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Paper machines consume large amounts of energy and in most cases savings are possible. The drying section in the paper machine has been structurally modified through 60 years of operation, with limited use of the heat recovery system. The objective of the work is to assess the opportunities for energy conservation, through the application of energy management systems in the paper factory.Methodologies are applied for energy balance and heat integration, taking into account the requirements specified by the Cuban standard ISO 50001 for energy management systems in terms of energy review. Pinch analysis is applied using HENSAD and Aspen Energy Analyzer computing resources. The proposed energy performance indicators constitute a reference for the definition of an energy baseline. Energy conservation opportunities are identified with a total annual saving of $ 48,902 that makes it feasible to execute a project of $ 35 546, whose capital cost is estimated to be recovered in 2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the process of adapting the Carbon Literacy for Museums Toolkit to develop a course specifically for the archive sector, Carbon Literacy for Archives, Records and Special Collections. This toolkit was launched to the sector in spring 2024. It discusses why carbon literacy (CL) is important, covering the benefits, co-benefits and what CL is. It examines the impact of carbon literacy training (CLT) on greenhouse gas emission and energy use reduction, and why CLT is so effective in generating the transformational behavioural change that is needed to create a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the classic Z-source topology for DC power system protection, an area previously unexplored in such detail. Using OpenModelica simulations, the study offers valuable insights into the Z-source topology's behavior, protection mechanisms, and energy dissipation processes. It includes detailed diagrams, switching states, and explanations of operating principles, supported by waveforms illustrating energy flow through the Z-source components. The findings demonstrate that the Z-source breaker effectively handles fault conditions by disconnecting the source from the load almost instantaneously, within tens of microseconds. The simulations confirm the theoretical models, showing that the Z-source topology efficiently dissipates fault energy through inductors, capacitors, and resistors, thereby protecting sensitive equipment. This thorough analysis enhances understanding of the Z-source topology in DC power systems and establishes a solid foundation for future research and practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the spread of gas in Latin Europe shortly before the First World War. It utilizes the "Annuaire général de l'industrie de l'éclairage et du chauffage par le gaz" from the year 1910 as its primary source, which provides details on the locations in various European countries, including those that make up Latin Europe (France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal), that had access to gas. The study examines regional contrasts in the network's expansion, categorizing the localities with gas access by population size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local climate policy in Germany is embedded in a complex and dense multilevel system. While higher levels of governance confront cities with legal frameworks and regulations, they are not constrained to mere implementation of requirements from the national or supranational levels. Cities can influence and make strategic use of opportunities stemming from the multilevel structure to introduce innovative climate policy measures as best practices. Within a multilevel structure, they can engage in trans‐local action and become actors in various processes of upscaling. In this paper, we analyze the configurations of success for local climate innovations. We focus on the impact of cities' trans‐local and strategic activities within the European multilevel system in conjunction with city‐specific context conditions. The research is based on a concept‐structural framework that combines trans‐local activities and internal context conditions in a way that accounts for interactions between the two spheres. A comparison of the German cities of Darmstadt, Hagen, Offenbach, and Oldenburg indicates that configurations of strategic action in the multilevel system and beneficial local conditions explain the adoption of climate innovations. Therefore, such trans‐local action should not be understood as a sufficient condition of innovative climate policy measures, but as an enabling factor embedded in local contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence is giving rise to intense debates in the doctrine about its compatibility with the humanist ethics prevailing in Western society. This anthropocentric perspective of the paradigm shift posed by artificial intelligence does not, however, exhaust the line of pernicious consequences that may accompany it. Thus, the environment also emerges as a legal asset to be protected against the phenomenon of this new technology. The enormous amount of energy demanded by some of the artificial intelligence models erodes any energy efficiency objectives that may be set in the field of ICTs. For this reason, the aim of this paper will be to analyze this new challenge that environmental law will have to face sooner rather than later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new model is developed by referring to the literature on Dutch disease and rent-seeking for explaining how a natural resource boom in the energy sector decreases national income and induces a resource movement effect under a rent-seeking monopoly. In such a model, it is shown that the resource movement effect certainly occurs during the boom where labor inputs will move to the energy sector from the services sector. Moreover, the boom facilitates rent-seeking and decreases national income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, it was analyzed how the angle of inclination and the azimuth influence the generation of a photovoltaic plant. The plants belonging to the 100 MW program, consisting of 30 photovoltaic plants distributed in Cuba, were analyzed. First, the plants with their current design were simulated and the results were compared with the measurements obtained in each plant. The comparison allowed validating the simulations, where the difference remained below 10%, in most cases. The next step was that different angles of inclination and an east-west orientation were analyzed. The results were compared with studies carried out in other parts of the world, where it is proposed that the angle of inclination and the east-west orientation as a new solution to increase the energy produced by a photovoltaic power plant, taking into account the geographical position, climatic conditions and the investment value or cost of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a piece of research on the use and impact of renewable energies in rural development in Mexico. It was found that various projects have been financed to be included in agricultural production activities and for the lighting of rural communities; however, according to the report of the sustainable development goals, there are still many challenges to face. Ensuring that 100% of the Mexican rural population has energy would lead to an improvement in living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a methodology for obtaining the voltage and current references that permits the modelling of Hybrid Cuk (HC) Converters. The passive sign convention when system elements absorb energy is used to derive the differential equations governing the behaviour of the converter. This allows the explanation of the operation principle of the converter that is performed through the switching states. The behavior of the converter is studied by means of an energy interchange analysis between inductors and capacitors. After the deduction of the references and operating principle, the differential equations (DEs) that allow the modelling of the converter are deduced. Finally, a comparison between the mathematical model and the circuital representation of the converter is performed in OpenModelica for validation purposes. The simulations' results allow to conclude that the obtained references and differential equations are coherent with the circuital implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process Integration combine several processes to reduce consumption of resources and harmful emissions, becoming an important asset in ensuring the sustainability of industrial processes. This paper aims to set energy performance indicators of a cane sugar refinery. A procedure that includes the energy analysis and Pinch Analysis methodologies is applied, with the use of HENSAD. Targets and energy performance indicators, currently not reported for this refinery, contribute to the definition of an energy baseline and the systematic measurement of efficiency. There is an excess in thermal power duty of 32,5 MW with respect to the minimum heating duty, which determines the research into retrofit designs of the heat exchanger network. Annual savings of 1 010 571 USD estimated in energy analysis and heat integration make the evaluation of investment projects in the energy area feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy transition process is reflected in the transformation of landscapes. The progressive incorporation of increasingly more modern energy technologies opens debates in European countries related to their landscape integration and the social perception. In Argentina, the energy landscapes have not been relevant enough as to be a subject of analysis in the academic field. Based on the lack of antecedents, this exploratory paper aims at considering the landscape as a geographical analysis category about the past and present use of wind energy. The objective is to study the patrimonial worthiness and the socio-environmental challenges, as the result of the transformation of the landscapes, by the materialization of the energy transition. To achieve this, it applies a qualitative methodology and different space-time analysis scales. The work reconstructs the heritage legacy of the wind from old low-power facilities for milling, water pumping and electricity production that are revalued by society. It also makes a preliminary analysis of the emerging wind landscapes after the start-up of large wind farms in certain regions of the country. The new landscapes created by the installation of wind turbines produce very diverse reactions in communities, ranging from acceptance to social rejection, including neutrality or indifference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of parliament are key actors for the implementation of energy transitions, such as phasing out nuclear power. Before legislators can cast their maybe decisive vote in parliament, they need to run for office and actively strive for election. This paper assesses what political candidates oppose renewable energy transitions and questions whether the energy issue matters in national elections, and thus has consequences for the implementation of new sustainable energy sources. We analyze these questions by first describing the specific characteristics of political candidates. The paper then evaluates the relevance of the energy issue for electoral success in three national elections in Switzerland (2007, 2012, and 2015). Based on candidate data from the voting advice application smartvote.ch, we find that female candidates support ETs more than men do; that especially the French‐speaking part of the country is more in favor of a nuclear phase‐out, and that younger candidates are also more open toward restructuring the energy system than older candidates are. Our models further show that the energy issue does not matter in elections, independently from its salience in the respective election campaigns. Candidates are thus relatively free to choose their position on the issue and do not have to fear consequences at the ballot. However, candidates of center parties, in contrast to the pole parties, are sensitive to the energy issue and reflect public mood in their positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of U.S. states have set targets for renewable energy, but the prospects for meeting most of these goals hinge on the willingness of local governments to allow large‐scale renewable energy projects in their communities. In this paper, I investigate how exposure to lobbying by wind developers and the actions of neighboring jurisdictions inform the adoption and design of rules for siting commercial wind farms. Using data collected from 1603 counties in 23 states, I find local policymakers are more likely to enact wind ordinances when they have more time to interact with wind developers and when neighboring counties have adopted wind ordinances or approved the construction of wind farms. I also observe that counties tend to adopt more stringent rules when more wind farms have been built in neighboring counties. This evidence suggests that efforts to scale up renewable energy generation may encounter increasing resistance from local governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understudied aspect of the "fracking" debate involves questions and challenges associated with abandoned wells and well closure. States regulators have a variety of options when it comes to policies and financial tools related to site closure and remediation including bonds, fees, and specific legacy funds. Those advocating more robust financial programs suggest that they are necessary to mitigate risks to the public. Opponents contend that they dissuade operators from investing in older fields and add costs that are passed on to consumers. Using a novel index of state financial tools, this paper assesses why some states adopt more robust financial assurance while others do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document titled "COM (2011) 144 final. Brussels, March 28, 2011 White Paper: Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area: Towards a competitive and sustainable transport policy" presents a roadmap to achieve a competitive and sustainable transport system in Europe. It emphasizes the need to break the dependence on oil in the transport sector, without sacrificing efficiency or mobility. Ten objectives are established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimize the performance of multimodal logistics chains. The importance of developing adequate infrastructure and using new technologies is also mentioned. The document includes a list of initiatives related to efficient mobility, technology and behavior, infrastructure and intelligent financing, and the external dimension. [Extracted from the article]

The product of extraction in the mining planning of ornamental stone consist in blocks closest to regulars with several dimensions. The paper done has been objective to analyze the mining planning for tipping over of the several geometric configurations of the blocks. These have been classified into quadrangular or rectangular regular prism without "Boca de Lobo" (B.L), oblique with upper declivity without B.L, oblique with upper declivity and with B.L, and quadrangular or rectangular regular prism with B.L, applied the conservation of the mechanics energy theory and quantity of movement with to obtain the angular velocity (ω). Has been conclude that a scalar magnitude ω, in rad/s, obtain the biggest influence when the blocks have the characteristics with presence of upper part declivity as a show the results with velocities ω = 1,52 rad/s to the dimension stone of type (2) and ω = 1, 906 rad/s to the dimension stone of type (3). It was concluded that the angular velocity has a greater influence on the blocks with slope on their upper face, suggesting an optimization in the geometry of the blocks to maximize the production chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trust is a key component of democratic decision‐making and becomes even more salient in highly technical policy areas, where the public relies heavily on experts for decision making and on the information provided by federal agencies. Research to date has not examined whether the members of the public place different levels of trust in the various agencies that operate within the same policy subsystem, especially in a highly technical subsystem such as that of nuclear energy and waste management. This paper explores public trust in multiple agencies operating within the same subsystem, trust in each agency relative to aggregate trust across agencies that operate within the nuclear waste subsystem, and trust in alternative agencies that have been suggested as possible players in the decision‐making process. We find that trust accorded to different federal agencies within the nuclear waste subsystem varies. The variation in trust is systematically associated with multiple factors, including basic trust in government, perceptions about the risks and benefits of nuclear energy/waste management, party identification, and education. These findings have significant implications for research on public trust in specific government agencies, alternative policy entities, and for policy makers who want to design robust and successful policies and programs in highly technical policy domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of having cleaner and more sustainable energy networks, as well as reducing the consequences of climate change, promotes transitions towards efficient energy matrices based on renewable energy. The diffusion of ICT, the most efficient use of energy and the promotion of distributed energy generation advances in different territorial scales. Within this framework, Smart Electrical Grids (SEGs), which combine traditional electricity supply with ICT, constitute a new way of organizing the flows of electricity and of information based on the integration of data from the various nodes of the energy network. This paper explores the sociotechnical changes of a case of smart grids in the province of Mendoza on the basis of observations and semi-structured interviews in the localities involved. From the perspective of the social studies of technology, the normative antecedents of distributed energy generation and smart grids (SEGs) are investigated as well as the process of transformation of the "user / consumer" to the "user / generator". Smart grids enable the incorporation of renewable energy as well as favoring territorial expansion into marginal regions while promoting an eventual advance towards a national sustainable energy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper treated of environmental accounting disclosure level regarding the largest energy generation companies listed at BM&F Bovespa, analyzing the requirements of the Accounting Standards Pronouncement related to the subject. The evaluation of information included the Standards Accounting Statements (DFP) between the years 2010 and 2014. The sample of companies was based on companies with significant assets amount and listed on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (BM&F BOVESPA) that are within the universe of those which significantly impact the environment due their activities. Therefore, due an accounting requirement regarding the disclosure of tax liabilities by companies, the main goal were identify if companies from energy sector are complying with the minimum demanding related to environmental contingencies disclosure, as required by CPC 25. The objective of the study was to identify the level of environmental accounting disclosure of the largest energy generation companies listed at BM&F Bovespa, analyzing the Accounting Standards requirements. For this academic study was used the content analysis methodology, which evaluation considered just the disclosure made by companies object of this paper. The disclosure of information object of the study are compulsory because are considered as mandatory due the current accounting standards, and are reinforced why they are opened stock exchange companies being required periodically the disclosure in them DFPs. The results of the study showed generally that this companies present a moderately satisfactory accounting disclosure level of environmental contingent liabilities, however they need to improve the presentation level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of energy is directly related to the growing demand and excessive dependence on the production of fossil resources, that is, coal, oil and natural gas, which must be planned in a safe, clean, efficient and sustainable scenario. The objective of this paper is to analyze oil production in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, during the period between 2002 and 2015. An econometric model was developed using the Cobb-Douglas production function and the results obtained allowed observing the existing gap between real production and the goals proposed by the Venezuelan State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the impact of potential changes in the price relation between domestic and imported coal and its influence on the volume of coal imported to Poland. The study is carried out with the application of a computable model of the Polish energy system. The model reflects fundamental relations between coal suppliers (domestic coal mines, importers) and key coal consumers (power plants, combined heat and power plants, heat plants, industrial power plants). The model is run under thirteen scenarios, differentiated by the ratio of the imported coal price versus the domestic coal price for 2020-2030. The results of the scenario in which the prices of imported and domestic coal, expressed in PLN/GJ, are equal, indicate that the volume of supplies of imported coal is in the range of 8.3-11.5 million Mg (depending on the year). In the case of an increase in prices of imported coal with respect to the domestic one, supplies of imported coal are at the level of 0.4-4.1 million Mg (depending on the year). With a decrease in the price of imported coal, there is a gradual increase in the supply of coal imports. For the scenario in which a 30% lower imported coal price is assumed, the level of imported coal almost doubles (180%), while the supply from domestic mines is reduced by around 28%, when compared to the levels observed in the reference scenario. The obtained results also allow for the development of an analysis of the range of coal imports depending on domestic versus imported coal price relations in the form of cartograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper consists of a preliminary study of the effects of thermoelectric generators based on the principle of application of the Seebeck effect for the generation of electric energy. To do so, a bibliographic survey about the subject was carried out, aiming to evaluate the main characteristics and the possibilities of applications. In a concise way, some preliminary results are presented regarding the production of samples of the bismuth-antimony-zinc alloy, produced through powders obtained by the powder metallurgy process. They were developed with the intention of being objects of studies in the sequence of the research, in order to know the characteristics and thermoelectric properties of these materials after being compacted. The first results were obtained by measuring the voltage of each analyzed composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of renewable energy sources to create microgrids is drawing growing interest to address current energy-related challenges around the globe. Nevertheless, microgrids must be analyzed using specialized tools that allow to conduct operation, technical and economic studies. In that regard, this paper presents a case study in which the software HOMER Energy Pro was implemented to design and analyze the performance of a microgrid. Such microgrid comprises a photovoltaic system, a wind system and a diesel plant. The parameters of the energy systems are based on information about local weather conditions available in databases. Finally, this analysis is performed under two conditions: stand-alone and grid-tied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to show the essential aspects of the development of the physical concept of energy, in order to subsidize the choice of teachers about the best way to understand and teach this concept. We will study the thought of some of the main scientists who were interested on the subject, and the emerging debates around this topic. The paper is divided in two parts. Firstly, some contributions of Thomas Young, Johann Bernoulli, Galileo Galilei, René Descartes and Leibniz will be analyzed. Moreover, the evolution of the physical concept of energy in the context of machines and beyond the mechanics will be presented. The main idea that guides the discussion of this text is the fact that the development of the physical concept of energy is closely related to the development of the principle that there is a "constancy in the midst of change". That is, something is always constant despite changes in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control of energy resources is an important aspect within the geopolitical disputes between States. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to show that the US policy on shale gas exploration lies within the context of the country's strategic issue of energy security. To achieve this aim it is necessary to: i) describe the relationship between the hegemony of the United States and the petroleum energy regime; ii) understand the American energy matrix and the role of shale gas exploration in the current global context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we probe the possibilities and limits of Petrocaribe, a Venezuelan-led oil alliance that has shaped energy and development initiatives in the Caribbean basin since the mid 2000s, as well as U.S. responses to the program. Drawing from a range of sources, including interviews with regional actors and leaked diplomatic cables from Wikileaks, we describe some of the contours of these competing regional energy assemblages, and analyze how they intersect with both the legacies of colonial dependency and more recent neoliberal models for development within the Caribbean region. We contextualize and frame these initiatives by drawing from Caribbean scholarship on regional history and contemporary change and focus in particular on the continuing role of the plantation model in shaping regional affairs. We place this Caribbean scholarship in conversation with recent work in the social sciences utilizing the concept of assemblage that, we suggest, can be usefully adopted to trace how Caribbean energy networks and relations are structured and change over time. We argue that while Petrocaribe successfully provided opportunities for new forms of Caribbean development, the program had to be layered onto an already-existing oil assemblage comprised of durable infrastructures, private sector actors, and geopolitical interests, thus responding to conditions that limit the available options for truly transforming energy relations within the region. While such conditions opened up a space for a viable U.S. response to Petrocaribe, we argue that U.S. government initiatives in the region have consistently embraced a private sector approach that reproduces existing dependencies rather than enhancing the region's energy sovereignty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent reform of Mexico's energy sector, underway since 2013, is the culmination of several decades of liberalization policies that aimed, in large part, to denationalize Mexico's petroleum industry and open the sector to investment from private foreign firms. In reversing the nationalization of Mexico's oil industry in 1938, this reform has significant implications for the triumph of neoliberal globalization in the Global South, even in a period of rising protectionism in the Global North. Both the United States and Canada played a significant role in promoting the reform of Mexico's energy sector and in structuring the legislative changes that reopened Mexico's hydrocarbon resources to foreign control. Over the past two years, Canadian firms have benefited significantly from new pipeline and oil and gas contracts in Mexico. Taking a legal-geographical approach, this paper examines Canadian involvement in the restructuring of Mexico's oil and gas sector, both spatially (through proximity, interests, and influence in the North American energy market) and legally. The legal component operates through a form of juridical pluralism, in which the institutions of contemporary economic globalization, including the Canadian state, participate in legislative and regulatory changes in the Mexican oil industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the used methodology to calculate the present and future potentials of total biomass wastes, from the economic, social, environmental and technological point of view in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. From the values of sugarcane, coffee, rice, and sawmill wastes, through information provided by the main producing companies in Cienfuegos province, it was possible to determine the total energy delivered, as well as the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. In the case of the bagasse, the total energy was 4.409E+08 MJ, leaving 137 652.9 t CO2 to emit in the atmosphere. For the filter cake it was 7.093E+08 MJ and 221 423.9 tCO2. In the case of coffee and rice residues these values were 4.808E+05 MJ with 184 tCO2 for coffee and 6.34E+07MJ with 19 868.87 tCO2 for rice, respectively. Finally, the total energy for sawmill waste was 4.108E+07 MJ and 2 346.72 tCO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine energies are being increasingly considered worldwide as a major and promising resource. One of them, wave energy, captures the mechanical energy of waves to generate electricity. This paper presents a review of the following topics: global energy situation, advantages and currently used types of wave energy converters. Chile possesses an energy situation that requires the use of new technologies. The region of Tarapacá has a considerable potential for generating electricity from waves, so using this type of energy is presented as a highly relatable option with industries that are part of the major economic driver of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of energy is directly related to the growing demand and excessive dependence on the production of fossil resources, that is, coal, oil and natural gas, which must be planned in a safe, clean, efficient and sustainable scenario. The objective of this paper is to analyze oil production in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, during the period between 2002 and 2014. An econometric model was developed using the Cobb-Douglas production function and the results obtained allowed observing the existing gap between real production and the goals proposed by the Venezuelan State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyse how future teachers of early childhood education make use of their scientific knowledge in the daily environment. To this end, 64 students of the 4th year of the Degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Valencia, after a reading of two journalistic texts about the effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident at the Olympic Games in Japan in 2020, answered an open questionnaire. They also had to answer some questions about the didactic use of the texts. The results show the little impact that science has had when it comes to forming their opinion, as well as the difficulties they encounter when using their scientific knowledge in everyday contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a study on the potential of improvements in the technological process of the plants of the province of Cienfuegos, in order to be able to evaluate alternatives to achieve the increase in the delivery of electric energy to the National Electroenergetic System. The five current thermoenergy schemes of the plants under study are described, as well as the Termoazúcar system (STA 4.1) to evaluate a base case in each one of them and to be able to determine the opportunities of improvements from the analysis of operational indicators. The proposed measures are implemented in the improved cases, with the conclusion that changes in the technological process in the plants favor an increase of 12 to 38% of the excess bagasse for each plant, as well as an increase of 22 382.8 kWh / d more than for base cases in the amount of energy sold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to design a methodology to support a process of monitoring, measurement and analysis of energy performance for a leader company in the manufacturing of various types of paper for industrial use. The methodology is based on the pentalogy of Taiichi Ohno offering a chain of five management activities from the need to measure until the selection of energy performance improvements for an organization. The result is a detailed description for the activities for measurement, know, control, management and improvement. Key findings indicate that it is possible to apply the approach Taiichi Ohno to organize a process of monitoring, measurement, control and analysis of energy performance in a manufacturing company supported by consumption indicators, performance and energy savings associated with areas and operational equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A design for primary education teacher training is presented and analyzed in this paper. The design addresses scientific and educational aspects and focuses on the study of erosion from the energy perspective 35 groups (131 students in total) collaborated in the design development and their reports were analyzed. Results show that groups of students did not have scientific limitations when identifying changes in landscape related to the erosive agent, the agent's characteristics or the type of energy implicated on erosion. However, they had some difficulties formulating key concepts -specific contents- they should teach and including those ideas in learning activities. These observations specially apply to the energy model that should be used in the context of erosion in primary education. Participants in the study showed less teaching skills time after the learning activity compared to their skills during the activity. Finally, in the light of these results, changes aiming to improve this design are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of scientific concepts is usually described as a pathway from the realm of concrete life to the abstract principles of science, in a higher level of generalisation. In this paper, we argue that the appropriation of scientific concepts occurs in the return to concrete in a higher level of conceptual development, which means a transition from the given concrete to a thoughtful and recreated concrete. In the first part of the paper we ground this point of view based on the intellectual routes of Lev Vigotski and on the Philosophy of Language of Michail Bakhtin. From Vigotski, we discuss the dialectic method of research, the concept of semiotic mediation and its implications to conceptual development, the relationship between everyday and scientific concepts and the role of concrete and abstract realms in conceptual development. From Bakhtin, we understand conceptual development as sense making in the dialogue between voices in different spheres of social life. In the second part of this paper we present empirical evidence to support this thesis. This will be done by analysing the meanings evoked by rural teacher students to the concept of energy in narratives produced by them at the end of a module of study on this subject. We seek to examine how the subjects of this experience populate with new meanings, dialectically and dialogically, the concept of energy. The main result of this study is the presence of a hybridisation of scientific and everyday life discourses in the efforts of subjects to confer relevant meanings (in both personal and social aspects) to the abstract statements of science. We conclude with some implications of this thesis to science education research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been recognised that relationships are key to good mental health service delivery and yet the quality of the relational context remains poorly understood. This article brings together three studies that utilize very different methodologies to explore the various ways in which a process of therapeutic change can be aided or prevented by relational factors. All three studies took place within the context of therapeutic communities. The first study uses narrative ethnography and interaction ritual theory to explain how the mechanisms of everyday encounters in two therapeutic communities transform negative feeling into a sense of belonging and positive emotions such as confidence. The second study uses grounded theory to explore how the relational setting and the altered context of the researcher in a therapeutic faith community environment induces either a positive or negative quality of relationships. The final study uses a novel autoethnographic methodology to inform understanding of the relational experience of mental health treatment by comparing and contrasting multiple perspectives of different treatment environments. The paper concludes by identifying the expression and containment of affect in a congruent environment, belonging and hope, and fluid hierarchies of relational structures as key aspects of the relational context informing change. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper discusses the difficulties of a graduate student in the area of Energy in writing the introduction of a research paper in English. Two versions of the text (one after the instruction and another after the conference with the instructor) were compared with Swales' (2004) and Samraj' (2002) models of introductions taught in the English academic writing course offered. The student revealed the following problems: narration as the rhetorical mode of organization of the text, the absence of Move 2 of the introduction, inappropriate choice of vocabulary. The combination of these factors prevented the article from having the cultural value of the academic article genre: self-promotion. The data raise questions about the limits of empirical description of genres and their teaching based on this kind of description. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work is realized a discussion of all papers that the sugar cane production and other products derivates of sugar cane, that were published in the Centroazucar Review through 2000-2008 period. It is included one total of 472 scientific papers, 68 concerning the sugar cane productions, 28 with reference to de ethanol productions and 114 about other derivers' products of sugar cane. It is significant, the emphasis that it is made in the scientifically investigations concerning sugar machines with 84 Scientifics article and about welding activity with 33 articles publicities in the analyzing time. Also, there are contributing publications about the energetic and environmental problems with a total of 53 and 22 respectability. Finally, conclusions are elaborated on for future works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy crisis is an absolute limit to the reproduction of capital. Because of it, the extraterritorial logic of capitalism remakes the international work division to appropriate more lands and natural resources for energy generation. As a result of it, semi peripheral economies are taken to the productive specialization in agro-energy commodities. In Brazil, this can be seen through the competitive entry neo-developmental politics in the world market, particularly as an agro-diesel provider. This causes the territorial adequacy of local products to the determinability of commodity markets. What marks that adjustment is the National Program of Bio-Diesel Production and Use - PNPB, instituted as a regional expansion of the agricultural frontier of oil for production of bio-diesel politics, under the guise of social inclusion of farmers and peasants. This paper discusses the PNPB as an agrarian reflection of this global scenery and, also, how the peasants have an institutional submission to a capitalist logic that is contrary to their rationality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wireless sensor networks applications, events occur occasionally; therefore, the design of protocols has been focused on saving energy mainly. As consequence of this protocol design strategy most of these energy-efficient protocols limit the use of wireless sensor networks to those applications where a fast response time and the bandwidth are not important. This paper proposes the LEMR-multichannel protocol (Latency, Energy, MAC and Routing, for its acronym in English). LEMR-multichannel is a communication protocol based on a multilayer design which involves the physical, medium access and network layer, which not only preserves the energy efficiency of current protocols but also coordinates the transfer of packets from source to destination in such a way that the network performance in terms of bandwidth, delay and jitter is improved significantly. The LEMR-multichannel superiority in terms of these variables is shown when it is compared with other well-known protocols (TMAC and YMAC), through several simulation experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to show the essential aspects of the development of the physical concept of energy, in order to subsidize the choice of teachers on the best way to understand and teach this concept, and it is divided into two parts. Firstly, we have shown some contributions by Thomas Young, Johann Bernoulli, Galileo Galilei, René Descartes and Leibniz, and how was the evolution of the physical concept of energy in the context of machines and beyond the mechanics. In the second and final part, we have finished our analysis presenting some decisive contributions of Joule and Kelvin for the correct and modern formulation of the principle of conservation of energy and, consequently, of the physical concept of energy. Then, we have given our suggestion on how to approach this concept in the classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin erticle makes tin approach to legislation relating to hydraulic power generation resources, and describes problems arising from lack of legislmtion to protect the identification of o hydroelectric project, proposo some puidelines that couM Ire collected in the regulations to enhance the development of energy projects with water resources. The importance of this paper' is based in tine Peruvian hydroelectric potential to develoo the power generation antivity, this pow er must be exploíted to the maximum for greater investment in this sector and reduce the infrastructure gap that the country currently has. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of the scientific content of the electoral programs. The aim of this study is to identify the cognitive demands of these documents on the citizenship. In order to do that, we have analysed the programs of the four most voted national parties in the general elections on 2011 [in Spain]. The results show that the parties deal with various topics of scientific and technological nature in their programs. Furthermore, the analysis of the cognitive demands of a particular topic -energy- seems to demand the possession of a high particular knowledge in science, technology, environment and economy. The conclusions indicate some guidance from the teaching of experimental sciences to work this kind of social-scientific content that highly affect citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformations taking place in the Amazon, considered the "lungs of the planet", have special significance, not only for energy savings, but also for its environmental impact due to the reduction of greenhouse gases. Since 2010, in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas in Brazil, many power plants are replacing fuel oil with natural gas for power generation. Because of the large natural gas reserves in the region, this fuel has become the best choice for power plants built in this place. This paper analyzes the technical economic and environmental impact of the substitution of fuel oil by natural gas in the analyzed power generation plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are in psychoanalysis different models to account for the dynamic dimension. This paper compares the models of "energy" proposed by both Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan and presents their main consequences for the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the actions toward a more sustainable development, a poor understanding of the role of architecture and urban design to achieve this goal is appreciated in Cuba. The objective of this paper is to show how it is possible to improve the sustainability in a built environment, by simple and economic transformations, taking as study object the Universidad de Ciencias Informáticas (UCI). A qualitative urban diagnosis was carried out in order to define the main performance strategies. The proposals are progressive, based on minimum intervention and maximum impact. Some of them are: rezoning to reduce distances, using alternative transportation means as bicycles and zero energy minibuses, incorporating new services, using renewable sources of energy and creating an ecological park with a wetland for the gray water treatment. This diagnosis allowed to select the more problematic buildings to be transformed based on a qualitative and quantitative evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the actions toward a more sustainable development, a poor understanding of the role of architecture and urban design to achieve this goal is appreciated in Cuba. The objective of this paper is to show how it is possible to improve the sustainability in a built environment, by simple and economic transformations, taking as study object the Universidad de Ciencias Informáticas (UCI). A qualitative urban diagnosis was carried out in order to define the main performance strategies. The proposals are progressive, based on minimum intervention and maximum impact. Some of them are: rezoning to reduce distances, using alternative transportation means as bicycles and zero energy minibuses, incorporating new services, using renewable sources of energy and creating an ecological park with a wetland for the gray water treatment. This diagnosis allowed to select the more problematic buildings to be transformed based on a qualitative and quantitative evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grupo EPM is experiencing a remarkable change in its strategy of social responsibility. The aim of this paper is to analyses the relationship between the strategy change and the political stance of the company in the hydropower Río Grande II area of influence in Colombia. Social responsibility is assumed theoretically as a corporate sustainability initiative. An exploratory case study is adopted. Results suggest that the corporation seeks a more central position in the relationship with the State and the local community. The relationship with the State is oriented towards the collective construction of territory, and with the local community is desired to be more participatory. This new corporative stance leads to still unexplored processes where costs and benefits are shared with the State and the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency in the conversion, distribution and use of energy shows a great potential to control the effects of energetic consumption and its impact on worldwide climate changes. The energetic efficiency public policies are implemented through different mechanisms such as prices, regulation and fiscal and economic incentives. This paper focuses on its regulation from the perspective of two countries with different social and economic levels, Spain and Colombia, and it also compares the results of its application, based on energetic intensity. Additionally, recommendations are made for the development of the best policies of efficiency in Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]