Search results for "Impact."

Chlorinated Ethanes: Sources, Distribution, Environmental Impact, and Health Effects

1984

A New Wireless Device for Real-Time Mechanical Impact Evaluation in a Citrus Packing Line

2020

Abstract. Postharvest handling of fresh fruit is a potential source of bruising and damage, with significant consequences for fruit quality and marketability. In the last 30 years, different types of impact-recording devices (also called electronic fruits or pseudo-fruits) have been developed with the aim of measuring the impacts experienced by fruits during postharvest operations. The aim of this study was to develop and test a novel wireless instrumented sphere to study the critical points in a citrus packing line by measuring the impacts experienced by fruits in real-time. The non-commercial device was based on a MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) sensor node with a sensing range fro…

On stiffness and damping of vibro-impact dynamics of backlash

2021

We consider the instantaneous stiffness and damping of the vibro-impact in a backlash pair. Opposed to the existing and mostly used models of the backlash, we address the problem of contact and separation, and the associated force propagation within a mechanical pair, from a viewpoint of the vibro-impact dynamics. We discuss the impact forces with the coefficient of restitution as a principal factor which shapes the transient backlash response.We show that a common approach to modeling the backlash by means of a dead-zone in a restoring force is unsuitable for correctly capturing the mechanical impact. We exemplary demonstrate a qualitative accord between an experimental backlash response a…

Research production in high-impact journals of contemporary neuroscience: A gender analysis

2017

Neuroscience or Neural Science is a very active and interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand the brain and the nervous system. In spite of important advances made in recent decades, women are still underrepresented in neuroscience research output as a consequence of gender inequality in science overall. This study carries out a scientometric analysis of the 30 neuroscience journals (2009–2010) with the highest impact in the Web of Science database (Thomson Reuters) in order to quantitatively examine the current contribution of women in neuroscientific production, their pattern of research collaboration, scientific content, and the analysis of scientific impact from a gender perspect…

Transferability to LDC of Some European standards concerning the environmental certification of products and services

2002

Goal and Scope. Western developed countries (DC) are currently involved in an important process of releasing new rules and standards devoted to the environmental certifications of urban systems, in order of accomplishing the requirements established by the international protocols (Kyoto, among them), aimed at the reduction of greenhouse gases emitted in the atmosphere and at the limitation of the environmental impact as well. Within this frame, the European Union is giving a rising importance to the so-called 'Integrated Product Policy' (IPP), that is an integrated approach of the environmental policy, aiming to an improvement of the environmental performance of products and services during…

Sustainable integration of Renewable Energy Systems in a Mediterranean island: a case study

2013

Starting from a previous technical and economical feasi-bility study, this paper analyzes the integration of Renewable Energy Sources into an existing territory with specified features of the natu-ral landscape and of the built environment. The work puts into evi-dence that territories development must use suitable tools and rules based on integrated knowledge, since technical feasibility studies do not assess the sustainability of the proposed infrastructures within the built environment and landscape. The studied system is in the is-land of Pantelleria situated between Sicily and northern Africa.

A method for calculating the crowding-out effect in sport mega-event impact studies: The 2010 FIFA World Cup

2011

Tourist expenditures constituted the largest part of the economic impact of South Africa's 2010 FIFA Football World Cup. However, limited air transport capacity and increased accommodation prices may have led to crowding-out effects. Until now, crowding-out could only be considered by using econometric modelling based on data of inbound arrival or accommodation statistics. This paper suggests a methodology for measuring the crowding-out effect precisely. It is based on the available statistics in South Africa and is applicable at province level. An important innovation is to distinguish crowding-out from time-switching effects. The paper explains the theoretical framework of crowding-out as…

The Stock Market Reaction to the Enron-Andersen Affair in Spain

2006

2Universidad Jaume I de Castellon This paper investigates whether listed Spanish companies audited by Andersen have suffered any negative economic impact due to the scandal surrounding Andersen’s work in Enron Corporation. To that end, we have measured the economic consequences, if any, of Andersen’s loss of reputation by examining the reaction in terms of movements in the stock prices of its client companies using an event study methodology. We have analysed abnormal returns on the stock prices of all firms listed in the Spanish Interconnected Market around two event dates: the date of Andersen’s public admission that it had destroyed significant financial documents related to Enron Corp. …

PROMOTING THE REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH CLUSTERS‘ APPROACH: CASE OF THE LATVIAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CLUSTER

2018

The purpose of this research is to contribute to the debate on regional competitiveness concept by evaluating genesis of the studies of concept development, and the impact assessment. This paper also presents the impact of clusters on regional competitiveness through the experience of the Latvian Information Technology (IT) cluster. The methods used in the research are literature analysis, correlation and statistical analysis. The main tasks include: (i) the usage of competitiveness concept to describe main factors of regional competitiveness, (ii) identification of the role of clusters for regional competitiveness by testing the linkage between regional competitiveness and state of cluster…

Environmental performance of building materials: life cycle assessment of a typical Sicilian marble

2009

Background, aim, and scope: The building sector is strategically important for achieving sustainability. Therefore, the improvement of energy and environmental performances are relevant targets because precious building materials such as marble have a significant impact on the environment. The aim of this paper is an analysis of a typical Sicilian marble (Perlato di Sicilia) to evaluate its energy and environmental performance. Marble plays an important role in the economy of Italy and has a global market share of 58% in terms of exports. For the main production areas of marble, relevant environmental performance data are missing except for one region (Tuscany-Massa e Carrara province). Per…