bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Generation scheduling with emissions trading scheme and transmission capacity constraints
Authors: Kockar Ivana 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to illustrate how emission constraints imposed by the emission trading scheme (ETS) in the European Union, as well as transmissions capacity, can affect the outcome of the generation scheduling. The aim is to demonstrate the application of the generation scheduling tool which includes both the ETS and transmission constraints, and helps evaluate their effect on emission reduction, costs, and generators' behavior and availability. It can also be used to help generators make strategic decisions regarding utilization and purchases of carbon allowances.Design/methodology/approachThe paper extends the generation scheduling formulation to allow for additional constraints modeling. The formulation is based on the mixed integer programming approach with linearization of generation cost and emission functions, and the possibility to split the system into zones in order to investigate transmission congestion.FindingsThe paper presents six case studies that include unconstrained and constrained operation, both from the emission and transmission points of view. It also illustrates the effect of free allocations versus auctioning. The case studies look into the system with wind generation that can be constrained due to transmission limits, and their impact on emission reductions. This is often the case in systems where most of the wind generation is located in the area which does not have sufficiently strong links to the rest of the system where the majority of loads are.Research limitations/implicationsThe extension of the work will be inclusion of stochastic nature of emission prices and wind availability. It will also be used for further studies on systems with high wind penetration and insufficient transmission capacity.Originality/valueThe generation scheduling tool and the results from the paper could be useful for generators when making decisions on how to use or purchase their emission allocations, as well as for evaluation of the adverse affect of transmission congestion on carbon emission reductions.
Electricity market equilibrium of thermal and wind generating plants in emission trading environment
Authors: Xun Binbin , Wen Fushuan , Tong Shulin 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the gaming equilibrium among fossil‐fueled generation companies (GenCos), wind generation companies, the grid company and customers participating in an emission trading (ET) market and the day‐ahead electricity market.Design/methodology/approachThe complementarity method is used in this work to obtain the Nash equilibrium. By combining the Karush‐Kuhn‐Tucker (KKT) conditions of each kind of market participants with market clearing and consistency conditions, a mixed linear complementarity problem could be established.FindingsSimulation results show that: the enforcement of ET could increase the share of generation outputs of wind generation units, and decrease the emissions from fossil‐fueled generation units; the bilateral contracts between GenCos and customers could limit the ability of exercising market power by GenCos; and when the emissions allowances allocated by the government shrink, the price of emissions allowance will increase and as the result the dispatching order of fossil‐fueled generation units will change, and the shares of generation outputs from wind generation units and combined‐cycle gas turbines increase. However, it should be mentioned that because the cost of wind generation is still very high, the increase of the share from wind generation units in the electricity market should mainly rely on cost reduction rather than the enforcement of ET.Originality/valueThe original contribution and the value of this study lie in developing a model framework to explore the gaming equilibrium that thermal and wind generating plants both play in the emissions trading environment and electricity market.
Synthetic evaluation of new socialist countryside construction at county level in China
Authors: Wang Yanqi , Guo Xiangyu , Liu Hongman 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish a synthetic evaluation index system of new socialist countryside (NSC) development at county level in China, and by which to evaluate the level of NSC construction among different regions in China. Then, some problems of rural development can be found and corresponding measures can be proposed, which could provide references for policymaking.Design/methodology/approachFirst, from agricultural, rural and farmers' perspective, a preliminary index system which containing 44 indicators was put forward. Then, combining with a series of subjective and objective indicator screening methods, such as fuzzy synthetic evaluation, clustering analysis, correlation and variation coefficient analysis, the final index system containing 22 indicators was established. Third, combining with factor analysis, the final index system was used to evaluate the level of NSC construction in 28 counties of China in 2007. Finally, we calculated district factor scores by a model and gave an aggregate index ranking of different regions.FindingsNSC construction at county level is not well developed in China and there are significant geographical differences among different districts. First, NSC construction in Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Hangzhou is relatively better. Second, NSC construction of East China is better than that of North China and Central China. Northeast of China is better than Southwest and Northwest. Third, NSC construction in municipalities is higher than non‐municipalities. Rural development in Western regions of China needs to be paid special attention.Originality/valueA final evaluation index system including 22 indicators was designed. These indicators are complete, independent, weakly correlative and stable. The index system can be further applied to evaluate other regions' NSC development. The evaluation results can provide useful references for NSC reform in the whole nation.
Application of laser peening without coating on steel welded joints
Authors: Sakino Yoshihiro , Sano Yuji , Kim You‐Chul 
Published: September 2011

PurposeLaser peening without coating (LPwC) is an innovative surface enhancement technology for introducing compressive residual stress in metallic materials. The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristic at the laser‐peened welded zone and the fatigue lives of the welding joints.Design/methodology/approachLPwC conditions for 490 MPa grades of structural steels were selected. By using the conditions, the characteristic at the laser‐peened welded zone, residual stresses, hardness and roughness of welding toes were examined. Moreover, the fatigue lives of the toes of box‐welded joints and butt welded joints pre‐treated by LPwC were compared to the fatigue lives of those that were not pre‐treated by LPwC.FindingsThe main results are: LPwC conditions for 490 MPa grade steels were established; residual stresses, Vickers hardness and roughness at the laser‐peened welded zone were revealed; and LPwC can dramatically extend the fatigue life of welded joint.Originality/valueThe effects of LPwC on structural steels, which are widely used in bridge members, have not been well clarified; the effect of LPwC on welded zones in these structures is particularly unclear. If LPwC can be carried out such that compressive residual stress is imparted on structural steels and the welded zones in the bridge members, the fatigue lives of bridge members will be greatly increased. The paper fills some of these gaps.
Influence of mosaic patterns on the structural integrity of filament wound composite pressure vessels
Authors: Hameed Mian Haris , Rahman Hammad 
Published: September 2011

PurposeFilament wound pressure vessels have a characteristic pattern observed in their helical layers. These are mosaic‐shaped patterns and affect the layer structural behavior. The present research aims to focus on the influence of mosaic patterns on stress‐strain field and structural design of thin‐walled internally pressurized filament wound pressure vessel. The widely used stress analysis procedures and the commercially available finite element tools usually neglect the effect of the mosaic patterns. The present work seeks to deal with the modeling and stress analysis of complete pressure vessel, incorporating mosaic patterns.Design/methodology/approachThe incorporation of the mosaic effect provides more realistic modeling of the real stress distribution and the stress values compared to the conventional analyses (the effect would depend on the shell structure, i.e. number of plies, relative thicknesses, etc.). The structural analysis is performed using commercial finite element analysis (FEA) tools ANSYS.FindingsThe comparison of results of analytical solution and conventional FEA provides close values of the stresses in the plies. As for the stress and strain distributions obtained by incorporating the effect of mosaic patterns are considerably different. The distribution of the stress and strain fields are not uniform along the length of the vessel and along its circumference and the maximum stresses acting in the direction of the fibers are higher than those calculated using conventional FEA techniques.Originality/valuePrevious work was limited to composite cylindrical shells, without incorporating the end domes. The present work deals with the modeling and stress analysis of complete pressure vessel, incorporating mosaic patterns.
The role of management accounting practices as facilitators of the environmental management
Authors: Albelda Esther 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe paper aims to explore the role of management accounting practices as facilitators of the environmental management.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative study involving semi‐structured interviews with environmental and accounting managers from six Spanish factories has been carried out to analyse how four management accounting practices commonly used at operational level – investment appraisals, costing systems, budgets and performance measures – may reinforce the environmental management and guarantee the maintenance of an environmental management system according to the European Community's Eco‐Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).FindingsThe analysis suggests that management accounting practices operate as a facilitator mechanism for the environmental management by reinforcing the four EMAS significant elements: commitment to the continual improvement of the environmental performance; compliance with environmental legislation; communication with interested parties; and employee involvement. However, evidence seems to support business case arguments since accounting serves a double function: as a facilitator for the environmental management, and as a barrier for a further accountability‐based environmental management.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has been developed at plan level, but the influence of the top management might be analysed as well in order to explore how these management accounting practices are translated into upper organisational level.Practical implicationsThe analysis helps to understand the complex nature of the business case as different nuances are identified when considering the different practices.Originality/valueThe paper shows how linked to business case arguments, small arena for internal and for external accountability are emerging.
An analysis of the Italian governmental guidelines and of the local governments' practices for social reports
Authors: Farneti Federica , Siboni Benedetta 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThis paper seeks to analyse social report guidelines and practices within Italian local governments (ILGs). First, it compares the contents of the two Italian governmental guidelines for developing social reports in public sector organisations with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guideline, to determine similarities and differences in disclosures. Second, it examines a group of social reports issued by ILGs, to explore the incidence, frequency, and quality of disclosure, as against the GRI guideline.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses content analysis to test the nature/content of the governmental guidelines, and to determine what was disclosed in a group of ILGs' social reports. The paper analyses the social reports by applying the Guthrie and Farneti coding instrument, extended by including the Italian governmental guidelines.FindingsSeveral observations emerge from the present study. First, from the comparison of the GRI and the Italian governmental guidelines, it emerges that only a few categories of the latter are similar to the GRI and these concern mainly general aspects. Second, the disclosure of categories and elements in the social reports, as against the coding instrument, was found to be fragmentary. The paper concludes that the Italian governmental guidelines are of a managerial nature, and they have little to do with sustainability, except for aspects related to labour.Originality/valueLittle research has been published on social reporting practices within the public sector, unlike the private sector. In Italy social reports are an emerging practice, with a growing interest paid by the government and academia. Nevertheless, published research is mainly of a normative nature, and there is a gap on what actually is in social reports.
Embedding gender in sustainability reports
Authors: Miles Katherine 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to detail the research and consultation process highlighting the demand for this information, undertaken by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the International Finance Corporation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper sets out the emerging drivers for reporting on gender information in sustainability reports. In turn, it argues that sustainability reporters have the potential to promote gender equality by transparently reporting on their organization's gender‐responsive practices and performance.FindingsInvestors are a key stakeholder to companies. There is a growing belief in the investment world that companies that empower women and encourage gender diversity may outperform those that do not in the long term. Gender performance is one possible indicator of organizations' financial strength.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is required to identify if recent developments increase corporate disclosure and performance reporting on gender equality.Practical implicationsThe research was qualitative in nature and based on the perceptions of those attending the gender reporting consultation workshops and involved in the GRI Gender Working Group.Social implicationsIncreased awareness of the case for reporting on gender equality could increase the reporting by companies and stakeholder demands for this information. In addition, the increased availability of this information could positively influence public policy addressing existing levels of gender inequality.Originality/valueStakeholder's demand for gender performance information, particularly on the number of women in management, is growing. Sustainability reporting as the mechanism that many companies worldwide are using to communicate their other environmental, social, and governance performance information can also help with communicating an organization's commitment to gender equality.
Improving Australian greenhouse gas reporting and financial analysis of carbon risk associated with investments
Authors: Nelson Tim , Wood Elizabeth , Hunt James , Thurbon Cathlin 
Published: September 2011

PurposeClimate change policies such as carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes are being developed and implemented in ways which fundamentally transform the profitability of industries and businesses. While mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by individual Australian companies is now largely standardised, the financial implications of emissions trading and other forms of climate change policy are poorly understood. This paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was conducted of financial analyst research on this issue and determined that this poor understanding is the result of either insufficient information being available to adequately evaluate the risk to business or a lack of understanding about how carbon policies will impact on business.FindingsThis paper proposes a “checklist” for evaluation of the risks and opportunities created by pricing carbon to address this analytical chasm. Most importantly, like any significant tax reform, the paper concludes that it is impossible to create simple metrics that can be used across all industries and companies.Originality/valueThe paper outlines, for the first time, a checklist for analysis of the impacts of carbon pricing on Australian businesses.
Multiple melanoma susceptibility factors function in an ultraviolet radiation response pathway in skin
Authors: Giles N. , Pavey S. , Pinder A. , Gabrielli B. 
Published: September 2011

Summary
Background Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and the familial melanoma susceptibility gene p16 (CDKN2A) are among the major risk factors which have been identified to contribute to the development of melanoma, and also significantly contribute to squamous cell carcinoma. We have previously shown that UVR induces p16CDKN2A expression in melanoma and keratinocyte cell lines and human skin, but the regulatory mechanisms controlling this expression are unknown.
Objectives To determine the mechanism by which UVR induces p16CDKN2A expression in melanocytes and keratinocytes in the epidermis.
Methods We have used an in vitro cell lines model of the UVR response in skin to assess the changes in p16CDKN2A expression and the signalling pathways regulating these changes, and validated these findings in whole human skin cultures.
Results We show that UVR-induced ERK signalling, mediated by BRAF, regulates p16CDKN2A expression at the transcriptional, and possibly translational level.
Conclusions This study demonstrates the biological connection between the known melanoma genes p16 (CDKN2A) and BRAF in a normal physiological response to UVR in the skin, and highlights the importance of defects in this biological pathway to melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma development.
Serum proteomic changes in adults with obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: JURADO‐GAMEZ BERNABE , GOMEZ‐CHAPARRO JOSE LUIS , MUÑOZ‐CALERO MARIA , SERNA SANZ ANTONIO , MUÑOZ‐CABRERA LUIS , LOPEZ‐BAREA JUAN , GOZAL DAVID 
Published: September 2011

SummaryTo examine whether differentially expressed proteins are present in the serum of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), iTRAQ techniques (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification) were employed in a prospective study. Individuals were assigned to either a non‐OSA control group (apnoea–hypopnoea index, AHI <5) or an OSA group (AHI ≥5). Blood samples were collected, aliquoted and frozen at −80 °C. Protein digestion and tagging with iTRAQ4plex® and mass spectrometry analysis was then performed (MALDI TOF/TOF). Ten male subjects were included in the control group (age = 45 ± 9.7 years) and 30 male patients in the OSA group (age = 45 ± 10.7 years), the latter being then subdivided into three severity groups. A total of 103 proteins were identified with differential levels between patients with OSA and controls. Of these, 11 proteins were underexpressed and 19 were overexpressed in patients with OSA. C4BPA and thrombospondin were underexpressed in all three OSA severity groups. Among the overexpressed proteins, 13 were overexpressed in the mild OSA group, seven in the moderate group and five in the severe group. Analysis of interactions between the identified proteins revealed that protein alterations in OSA are primarily associated with derangements in lipid and vascular metabolic pathways. This study provides initial evidence that differential protein expression occurs in adults with OSA, and that such proteins change according to disease severity, and appear to primarily involve lipid and vascular metabolic pathways.
Potential Role of Autoantibody in Severe Neutropenia of a Patient with Kawasaki Syndrome
Authors: Ueno K. , Nomura Y. , Masamoto I. , Masuda K. , Morita Y. , Eguchi T. , Okamoto Y. , Kawano Y. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractNeutropenia associated with Kawasaki Syndrome (KS) has been rarely reported, and the detailed mechanisms responsible for this state are not yet elucidated. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanisms of neutropenia in KS. We examined antibodies to known neutrophil antigens (HNA1a, HNA1b, HNA null, HNA2, HNA3, HNA4 and non‐HLA antigen 9a) in a KS patient with neutropenia. We also performed the granulocyte immunofluorescence test (GIFT) using patient or control neutrophils incubated with the patient’s serum at serial time points over the patient’s clinical course. No specific antibody to known neutrophil antigens was detected. Flow cytometric analysis showed that autoantibodies bound to immature CD13‐positive myeloid cells, which resulted in myeloid lineage maturation arrest in the bone marrow. GIFT showed that neutrophil‐specific autoantibodies were produced by the patient, and the amount of autoantibody inversely correlated with the patient’s neutrophil counts. The presence of an autoantibody to a novel antigen on immature myeloid cells or neutrophils is the likely the cause of severe neutropenia in this patient with KS.
Healthy First‐Degree Relatives of Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Exhibit Significant Differences in Basal Gene Expression Pattern of Immunocompetent Cells Compared to Controls: Expression Pattern as Predeterminant of Autoimmune Diabetes
Authors: Stechova K. , Kolar M. , Blatny R. , Halbhuber Z. , Vcelakova J. , Hubackova M. , Petruzelkova L. , Sumnik Z. , Obermannova B. , Pithova P. , Stavikova V. , Krivjanska M. , Neuwirth A. , Kolouskova S. , Filipp D. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractExpression features of genetic landscape which predispose an individual to the type 1 diabetes are poorly understood. We addressed this question by comparing gene expression profile of freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from either patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), or their first‐degree relatives or healthy controls. Our aim was to establish whether a distinct type of ‘prodiabetogenic’ gene expression pattern in the group of relatives of patients with T1D could be identified. Whole‐genome expression profile of nine patients with T1D, their ten first‐degree relatives and ten healthy controls was analysed using the human high‐density expression microarray chip. Functional aspects of candidate genes were assessed using the MetaCore software. The highest number of differentially expressed genes (547) was found between the autoantibody‐negative healthy relatives and the healthy controls. Some of them represent genes critically involved in the regulation of innate immune responses such as TLR signalling and CCR3 signalling in eosinophiles, humoral immune reactions such as BCR pathway, costimulation and cytokine responses mediated by CD137, CD40 and CD28 signalling and IL‐1 proinflammatory pathway. Our data demonstrate that expression profile of healthy relatives of patients with T1D is clearly distinct from the pattern found in the healthy controls. That especially concerns differential activation status of genes and signalling pathways involved in proinflammatory processes and those of innate immunity and humoral reactivity. Thus, we posit that the study of the healthy relative’s gene expression pattern is instrumental for the identification of novel markers associated with the development of diabetes.