cells with unprecedented detail. The methods employed in this expanding field of microscopy, however, are especially prone to the detrimental effects of optical aberrations. In this review, we discuss how super-resolution microscopy techniques based upon single-molecule switching, stimulated emission depletion and structured illumination each suffer from aberrations in different ways that are dependent upon intrinsic technical aspects. We discuss the use of adaptive optics as an effective means to overcome this problem.
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    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 11
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: Natural gas is an extremely important bridge fuel to a low-carbon energy economy for improving local air quality. Coal to synthetic natural gas (SNG) is an effective way to convert the high-carbon energy (coal) into the low-carbon energy with rich hydrogen (natural gas). For the modern coal to SNG industry, the high-temperature methanation (HTM) catalyst plays an important role, and the advanced evaluation process should necessitate the elimination of mass transfer effect. Some simple but effective model catalysts, such as slab and sphere, can be very helpful in defining the reaction conditions, and thus facilitating the evaluation process for real HTM catalysts. In this work, slab and sphere model catalysts were adopted to derive mass transfer and reaction-coupled equations, the numerical methods were used to solve the coupled equations for the concentration profiles in catalysts, and the effectiveness factors were accordingly calculated. By taking advantage of the Thiele module and the Weisz–Prater module , the criteria for the elimination of mass transfer effect in the HTM catalyst evaluation process were successfully defined. This work also complements the Weisz–Prater criterion by incorporating ‘negative reaction orders’.
    Keywords: Other low-carbon energy technologies
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
    Electronic ISSN: 1748-1325
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 12
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: The energy expended for conditioning buildings around the world is worryingly large and increasing every year. Currently, almost half of houses around the world use some type of energy-expensive conventional air-conditioning system. These systems are high emitters of gases such as carbon dioxide and so high contributors to climate change. Consequently, alternatives must be considered. Earth–air heat exchangers (EAHEs) and phase-change materials (PCMs) may be options; they have, however, limitations. This paper proposes a novel hybrid space-conditioning system combining EAHEs with PCMs, which uses surfaces as sources of heating or cooling to provide better temperature distribution across a space and comfort enhancement with low energy use. The idea is to use an EAHE to provide cool air to discharge the PCM, consequently helping to overcome most of the limitations of both strategies. Two of a series of experiments undertaken to test the proposed system are reported in this article. The EAHE + PCM system compared with a reference room could decrease temperature swings by up to 47%. The system was proved to work although further work is required to make it commercially viable.
    Keywords: Other low-carbon energy technologies
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 13
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: The design of a future building with very high-energy efficiency demands from the architect to study the available solar resources in this urban environment. The purpose of the presented methodology is to study the variations in all components of the incident solar radiation daily, monthly and seasonally for all building facades. This is realized in the computer program 3D–SOLARIA. In the focus of the paper is the estimation of the background component of the incident diffuse solar irradiation on a building facade under orthogonally obstructed sky, using anisotropic sky view factors.
    Keywords: Sustainable/low carbon buildings
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 14
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: The assessment of building envelope sustainability using existing building performance assessment methods is still a challenge and yet to be fully addressed. This is due to the single-dimensional nature and lack of integration of sustainable performance values. Besides, the issue of sustainability assessment in the building envelope requires considering many factors including life cycle considerations. As such, in an effort to develop an integrated approach that combines relevant sustainable development factors and life cycles, an integrated performance model (IPM) was developed. The IPM is an essential tool developed to aid the sustainable design of the residential building envelope that can reduce carbon emission and whole residential building energy consumption and ensure sustainable performance of the building envelope.
    Keywords: Sustainable/low carbon buildings
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 15
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: The results and considerations on one self-consumption photovoltaic installation with net balance in Granada (South of Spain) are presented and discussed in this paper. The use of the building (one faculty) makes it optimal for this kind of consumption. Finally, the potential benefits and problems of self-consumption with net balance are presented.
    Keywords: Solar energy technologies
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 16
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: Passive convective heat transfer enhancement can be achieved by improving the thermo-physical properties of the working fluid, changing flow geometry or both. This work presents a numerical study to investigate the combined effect of using helical coils and nanofluids on the heat transfer characteristics and pressure losses in turbulent flow regime. The developed computational fluid dynamics models were validated against published experimental data and empirical correlations. Results have shown that combining the effects of alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles and tube coiling could enhance the heat transfer coefficient by up to 60% compared with that of pure water in straight tube at the same Reynolds number. Also, results showed that the pressure drop in helical coils using Al 2 O 3 nanofluid for volume fraction of 3% was six times that of water in straight tubes (80% of the pressure drop increase is due to nanoparticles addition), while the effect of Reynolds number on the pressure drop penalty factor was found to be insignificant.
    Keywords: Other low-carbon energy technologies
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 17
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: The demand for better indoor environment has led to a wide use of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. However, this demanding cannot be sustained without a strategy to reduce the energy consumption of HVAC systems. Employing advanced HVAC control is one of the strategies to maintain high-quality indoor thermal comfort with low energy consumption. This paper reviews the development of control technologies for HVAC systems. It summarizes the problems in existing reviews and gives a future perspective on HVAC control systems for occupant comfort and energy efficiency.
    Keywords: Built environment and low-carbon society
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 18
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: In buildings without mechanical ventilation, the fresh air needed by the occupants is supplied only by air infiltration or natural ventilation. Its quantification by analytical methods is difficult, and so experimental methods such as the tracer gas technique are very useful. In this work, several case studies are presented, where one may see the potential of this technique to detect small differences in building air tightness, due to different envelope elements, namely the type of window frames and location of blinds' boxes. The applicability of this technique to other spaces rather than buildings can also be analyzed. When dealing with mechanical ventilation, it is difficult to measure the duct air flow rate precisely, because of the minimum duct length necessary to obtain a good mixing of the tracer gas with the air, when conventional probes are used. Research was carried out with the development of new probes to overcome this situation, and results are also shown. With accurate measurements of air flow rates, it is possible to reduce CO 2 emissions due to air heating or cooling in buildings.
    Keywords: Built environment and low-carbon society
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 19
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: A number of factors influence the performance of an ejector, e.g. working fluid, geometry and operating conditions. In the present work, six low-environmental-impact working fluids were evaluated for their use in an ejector cooling system running on low-temperature thermal energy. The numerical analysis was based on a model applying the 1D constant-pressure mixing theory. Ejector performance was assessed for the temperatures of the generator, evaporator and condenser in the range of 80–120°C, 5–15°C and 25–40°C, respectively. The results indicated that owing to its high coefficient of performance and moderate operating pressures throughout the entire ejector cycle, isobutane is a good choice for a refrigerant. The area ratio required for running the ejector in critical mode, under changing operating conditions, varied in a significant range regardless of the selected refrigerant. This clearly indicates the importance of a variable geometry ejector design to strengthen the position of ejector cooling systems among other refrigeration technologies.
    Keywords: Other low-carbon energy technologies
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 20
    Publication Date: 2015-07-30
    Description: Energy security remains a vital issue for the European Union (EU), even more so in the wake of the events that unfolded in early 2014 in Ukraine. The EU’s already fragile position in the international energy arena in terms of security of supply appears to be more uncertain than ever after its umpteenth fallout with its historic energy supplier, Russia. This situation is untenable and calls for swift and decisive action to adequately tackle the issue once and for all. The article looks at the creation of a single EU energy market through integration of energy networks in the EU. It then examines various ways to diversify the EU’s energy supply, whether through increasing the import of liquefied natural gas, through its relations with the Eurasian Union, the promotion of renewable energy or the construction of alternative pipelines and energy routes. The article then offers an analysis of the latest developments of the Energy Charter Conference. The article concludes that from energy transit, to technology transfer, to investment protection, energy and trade present interplays across various fields. Improvements can be made to the EU trading system to ensure greater energy security and more efficient energy markets.
    Print ISSN: 1754-9957
    Electronic ISSN: 1754-9965
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Law , Economics
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  • 21
    Publication Date: 2015-07-30
    Description: Despite the Egyptian authorities’ great hopes for the fledging shale gas industry in Egypt, it appears that it could be difficult for Egypt to realize these lofty ambitions, at least in the near future. The Egyptian shale gas industry faces technical challenges as well as a critical lack of detailed regulations regarding the exploration for and the production of shale gas. There is also a lack of guidance over the manner in which foreign investments can be made in the industry.
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Law , Economics
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  • 22
    Publication Date: 2015-08-09
    Description: The acrosome is a Golgi-derived sperm cell organelle enclosed by a continuous acrosomal membrane. The acrosomal membrane complexes with surrounding matrices containing molecules necessary for fertilization; however, the complex of acrosomal membrane and associating matrices (CAMAM) has not been visualized in detail under living conditions. Here, we analyzed the CAMAM at the nanometer level using super-resolution stimulated emission depletion (STED) fluorescence microscopy and equatorin-enhanced green fluorescent protein transgenic mice. The STED images were compared with the corresponding images taken by immunoelectron microscopy. Consequently, the substructure of CAMAM could be differentiated at nanometer-scale resolution by STED microscopy without the need for sectioning. The information obtained in this study will be beneficial not only for understanding the molecular mechanism of fertilization but also for cell imaging under living conditions.
    Print ISSN: 0022-0744
    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 23
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: The thermal performance of a disc-shaped heat generation body with cooling channels is investigated by using constructal theory based on previous model of heat convection on a disc and previous analytical method of heat conduction on a disc. By taking minimum dimensionless maximum thermal resistance as optimization objective, the optimal aspect ratio of the elemental sector in the radial-pattern disc is obtained for the specified power pumping of the elemental sector; the optimal width ratio of the first-order and elemental cooling channels and the optimal dimensionless radius of the elemental sector are obtained for the specified power pumping of the disc. There exists a critical radius of the disc to determine whether the radial-pattern design and branched-pattern design should be adopted. These conclusions are different from those obtained by Wechsatol et al. 's model, and the essential reason for these differences is that the power pumping is specified in this article, but not the specified flow rate number in Wechsatol et al. 's model. Finally, the assumption about the heat capacity of the coolant and the thermal conductivity of the disc is validated. An analytical method is introduced in this article, which can provide another thought for the constructal optimization of disc with heat convection. The optimal constructs of the discs are obtained for the specified power pumping, which provides some different guidelines for the design of disc with heat convection.
    Keywords: Other low-carbon energy technologies
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 24
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: In this paper, solar box cookers with ordinary and finned absorber plates are theoretically investigated in terms of thermodynamic performance parameters. For a typical summer and winter day, temperatures of solar cooker components such as glass cover, internal air, absorber plate, cooking vessel and the liquid are determined theoretically versus time. The analysis is carried out for conventional and finned absorber plates, and accuracy of the results is verified by a previously published experimental work. Energy and exergy efficiencies of box-type solar cookers are plotted versus time for various cases. The methodology presented in this paper enables to make a preliminary evaluation of ordinary and modified solar box cookers with respect to changes in main environmental parameters such as temperature and illumination intensity. Some recommendations are also made to enhance the power outputs of the aforementioned solar cookers.
    Keywords: Solar energy technologies
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 25
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: The sun is the more plentiful source of natural power that we have in the Earth. However, the amount of radiation reaching the Earth's surface depends on astronomical and climatic factors. One of the factors exerting a greater influence is cloudiness. For that reason, it is important to quantify its influence on solar radiation. According to that, in this work, a prototype to capture images of the celestial vault is designed and implemented to be able to measure parameters related to the cloud properties and, later, to determine their influence on solar radiation.
    Keywords: Solar energy technologies
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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  • 26
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: Under transient climatic conditions, solar water heaters using heat pipes are more effective at capturing incident solar radiation than other equivalent sized solar water heaters. The cost must be reduced to improve uptake of such systems. To investigate two methods were considered by this study: thermosyphon fluid flow and reflective concentrators. A physical reconfigurable laboratory model of the manifold and associated condensers of a heat-pipe-evacuated tube system were fabricated; fluid circulation was via thermosyphonic action, particle imaging velocimetry derived velocity maps and the use of concentrators was simulated. When condenser spacing was doubled, the Nusselt number increased by 43%, the velocity by 55% but the heat transfer efficiency of the model manifold decreased by 9%. Potential annual energy savings of 10 207 GWh could be realized if such systems could be successfully fabricated.
    Keywords: Solar energy technologies
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  • 27
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: This paper presents the results of two field studies to examine the differences in ambient temperatures in a micro-scale environment (at distances of 50–200 m between measuring points) in two different climates during typical summer weather conditions at two similar sites in terms of construction and activities. The analysis considered the land use around the measuring locations split into three categories (built, green and open) as well as climatic conditions and studied the effect of these on ambient temperature at each measuring location. It was found that, similarly to macro-scale studies at the urban level, measuring locations with a higher green cover have a lower ambient temperature compared with measuring locations with a higher built and/or open land cover. The results provide measured evidence in two different climates that small green areas distributed within the urban environment can provide a reduction in the ambient temperature thus contributing to the mitigation of urban heat island.
    Keywords: Built environment and low-carbon society
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  • 28
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: Capillary pump loop (CPL) is a two-phase heat transfer device considered as a useful solution for thermal control applications in spacecrafts, satellites and electronic components. The purpose of this paper is to study various aspects of the working state of the CPL evaporator. A two-dimensional computational model was developed in order to analyze the flow and the phase transformation inside a cylindrical evaporator. At the present analysis, different cases were studied by changing liquid saturation temperature, inclination angle of the evaporator and the length of the porous heated wick. Water, ammonia, acetone and freon-134 were used as working liquids for numerical experiments. Results present the evaporator capability to vaporize each working liquid and find out its possibility of dry-out causing failure. This information is useful in choosing the best working liquid for an evaporator, enabling bigger amounts of heat to be transferred.
    Keywords: Other low-carbon energy technologies
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  • 29
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: In recent years, the concept of green building is becoming popular in China. Architects and engineers have the opportunity to actually implement green building practices. This paper reveals the failure of a naturally ventilated LEED-certified townhouse development project in China mentioned in recent research. The house owners made great alterations for the purpose of decoration, which removed or minimized the effectiveness of natural ventilation elements in the original design. The research shows that the houses show ‘International Style’ because the natural ventilation design principles were not fully applied in the design and the localized natural ventilation strategies were not fully considered by means of computational simulation in the design stage. Also, the lack of communication between designers and the owners caused the removal of most natural ventilation elements of these houses during the occupancy period. The authors advocate three criteria to avoid failures of natural ventilation design: localized/ climate adaptive design, relationship among design elements and design intention awareness.
    Keywords: Sustainable/low carbon buildings
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  • 30
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: In the present paper, design of solar chimney (SC) and earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHE) to meet the thermal need of flat buildings are studied regarding adaptive thermal comfort criteria. Investigation on the effects of geometric features shows that the design of SC with the air gap and outlet sizes of 0.2 m and also EAHE with the diameter and length of 0.5 and 25.0 m reveals better performance. Thermal comfort analysis shows that the SC is capable to power the underground heating system during few hours of the sunny days even at the ambient temperature as low as 0°C and the heating demand of 1000 W without needing the auxiliary devices. In addition, the required numbers of SCs and the underground air channels are strongly influenced by environmental outdoor conditions and heating demand of building and are approximately calculated by: $$\hbox{ room }\phantom{\rule{0.08em}{0ex}}\hbox{ volume/50 }\phantom{\rule{0.08em}{0ex}}\hbox{ and }\phantom{\rule{0.08em}{0ex}}\hbox{ 2 }\times (\hbox{ room }\phantom{\rule{0.08em}{0ex}}\hbox{ volume/50 })+\hbox{ 1, }$$ respectively.
    Keywords: Other low-carbon energy technologies
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  • 31
    Publication Date: 2015-08-16
    Description: Daylighting has an important role in sustainable architecture as it affects the energy consumption in a building. Especially for an office building, daylight helps not only to reduce the load on artificial lighting but also to promote work efficiency through promoting good human health, well-being and user comfort. The objective of this research is to develop an innovative façade design strategy that comes from the development of digital technology and dynamic daylight performance measuring methods. Thus, the various parameters are studied through the computational process of cellular automata (CA) to generate the several alternative opening patterns on the building façade. Each CA design value was tested under static and dynamic sky condition to analyze the quality and quantity of daylight and visual comfort throughout the year. The results were compared to find an optimum alternative design in terms of the daylighting design criteria, from building code, standard and design guidelines for the office building. Finally, research of an adaptive façade design strategy was concluded with the results from the above hybridization of generative and performative design methodology. This study discovers the architectural design approach from the CA and it will make not only progress in building façade esthetics, but also human comfort with building sustainability.
    Keywords: Sustainable/low carbon buildings
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  • 32
    Publication Date: 2015-09-29
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  • 33
    Publication Date: 2015-09-29
    Description: The demand for thermal coal has risen dramatically over the past 20 years, driven by an emerging markets-led commodities super cycle, which has recently come to an end. Today, thermal coal generates over 40 per cent of global electricity and is available in large quantities in countries such as China, India and the USA. Thermal coal is also the primary contributor to CO 2 emissions, a substantial driver of climate change. This has resulted in material tension for ‘sustainable and responsible’ institutional investors and strategic challenges for certain state-owned companies. Deciding upon the electricity generation technology in which to invest poses a significant dilemma. Thermal coal is abundant and by far the cheapest when externalities are not internalized. Electric renewables currently suffer from intermittency, viable storage solutions and are not very scalable. While cleaner than thermal coal, natural gas is abundant yet often needs to be imported and is more expensive than thermal coal. Although safe, scalable and clean from an emissions perspective, ‘new’ nuclear energy suffers from perception problems. The mixed method inductive methodology was used to determine the extent to which thermal coal remains investable over the next 20 years and has led to two divergent yet plausible scenarios impacting thermal coal investability. In assessing the investability of thermal coal across four chief stakeholders and geographies, a multifaceted interpretation of the term ‘investability’ is developed, which recognizes disparate financial and non-financial investment drivers. The research shows that thermal coal remains investable by a variety of stakeholders, particularly in the Transformative scenario, but their reasons for investing differ materially both by geography and the type of stakeholder. Finally, the key drivers for both scenarios are identified that can be monitored and used as an early warning system to inform investment decisions.
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  • 34
    Publication Date: 2015-09-29
    Description: In March of 2015 New Zealand’s Court of Appeal brought to a conclusion a long running dispute between the joint venture partners in the Pohokura gas and condensate field located in Taranaki, New Zealand. Todd Pohokura v. Shell Exploration NZ Limited et ano deals with the rights to production and offtake arising under the Association of International Petroleum Negotiator’s (AIPN) 1995 Model Form joint operating agreement (JOA), the powers of the Operating Committee in regards thereto and the practical implications of entering into a field development without documenting all the necessary gas sale and transportation arrangements in advance. The factual matrix provides an opportunity to review the principles of common law relevant to production and offtake, including the development of those principles from early English common law into U.S. domestic law, and how those principles have been reflected in model form JOAs on both sides of the Atlantic, including the AIPN forms and ultimately the Pohokura JOA. The analysis confirms the New Zealand courts’ rulings upholding the power of the Operating Committee to determine production rates under the AIPN Model form. However, it concludes that gas offtake arrangements that amend or add to the rights and obligations of the parties under the JOA must be agreed unanimously and are not within the jurisdiction of the Operating Committee to determine.
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  • 35
    Publication Date: 2015-09-29
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  • 36
    Publication Date: 2015-05-30
    Description: Pursuant to a generous Association of International Petroleum Negotiator (AIPN) 2014 Summer Research Award, this article identifies, evaluates and compares the legal and fiscal rules, regulations and incentives necessary for countries with significant shale petroleum and natural gas formations to attempt to replicate the boom that is ongoing in the USA. As others have pointed out, 1 several legal, tax, and operational barriers can impair duplication of the US shale revolution in similarly endowed nations. This article identifies key factors responsible for the surge in US shale production, distill the fundamental forces from the US experience that are applicable to any jurisdiction, and evaluate and compare how several countries fare in this vein. The report also identifies avenues for reform and innovative policies that could be applied in other jurisdictions.
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  • 37
    Publication Date: 2015-05-30
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  • 38
    Publication Date: 2015-05-30
    Description: Texas law has only recently codified in precedential decisions a reasonable formula for production allocations for horizontal, including fracked, wells. The ancient regime of the Rule of Capture does not generally apply, because of the nature of the geologic deposits and the new technology. This reasonable formula is applicable in the international arena for cross-border deposits and production blocks. Other national law and international treaties provide scant guidance in these matters and governments, national oil companies and international oil companies should review this formula to aid in negotiations for fair and equitable allocations that should preclude unnecessary disputes and litigation.
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  • 39
    Publication Date: 2015-05-30
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  • 40
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
    Description: The provisions in the Habitats Directive relating to protection of sites establish a triumvirate of decision-makers: administrative authority, scientific advisor and judiciary. This article examines the relationship between these decision-makers as developed in recent case law, both at a European Union (EU) and national level. It argues that reference to the goal of environmental protection obscures the allocation of power among these actors, and that to truly understand the resulting system, we must acknowledge the differing norms which motivate each of these actors. In particular, it argues that we must consider the judiciary as an actor within the decision-making process, and should examine the role of the principles of judicial review and EU law in shaping this. It highlights that there are currently conflicts within the process, and that the principles of judicial review cannot provide a successful mechanism to manage these conflicts without an explicit consideration of the values ‘hidden’ therein.
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  • 41
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
    Description: One of the key issues in the current controversy over the hunting of wolves in Sweden is whether the wolf population has reached favourable conservation status (FCS). FCS is a legal concept, created and defined in law, but like many legal concepts within environmental law, can only be understood by reference to ecological concepts such as species viability. These ecological determinations in turn often require some sort of legal or policy judgment, such as how great an extinction risk is acceptable for a viable population. This article interrogates contested legal and ecological aspects of FCS and argues for how they might be applied to the Swedish wolf in potential litigation.
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  • 42
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
    Description: Within the regulatory space that exists at the intersection of UK company law and environmental regulation, the business community has generated its own environmental governance initiatives to address growing anxiety about companies’ externalised risk. Yet, there is currently nothing in law to prevent companies from frequently acting inconsistently with these voluntary unilateral assurances, which has led to widespread concern that environmental values are treated as merely instrumental to the dominant idea of achieving economic benefits for the company. This article examines a specific case for the legal facilitation of binding obligations owed to the environment, which require a company to make good on its previous commitments about environmental responsibility. It seeks to demonstrate that this is possible through the common law doctrine of estoppel, which can be opened up to prevent a company from acting inconsistently with its previous statements or actions about the governance of environmental risk.
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  • 43
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
    Description: The aim of the article is to shed light on the particular issue of absence of judicial dialogue between the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in the matter of environmental rights which represents a glaring exception to the generally cooperative disposition exhibited by the two courts in other domains linked to human rights protection. The article draws on this particular absence of judicial dialogue by examining the respective patterns of judicial reasoning employed by the CJEU and the ECtHR in cases before them that involve, or have a bearing on, environmental rights (substantive and procedural). Thus, the singular tendencies discernible in the ECtHR’s progressive jurisprudence in the field of environmental rights will be compared to CJEU’s jurisprudence relevant to environmental rights with the intention of detecting certain aspects in the CJEU’s approach which could further stand to be improved following the example of ECtHR’s activist environmental jurisprudence as a viable avenue for initiating the currently missing dialogue between the two courts in the matter of environmental rights.
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  • 44
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Oxford University Press
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
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  • 45
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
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  • 46
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
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  • 47
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
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  • 48
    Publication Date: 2016-08-06
    Description: Oil and gas fields that straddle a domestic licence boundary or a delimited international border are often unitized so that they can be developed efficiently and effectively as a single entity. The unitization process is usually governed by a pre-unit agreement and a unitization and unit operating agreement. Provision for expert determination in these agreements should include a decision on the basis for tract participation, the determination of initial tract participation around the time of unitization, the formulation of key elements of prescribed technical procedures for any redetermination of tract participation, the redetermination of tract participation post-production, and the enlargement or reduction of the unit area and/or unit interval. The agreements must also define the key issues of how an appointed expert is to arrive at a decision. Expert determination is generally preferred to pendulum decision-making, an expert should carry out an integrated study with a single deliverable as opposed to one that is subdivided into discrete incremental steps, and the expert should table an initial decision for technical and procedural scrutiny by the parties before delivering a final binding decision. Experience has shown that adherence to these principles of prescription facilitates expert engagement during subsequent field life and thereby promotes Pareto-efficiency, fairness and equitability.
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  • 49
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
    Description: Through a three-year revision involving various stakeholders, China has enacted a new Environmental Protection Law ( EPL ). The new law seeks to harmonize economic and social development with environmental protection and for the first time establishes clear requirements for the construction of an ecological civilization. It toughens the penalties for environmental offences with specific articles and provisions for raising public awareness. It also places greater responsibility on local government and law enforcement for the protection of China’s environment. However, many of the problems identified in the old EPL and especially the obstacles to its implementation have not been fully addressed and resolved. Effective environmental governance entails not only environmental laws but also implementation mechanisms, accountability regimes, and institutional arrangements. Raising the status of the EPL and of the general environmental protection apparatus is only the first step to meeting China’s environmental challenges. More efforts in the area of enforcement and implementation will lead China to a cleaner future.
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  • 50
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
    Description: The cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops in the European Union (EU) is highly harmonised, but with persisting conflicts over authority. The European Commission responded to internal and external pressures with a more flexible approach to coexistence, a proposed opt-out clause, and a promise to review the existing EU GM regime, providing an opportunity to consider and suggest paths of development. This article considers the post-authorisation policy-making powers of Member States and subnational regions, in light of subsidiarity-based multilevel governance. It considers the different approaches to risk-centred issues and more general policy choices. Overall, the developments occurring at the EU level are strengthening subsidiarity-based multilevel governance within the GM cultivation regime, but with significant opportunities to improve it further through focussing particularly on the complementary powers, coordination and the regional levels.
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  • 51
    Publication Date: 2016-08-06
    Description: Renewable energy provides an answer to the most pressing socio-economic challenges governments face today, in particular the effects of climate change. Although efforts have been made throughout the world, it is necessary that investment in renewable energy is further increased if it is to have a marked impact on the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The lack of national investment is inevitably going to trigger the inflow of foreign investment which may be subject to performance requirements which are regulated by a number of economic treaties. The Article reviews all the norms currently applicable and stresses their differences to provide a typology of existing prohibition. The analysis is further refined by a comprehensive review of the case law (both decided by trade and investment tribunals) to identify the type of requirements which have been implemented on renewable energies. It also explains and anticipates the role of the most favoured national treatment in the context of bilateral treaties in a manner hitherto unexplored. In doing so, this Article provides a comprehensive analysis of the performance requirements in international treaties with a view to assessing their impact on the further development of renewable energies.
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  • 52
    Publication Date: 2016-08-06
    Description: This brief contains an update of the current situation of upstream petroleum investment in Thailand. It is a critical appraisal of the ongoing reformation of the new Petroleum Act, which intends to adopt all three types of upstream contract, namely, concession, production sharing and service contracts, to govern the contractual relationship between Thailand and upstream investors.
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  • 53
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Oxford University Press
    Publication Date: 2016-08-06
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  • 54
    Publication Date: 2016-08-06
    Description: Local-content legislation and policies in oil and gas producing countries have become a key priority of host governments and industry players alike. Increasingly, more resource-rich developing countries are enacting local-content legislation as a means of maximizing the benefits to be gained from their petroleum industries. However, these laws and policies are being implemented with insufficient research into their efficacy, and as a result have often yielded mixed results. This article assesses the effect of local-content legislation and policies in the oil and gas industry presenting insights on the challenges faced by industry players with regard to their implementation. We trace the channels through which local-content legislation advances value creation by evaluating different implementation programmes, using clearly stated local-content targets to measure their efficacy. Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil and Norway are chosen as case study countries to highlight the diversity of local-content strategies for countries at different developmental stages. The motivation for this research is to provide host governments, investors and domestic suppliers with guidelines on how to successfully develop and implement local-content regulations and strategies. The experience of the case study countries above show that the success or otherwise of local-content legislation and policies remains a function of a country’s institutional setting and developmental paradigm. Based on the review of the case studies, we summarize that successful local-content legislation and policies should be anchored on the following principles: (i) local-content policies need to look beyond simple generation of economic rents to focus on the development of linkages; (ii) the tools developed to measure agreed local-content benchmarks must be clearly defined to the acceptance of all industry players; and (iii) entrenching local content depends on the availability of an industrial-supply base that can act as growth levers.
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  • 55
    Publication Date: 2016-08-06
    Description: This article demonstrates how the oil regulatory framework enacted in Brazil in 2010 will have detrimental effects on technology and innovation. The shortcomings essentially derive from three of its aspects: (i) operational exclusivity; (ii) the governance structure of the operational committee; and (iii) local content policies which lack adequate focus and strategic planning. All these elements actually stem from an excessively intrusive regulatory approach, within a typical top-down model, disproportionately reliant on command and control procedures. The current regulations will lead to significant drawbacks in technology and innovation in Brazil that will inevitably affect Petrobras. Even worse, however, they will not guarantee the development of a dynamic and sustainable industry of suppliers. Instead of using Petrobras to propel its industry of providers towards higher technological standards, suppliers will be dragging the national oil company downwards at the expense of the whole sector. A less intrusive regulatory framework, based on reflexive and responsive regulations is more suitable in this context, since it induces agents to continuously interact in a favourable way for the intended outcomes, instead of imposing norms and rules on them that most probably lead to other undesirable consequences.
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  • 56
    Publication Date: 2016-08-06
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  • 57
    facet.materialart.
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    Oxford University Press
    Publication Date: 2016-05-11
    Description: This analysis piece deals with a landmark case C-461/13, or the Weser case, in which the European Court of Justice settled a years-long dispute over the legal status of the environmental objectives laid down in the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). The Court ruled that the objectives are legally binding: the Member States are for example obliged to refuse authorisation from individual projects estimated to compromise the objectives. The Court also took a strong stance on the so-called non-deterioration principle, ruling that it binds the Member States to such an extent that decline of the quality of the surface waters is no longer allowed. Being so, the Court did acknowledge the possibility of exemption from the now constituted norms, putting the derogation regime created in the Directive in the spotlight. Thus the alleged management planning instrument has turned into a more traditional, formalistic legal tool, affecting individual permitting procedures all across the Union.
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  • 58
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: A cascaded Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) with scroll expanders is investigated in this paper, the system performances under various configurations are evaluated and the effect of superheating on the system efficiency is clarified. The efficiency of two-stage ORC system is 38.9% higher than that of single-stage system when R245fa is used as the working fluid, while the efficiency of two-stage ORC system is 10% lower than that of single stage when R134a is adopted. The specific work of single-stage ORC system with R245fa increases linearly with the degree of superheat. There is an optimal superheated degree for the system output power and efficiency, which is 35 K for the expansion ratio of 3.5 and 45 K for the expansion ratio of 5.
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  • 59
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: This article demonstrates a study on finite-time thermodynamic assessment and analysis of a Stirling heat engine. Finite-time thermodynamics is performed to specify the net thermal efficiency and power output of the Stirling system with finite-rate heat transfer, regenerative heat loss, conductive thermal bridging loss and finite regeneration process time. The model investigates effects of the inlet temperature of the heat source, the volumetric ratio of the engine, effectiveness of heat exchangers and heat capacitance rates on the net power output and thermal efficiency of the engine. Output power of the Stirling engine is maximized under two optimization scenarios. In the first scenario, the higher working temperature of the Stirling engine is considered as a decision design parameter (decision variable) while in the second scenario, in addition to the higher working temperature, the temperature ratio of the engine is also considered as a design parameter. Furthermore, the thermal efficiency of the cycle corresponding to the magnitude of the maximized power of the engine is evaluated. Finally, sensitivities of results towards shift in the thermal parameters of the engine are studied.
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  • 60
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: Vapour compression refrigeration-based air conditioners are being used for comfort cooling in residences, offices and commercial buildings in many countries throughout the world. These systems consume substantial power and energy and produce harmful effect on environment by damaging ozone layer. This article presents an analytical evaluation of energy saving potential of an indirect evaporative cooler for summer months in Indian climates. Three climates likely to be suitable for indirect evaporative cooling, namely composite, hot and dry and moderate, have been selected for this purpose. The monthly average environmental data for three Indian cities namely Delhi, Jodhpur and Bangalore representing three different climates were used for this study. Summer month—May was selected for the study. It has been found that in order to produce same cooling effect under the same climatic conditions, the power needed by indirect evaporative cooler to be about 55% less than that needed by a conventional air conditioner. The performance of an indirect evaporative cooler in the climates, hot and dry and composite, has been found to be almost similar. Thus, substantial energy can be saved by using this alternative in summer months.
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  • 61
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: A MATLAB-based computer model to design a novel directly absorbing receiver system (DARS) for concentrating solar collectors employing nanofluid-based solar radiation volumetric absorption is presented. Graphene and aluminum nanosphere-based suspensions in Therminol VP-1 were simulated to identify the optimum thermo-geometric configuration of a DARS comprising a transparent all glass tubular absorber. Several particle concentrations were simulated scrutinizing the optical response of the two colloidal dispersions to yield a minimum supply temperature of 250°C; further investigated are the implications of fluid flow velocity upon system yield. The resulting temperature fields and geometric dimensions of the DARS are predicted. Findings demonstrate that the DARS is able to deliver heat at ~265°C with a receiver tube diameter of 5 mm opposed to commercially available 70-mm diameter metallic absorbers.
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  • 62
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: Distributed power generation (DPG) based on organic Rankine cycle offers potential in the effective use of energy from low grade heat sources up to 200°C. In this regard, developing an effective expander plays a major role in determining the overall cycle efficiency. In this work mean-line modeling and CFD techniques are employed to develop a small-scale radial turbine for DPG systems with a power output of ~5 kWe. A parametric study is carried out using the mean-line approach to investigate the effects of key input parameters such as operating conditions, velocity ratio, rotational speed and rotor flow angles on the turbine rotor inlet diameter and overall performance. Results from the mean-line approach show that in order to achieve high power output, inlet total temperature, mass flow rate and pressure ratio should be increased. However, for reducing the rotor inlet diameter the velocity ratio should be decreased. CFD technique is then used to assess the flow field and to improve the blade loading by modification of blade angle distribution. CFD is also used to determine the minimum number of rotor blades and the results show that the value suggested by mean-line modeling overestimates this parameter. By using these two approaches a wide range of design configurations are explored and the most effective design is identified to be with specific diameter of 4.83 (rotor inlet diameter of 0.0787 m), specific speed of 0.433 (rotational speed of 55 000 rpm), 10 blades and output power of 4.662 kW.
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  • 63
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: Concerns about greenhouse gases as well as the price and security of oil supply have acted as a spur to sustainable automobile development. The hydrogen fuel cells electric vehicle (HFCEV) is generally recognised by leading automobile manufacturers and scientists as one of the optimum technologies for long-term future low carbon vehicle. In a typical HFCEV power train, a DC–DC converter is required to balance the voltage difference between the fuel cells (FCs) stack and batteries. However, research shows that a considerable amount of energy generated by the hydrogen FCs stack is deplete during this conversion process as heat. This experiment aims to improve the power train efficiency by eliminating the DC–DC converter by finding the best combination of FC stack and batteries, matching the size and capacity of the electrical components.
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  • 64
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: In this communication, a comprehensive thermodynamic model for exergy analysis of a passive solar distillation system is presented. Temperatures of basin-liner, saline water body and inner and outer glass cover are estimated theoretically with the help of a computer program using a set of typical design and operating parameters. Energy and exergy analysis of a single-effect, single-slope horizontal passive solar still has been carried out under climatic conditions of India. It has been shown that the passive solar still can produce 4.17 l/m 2 of freshwater daily. Energy and exergy efficiency of the solar still are 30.42 and 4.93%, respectively. Causes, quantity and place of exergy destruction have also been explored for further research and improvement in the design and performance of solar stills. Exergy destruction or irreversibility in the process of each component, i.e. basin-liner, saline water body and glass cover, has been evaluated as 3353, 1633 and 362 W/m 2 , respectively, corresponding to the total solar exergy input of 6958 W/m 2 on a typical day. Their corresponding exergy efficiencies are found to be 3.91, 17.67 and 42.36%. The global exergy efficiency of the solar still is also estimated as 23.14%, taking these exergy destructions into account. The basin-liner is identified as the component around which there is highest possibility of improvement.
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  • 65
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: A comparison is presented between experimental and numerical results regarding the operation of a capillary pumped loop evaporator. Two cylindrical evaporators were tested, with different heated porous lengths, 20 and 40 mm, respectively. Both have 22 mm external diameter, 9 mm porous thickness and 80 mm porous length. The working liquid was water. The loop was made from copper tubes and the evaporator from copper porous wick covered with aluminum with grooves formed in the inner surface. All tests took place on a horizontal level using heat load applied to the evaporator surface from an 85-W electric resistance. The experimental measurements were compared with the predictions of a three-dimensional CFD model of the evaporator and were found to be in satisfactory agreement. For the 20-mm wick heated length evaporator CFD model with water initial temperature of 20°C the divergence with the experimental pressure drop mean value was 0 Pa for volume flow rates between 0.4 and 0.6 l/min and 50 Pa for the rest of the values. For 30°C the divergence was 0 Pa 〈0.4 l/min and 50 Pa for larger flow rates. Moreover, for 40°C the difference was up to 50 Pa from 0 to 0.9 l/min. In every case predictions were below the wick capillary limit. The computed outflow temperature presented a maximum difference of 1.5% compared with the experimental data, which is very satisfying. On the other hand, the predictions of the evaporator CFD model with a 40-mm wick heated length were even better.
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  • 66
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: A new CO 2 cryogenic capture and liquefaction system has been proposed previously in order to separate CO 2 from exhausted gases and make it as a resource for industry. This system combines CO 2 cryogenic capture with N 2 /O 2 separation together. Its energy consumption is lower than the traditional amine solution capture process as theoretical analysis. In this study, the simulation of the proposed system with several improvements was carried out aiming to reduce the energy consumption further. Many heat exchangers were introduced and the heat exchanger arrangements were optimized to recycle the refrigeration capacity from the returned N 2 after the N 2 /O 2 separation. The discharge pressure of mixture gas from the compressor was reduced from 10 to 3.493 MPa. The simulation results showed that the compression work could be greatly reduced and the energy consumption of CO 2 capture in this new system after these improvements reached 2.884 GJ/ton CO 2 . The new system is promising because not only liquid or solid CO 2 could be produced but also N 2 and O 2 could be separated.
    Print ISSN: 1748-1317
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  • 67
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: Learning by doing, or learning through market experience, reduces costs for energy production technologies. This phenomenon is modelled by using experience curves which reflect the changes in the cost of the technology as it becomes increasingly used. This article calculates the Spanish photovoltaic (PV) learning curve over the period 2001–12 by using cost data from the PV sector itself (installers, distributors and even engineers) and determines the accuracy of the obtained progress ratio by using both the coefficient of determination R 2 and also the error PR , which is directly determined from fitting the data. The results show a curve with a strong structural change in the speed of cost reduction in October 2009.
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  • 68
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: Important advances have been made in solar water desalination technology but their wide application is restricted by relatively high capital and running costs. Until recently, solar concentrator collectors had usually been employed to distill water in compact desalination systems. Currently, it is possible to replace these collectors by the more efficient evacuated tube collectors, which are now widely available on the market at lower prices. This paper describes the results of experimental and theoretical investigations of the operation of a novel small-scale solar water desalination technology using the psychometric humidification and dehumidification process coupled with a heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector with an aperture area of ~1.73 m 2 . Solar radiation during spring in the Middle East was simulated by an array of halogen floodlights. A synthetic brackish water solution was used for the tests and its total dissolved solids (TDSs) and electrical conductivity were measured. A mathematical model was developed to describe the system's operation. A computer program was written to solve the system of governing equations to perform the theoretical calculations of the humidification and dehumidification processes. The experimental and theoretical values for the total daily distillate output were found to be closely correlated. The test results demonstrate that, at temperatures of 55–60°C, the system produces ~5–6 kg/h of clean water with a high desalination efficiency. Following the experimental calibration of the mathematical model, it was demonstrated that the performance of the system could be improved to produce a considerably higher amount of fresh water.
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  • 69
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: Phase change material (PCM)-filled glass window was suitable for absorbing or releasing more heat than conventional glass window. Comparisons of thermal performance between PCM-filled glass windows and insulated glass windows (double glass windows filled with dry air and surrounded by sealing strips) were presented in this paper. A 3D unsteady model was built in FLUENT to obtain the internal and external surface temperature fluctuations of these windows in 48 h. Compared with insulated glass windows, thermal performance (especially the thermal regulation effect) of double glass windows filled with Na 2 SO 4 ·10H 2 O was quite satisfactory in sunny days of summer, while double glass windows filled with CaCl 2 ·6H 2 O had a better thermal performance in overcast and rainy days of summer. Because the phase change temperature of these PCM is higher than the ambient temperature in winter, the thermal regulation effects of them were not as good as expected.
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  • 70
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: Optimization of heat exchanger network is attributed to improving the process industrial energy utilization ratio. Energy consumption reduction plays an important role in the low-carbon economic development. Several synthesis approaches for heat exchanger network have been proposed and extended during the last three decades. With the evolution of the computer technology, the simultaneous synthesis method via mathematic programming attracts a great deal of attention worldwide. However, some difficulties still need to be overcome, for instance, model simplification and computational complexity. In this work, the simultaneous stage-wise synthesis model without the assumption of isothermal mixing is presented and implemented using effective initialization strategies and a novel two-level algorithm. Three case studies illustrated the better performance of the initialization strategies and two-level algorithm for heat exchanger network synthesis problems, considering non-isothermal mixing.
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  • 71
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: Atmospheric carbon dioxide is one of the primary greenhouse gases on earth and its continuous emission by manmade activities is leading to a rise in atmospheric temperature. On the other hand, various natural phenomena exist that contribute to the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, i.e. its capture and long-term storage. These phenomena include oceanic, geological and chemical processes happening on earth. In addition to the above-mentioned nonbiological methods, various biological methods viz. soil carbon sequestration and phytosequestration have also been contributing to fixation of atmospheric carbon. Phytosequestration is mainly performed by several photosynthetic mechanisms such as C 3 , C 4 and crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) pathways of plants, carboxysomes of cyanobacteria and pyrenoids of microalgae. For an effective mitigation of global climate change, it is required to stabilize the CO 2 concentration to viable levels. It requires various permutations and combinations of naturally existing and engineering strategies. Although numerous strategies are in commodious use in the present times, the issues of sustainability and long-term stability still exist. We present an overview of the natural and manmade biological and nonbiological processes used today to reduce atmospheric CO 2 levels and discuss the scope and limitations of each of them.
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  • 72
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: A conventional natural convection flat plate solar collector needs to be placed at an incline to the horizontal and exposed to the sun in order for the solar hot water heater system to work. This arrangement is satisfactory where there is ample roof top space to locate the collector and storage tank. In a high-rise apartment, space is at a premium and also the hot-water recticulation requires long lengths of piping to distribute the hot water supply to the individual apartment. Most every modern high-rise apartment has a balcony facing outward from the wall structure. Balcony-type solar water heaters (SWHs) are catching up fast in China. Their performance would depend on collector and storage tank designs and sizes, weather conditions (solar radiation intensity and ambient temperature) and direction in which the balconies are facing. This article compares the outdoor performance of two SWH systems incorporating the evacuated glass U-tube solar collectors operating under natural convection. The panels were tested in both the vertical and inclined positions using the same tank but at different times of the year. It was found that the inclined panel system performed better than the system with the vertical panel system.
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  • 73
    Publication Date: 2016-05-27
    Description: The Construction Industry Council (CIC) Zero-Carbon Building is a net zero-carbon building that was designed for local hot and humid climate of sub-tropical Hong Kong. Over 80 sustainability features of the architecture and building systems have considered the life-cycle carbon emissions, including the embodied carbon of construction materials, emissions associated with the construction process, the 50-years of operation and decommission of the building. The total life-cycle carbon emission was off-set by on-site renewable energy generated by photovoltaics (PV) and bio-diesel combined cooling heating and power (CCHP) system. To optimise the design, a series of climate-responsive strategies on passive architecture were applied to the construction of the building. These include the high-performance facade, effective air tightness and optimised window design that allows the application of natural ventilation and daylighting. Reduction of 20% energy demand was achieved by these passive designs. To further lower the carbon emission on operation, energy-efficient air-conditioning (A/C) systems using desiccant dehumidification, underfloor air supply and radiant cooling have also contributed on achieving an ultralow energy use value. Amalgamated saving of these passive and active systems are over 45% when compared with the design per existing local building energy codes.
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  • 74
    Publication Date: 2016-05-11
    Description: Climate change is a persistent, pervasive and pernicious problem. Each branch of government, including the judiciary, has a role to play in tackling climate change. Courts can make a meaningful contribution by: providing equal access to justice; determining and not deferring climate change claims; upholding the rule of law; taking and forcing the executive, legislature and private sector to take climate change seriously; explaining and upholding the fundamental values underpinning the law; promoting environmental values and putting a price on them; assisting the progressive and principled development of climate change law and policy; and making reasoned and evidence-based decisions.
    Print ISSN: 0952-8873
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  • 75
    Publication Date: 2016-05-11
    Description: The article, which is based on a lecture delivered in London in September 2015, addresses the possibilities for adjudication of climate change issues before international courts and tribunals, finding them to be more favourable today than a few years ago. It argues for a role of international courts and tribunals in the determination of factual and scientific matters related to climate change, assessing the possible role of international courts of a more general jurisdiction, such as ITLOS and the ICJ.
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  • 76
    Publication Date: 2016-05-11
    Print ISSN: 0952-8873
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  • 77
    Publication Date: 2016-05-11
    Description: The energy transition requires a legal system that promotes the most sustainable forms of energy. This requires a holistic approach that accounts for all effects of energy production throughout the energy chain. This article analyses the presence of holistic elements in the current legal framework of biomass used for energy purposes. It finds that the most advanced example, sustainability criteria for biofuels, applies to only a fraction of all biomass uses, as the applicability is dependent on the production process used and the manner of consumption. Furthermore, the legal framework for biomass accounts for neither all direct effects, nor any indirect effects of production, nor the carbon debt resulting from biomass combustion. All this undermines the assumed sustainability of biomass. As a result, the current legal framework is far from holistic and poorly equipped to promote the most sustainable forms of energy.
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  • 78
    Publication Date: 2016-05-11
    Description: This article deals with compensation mechanisms for the aftermath of disasters. It claims that there is a necessity to speedily compensate victims of an accident, if this can prevent the occurrence of large societal follow-on damage. In reality this does not often happen. This article takes the entitlement to compensation as given, does not discuss substantive law matters regarding compensation, but deals with procedural aspects of how to actually get this compensation. The main obstacles to fast compensation may be found in lengthy mass litigation. Then again, civil litigation also entails economic advantages. There are law and economics arguments in favour of litigation versus alternative dispute resolution (ADR) solutions. After setting out the theoretical arguments, we discuss some American and European real-life examples of such rapid claims settlement mechanisms: the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) and the Belgian compensation fund for technological accidents. The theoretical discussion, enriched by the illustration of the practical examples, will culminate in guidelines on how to set up a rapid claims settlement mechanism.
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  • 79
    Publication Date: 2016-07-13
    Description: The 2015 Paris Agreement, a product of a deeply discordant political context rife with fundamental and seemingly irresolvable differences between Parties, is an unusual Agreement. It contains a mix of hard, soft and non-obligations, the boundaries between which are blurred, but each of which plays a distinct and valuable role. This article identifies various defining elements of legal character and tabulates the core provisions of the Paris Agreement across a spectrum from those that conform most closely to hard obligations to those that are best characterized as ‘non-obligations’. It explores political drivers for the carefully calibrated mix of hard, soft and non-obligations in the Paris Agreement, as well as the dynamic interplay between them, and their critical importance in delivering an agreement acceptable to all.
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  • 80
    Publication Date: 2013-09-12
    Description: The tension between the meaning of causality in science and law or public policy is well-known; however, defendants in product liability cases or industries that might be affected by a government regulation may try to convince the factfinder to require evidence of a causal relationship that meets the standards of science. From the perspective of public health, however, people may be exposed unnecessarily to a health risk during the time period between the establishment of reasonably strong evidence of a causal relationship and the overwhelming evidence required for scientific causality. The Bayesian paradigm enables one to update information from epidemiologic studies as they accumulate, providing estimates of the probability that the relative risk of a particular harm from exposure exceeds a threshold value, e.g. 2.0 or 4.0 that is sufficient to meet the preponderance of the evidence standard or to support a health initiative. In order to diminish the role of the initial prior distribution, which may be quite subjective, the first case-control study or an analysis of adverse event and case reports is used to determine two prior distributions. One is the most favourable to the defendant, or industry that might be regulated, which is consistent with the previous data. The other is centred on or near the estimated relative risk from the first study. The method is applied to the studies that linked aspirin use to Reye syndrome and demonstrates that the evidence of a causal association was sufficiently strong in 1982, when the Food and Drug Administration first proposed that the public be warned of the risk, to support the regulation. Thus, lives would have been saved had the warning been given at the end of 1982 rather than in early 1985.
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  • 81
    Publication Date: 2013-09-12
    Description: In law, inferences of causation are sometimes made through a structured process in which multiple participants play various roles, and make decisions concerning various logical components of the overall inference (such as legal rules, policy objectives, presumptions, evidence, burdens of proof and findings of fact). This article illustrates such a process using empirical research into compensation decisions in the USA for injuries allegedly caused by vaccinations. Empirical research into actual legal processes is essential, in order to discover how various players approach their sub-tasks of decision-making. It also provides insights for areas outside of law, such as non-monotonic logic, cognitive science, sociology and artificial intelligence.
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  • 82
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Oxford University Press
    Publication Date: 2013-09-12
    Description: Situations of causal factual uncertainty are relatively common in law. The problems and difficulties regarding ‘factual causation’ in law point to the need of ‘evidence’ and ‘proof’ models that are adequate and capable to accommodate the tests and methodologies used to explain and demonstrate it in a legal context. Given the configuration of the situations of causal factual uncertainty and the available ‘evidence’ and ‘proof’ models, I argue that it is justified to use an ‘argumentative-narrative’ model for ‘proving causation’ in law. However, considering that each model of ‘evidence’ and ‘proof’ reveals a different kind of ‘rationality’ that can still be viewed in different ways, I also argue that we must try to match the perspective we have on the ‘rationality’ behind the chosen model of ‘evidence’ and ‘proof’ with the ‘rationality’ underlying ‘causation’ in law.
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  • 83
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Oxford University Press
    Publication Date: 2013-09-12
    Description: At least in some cases, the values confronted in legal decision-making appear to be incommensurable. Some legal theorists resist incommensurability because they fear that this presents an overwhelming obstacle to rational decision-making. By offering a close analysis of proportionality and, more particularly, measures of proportional value satisfaction, I show that this fear is unfounded. Comparative measures of proportional value satisfaction do not require the values to be commensurable. However, assuming incommensurability presents us with the problem of public significance in the proportional satisfaction of values. When two values are commensurable, this public significance is provided by the mediating effects of the overarching third value that provides the common measure of the values. However, when this common measure is removed, then the public significance of value satisfaction must be otherwise achieved. This is why I propose an equal proportional value satisfaction as the most appropriate proportionality maximand. Under equal proportional value satisfaction, the proportional satisfaction of any one value has significance for each and every other value. This kind of public significance is interpersonal rather than impersonal (or second-personal rather than third-personal). The article then shows that the legal process that is most appropriate to equal proportionality is a process that implements defeasible legal rules.
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  • 84
    Publication Date: 2013-09-12
    Description: In order to allocate the risk between parties in legal adjudication, we use evidentiary techniques with the main device among them being the standard of proof (SoP). The traditional view holds the grade of probability to be the parameter that shifts when moving to different standards. However, as soon as we dig slightly deeper, an incoherent picture is being revealed. In this article, I challenge the accepted view and try to show that it faces insurmountable problems concerning the rationality, the grammatical consistency and the impact of the SoP for the acceptability of verdicts. At the end of the article, I shortly discuss the theory of epistemological contextualism and propose a framework that allows rational distinctions to be drawn between different standards of proof. In the second part of this project (forthcoming), I will defend a contextualist view according to which shifting parameter is not the grade of (aleatory) probability, but instead the Set of Epistemic Defeaters in play.
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  • 85
    Publication Date: 2013-09-12
    Description: This article focuses on the question of how decision makers with no relevant scientific background can (if at all) legitimately evaluate conflicting scientific expert testimonies and determine their relative reliability. Sceptics argue that non-experts can never reach justifiable conclusions regarding the merits of conflicting expert testimonies because they lack the fundamental epistemic capacity to make such judgement calls. In this article, I draw on works on epistemology, philosophy of practical reasoning, philosophy of science, science and technology studies, and legal theory in order to scrutinize recent proposals to solve the problem of conflicting scientific expert testimonies. Addressing this question is of ultimate importance due to the idea that immanent in the idea of rule-of-law there is an intellectual due process norm, which articulates that epistemically arbitrary legal decisions are also not legally justified. This article is divided into two Sections. In Section 2 , I describe the basic philosophical inquiries underlying the debate about expert testimony. In particular, I first elaborate on the philosophy of testimony and its epistemic justifications, then move to the idea of epistemic deference, and finish with philosophical accounts of expertise. Section 3 presents the problem of conflicting scientific expert testimonies and analyses recent attempts to solve it as formulated by Ward Jones, Alvin Goldman and Scott Brewer. I argue that there is no single criterion (or set of criteria) upon which the non-expert could rely in order to make a rationally justified decision in each and every case in which he faces conflicting scientific expert testimonies. The alternative view here defended is to stop looking for an epistemic panacea and accept the idea that testimonial reliability operates differently within different kinds of testimony—and differently within the same kind of testimony at different times.
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  • 86
    Publication Date: 2013-06-08
    Description: The criterion of bioequivalence of two drugs in infringement cases may differ from the requirements used for drug approval by the FDA. In Adams v . Perrigo , 1 the Federal Circuit examined three different sets of criteria for judging bioequivalence. The statistical properties of those criteria are explored and evaluated. Our results support the appellate court’s decision to impose less stringent requirements for bioequivalence in infringement cases.
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  • 87
    Publication Date: 2013-06-08
    Description: The North Carolina Racial Justice Act allows defendants to submit statistical studies of prosecutorial actions pertaining to their seeking the death penalty or in making peremptory challenges. These studies may consider data from four geographical regions: the state, county, judicial division or prosecutorial district. A study of the effect of race on peremptory challenges in death penalty cases demonstrating statistically significant disparities disadvantaging Black defendants has been submitted in several cases. This comment shows that a more appropriate statistical analysis yields much stronger statistical evidence that race entered into the peremptory challenge process in Randolph County than the affidavit submitted by the authors of the study. A subsequent sensitivity analysis indicates that in order for a characteristic to explain the highly statistically significant disparity, it would need to increase the odds of an individual being challenged by a factor of three and more than twice as many Black venire members would need to possess that characteristic as non-Blacks. Since the data examined excluded potential jurors who had been removed for cause, it may be difficult for the state to find a legitimate reason justifying the racial disparity.
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  • 88
    facet.materialart.
    Unknown
    Oxford University Press
    Publication Date: 2013-06-12
    Print ISSN: 0022-0744
    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 89
    Publication Date: 2013-06-12
    Description: Polysaccharides account for more than 90% of the content of fungal cell walls, but the mechanism underlying the formation of the architecture of the cell walls, which consist of microfibrils embedded in an amorphous wall matrix, remains unknown. We used electron microscopy to investigate ten different fungal cell-wall polysaccharides to determine whether they could self-assemble into the fibrillar or amorphous component of fungal cell walls in a test tube without enzymes. The ultrastructures formed by precipitating β-1,3-glucan and β-1,6-glucan are different depending on the existence of branching in the molecule. Linear β-1,3-glucan and linear β-1,6-glucan precipitate into a fibrillar ultrastructure. Branched β-1,6-glucan, mannan and glycogen precipitates are amorphous. Branched β-1,3-glucan forms a fibrillar plus amorphous ultrastructure. Self-assembly among combinations of different linear and branched cell-wall polysaccharides results in an ultrastructure that resembles that of a yeast cell wall, which suggests that self-assembly of polysaccharides may participate in the development of the three-dimensional architecture of the yeast cell wall.
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  • 90
    Publication Date: 2013-06-08
    Description: This article critically evaluates experiments used to justify inferences of specific source attribution (‘individualization’) to ‘100% certainty’ and ‘near-zero’ rates of error claimed by firearm toolmark examiners in court testimonies, and suggests approaches for establishing statistical foundations for firearm toolmarks practice that two recent National Academy of Science reports confirm do not currently exist. Issues that should be considered in the earliest stages of statistical foundational development for firearm toolmarks are discussed.
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  • 91
    Publication Date: 2013-06-08
    Description: Much debate exists between Frequentist and Bayesian methods in statistics. In the evaluation of evidence, the likelihood ratio is credited with quantifying the value of evidence in favour of one or other proposition by considering the probability of the evidence conditional on each proposition and this then converts the Bayesian prior odds into the posterior odds. Motivated by this approach, this paper considers an alternative p -value-based likelihood ratio by explicitly taking into account the behaviour of the Frequentist p -value under both hypotheses, rather than restricting focus solely on the null hypothesis. It is shown that by accommodating the alternative hypothesis, analysis leads to inferential conclusions which are consistent with Bayesian methods.
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  • 92
    Publication Date: 2013-06-12
    Description: When considering drug delivery, the amount of drug that can be carried at a particular time and how the drug is incorporated efficiently into cells are important parameters. Transferrin (Tf)-conjugated nanocarriers have been used for the targeted delivery of drugs to cancer cells due to the availability of receptor-mediated clathrin-dependent endocytosis. In general, however, endocytosis seems to differ according to the size and shape of carriers. Large substances are generally internalized into cells by phagocytosis. We studied the internalization mechanism of Tf-conjugated nanoparticles (diameter, 522 nm). Tf-conjugated polystyrene particles were incorporated into cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis with large clathrin-coated vesicles even though their diameter was 〉500 nm and despite that fact that clathrin-coated vesicles have a diameter of 100 nm. This finding suggests that signals for internalization generated by stimulated Tf receptors (TfRs) activate clathrin-mediated endocytosis preferentially. Whether these larger particles could deliver drugs more efficiently than smaller particles was then examined. The toxicity of larger Tf-conjugated biodegradable nanoparticles (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)) encapsulating doxorubicin (diameter, 216 ± 38 nm) was appreciably dependent on the number of Tf molecules conjugated on a particle and the number of TfRs expressed on the cell membrane. Larger Tf-conjugated particles delivered drugs to cancer cells expressing many TfRs more selectively than their smaller counterparts (diameter, 56 ± 9 nm) if they were decorated with an appropriate number of Tf molecules.
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  • 93
    Publication Date: 2013-06-12
    Description: Structural biology relies on good-quality protein crystals in order for structure determination. Many factors affect the growth process of a protein crystal including the way it nucleates and the types of damage and contamination during its growth. Although the nucleation process and quality of a crystal is vital to structure determination, they are both under-studied areas of research. Our research begins to explore ways of measuring the quality of protein crystals, using TEM, thus overcoming the problems associated with viewing wet specimens in a vacuum. Our current understanding of nucleation is that it is a two-step mechanism involving the formation of nuclei from dense liquid clusters; however; it is still unclear whether nuclei first start as amorphous aggregates or as crystalline lattices. Potentially, electron diffraction may be capable of uncovering this process. Using TEM imaging and diffraction of lysozyme as a model protein crystal, we report the internal two-dimensional strain and the density of crystallites in a protein crystal, at a resolution never seen before. The TEM diffraction shows unique features of crystal mosaicity that can be directly correlated to TEM images.
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  • 94
    Publication Date: 2013-06-08
    Description: This essay explores the implications of complexity for understanding both the law of evidence and the nature of the legal system. Among the propositions critically analysed is that one significant way to understand the general problem of the meaning of rationality is as a multivariate search for tools to understand and regulate a hostile environment. The law of evidence is conceptualized as a subset of this effort, at least in part, as involving a search for tools to regulate the almost infinitely complex domain of potentially relevant evidence and at the same time to accommodate policy demands. The proposition is then considered that the legal system of which the evidentiary system is a part has emergent properties that may not be deducible from its component parts, which suggests in turn that it may be, or at least has properties highly analogous to, a complex adaptive system. One implication of this analysis is that the tools of standard academic research that rely heavily on the isolation and reduction of analytical problems to manageable units to permit them to be subjected to standard deductive methodologies may need to be supplemented with analytical tools that facilitate the regulation of complex natural phenomena such as fluid dynamics. This has direct implications for such things as the conception of law as rules, and thus for the Hart–Dworkin debate that has dominated jurisprudence for 50 years. That debate may have mischaracterized the object of its inquiry, and thus the Dworkinian solution to the difficulties of positivism is inapplicable. It can certainly be shown that the Dworkinian solution is not achievable and cannot rationally be approximated. Solutions to legal problems within the legal system as a whole (as compared to any particular node within the legal system) are arrived at through a process of inference to the best explanation that occurs within a highly interconnected set of nodes similar to a neural or social network.
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  • 95
    Publication Date: 2013-06-12
    Description: The cotyledon of legume seeds is a storage organ that provides nutrients for seed germination and seedling growth. The spatial and temporal control of the degradation processes within cotyledons has not been elucidated. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals, a common calcium deposit in plants, have often been reported to be present in legume seeds. In this study, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was employed at the SPring-8 facility to examine the three-dimensional distribution of crystals inside cotyledons during seed maturation and germination of Lotus miyakojimae (previously Lotus japonicus accession Miyakojima MG-20). Using this technique, we could detect the outline of the embryo, void spaces in seeds and the cotyledon venation pattern. We found several sites that strongly inhibited X-ray transmission within the cotyledons. Light and polarizing microscopy confirmed that these areas corresponded to CaOx crystals. Three-dimensional observations of dry seeds indicated that the CaOx crystals in the L. miyakojimae cotyledons were distributed along lateral veins; however, their distribution was limited to the abaxial side of the procambium. The CaOx crystals appeared at stage II (seed-filling stage) of seed development, and their number increased in dry seeds. The number of crystals in cotyledons was high during germination, suggesting that CaOx crystals are not degraded for their calcium supply. Evidence for the conservation of CaOx crystals in cotyledons during the L. miyakojimae germination process was also supported by the biochemical measurement of oxalic acid levels.
    Print ISSN: 0022-0744
    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 96
    Publication Date: 2013-06-12
    Description: The electron irradiation damage of MFI-type zeolite was estimated under various accelerating voltages of 100, 200 and 300 kV from successively captured high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images. To determine the optimal accelerating voltage for HRTEM imaging of electron-sensitive MFI zeolite, the critical dose was estimated from the disappearance of a specific fast Fourier transform spot calculated from experimental images. Based only on the electron dose, a higher voltage was more advantageous. However, taking into account the minimum dose for imaging with a CCD camera, the optimal accelerating voltage for imaging MFI zeolite was 200 kV. The minimum dose for image detection with a CCD camera was surmised from the output/input signal ratio dependence on the accelerating voltage and the contrast range in simulated HRTEM images.
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    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 97
    Publication Date: 2013-06-12
    Description: The magnetic field generated by a magnetic recording head is evaluated using electron holography. A magnetic recording head, which is connected to an electric current source, is set on the specimen holder of a transmission electron microscope. Reconstructed phase images of the region around the magnetic pole show the change in the magnetic field distribution corresponding to the electric current applied to the coil of the head. A simulation of the magnetic field, which is conducted using the finite element method, reveals good agreement with the experimental observations.
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    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 98
    Publication Date: 2013-06-12
    Description: A new multilayer-coated varied line-spaced grating, JS4000, was fabricated and tested for extending the upper limit of a grating X-ray spectrometer for electron microscopy. This grating was designed for 2–3.8 keV at a grazing incidence angle of 1.35°. It was revealed that this new multilayer structure enables us to take soft-X-ray emission spectra continuously from 1.5 to 4.3 keV at the same optical setting. The full-width at half maximum of Te-L α1,2 (3.8 keV) emission peak was 27 eV. This spectrometer was applied to indium tin oxide particles and clearly resolved Sn-L α (3444 eV) and In-L β1 (3487 eV) peaks, which could not be resolved by a widely used energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer.
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    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 99
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    Unknown
    Oxford University Press
    Publication Date: 2013-04-02
    Print ISSN: 0022-0744
    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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  • 100
    Publication Date: 2013-04-02
    Description: For development of advanced materials, characterization using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) including analysis via X-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry and electron energy-loss spectrometry is essential. Recent advances in aberration-corrected instruments have offered large-scale data acquisition at a high resolution for limited acquisition times both in imaging and in analysis. Further advanced procedures are required to analyze such large-scale datasets more efficiently including quantification. In addition, more simplified tuning procedures are crucial to the best possible resolution in the latest aberration-corrected instruments. In this review article, several approaches to perform advanced electron microscopy, which the author has been developing with his colleague, are described as ‘Microscopy Hacks’. These are (i) quantification and elemental/chemical-imaging procedures, (ii) advanced statistical approaches to handle large-scale datasets and (iii) instrument characterization and tuning procedures including the latest development of an ad hoc autotuning procedure for aberration-corrected STEM imaging.
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    Electronic ISSN: 1477-9986
    Topics: Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
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