Minor Scale Research Articles

Validating measures of emotional abuse with behavioral observations during interpersonal conflict

Emotional abuse is a form of intimate partner violence that can have detrimental effects on both individual well-being and relationship outcomes. However, differences in definitions and forms of emotional and psychological abuse have led to difficulties in its measurement. The Multi-Dimensional Measure of Emotional Abuse (MMEA) is an emotional abuse index that differentiates several different forms of psychological abuse. The current study sought to validate subscales of the MMEA by examining their relation to emotionally abusive behavior observed during interpersonal conflict. Additionally, the Conflict Tactics Scale Psychological Aggression scale and its severity subscales (CTS-PA) were compared to the MMEA. Heterosexual couples ( N = 167) participated in a conflict discussion task. Conflict discussions were coded for belligerence, contempt, domineering, and stonewalling behavior. Women completed the MMEA and CTS-PA questionnaire about their own and their partners’ emotional abuse perpetration. Results indicated that the total MMEA score for men and women was associated with belligerence, whereas the CTS-PA total score was associated with women’s contempt. The restricted engulfment subscale was associated with men’s dominance and contempt, and woman’s belligerence. The minor CTS-PA scale was associated with men and women’s contempt, and women’s stonewalling. The severe CTS-PA scale was only associated with women’s contempt. Additionally, we found significant associations between men’s stonewalling and contempt and their partner’s MMEA and CTS-PA subscales. For women, stonewalling was associated with their partner’s restricted engulfment. Men’s hostile withdrawal scale was also associated with their partner’s dominance during the conflict. Our results suggest that the MMEA multi-dimensional subscales appear to capture a wider range specific abusive behaviors compared to the CTS-PA’s severity constructs.

Origin of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon (H2S, CO2 and N2) components of natural gas accumulated in the Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonate reservoir of the western part of the Polish sector of the Southern Permian Basin

The origin and migration of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon (hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide and molecular nitrogen) components of natural gas accumulated within the Zechstein PZ2 (Stassfurt) Main Dolomite (Ca2) carbonate reservoir in the western part of the Polish sector of the Southern Permian Basin (SPB) were established based on molecular and isotopic compositions (δ13C[CH4, C2H6, C3H8, n-C4H10, i-C4H10, n-C5H12, i-C5H12 and CO2], δ2H[CH4], δ15N[N2] and δ34S[H2S]) related to geological settings and 1-D modelling of generation processes. Hydrocarbon gases were generated during both microbial and thermogenic processes. Primary microbial processes ended at the turn of the Late Permian and Early Triassic, when oil and thermogenic gas generation processes began. The reconstruction of the thermal evolution and transformation of organic matter in this part of the SPB shows that thermogenic processes ended in the Late Jurassic in the Grotów Peninsula (Zone C), and in the Late Cretaceous in the western part of the Wielkopolska Platform and Gorzów Platform (zones A and B). The presence of the microbial component in analysed accumulations indicates that traps within the Ca2 carbonate strata were formed and sealed by the overlying impermeable anhydrites and salts of PZ2 (Stassfurt), PZ3 (Leine) and PZ4 (Aller) cycles preventing its escape. Accumulation of natural gas in Ca2 traps took place in at least two stages and had a cumulative character. First, microbial gases accumulated, then thermogenic gases associated with oil were generated from type II kerogen in the “oil window”. An insignificant methane component was generated from type III kerogen and migrated to Ca2 reservoir from Carboniferous strata. H2S was most probably generated during both microbial (MSR) and thermochemical sulphate reduction (TSR) of anhydrites in the PZ1 (Werra) cycle, and additionally from thermal decomposition of organic sulphur components of oil and kerogen in the Ca2 carbonate rocks. MSR ended during the Late Permian. TSR was temporarily halted as a result of Early Cretaceous uplift and probably resumed on a minor scale after the Late Cretaceous. CO2 was predominantly generated during thermogenic processes of kerogen decarboxylation, carbonate dissolution processes, and TSR and MSR together with H2S. A lesser contribution of CO2 from microbial fermentation was also observed. To a large extent N2 was mainly generated during thermal transformation of type II kerogen dispersed in the Ca2 carbonate strata and probably partly migrated from Carboniferous high-maturity type III kerogen to Ca2 reservoirs through fault systems.

Ground-Penetrating Radar Study of Progradational Units in Holocene Coastal Plains: Carchuna Beach (SE Spain)

The internal geometries of progradational units on the coastal plain in southeastern Spain (Carchuna Beach, Granada) since the maximum Holocene marine transgression (ca. 7000 cal BP) have been analysed using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Radargram analysis shows the presence of sedimentary structures consistent with the progradation of coastal plains, interpreted as laminations associated with the foreset and topset. Laterally, five middle scale progradational units (H2, H3, H4, H5 and H6) are identified. Each of these units can be grouped into two major units. The general trend towards progradation is interrupted at the boundary of the units. Minor scale units (prograding wedges), deposited at topographically lower areas, are detected in GPR profiles. The radargrams also show channel erosional surfaces and sigmoidal landward dipping reflections interpreted as washover channel deposits, with the erosion and transference of sediments between the beach and the back-ridge domain. Furthermore, the saturation of coastline sediments with saltwater rapidly attenuates the GPR signal. Thus, the GPR is also a good tool to detect saltwater intrusions in shallow aquifers.

Solar Concentrator PDR with solar tracking

The reduction in conventional fuels consumption can be accomplished through the use of solar energy, transforming it into thermal energy throught a solar collector. There are a lot of solar collector kind, but the solar concentration way, specifically the parabolic dish reflector technology, or just PDR solar concentrator, offers one of the most efficient paths to achieve high quality thermal energy. Usually, the PDR solar concentrator are designed in big dimensions in order to generate electrical energy; nevertheless this technology could be used in minor scale in order to generate solar concentration high levels to achieve enough thermal energy to satisfy hot water demand in residential buildings, homes and even the industry. The prototype here presented was developed in four phases: The parabolic dish, the gear box and mechanical support device, the sun tracking control system and finally the system integration and operational tests. The four phases conjunction results in a totally operative prototype with the capability of achieve temperatures of 400 ºC, over a concentration focal point under partially cloudy day conditions.

Public-Private Partnerships in Forestry Management in Sri Lanka: Emergence, Influence and Legitimacy

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are considered as “win-win” solutions to both government and market failures in sustainable forest management. PPPs in Sri Lanka are filling a regulatory gap resulting from withdrawal of government from the management of forest resources. The national forest policy has emphasized afforestation, conservation and protection as the main components of emerged government-community, donor–recipient and public–private partnerships with local people, rural communities and other stakeholders. Timber and fuel-wood plantations, and agro-forestry woodlots have been established through partnerships. Eco-tourism has been given special emphasis through partnerships between the government agencies, private sector and communities. Private sector involves in forestry as a business through sustainable agro-forestry, imparting financial gain. The government has identified risk mitigation as an integral part of the government–community partnership planning process. Investments of private sector in forest management are committed to enhance inflow of foreign exchange earnings through the export of value added forest products. The Forest Ordinance has empowered Forest Department for the management, protection and development of forest resources. PPPs are far less frequent in rule-setting and implementation of timber and fuel-wood plantations and agro-forestry woodlots. Work undertaken by community based organizations in PPPs occurs on a minor scale. Private-sector involvement in forest resources management has raised serious concerns by public perception about conflict of interest. The Government needs serious efforts and amendment of forest policies to promote public-private partnerships for the sustainable development of forest resources.

Multiple versus single response optimization in thiosulfate bio-removal and its products formation and function of optimum point in bioreactor

Sulfur oxidizing bacteria have been widely exploited to remove thiosulfate with adverse effects on human health and environment. Since formation of elemental sulfur among other thiosulfate oxidation products is advantageous in industrial applications, we tend to statistically screen (fractional factor design) and optimize (response surface methodology) the operating conditions in this study so that the final thiosulfate removal (Y1) and the highest sulfur production (Y2) become maximum along with the appropriate final sulfate formation (Y3). Optimum conditions were then examined in a stirred bioreactor. Screening results showed the definite effectiveness of six factors on all responses however level modification and optimization were necessary due to significant P-value of curvature. Single response optimizations (maximization of each response) resulted in dissimilar sets of optimal conditions. Multiple response (Y1 = 100 %, Y2 and Y3 = 50 %) optimization, using desirability function, was therefore used and resulted in agitation speed: 44 rpm, pH: 6.07, temperature: 24.7 °C, time: 2.64 day, inoculum ratio: 19.5 % and thiosulfate level: 2.87 mg l−1 as optimal conditions. Bioreactor experiments (agitation speeds: 30−90 rpm) under optimal conditions led to the highest S0 formation of 46 % and complete thiosulfate removal at 60 rpm and 40 h. Therefore, multiple response optimization followed by minor scale modifications can productively enhance industrial elemental sulfur formation from wastewater plants.

Areal and Narrowly-localized Types of Formula Chanting in the Wedding Tradition of Slobіdshchyna

The wedding ritual cycle can be considered as one of the most investigated in the Ukrainian ethnomusicology. However, historically it turned out that the territories of late-settlement of south-eastern Ukraine remain insufficiently explored. Therefore, scientific research of this region is now arousing the interest of the musicologists. Numerous materials of expeditions in the Kharkiv region of the 70s-2000’s made up funds of phono archives, folklore collections, audio publications. This significant empirical material became a groundwork for the further scientific findings. Having basic information about the genres of local folklore and their typical features, we can detect unknown artifacts from the huge amount of data. Our attention was attracted by the distinctive archaic style of the wedding song tradition of Rozsoshi village, Velykopysarivskyi region of Sumshchyna that borders on the modern Kharkiv region. In our opinion, it is a manifestation of a narrowly local tradition, which in many ways does not coincide with the musical stylistics of the rest of Slobozh nshchyna. Thus, the aim of the scientific research is to display authentic material from the neighboring villages of Rozsoshi (Sumskyi region) and Korbyni Ivany (Kharkiv region) and to compare its morphological parameters in order to mark its place in the stylistic system of the Slobіdshchyna region.Analysis of formula tunes of Rozsoshi village gives grounds for the conclusions that here arises such form of interrelation of elements of the local song style, at which the most stable and dominant is the level of melody and tonality (minor third scale with subquarte within burdo diaphonia), which are indirectly coordinated with a certain rhythm. It is the melodictextured type itself that has become the system sign of the narrowly local tradition of Rozsoshi village.Analysis of three formula tunes of Korbyni Ivany village showed that their basis is the scale of the fifth ambitus, yet with different types of basic tones, which are coordinated with various rhythmic patterns. Such a so-called “Podilski” wedding and its musical and style components are dominant not only in the Bohodukhivskyi region, but also in other areas of Slobіdshchyna: Kupianskyi, Zolochivskyi, Krasnokutskyi, Lozivskyi etc.As a result of that, the study of wedding rituals and structural-performing features of the wedding songs of Slobozh nshchyna has revealed an interesting fact of their coexistence in the form of an oppositional-hierarchical pair of “regional–narrowly local”. The described features are not accidental. Apparently, they are a manifestation and result of a peculiar historical process of these lands settling for three centuries. This process, as we know, was far from equable and ethnically heterogeneous. So, the material and conclusions presented in the article allow us to argue the existence of sustained archetypical “codes” that each tradition has been maintaining for centuries up to the present day.

Matar un ruiseñor. Oseira 1909, análisis de una masacre

En 1909 nueve personas murieron por disparos de la Guardia civil en la aldea de Oseira (Ourense), cuando una multitud se opuso a la retirada de un baldaquino de la iglesia local. Este episodio y la polémica posterior son analizados en profundidad para comprender mejor la dinámica del poder local bajo el régimen de la Restauración. La reacción de la oposición tiene una semejanza sorprendente, a menor escala por supuesto, con la campaña contra el gobierno Maura posterior a la Semana Trágica sólo tres meses después.

An Improved Method for Obtaining Solar Irradiation Data at Temporal High-Resolution

Solar irradiation that is received on a terrestrial surface at minor scale of an hour does not have many records, since the current solar irradiation databases generally only have data recorded on a daily (most) and hourly (some less) scale. For places where there are no records of solar irradiation, there are a lot of methods that are used to synthetically or artificially generate these data, and again they are usually methods that generate data on a daily or hourly scale. Currently, for all types of applications, especially in the field of photovoltaic solar energy, irradiation data are needed at minor scale of an hour. In this case, there are very few methods to generate such data. For this purpose, a new methodology to generate series of solar irradiation at temporal high-resolution. In this paper, it is presented on a 10-min basis. A comparative study with real data has been done and the conclusion, as it will be explained is that the proposed methodology provides very good results.

Exploring the effect of the geological texture at meso and micro scale on grinding performance

Comminution indices are used to represent the grindability of a combination of minerals treated by specific processes. If two rock samples with similar values for an index are treated in the same comminution process, they are expected to have a similar behavior during grinding. However, indices are obtained assuming the breakage of homogeneous and continuous materials without considering minor scale mineral and geological textural characteristics. Eventual differences in the process could be related to those properties and may not be explained by comminution indices by itself. In the present study, two different copper ores samples with similar Bond Work index were used to evaluate the influence of mineralogy and geological texture at meso and micro scale in a ball grinding process at laboratory scale. Samples were characterized through geological texture analysis at micro-scale using petrographic microscopy, hyperspectral characterization, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence. The effect of mineral properties on grinding was assessed through controlled grinding kinetics performed in a Magotteaux Mill®. Results show that the BWi allows to describe the transition between initial and final states at long grinding times, but it cannot reproduce the entire grinding kinetic, while textural properties, such as grain size and matrix-grain mineralogical composition, may be linked to P80 variation over time and the variation of cumulative particle size distributions at different grinding times. Results suggest that geological texture may be considered as a complement to traditional grindability indices to evaluate the grinding performance.

A Lack of Effect Studies and of Effects: The Use of Strategic Communication in the Military Domain

ABSTRACTPsychological operations (PSYOP) implies a purposeful use of communication by a government or military organization to fulfill its mission and is one understanding of strategic communication. The present study focuses on PSYOP effects. The few studies available on this area indicate that the effects of PSYOP generally tend to be on a minor scale, while PSYOP may have a stronger impact in specific contexts. We discuss possible explanations and suggest that a number of psychological factors inhibit PSYOP success. One major example is that of human cognitive conservatism. Other psychological mechanisms, mostly emotional ones, may promote PSYOP, for example, strong identification with one’s own (national, ethnic or religious) group, a sense of threat to the resources, status and/or survival of own group, a perception of hostility from other groups, and the experience that another group has devalued or offended the in-group.

Yeraltındaki İşyeri Kazaları İçin İhtiyaç Duyulan İleri Seviye Hayat destek Servisi

Mining sector is important business and industrial activity in some countries. When ore explorations are gradually turned into mine operations, more people will gradually be employed in the mining industry. Even with today’s mining capacity, work and work place occupational safety are main concern for related workbodies. Minor scale mine accidents are not publically announced due to their individual characteristics. But some others happened in big scale which becomes national dilemma. After the event, each of them is followed by mine rescue operations, media broadcastings from the sites, families waiting for their relatives in indescribable hopes, angers, disappointing physiology. Rescue teams in these occasions have responsibilities to reach and safe the trapped/injured miners. The question arose here is what the level of “first-aid” or “life-support” training for some of the members of rescue teams should be. Some of the rescue team members should deal with excavations, ventilations, mine supports etc. but some of them should definitely deal with trapped, injured, collapsed workers without loosing their own life and physiologic wellness. In this study, importance and requirements of Advanced Life Support (ALS) services in mine accidents are evaluated according to experiences to have more realistic and valuable rescue operations.

A new way of looking at dendroprovenancing: Spatial field correlations of residuals

A graphical method is used to demonstrate the results of new analytical steps introduced as an aid to provenancing oak within the British Isles. The current method for determining the likely area of origin of a tree-ring series is to map the distribution of t-values obtained when the subject chronology is compared with each of the available reference chronologies. Although useful, this falls into the trap that the t-value itself is subject to variation in length of the series being compared. The first step to overcome this is to instead use the R-value, a common way of characterising inter-site tree-ring relationships. It can be seen however that with dated sites, the geographical spread of well-matching sites is often quite large (the very reason why one can have confidence in the dating). This new method introduces two new steps. The first is to subtract the regional growth signal before comparing the sites. It is then possible to focus on the often more minor local scale variations in growth, the weak relationships previously overwhelmed by the regional signal sometimes becoming apparent using the paired inter-site correlations (residuals). The second step is then introduced, exploiting the information available in these maps. Objectively quantifying the agreement between the spatial correlation fields for a single site is achieved by scoring and mapping the agreement between the inter-site correlation maps for each other site, here termed the ‘field correlation’. It is shown that this sometimes gives an improved indication of the likely area of growth, and can be used in conjunction with any other information available to suggest likely geographical origins with more confidence.

Outstanding plant endemism levels strongly support the recognition ofcampo rupestreprovinces in mountaintops of eastern South America

AbstractAimThe Braziliancampo rupestreis a vegetation associated to ancient mountaintops in eastern South America, spread mainly over disjunct areas of the Espinhaço Range and the Chapada dos Veadeiros. These areas hold outstanding levels of plant diversity and endemism, but despite their uniqueness they have been neglected in recent bioregionalizations for the Neotropical region. Given their particular levels of species richness and endemism, we here test the recognition of these as distinct bioregions within the Chacoan dominion.LocationMountaintops of eastern South America.MethodsWe listed 1,748 angiosperm species endemic to thecampo rupestreof the Espinhaço Range and Chapada dos Veadeiros regions, based on the data gathered from the Brazilian Flora 2020 Project. We extracted all occurrence information available from GBIF (the Global Biodiversity Information Facility) for such list and also for a polygon gathering all the study area, including information from adjacent vegetations. Data went through standard cleaning procedures and a network clustering analysis was performed to delimitate the boundaries of the new bioregions.ResultsOur data strongly support the recognition of two distinct bioregions along the Espinhaço Range, but none in the Chapada dos Veadeiros. Given their high levels of endemism and singularity within the Chacoan dominion, we formalize two provinces associated tocampo rupestrein the Espinhaço Range, naming them as “Chapada Diamantina” and “Southern Espinhaço” provinces. Within the latter province, three districts are also recognized, based on this and previous studies: “Diamantina Plateau”, “Grão‐Mogol” and “Iron Quadrangle” districts.Main conclusionsThe formalization of new and previously described bioregions highlights thecampo rupestreas a vegetation harbouring outstanding levels of species richness and endemism in South America, contributing to a better understanding of biogeographical patterns in the Neotropics. Also, as we follow the International Code of Area Nomenclature as a device to standardize recognition of bioregions, this shall facilitate further biogeographical and conservation studies in these areas. Further assessments with new and revisited data are needed to enable minor scale bioregionalization within the Chacoan dominion.

Numerical investigation of auto-igniting turbulent lifted CH4/air jet diffusion flames in a vitiated co-flow using a RANS based stochastic multiple mapping conditioning approach

Numerical simulations of auto-igniting turbulent lifted jet diffusion flames of CH4/air fuel issued into a vitiated coflow of lean combustion products of H2/air are performed using Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) based stochastic multiple mapping conditioning (MMC) approach. A two-dimensional axisymmetric formulation is used to model the fluid flow, where the gas-phase turbulence terms are closed using the standard two-equation k-ε turbulence model with a modified set of constants. A reduced chemical mechanism ARM2 is used which consists of 19 species and 15 reactions derived from the GRI 3.0 mechanism. In MMC, the concept of mapping function is used, which approximates the cumulative probability distribution of the major scalar, namely mixture fraction for nonpremixed combustion. The corresponding variance of the major scalar is modelled by choosing a standard implementation of the major mixing time scale τϕ modelled in terms of the turbulent time scale as τϕ=τt/Cϕ. For all simulations reported herein, the same major mixing time constant Cϕ=3.0 is used. Additionally, in MMC, a minor mixing time scale τmin is introduced which controls fluctuations of scalars relative to the major fluctuations via the minor mixing time constant, Cmin. Three different values of Cmin=(τmin/τϕ)=0.25,0.35and0.50 are used and the corresponding ratios of minor to turbulent time scales are τmin/τt=0.083,0.116 and 0.166, respectively. The conditional and unconditional reactive scalar fields are found to be highly dependent on the choice of Cmin and hence the ratio of the minor and major mixing time scales. The numerical results are thoroughly validated against the experimental measurements. The variation in lift-off height is found to be in good agreement with the experimental data for the entire range of coflow temperature for Cmin=0.25. Also, the predicted conditional and unconditional scalar fields from the present RANS-MMC model shows an excellent agreement with the experimental measurements.

A Common Assessment Space for Different Sensor Structures.

The study of the evolution process of our visual system indicates the existence of variational spatial arrangement; from densely hexagonal in the fovea to a sparse circular structure in the peripheral retina. Today’s sensor spatial arrangement is inspired by our visual system. However, we have not come further than rigid rectangular and, on a minor scale, hexagonal sensor arrangements. Even in this situation, there is a need for directly assessing differences between the rectangular and hexagonal sensor arrangements, i.e., without the conversion of one arrangement to another. In this paper, we propose a method to create a common space for addressing any spatial arrangements and assessing the differences among them, e.g., between the rectangular and hexagonal. Such a space is created by implementing a continuous extension of discrete Weyl Group orbit function transform which extends a discrete arrangement to a continuous one. The implementation of the space is demonstrated by comparing two types of generated hexagonal images from each rectangular image with two different methods of the half-pixel shifting method and virtual hexagonal method. In the experiment, a group of ten texture images were generated with variational curviness content using ten different Perlin noise patterns, adding to an initial 2D Gaussian distribution pattern image. Then, the common space was obtained from each of the discrete images to assess the differences between the original rectangular image and its corresponding hexagonal image. The results show that the space facilitates a usage friendly tool to address an arrangement and assess the changes between different spatial arrangements by which, in the experiment, the hexagonal images show richer intensity variation, nonlinear behavior, and larger dynamic range in comparison to the rectangular images.

The Pannonian wars of Aelius Caesar and Antoninus Pius: A fiction of modern scholars?

It has long been suggested by various scholars that there was a war between the Roman Empire and the German tribes on the Pannonian frontier in the years around 140 A.D. This thesis is based on the following. From the Historia Augusta we learn that Aelius Caesar, Hadrian’s designated heir to the throne, successfully led campaigns in 137 A.D. as the governor of the two Pannoniae, but these must only have been of a minor scale, and had only propagandistic reasons, i.e. to prove the suitability of the heir to the throne. Despite the fact that the rex datus coins all signify the same thing, the inauguration of a foreign king by Rome’s approval, there are major differences not only in their depictions but also in their meaning. The ones of Trajan and Lucius Verus are almost identical, since they bear the same message: a military victory. Antoninus Pius had to create a new reverse design, because he managed to appoint kings through diplomatic negotiations. These are, however, regarded as minor successes, compared to the military ones, so these are not mentioned by the literary sources. In what way did the inauguration of the Quad king contribute to the Marcomannic wars is still unknown.

MELIHAT KEMUNGKINAN MODUS GEREJA SEBAGAI DASAR BAGI PENYUSUNAN MUSIK UNTUK HYMN

The standard major and minor scale have been used to compose millions of congregational song. After years of listening to music based on the same old scales, there is a way to break away from convention but still keep the music interested and more fresh. A great way to start exploring interesting and new sounding melodies and harmonies is to use modes (church modes). Modes are scales that use the same pitches of the standard major scale but in new and different ways. Because of one or two discrepancies from the typical major or minor scale, a mode can sound fresh, intriguing, and grab your listener's attention as something new.

Short and Long Term Determinants of the Net International Investment Position Resulting from the Balance of Payments of the European Monetary Union Countries

The paper aims at analysing the level, composition and factors determining changes of the net international investment position (NIIP) of the euro area countries. Although the improvement in the euro area’s NIIP during the period from 2Q2012 to 2Q2016 was largely driven by current account surpluses in 13 out of 19 countries, there is a visible difference between the NIIP changes and their components in the surplus and deficit countries. The group of net foreign assets countries increased its position primarily by running current account surpluses reflecting mainly a positive balance on goods and, on a minor scale, a positive primary income balance. The NIIP in the group of net foreign liabilities countries deteriorated although the cumulative current accounts were in surplus for this period. Here, the current account improvement was largely driven by services which, in contrast to the net foreign asset countries, were in surplus. In turn, the cumulative primary income in the group of net foreign liabilities countries was in minus. Statistical analysis aimed at estimation of determinants of the changes in the NIIPs over the subsequent quarters shows that their short term behaviour was on a large scale positively driven by the changes of valuation effect resulting, for example, from exchange rates and prices movements. It should not be surprising that the signs which indicate the direction of valuation effect on the NIIP pattern are different in the short and long term. It should be stressed that the valuation effect influence decreases over time since valuation gains and losses overlap and largely neutralise each other. Nevertheless, combined losses were higher than total gains and therefore its impact on the NIIP was negative in the analysed period. On the other hand, the EMU current account surpluses were repetitive and persistent, being the main factor behind the improvement of the cumulative euro area NIIP changes.

Life cycle costing as a bottom line for the life cycle sustainability assessment in the solar energy sector: A review

This review focus on LCC Assessment (LCCA) and the adoption of this methodology for the economic pillar evaluation of the Sustainability Life Cycle in the Solar Energy sector. Research showed the effectiveness of this methodology as the main component for assessing sustainability in the economic domain, and the relationship with the primary methods of environmental and social areas. The energy industry has been responsible for a significant number of publications, and the use of LCCA for different scale solar energy solutions as vehicles, houses, buildings, highways, rural properties and power plants indicates the usefulness of this methodology. In the large-scale solar energy solutions, for Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), the use of LCCA can upraise the advantages for choosing or integrating both solutions. Also clarifying the feasibility of their critical ancillary solutions, named Electrical Energy Storages (EES) and the Thermal Energy Storages (TES). In minor scale solar energy solutions where the crescent technological evolution of SPV Cells has resulted in higher energy efficiency rates, the use of the LCCA can demonstrate the sensitive reduction on the Levelled Cost of Energy (LCOE), reflecting on the feasibility of solutions as the Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB). These facts allied to the crescent number of studies and publications shows that LCCA is a promising field of studies and a powerful tool to achieve a most complete and reliable Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of solar energy technologies and also the solar energy implementation projects, mainly in the design phase.