Local Storage Meets Local Demand: A Technical Solution to Future Power Distribution System

Future power systems are expected to integrate large-scale stochastic and intermittent generation and load due to reduced use of fossil fuel resources, including renewable energy sources (RES) and electric vehicles (EV). Inclusion of such resources poses challenges for the dynamic stability of synchronous transmission and distribution networks, not least in terms of generation where system inertia may not be wholly governed by large-scale generation but displaced by small-scale and localised generation. Energy storage systems (ESS) can limit the impact of dispersed and distributed generation by offering supporting reserve while accommodating large-scale EV connection; the latter (load) also participating in storage provision. In this paper, a local energy storage system (LESS) is proposed. The structure, requirement and optimal sizing of the LESS are discussed. Three operating modes are detailed, including: 1) storage pack management; 2) normal operation; and 3) contingency operation. The proposed LESS scheme is evaluated using simulation studies based on data obtained from the Northern Ireland regional and residential network.

Parading through the Peace Process:Anthropology, Governance and Crisis in Northern Ireland

Because the authors both did work on the North Ireland parades, they became integrally involved as fieldworking anthropologists in the monitoring of these events, and in the creation of policy for their management. They detail how they worked with individuals and groups at every level, from protestors on the street up to the Secretary of State for the region. Later funded to examine legal and policing approaches to protests in other countries, especially South Africa, they show how they used this comparative knowledge to urge the implementation of measures which appear to have led to a diminution of violence in the parades. Finally, they assess their own contribution to the peace process in terms of contingency, timing, luck, flexibility, and industry.

Begriffe und Begriffserläuterungen zur Sportanalyse

Werden Sportergebnisse statistisch ausgewertet, dann ist es für einige Sportarten möglich, die Komponenten Zufall und Leistung voneinander zu trennen. Für diese Untersuchungsmethode ergibt sich zwangsläufig die Bezeichnung „Sportanalyse“. Sportanalyse im engeren Sinne ist die Auswertung oder die Simulation von Sportergebnissen mit Hilfe der statistischen Methoden. Deren Kenntnis ist jedoch nicht erforderlich für das Verständnis der Ergebnisse der Sportanalysen, sofern dafür eine spezielle Fachsprache mit sorgfältig definierten Begriffen entwickelt wird. Mit der vorliegenden Schrift wird eine derartige Nomenklatur vorgeschlagen. Die wichtigsten Begriffe sind der Fehler und der Zufall. Fehler sind Regelverstöße oder es sind regelkonforme Abweichungen vom Handlungsoptimum, mit leichten bis schwersten Nachteilen als Folge. In den meisten Sportarten ergeben sich Fehler zufallsbedingt und somit ohne Absicht oder Verschulden. Zufälle sorgen im Sport für Gesetz und Ordnung sowie für Spannung. Ihr Wirken ist neutral, ausgleichend und gerecht. Allein die in dieser Nomenklatur enthaltenen Begriffe könnten für viele Sportler und Sportbeteiligte hilfreich sein für das Verständnis der komplizierten Zusammenhänge beim Zustandekommen der Sportresultate.

Les stratégies syndicales face aux restructurations d’entreprises : une étude comparative des contre-pouvoirs syndicaux dans le secteur des équipementiers automobiles en France et au Canada

Cette thèse tente de comprendre l’impact des restructurations des entreprises multinationales sur les stratégies syndicales. Les acteurs syndicaux locaux sont-ils déterminés par l’appartenance à des régimes nationaux et à des contingences organisationnelles ou peuvent-ils influencer des décisions objectives comme les restructurations ? Cette recherche s’insère dans une problématique large qui fait la jonction entre la mondialisation économique sur une base continentale, la réorganisation productive des entreprises multinationales et l’action syndicale. Au plan théorique, nous confrontons trois grandes approches analytiques, à savoir : le néo-institutionnalisme et les structures d’opportunités ; l’économie politique critique et la question du pouvoir syndical ; la géographie économique critique mettant de l’avant les contingences, l’encastrement et l’espace concurrentiel. Sur la base de ces trois familles, nous présentons un modèle d’analyse multidisciplinaire. Au plan méthodologique, cette thèse est structurée autour de quatre études de cas locales qui ont subi des menaces de restructurations. Cette collecte a été effectuée dans deux pays (la France et le Canada) et dans un secteur particulier (les équipementiers automobiles). Trois sources qualitatives forment le cœur empirique de cette thèse : des statistiques descriptives, des documents de sources secondaires et des entretiens semi-dirigés (44), principalement avec des acteurs syndicaux. L’analyse intra et inter régime national éclaire plusieurs aspects de la question des stratégies syndicales en contexte de restructurations. Les principales contributions de cette thèse touchent : 1. l’impact des facteurs relationnels et des ressources de pouvoir développées par les syndicats locaux sur les structures d’opportunités institutionnelles; 2. l’importance des aspects « cognitifs » et d’envisager le pouvoir de manière multi-niveaux; 3. l’importance de l’encastrement social et des dynamiques relationnelles entre syndicats et patronats; 4. l’influence de la concurrence internationale/nationale/régionale/locale dans le secteur des équipementiers automobiles; et 5. l’importance des arbitrages et des relations entre les acteurs de l’entreprise par rapport à la théorie de la contingence pour comprendre les marges structurelles des syndicats locaux. Notre recherche invite les acteurs sociaux à repenser leur action dans le cadre des restructurations. En particulier, les syndicats locaux se doivent d’explorer de nouveaux répertoires stratégiques pour répondre aux nombreux défis que posent le changement économique et les restructurations.

Uses of history in history education

This compilation thesis contains an introductory chapter and four original articles. The studies comprising this thesis all concern aspects of how historical culture is constituted in historical media and history teachers’ narratives and teaching. It is argued that the teaching of history is a complex matter due to an internal tension resulting from the fact that history is both a product and a process at the same time. While historical facts, and knowledge thereof, are an important aspect of history, history is also a product of careful interpretation and reconstruction. This study analyses and discusses how history is constituted in history textbooks and popular history magazines, i.e. two common historical media, and in teachers’ narratives and teaching of history. The study finds that the historical media studied generally tend to present history as void of perspective, interpretation and representation, suggesting this to be the culturally warranted form of historical exposition. Moreover, the teachers studied also tend to approach history as if it were not contingent on interpretation and reconstruction. These results indicate that the history disseminated in historical media and history classrooms presents history in a factual way and disregards the procedural aspects of history. Applying the history didactical concepts of historical consciousness, historical culture and uses of history, this thesis argues that an essential aspect of historical understanding is an appreciation of the contextual contingency that characterises history. All history is conceived within a particular context that is pertinent to why and how a certain version of history is constructed. Furthermore, all history is also received within a particular context by people with particular preconceptions of history that are contextually contingent, in the sense that they are situated in a certain historical culture. Readers of historical media are members of societies and are thus affected by how history is perceived and discussed in these contexts. This thesis argues that an awareness of these aspects of history is an important factor for furthering a complex understanding of history that encompasses the tension highlighted above.

Supply Chain Adaptation of Finnish Companies in Chinese Institutional Environment

Within the last few decades of operations and supply chain management, the field has seen the rise of so called best practices, methods that will help supply chains obtain their business goals and gain a competitive edge. These methods were thought to be universal. This however is not always the case, as the surrounding business environment could have a significant impact on what will be effective in gaining competitive edge. Contingency theory states that the success of a supply chain is determined by both internal capabilities, as well as external context aligning. This creates a strategic fit, which is a major determinant of success. In order for supply chains to reach this strategic fit, they must adapt. As China has seen rapid growth and over the last few decades become one of the major economies of the world, Western companies have tried to establish themselves there, only to find that the Chinese market is extremely difficult to operate in. The aim of this thesis was to investigate from contingency theory perspective, what are the institutional factors that affect supply chain management of Finnish companies operating in China, and how do Finnish companies adapt their supply chains to better fit the Chinese institutional environment. A theoretical model was created for this thesis, in which supply chains possess resources, which can be combined in a meaningful manner to create capabilities. Both resources and capabilities are affected by the surrounding institutional environment, which forces supply chains to adapt in order to find a better strategic fit. A total of six Finnish managers from three large and three small companies operating in China were interviewed. The results indicated that the Chinese business environment is significantly different, than that of Finland or Western countries in general. Three institutional factors were identified: Confucian though, fast-paced business environment, and managing labor force. These three institutional factors made the relationship and delivery capabilities particularly important, as well as human resources, reputation, physical resources and technological resources. In conclusion, it was discovered that the Chinese institutional environment is heavily affected by Confucian thought, as well as the rapid market growth. These are the two most important institutional factors that shape the Chinese market. If supply chains wish to be successful in China, adaptation regarding these two institutional factors should yield good results.

From "Rational Utopia" to "Will-to-Utopia". On the "Post-modern" Turn in the Recent Work of Agnes Heller

Agnes Heller recently described her position as 'postmodernist', suggesting a move from a political radical to a politically liberal or 'neoconservative' position. The aim of this paper is to assess the degree to which Heller can still be regarded as a radical political thinker through an evaluation of her work on autonomy, democracy and contingency all of which remain key concepts in her thinking about the political. We find in each case that whilst many of the motifs of her critical Marxist period recur in her recent work, they are losing their oppositional or 'negative' character in the sense that making these motifs operational would require changes to the structure or functioning of liberal-capitalism. Whils remaining in some sense a radical thinker Heller has moved from the advocacy of a 'rational utopia' to a form of theorising which I describe as 'will-to-utopia': radical at the surface yet conservative at the core.

Ecossistema domiciliar de pais cardiopatas e o modo de viver dos filhos: possibilidades de promoção da saúde pelo conhecimento da enfermagem/saúde

Objetivou-se compreender a possibilidade de o ecossistema domiciliar de pais portadores de morbidades cardiovasculares propiciar atitudes e comportamentos que corroborem para manifestações análogas na saúde dos filhos que convivem neste ambiente, e compreender como o cuidado de enfermagem/saúde com ações interativas de promoção de saúde domiciliar seja capaz de dissipar estas atitudes e comportamentos nos filhos. Para o conhecimento, a compreensão, interação do ecossistema domiciliar e o modo de viver dos filhos de pai/mãe cardiopata como um processo dinâmico e inter-relacional, foi utilizada a abordagem sistêmica de Ilya Prigogine, com enfoque nos princípios ecossistêmicos. O percurso metodológico se baseou na Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados, que, de maneira sistemática, interativa e criativa, possibilitou o desenvolvimento da teoria formal: Compreendendo possibilidades Interativas de orientações da Enfermagem/Saúde no Ecossistema domiciliar dos filhos de pais cardiopatas para mudanças de comportamentos e atitudes. Esta é uma teoria fidedigna e fundamentada nos dados da pesquisa, que culminou com o desenvolvimento de suas categorias. A coleta e análise dos dados foram realizadas conforme a preconização da teoria, de forma comparativa e constante, seguindo os passos: codificação inicial ou aberta, categorização e codificação teórica, sendo utilizada também a observação. Totalizou a amostra teórica onze filhos de pai/mãe cardiopatas, entrevistados no Brasil e em Portugal, onde, neste último, foi realizado um Intercâmbio de Doutorado com a finalidade de potencializar os conceitos e direcionar novas possibilidades aos fenômenos apresentados. Como processo de análise dos dados e agrupamento das categorias utilizou-se o modelo paradigmático desenvolvido por Glaser (1968) correspondente à família de códigos 6 Cs e de códigos interativos. A teoria formal emergiu a partir de dois fenômenos e suas categorias. O fenômeno, Conhecendo o ecossistema domiciliar de filhos de pai/mãe cardiopata na perspectiva das orientações da enfermagem/saúde, englobou as categorias: Demonstrando conhecimento sobre aspectos que possibilitam o infarto (condição causal); Associando a vivência da doença e orientações às modificações no modo de viver (condição estratégica); Relatando possibilidades de orientações para os filhos de pai/mãe cardiopata (condição de contingência); Reconhecendo a importância das orientações para o viver melhor (condição de consequência). Em relação ao fenômeno Conhecendo comportamentos e atitudes de filhos de pai/mãe cardiopata, as categorias elencadas foram: Descrevendo atitudes e comportamentos do(a) filho(a) antes da doença do(a) pai/mãe (condição causal); Relatando comportamentos e atitudes dos filhos pós-doença do(a) pai/mãe (condição estratégica); Reconhecendo a importância da mudança de comportamentos e atitudes para um viver saudável (condição de consequência). A teoria que emergiu por meio dos dados deste trabalho fundamenta a importância das ações de enfermagem/saúde para a promoção da saúde, confirma a tese proposta no projeto de pesquisa e permite concluir que a perspectiva ecossistêmica direciona para o conhecimento, a compreensão e discussão, evidentemente, mais amplos, dos contextos apresentados, pelas suas dinâmicas e interatividades.

'Don't stop': re-thinking the function of endings in narrative television

This thesis argues that the study of narrative television has been limited by an adherence to accepted and commonplace conceptions of endings as derived from literary theory, particularly a preoccupation with the terminus of the text as the ultimate site of cohesion, structure, and meaning. Such common conceptions of endings, this thesis argues, are largely incompatible with the realities of television’s production and reception, and as a result the study of endings in television needs to be re-thought to pay attention to the specificities of the medium. In this regard, this thesis proposes a model of intra-narrative endings, islands of cohesion, structure, and meaning located within television texts, as a possible solution to the problem of endings in television. These intra-narrative endings maintain the functionality of traditional endings, whilst also allowing for the specificities of television as a narrative medium. The first two chapters set out the theoretical groundwork, first by exploring the essential characteristics of narrative television (serialisation, fragmentation, duration, repetition, and accumulation), then by exploring the unique relationship between narrative television and the forces of contingency. These chapters also introduce the concept of intra-narrative endings as a possible solution to the problems of television’s narrative structure, and the medium’s relationship to contingency. Following on from this my three case studies examine forms of television which have either been traditionally defined as particularly resistant to closure (soap opera and the US sitcom) or which have received little analysis in terms of their narrative structure (sports coverage). Each of these case studies provides contextual material on these televisual forms, situating them in terms of their narrative structure, before moving on to analyse them in terms of my concept of intra-narrative endings. In the case of soap opera, the chapter focusses on the death of the long running character Pat Butcher in the British soap EastEnders (BBC, 1985-), while my chapter on the US sitcom focusses on the varying levels of closure that can be located within the US sitcom, using Friends (NBC, 1993-2004) as a particular example. Finally, my chapter on sports coverage analyses the BBC’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics, and focusses on the narratives surrounding cyclists Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton. Each of these case studies identifies their chosen events as intra-narrative endings within larger, ongoing texts, and analyses the various ways in which they operate within those wider texts. This thesis is intended to make a contribution to the emerging field of endings studies within television by shifting the understanding of endings away from a dominant literary model which overwhelmingly focusses on the terminus of the text, to a more televisually specific model which pays attention to the particular contexts of the medium’s production and reception.

Adaptability, Transformation and Complex Changes in Namibia and Tanzania: Resilience and Innovation System Development in Local Communities

This thesis is a research about the recent complex spatial changes in Namibia and Tanzania and local communities’ capacity to cope with, adapt to and transform the unpredictability engaged to these processes. I scrutinise the concept of resilience and its potential application to explaining the development of local communities in Southern Africa when facing various social, economic and environmental changes. My research is based on three distinct but overlapping research questions: what are the main spatial changes and their impact on the study areas in Namibia and Tanzania? What are the adaptation, transformation and resilience processes of the studied local communities in Namibia and Tanzania? How are innovation systems developed, and what is their impact on the resilience of the studied local communities in Namibia and Tanzania? I use four ethnographic case studies concerning environmental change, global tourism and innovation system development in Namibia and Tanzania, as well as mixed-methodological approaches, to study these issues. The results of my empirical investigation demonstrate that the spatial changes in the localities within Namibia and Tanzania are unique, loose assemblages, a result of the complex, multisided, relational and evolutional development of human and non-human elements that do not necessarily have linear causalities. Several changes co-exist and are interconnected though uncertain and unstructured and, together with the multiple stressors related to poverty, have made communities more vulnerable to different changes. The communities’ adaptation and transformation measures have been mostly reactive, based on contingency and post hoc learning. Despite various anticipation techniques, coping measures, adaptive learning and self-organisation processes occurring in the localities, the local communities are constrained by their uneven power relationships within the larger assemblages. Thus, communities’ own opportunities to increase their resilience are limited without changing the relations in these multiform entities. Therefore, larger cooperation models are needed, like an innovation system, based on the interactions of different actors to foster cooperation, which require collaboration among and input from a diverse set of stakeholders to combine different sources of knowledge, innovation and learning. Accordingly, both Namibia and Tanzania are developing an innovation system as their key policy to foster transformation towards knowledge-based societies. Finally, the development of an innovation system needs novel bottom-up approaches to increase the resilience of local communities and embed it into local communities. Therefore, innovation policies in Namibia have emphasised the role of indigenous knowledge, and Tanzania has established the Living Lab network.

LOS RIESGOS DE DETERIORO DEL PATRIMONIO DOCUMENTAL EN AMÉRICA LATINA

La conservación preventiva se ha convertido en la única vía para salvaguardar la memoria histórica de los pueblos. Existen múltiples definiciones de conservación preventiva, lo que con frecuencia la convierten en centro de discusiones interminables, pero casi todos coincidimos en que por conservación preventiva podemos entender todas las acciones que se dirigen a disminuir el riesgo de deterioro de las colecciones. Y he aquí que el término riesgo ocupa un sitio de gran importancia para la conservación. Entendemos por riesgo la contingencia ó proximidad de un daño, en otras palabras la probabilidad de sufrir un evento peligroso ó indeseable, que en el caso del patrimonio documental se traduce en deterioro o pérdida de valores.El riesgo de deterioro de un documento, esta dado por la relación de dos aspectos, la vulnerabilidad del objeto, y las amenazas a la que está expuesto.

Annual report Fiscal Year 2015

Every year the South Carolina Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund presents its annual report covering such things as accomplishments, history and status, obligations of future sites and state superfund program's community involvement.

Supply Chain Adaptation of Finnish Companies in Chinese Institutional Environment

Within the last few decades of operations and supply chain management, the field has seen the rise of so called best practices, methods that will help supply chains obtain their business goals and gain a competitive edge. These methods were thought to be universal. This however is not always the case, as the surrounding business environment could have a significant impact on what will be effective in gaining competitive edge. Contingency theory states that the success of a supply chain is determined by both internal capabilities, as well as external context aligning. This creates a strategic fit, which is a major determinant of success. In order for supply chains to reach this strategic fit, they must adapt. As China has seen rapid growth and over the last few decades become one of the major economies of the world, Western companies have tried to establish themselves there, only to find that the Chinese market is extremely difficult to operate in. The aim of this thesis was to investigate from contingency theory perspective, what are the institutional factors that affect supply chain management of Finnish companies operating in China, and how do Finnish companies adapt their supply chains to better fit the Chinese institutional environment. A theoretical model was created for this thesis, in which supply chains possess resources, which can be combined in a meaningful manner to create capabilities. Both resources and capabilities are affected by the surrounding institutional environment, which forces supply chains to adapt in order to find a better strategic fit. A total of six Finnish managers from three large and three small companies operating in China were interviewed. The results indicated that the Chinese business environment is significantly different, than that of Finland or Western countries in general. Three institutional factors were identified: Confucian though, fast-paced business environment, and managing labor force. These three institutional factors made the relationship and delivery capabilities particularly important, as well as human resources, reputation, physical resources and technological resources. In conclusion, it was discovered that the Chinese institutional environment is heavily affected by Confucian thought, as well as the rapid market growth. These are the two most important institutional factors that shape the Chinese market. If supply chains wish to be successful in China, adaptation regarding these two institutional factors should yield good results.

Doing difference – Die Reflexion auf Unterscheidungen als Ansatz Politischer Erwachsenenbildung

Ein Verständnis von Demokratie als „stets im Kommen oder im Werden“ schließt fort- und immerwährende Verhandlungsprozesse mit ein. Das Ausbleiben von Konflikten oder die Versuche des Einebnens und Nivellierens von Widersprüchen oder gar deren Negation sind dann Indizien der Gefährdung von Demokratisierung und gesamtgesellschaftlicher Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten. Der vorliegende Beitrag betont die Bedeutung von Widerständigkeit für Demokratisierung. Der vorgestellte Ansatz der Reflexion auf Unterscheidungen - un/doing difference - verabschiedet die stillschweigende Vorstellung, dass es vorab feststehende und gegebene Individuen oder Gruppen mit bestimmten Eigenschaften gibt, an die unterschiedliche Angebote und Interventionen gerichtet werden können. Es ist eine differenzsensible Herangehensweise, die latente Unterschiede aufgreift und ihnen im Handeln - im Sinne von Ungleichheiten - Bedeutung verleiht. Den Abschluss des Beitrages bilden vier Strategien im Kontext politischer Bildungsarbeit, um Pluralität und Kontingenz sichtbar zu machen: Pluralisierung und Konkurrenz ermöglichen; Löschung durch Nichtbeachten; ironische Entlarvung von Selbstverständlichkeitsannahmen; eingeführte Kategorien stehen lassen und zugleich Alternativen fördern. (DIPF/Orig.)

Emotional Theory of Rationality

In recent decades, it has been definitely established the existence of a close relationship between the emotional phenomena and rational processes, but we still do not have a unified definition, or effective models to describe any of them well. To advance our understanding of the mechanisms governing the behavior of living beings we must integrate multiple theories, experiments and models from both fields. In this paper we propose a new theoretical framework that allows integrating and understanding, from a functional point of view, the emotion-cognition duality. Our reasoning, based on evolutionary principles, add to the definition and understanding of emotion, justifying its origin, explaining its mission and dynamics, and linking it to higher cognitive processes, mainly with attention, cognition, decision-making and consciousness. According to our theory, emotions are the mechanism for brain function optimization, besides being the contingency and stimuli prioritization system. As a result of this approach, we have developed a dynamic systems-level model capable of providing plausible explanations for some psychological and behavioral phenomena, and establish a new framework for scientific definition of some fundamental psychological terms.