The Influence of Energy Consumption of Gas Vapour Reliquefaction on the Structure of the LNG Carrier Power Plant

This paper discusses the issues of reliquefaction of natural gas vapors on the Q-Flex type LNG tankers. DRL gas carrier power plant has been presented. The principle of operation of a BOG reliquefaction plant has been described. An energy analysis referring to nominal operational conditions has been performed. DRL LNG carrier’s power plant load at laden voyage has been estimated. The results have been confronted with the values typical for conventional LNG carriers. General conclusions on the size of the Q-Flex LNG tanker’s power plant have been drawn

How Does International Competitiveness Affect Economic Development? A Two-Phase Hypothesis

This paper analyses the impact of international competitiveness on economic development, based on the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) and GDP/capita of 125 countries during the period 2007-2010. The results reveal two phases of the evolution of competitiveness. When GCI < 4.5 (on 1-7 scale), any improvement of a country’s competitiveness affects current development more than future development. When a country’s GCI rises above 4.5, further improvements of competitiveness will affect future development more than current development. The 4.5 competitiveness threshold is remarkably stable throughout analyzed period.Hanna Adamkiewicz: [email protected]; Stanislaw Kot: [email protected] Adamkiewicz - Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology; Stanislaw Kot - Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology5(71)303

Nitrogen dioxide concentrations in neighborhoods adjacent to a commercial airport: a land use regression modeling study

BACKGROUND: There is growing concern in communities surrounding airports regarding the contribution of various emission sources (such as aircraft and ground support equipment) to nearby ambient concentrations. We used extensive monitoring of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) in neighborhoods surrounding T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI, and land-use regression (LUR) modeling techniques to determine the impact of proximity to the airport and local traffic on these concentrations. METHODS: Palmes diffusion tube samplers were deployed along the airport's fence line and within surrounding neighborhoods for one to two weeks. In total, 644 measurements were collected over three sampling campaigns (October 2007, March 2008 and June 2008) and each sampling location was geocoded. GIS-based variables were created as proxies for local traffic and airport activity. A forward stepwise regression methodology was employed to create general linear models (GLMs) of NO(2 )variability near the airport. The effect of local meteorology on associations with GIS-based variables was also explored. RESULTS: Higher concentrations of NO(2 )were seen near the airport terminal, entrance roads to the terminal, and near major roads, with qualitatively consistent spatial patterns between seasons. In our final multivariate model (R(2 )= 0.32), the local influences of highways and arterial/collector roads were statistically significant, as were local traffic density and distance to the airport terminal (all p < 0.001). Local meteorology did not significantly affect associations with principal GIS variables, and the regression model structure was robust to various model-building approaches. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that there are clear local variations in NO(2 )in the neighborhoods that surround an urban airport, which are spatially consistent across seasons. LUR modeling demonstrated a strong influence of local traffic, except the smallest roads that predominate in residential areas, as well as proximity to the airport terminal

The Effects of Indoor Environmental Exposures on Pediatric Asthma: A Discrete Event Simulation Model

Background: In the United States, asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood across all socioeconomic classes and is the most frequent cause of hospitalization among children. Asthma exacerbations have been associated with exposure to residential indoor environmental stressors such as allergens and air pollutants as well as numerous additional factors. Simulation modeling is a valuable tool that can be used to evaluate interventions for complex multifactorial diseases such as asthma but in spite of its flexibility and applicability, modeling applications in either environmental exposures or asthma have been limited to date. Methods: We designed a discrete event simulation model to study the effect of environmental factors on asthma exacerbations in school-age children living in low-income multi-family housing. Model outcomes include asthma symptoms, medication use, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits. Environmental factors were linked to percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%), which in turn was linked to risk equations for each outcome. Exposures affecting FEV1% included indoor and outdoor sources of $NO_2$ and $PM_{2.5}$, cockroach allergen, and dampness as a proxy for mold. Results: Model design parameters and equations are described in detail. We evaluated the model by simulating 50,000 children over 10 years and showed that pollutant concentrations and health outcome rates are comparable to values reported in the literature. In an application example, we simulated what would happen if the kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans were improved for the entire cohort, and showed reductions in pollutant concentrations and healthcare utilization rates. Conclusions: We describe the design and evaluation of a discrete event simulation model of pediatric asthma for children living in low-income multi-family housing. Our model simulates the effect of environmental factors (combustion pollutants and allergens), medication compliance, seasonality, and medical history on asthma outcomes (symptom-days, medication use, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits). The model can be used to evaluate building interventions and green building construction practices on pollutant concentrations, energy savings, and asthma healthcare utilization costs, and demonstrates the value of a simulation approach for studying complex diseases such as asthma

Ambient and Microenvironmental Particles and Exhaled Nitric Oxide Before and After a Group Bus Trip

Objectives: Airborne particles have been linked to pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammation. Because these effects may be particularly great for traffic-related particles, we examined associations between particle exposures and exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in a study of 44 senior citizens, which involved repeated trips aboard a diesel bus. Methods: Samples of FENO collected before and after the trips were regressed against microenvironmental and ambient particle concentrations using mixed models controlling for subject, day, trip, vitamins, collection device, mold, pollen, room air nitric oxide, apparent temperature, and time to analysis. Although ambient concentrations were collected at a fixed location, continuous group-level personal samples characterized microenvironmental exposures throughout facility and trip periods. Results: In pre-trip samples, both microenvironmental and ambient exposures to fine particles were positively associated with FENO. For example, an interquartile increase of 4 μg/m3 in the daily microenvironmental PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 13% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2–24%) increase in FENO. After the trips, however, FENO concentrations were associated pre-dominantly with microenvironmental exposures, with significant associations for concentrations measured throughout the whole day. Associations with exposures during the trip also were strong and statistically significant with a 24% (95% CI, 15–34%) increase in FENO predicted per interquartile increase of 9 μg/m3 in PM2.5. Although pre-trip findings were generally robust, our post-trip findings were sensitive to several influential days. Conclusions: Fine particle exposures resulted in increased levels of FENO in elderly adults, suggestive of increased airway inflammation. These associations were best assessed by microenvironmental exposure measurements during periods of high personal particle exposures

SELF-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE IN THE POLISH DEFENCE SYSTEM ON THE EXAMPLE OF MAZOWIECKIE PROVINCE

The subject of the article is an organization of local government authorities in the implementation of tasks related to security and defence. Attention is focused on issues of employment and organization of work. The issues addressed relate to the adequacy of employees’ knowledge and experience within the limits of their professional duties, the adaptation of the number of employees to the purpose of the tasks and the public opinion on the activities of the security bureaus. The article is based on the results of the qualitative and quantitative studies carried out within the framework of the project ”Local self-government in Polish non-military defence system” conducted by the Department of Security and Defence Systems from the Faculty of Logistics in Military, University of Technology, during 2015-2016, in Mazowieckie Province. 

Possibilities and Conditions of Application of the Karlsruhe Model in Selected Tramway Systems in Poland

The article presents the problem of the possibility of adapting the Karlsruhe model in selected three tram systems in Poland. In the first part of the work, there are discussed: the genesis of the model and the possible technical-technological and organizational solutions in the field of tram-train system operation. There have been also identified: the barriers that obstruct the full integration of typical tram and railway systems, taking into account legislative, organizational and technical conditions. The second part of the article is devoted to the analysis of preliminary projects for the implementation of the tram-train system in selected Polish cities. The analysis was preceded by a short systematization of examples of historical solutions combining rail and tram transport systems. The proposals for the application of the Karlsruhe model quoted in the paper, showed that there is a relatively low level of advancement of this model and it is not included in the overall transport policy of the discussed cities. Actions that aimed at improving and increasing the attractiveness of tram transport are focused on the development of the classical system.The article presents the problem of the possibility of adapting the Karlsruhe model in selected three tram systems in Poland. In the first part of the work, there are discussed: the genesis of the model and the possible technical-technological and organizational solutions in the field of tram-train system operation. There have been also identified: the barriers that obstruct the full integration of typical tram and railway systems, taking into account legislative, organizational and technical conditions. The second part of the article is devoted to the analysis of preliminary projects for the implementation of the tram-train system in selected Polish cities. The analysis was preceded by a short systematization of examples of historical solutions combining rail and tram transport systems. The proposals for the application of the Karlsruhe model quoted in the paper, showed that there is a relatively low level of advancement of this model and it is not included in the overall transport policy of the discussed cities. Actions that aimed at improving and increasing the attractiveness of tram transport are focused on the development of the classical system

Greenwashing and sustainable fashion industry

ABSTRACT: The fashion industry is now in the eye of the storm for what concerns sustainability because of the enormous impact that such a business area has on the environment. To exploit the full potential for circular economy implementation, the fashion industry requires urgent changes adapting much more con-scientious business practices, driving consumers to change their perceptions and behaviors toward circular products and services. The renunciation of greenwashing practices and the use of strategy focused on regaining consumer's trust will in-crease the positive sentiment toward the fashion brands. This work demonstrates to what extent greenwashing may jeopar-dize the fashion industry in addressing challenges related to the implementation of more sustainable circular economy in the context of designing with intention of recycle, reduction of by-products, lower energy consumption, and wise purchase habits. This study provides guides for fashion brands about the risks and gains related to the greenwashing practices and sustain-able fashion industry.This study sketches also future research opportunities in more sustainable holistic approach of a prod-ucts' life cycle and how this can be translated into clear, transparent, or reliable certification schemes to prevent the misleading and dishonest marketing strategies helping the consumers to make a responsible choice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Linking Student Performance in Massachusetts Elementary Schools with the “Greenness” of School Surroundings Using Remote Sensing

Various studies have reported the physical and mental health benefits from exposure to “green” neighborhoods, such as proximity to neighborhoods with trees and vegetation. However, no studies have explicitly assessed the association between exposure to “green” surroundings and cognitive function in terms of student academic performance. This study investigated the association between the “greenness” of the area surrounding a Massachusetts public elementary school and the academic achievement of the school’s student body based on standardized tests with an ecological setting. Researchers used the composite school-based performance scores generated by the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to measure the percentage of 3rd-grade students (the first year of standardized testing for 8–9 years-old children in public school), who scored “Above Proficient” (AP) in English and Mathematics tests (Note: Individual student scores are not publically available). The MCAS results are comparable year to year thanks to an equating process. Researchers included test results from 2006 through 2012 in 905 public schools and adjusted for differences between schools in the final analysis according to race, gender, English as a second language (proxy for ethnicity and language facility), parent income, student-teacher ratio, and school attendance. Surrounding greenness of each school was measured using satellite images converted into the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in March, July and October of each year according to a 250-meter, 500-meter, 1,000-meter, and 2000-meter circular buffer around each school. Spatial Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) estimated the impacts of surrounding greenness on school-based performance. Overall the study results supported a relationship between the “greenness” of the school area and the school-wide academic performance. Interestingly, the results showed a consistently positive significant association between the greenness of the school in the Spring (when most Massachusetts students take the MCAS tests) and school-wide performance on both English and Math tests, even after adjustment for socio-economic factors and urban residency