Neutral Status Research Articles

Reflections on the Performance of Emotion, Masculinity, and Position Within a Prison Ethnography.

In this article, a selection of emotionally charged situations encountered while conducting an ethnographic research project in a prison in the United Kingdom are outlined and analyzed. With reference to three impressionistic field notes, the researcher's responses to interpersonal challenges, and subsequent attempts at impression management, particularly in relation to maintaining a broadly "neutral" and "credible" status are described. The challenges were experienced in the context of the researcher's position within the hierarchical and gendered nature of prison culture; it is argued that the subsequent subjective feelings of ambivalence are characteristic of the relational uncertainties found within prison settings. Reflecting on the impact of emotionally loaded interpersonal encounters helps to support and enrich the quality of the analysis and research. Furthermore, the learning from this process may help researchers undertaking fieldwork in other closed institutions with similar features and with other vulnerable populations.

Development of a multi-nodal thermal regulation and comfort model for the outdoor environment assessment

The growing need for planning eco-cities is calling on a tool that can give better prediction of the thermal comfort conditions for a specific microclimate. A multi-nodal thermal regulation model can potentially factor in the impacts of the transient and asymmetric thermal conditions on human subjects. In this study, Human subjects were invited to experience various kinds of urban open spaces and to express their thermal feelings, while skin temperatures of 17 local body segments were measured. We tested the multi-nodal thermal regulation model developed by UC Berkeley by comparing its predictions of human body skin temperature, thermal sensation vote (TSV), and thermal comfort vote (TCV) with our onsite human subject measurements and questionnaire survey, in order to identify the causes of the errors between the prediction and measurements. Corresponding to the thermal neutral status, the field-measured data recorded wider local skin temperature ranges than the simulated ones. We proposed using a “null zone” instead of “set-point” in the thermal comfort model to accommodate the possible adaptation of human subjects to the highly fluctuating wind environment in open spaces. It was proposed that the forehead was counted as one of the dominant local body parts when defining the overall thermal sensation. The correlation coefficient R2 between the prediction and the field measured TSV improved to 93.7% for the revised model from 76.2% of the original model.

Abstract P1-10-30: Survival benefit of eribulin for metastatic breast cancer depends on absolute lymphocyte count and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in peripheral blood

Abstract Background and Aims: Eribulin is a cytotoxic anti-cancer agent targeting microtubule dynamics, which improves the prognosis of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Preclinical studies have shown that eribulin enhances anti-tumor immunity by inhibiting regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages. Along with advances of immunotherapy for breast cancer, there has been growing interest in such immunologic effects of eribulin. Here we investigated the association between the immunological status of peripheral blood and survival outcomes in patients receiving eribulin for metastatic breast cancer. Methods: Medical records of 125 patients who received eribulin for metastatic breast cancer at Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital between July 2011 and April 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. We collected the data on patients’ baseline characteristics, laboratory tests and clinical courses. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood at the start of treatment with eribulin were calculated, and their association with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed with log-rank test. The cutoff values for ALC and NLR were determined based on their distribution in this cohort. Subgroup analyses by breast cancer subtypes were also conducted. Results: The mean age was 57 years (range, 28-88). Eighty (64%) and 14 (11.2%) patients were positive for hormone receptors and HER2 overexpression. One hundred and ten patients (88%) had received one or more lines of chemotherapy for metastatic disease. We divided the entire cohort into three groups, using the cutoff values of 1500 /µL for ALC and 5 for NLR. Accordingly, 30 patients (24%) had favorable immune status (i.e., ALC ≥1500 /µL), whereas immune systems were considered to be suppressed (i.e., NLR ≥5) in 19 patients (15.2%); the rest 76 patients (60.8%) had neutral immune status (i.e., ALC <1500 /µL and NLR <5). Overall, ALC ≥1500 /µL was significantly associated with better PFS (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.35-0.88; p=.013). In contrast, NLR ≥5 were significantly associated with worse PFS (hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.11-3.32; p=.019) and OS (hazard ratio, 4.26; 95% CI, 2.29-7.91; p<.001). These trends in relationship between ALC/NLR and survival outcomes were consistent across subgroups. Conclusions: The potential role of immune status of peripheral blood, such as ALC ≥1500 /µL and NLR ≥5, in predicting the efficacy of eribulin for metastatic breast cancer was suggested. Selecting patients with favorable immune status will be important to make the best use of eribulin. Citation Format: Ayako Ueno, Shoichiro Ohtani, Kensuke Kawasaki, Mitsuya Ito, Takanori Kin, Reina Maeda. Survival benefit of eribulin for metastatic breast cancer depends on absolute lymphocyte count and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in peripheral blood [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-10-30.

The German Question in Adenauer's Foreign Policy

For many decades after the end of World War II, the unresolved German question was a significant factor in the foreign policy of Germany, especially in relation to the USSR and the countries of the socialist camp. The article analyzes the positions of the Federal Chancellor regarding the East German regime and reunification initiatives based on neutral status. Foreign policy planning in the German question of Adenauer is viewed through the prism of relations with the USSR and Western allies. The German Chancellor’s own policy and his proposals for reunification are investigated. As a result, on the basis of the analysis, an assessment is made of Adenauer's policy on the German question, its significance for the subsequent reunification of 1990.

MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS FOR ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION DEMAND MODEL IN MALAYSIA

Malaysia has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 45% in year 2030 and to attain a completely carbon neutral status by year 2050. For those purposes, substantial measures and policies have been implemented geared towards green growth and sustainability, as stipulated in the 9th, 10th, and 11th Malaysia Plans commencing from 2006 until 2020. Nevertheless, it is indeed a challenge in striking to achieve these targets due to reported increment in the total final energy consumption by 30% from 2010 until 2014. Demand for electricity in Malaysia has been expected to surge between 5% and 6% within these couple of years in line with nation urbanisation and economic progression. As such, a number of macroeconomic indicators that might have influenced Malaysia’s electrical consumption had been analysed for the 1970-2016 period by estimating electricity consumption per capita demand function linked with economic growth, foreign direct investment inflows, trade liberalisation, population growth, urbanisation population growth, financial development, industrialisation, inflation, and household consumption expenditure. The analysis was conducted by using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model. The estimation outcomes revealed the roles of economic progression and urbanization that led to increment in electrical consumption, whereas financial deepening and higher inflation linked to reduction. Such results enlighten significant insights for policymakers. For instance, since electricity consumption rises with urbanisation, it is essential that energy-efficient appliances are made relatively affordable and readily available for urbanites. The central bank also should play its part by lowering the lending rates so as to allow the financial institutions across the nation to offer attractive loans with lower financing cost to firms associated to renewable energy. With more companies being involved in cleaner alternative energy production, the nation is deemed to minimise its carbon emissions by decreasing its dependence upon coal to generate electricity

Permanent Neutrality of the Republic of Moldova — Strategy for Survival Between Russia and NATO?

The aim of the article is to analyze the main challenges related to the unilaterally declared permanent neutrality of the Republic of Moldova. This decision was made in complicated historical and geopolitical circumstances after the war in Transnistria was “frozen”, and foreign forces were deployed on its territory. Permanent neutrality wasseen asthe best way for Moldova to maintain stability and territorial integrity. Moldova has not yet resolved the “frozen conflict” on its territory. Although the situation has largely stabilized in the meantime with the help of the international community, the division is leading to economic and political instability and carries the risk of new conflicts and tensions. Also, Moldova has not received international recognition of its permanent neutrality status, while the Russian troops continue to infringe its sovereignty and internal security. As a result, questions about the sustainability of that status are increasingly being asked. Despite all the dilemmas, Moldova remains determined to establish permanent neutrality as a basic principle of its foreign and security policy. Permanent neutrality isstill considered to be the best way to respond to external influences and internal divisions and thusto preserve the stability and territorial integrity of the country. At the same time, neutral status does not exclude a certain type of security cooperation with Western institutions in order to ensure or, at the very least, implicitly guarantee the security of the state.

ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКІ ЗАСАДИ ВЗАЄМОВІДНОСИН УКРАЇНИ ТА НАТО ТА ВИВЧЕННЯ ДОСВІДУ НЕЙТРАЛІТЕТУ У ЗОВНІШНІХ ВІДНОСИНАХ ОКРЕМИХ ДЕРЖАВ

The article considers European principles of reciprocal relations between Ukraine and NATO and scrutinizing the experienceof neutrality of foreign relations of separate states generating and generalizing the fundamental principles on settlement and exitfrom the Russian-Ukrainian military conflict. The attention has also been stipulated on the peculiarities on obtaining neutrality byEuropean states, scrutinizing the experience of separate countries towards settlement of external conflicts (Sweden, Finland).The government of Sweden has determined a new defense policy, related with the non-participation in wars, loses its practicalcontent and the neutral status of the mentioned countries to a certain extent becomes a symbolic consequence of historictraditions. The separate issues of fundamental principles of the development of relations between Ukraine and NATO have beenscrutinized.There’s a new tendency visible in the foreign policy of states – unlike the previous periods of time the neutral and non-blocstates do not avoid nor open the international political, economic and even military cooperation, they cooperate within theframework of UN, NATO, EU, OSCE hoping that this cooperation will facilitate the reinforcement of friendly relations betweenstates.Ukraine is presented as a sovereign, independent and stabile state, that is irreversibly loyal to the principles of democracyand the rule of law, has a prior meaning for the Euro-Atlantic security. The relations between Ukraine and NATO started thedevelopment at the beginning of the 90-ties of the XX century and since then has become one of the most significant NATOpartnerships. In the course of 2010 in Ukraine there was a tendency of measures and events predominantly related with thereview of organizational principles of cooperation with NATO and the transformation of entities responsible for this process.Starting from 2014, because of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Ukraine-NATO cooperation has been intensified in a set ofcritical fields. Also, a step that has not been less significant was the event that on 12 of June 2020 the NATO North AtlanticCouncil has approved the decision on granting our state the status of a NATO partner-nation with extended capabilities.

NATO adaptation to current challenges and mechanisms of Ukraine’s cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The purpose of the article is to describe the changes NATO undergoing in response to the challenges of our time. Today NATO, as a key element of European and Euro-Atlantic security, is adapting to changes in the modern security environment by increasing its readiness and ability to respond to any threat.
 Adaptation measures include the components required to ensure that the Alliance can fully address the security challenges it might face. Responsiveness NATO Response Force enhanced by developing force packages that are able to move rapidly and respond to potential challenges and threats. As part of it, was established a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, a new Allied joint force that deploy within a few days to respond to challenges that arise, particularly at the periphery of NATO’s territory. NATO emphasizes, that cyber defence is part of NATO’s core task of collective defence. A decision as to when a cyber attack would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis.
 Cooperation with NATO already contributes to the implementation of national security and defense in state policy. At the same time, taking into account that all decision-making in NATO based on consensus, Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance quite vague perspective. In such circumstances, in Ukraine you often can hear the idea of announcement of a neutral status. It is worth reminding that non-aligned status did not save Ukraine from Russian aggression. Neutral status will not accomplish it either. All talks about neutrality and the impossibility of Ukraine joining NATO are nothing but manipulations, as well as recognition of the Ukrainian territory as Russian Federation area of influence (this country seeks to sabotage the Euro-Atlantic movement of Ukraine). Think about it, Moldova’s Neutrality is enshrined in the country’s Constitution since 1994. However, this did not help Moldova to restore its territorial integrity and to force Russia to withdraw its troops and armaments from Transnistria.

Austrian Neutrality of 1955: A Model for Germanyor the Phenomenon of the Cold War?

Introduction. The article considers the problem of solving the Austrian issue by consolidating the country’s neutrality in 1955 in the context of a possible modeling of the situation on the German issue. The consolidation of a neutral non-aligned status with Austria was the result of a broad domestic and foreign policy compromise. At the same time, the main features of the Austrian path to the neutrality of 1945–1955 are highlighted, making this one of the most well-known compromise precedents of the Cold War possible. Methods and materials. The research of the model character of the “Austrian solution” of 1955 is possible only with regard to the intertwining historical contexts in which the development of the German and Austrian issues took place from 1945 to 1949. The author uses the comparative historical method in the article while comparing historical features of the development of the German and Austrian issues between 1945 and 1955 and comparing different views and concepts of historians. The information base of the article consists of narrative and documentary sources, as well as a wide range of scientific research works of Austrian, German and Russian researchers. Analysis. The main internal reasons for the successful resolution of the Austrian issue are the existence of the pro-Western government elected in 1945, the unity of the main political forces of Austria in the matter of restoring sovereignty, and the personal role of Chancellor Julius Raab. The main international reasons are the change in the course of the USSR within the framework of the peaceful coexistence policy, as well as the reciprocal cooperation policy of the Western Allies. The author considers the problem both in historical and in historiographical perspectives. Results. The possibility of applying the “Austrian solution” to the situation with the divided Germany became the subject of a sharp historiographical dispute, which was called “Model Debate” in Austria. Two famous historians, Rolf Steininger and Michael Gehler, developed a concept confirming the model character of the Austrian solution to the situation with Germany. Most of Austrian historians tend to view the successful resolution of the Austrian issue as a single precedent, or phenomenon, of the Cold War. When comparing the situation with Germany and the attempts to model the Austrian version of it, they point to the different potential and significance of the countries for the Western Allies and the USSR, different goals of foreign policy of victorious powers in the German and Austrian issues.

The Dao through the Prism of the Logos: Eurocentrism at the Level of Concepts

Despite the declarations about the possibility of rationalities that are alternative to Western European, despite the reasoning about philosophical multipolarity, the multiplicity of ways of thinking, etc., nowadays, the Western European paradigm of rationality (and concepts that corresponds to it), which is derived from Hellenic thought, continues to claim the status of ideological neutrality and transcend any intercivilizational differences. The Western European rationality in all its diversity is now acting as rationality as such. The indispensability of the reference to the Greek conceptual apparatus in contemporary philosophizing manifests itself most openly in the form of comparativism. Thus, there is the focus on carrying out explicit parallels between, on the one hand, the studied non-European intellectual phenomena and, on the other hand, their supposed European counterparts. An example of the cross-cultural and methodologically sound research of the problems of rationality is an analysis of the Dao through the prism of the Logos. The statement of the uniqueness of the Greek Logos does not imply the prohibition of the existence of its original counterparts in the so-called “non-Western” civilizations with an ancient and distinctive culture. The assumption of the existence of their own analogues of the Logos and rationality in various non-European civilizations presumes the most interesting question about the pluralism of rationalities – the question about the existence of rationalities in the past that could be considered as an alternative to the now prevailing Western European standard of rationality.

Large neutral amino acid status in association with P:T ratio and diet in adult and pediatric patients with phenylketonuria.

BackgroundIntake of large neutral amino acids (LNAA) may inhibit phenylalanine (PHE) transport across the blood brain barrier and assist with blood PHE control in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). We evaluated the interrelationship between LNAA in plasma and diet on Phe:Tyr (P:T) ratio in patients with PKU and the influence of dietary factors on plasma LNAA markers.MethodsPlasma amino acid values and 3‐day food record analysis from two studies (34 male/30 female; age 4.6‐47 years) were examined. For pediatrics (<18 years) and adults (≥18 years) the relationship between P:T ratio, plasma LNAA, and dietary intake patterns were investigated.ResultsDietary factors influencing P:T ratio included intake of total protein (g/kg), medical food (MF) protein (g/kg, % below Rx), and LNAA (g) in the full cohort (P < .05). Associations were found between plasma valine and other dietary and plasma LNAA in pediatrics (P < .05) and plasma LNAA with dietary LNAA intake in adults (P = .019). Plasma P:T ratio was inversely associated with plasma LNAA concentrations in both age groups (P < .05). Aside from histidine in pediatrics (P = .024), plasma LNAA did not differ by having plasma PHE levels within or above the therapeutic range (120‐360 μmol/L). Plasma LNAA in both age groups was similar to reported healthy control values.ConclusionP:T ratio is significantly tied to dietary LNAA, adherence to MF Rx, and plasma LNAA concentrations. Additionally, P:T ratio and valine may be effective clinical proxies for determining LNAA metabolic balance and LNAA quality of the diet in patients with PKU.

Artificial neural networks-based classification of emotions using wristband heart rate monitor data.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is an objective measure of emotional regulation. This study aimed to estimate the accuracy with which an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm could classify emotions using HRV data that were obtained using wristband heart rate monitors.Four emotions were evoked during gameplay: pleasure, happiness, fear, and anger. Seven normalized HRV features (i.e., 3 time-domain features, 3 frequency-domain features, and heart rate), which yielded 29,727 segments during gameplay, were collected and analyzed first by statistics and then classified by the trained ANN model.General linear model adjusted for individual differences in HRV showed that all HRV features significantly differed across emotions, despite disparities in their magnitudes and associations. When compared to neutral status (i.e., no emotion evoked), the mean of R-R interval was significantly higher for pleasure and fear but lower for happiness and anger. In addition, pleasure evidenced the HRV features that suggested a superior parasympathetic to sympathetic activation. Happiness was associated with a prominent sympathetic activation. These statistical findings suggest that HRV features significantly differ across emotions evoked by gameplay. When further utilizing ANN-based emotion classification, the accuracy rates for prediction were above 75.0% across the 4 emotions with accuracy rates for classification of paired emotions ranging from 82.0% to 93.4%.For classifying emotion in an individual person, the trained ANN model utilizing HRV features yielded a high accuracy rate in our study. ANN is a time-efficient and accurate means to classify emotions using HRV data obtained from wristband heart rate monitors. Thus, this integrated platform can help monitor and quantify human emotions and physiological biometrics.

Perceptions of Agentic and Communal Narcissism on Facebook

Studies on narcissism in social media have been numerous. Manifestations of narcissistic behaviors are typically viewed negatively by others online. However, previous study is limited by only examining agentic narcissism. This study investigated perceptions of both agentic and communal narcissism in the context of Facebook. Two hundred and sixty undergraduate students viewed fictitious Facebook profiles with narcissistic or neutral status updates and rated the target on likeability, successfulness, and whether they would want to be friends with the target. Narcissistic statuses were viewed more negatively than neutral statuses across domains. Agentic narcissistic statuses were viewed most harshly. Some gender differences emerged. Female participants rated agentic narcissistic statements from female targets and communal narcissistic statements from male targets more negatively than did male participants. Participants' self-reported communal narcissism was related to their ratings of others, whereas self-reported agentic narcissism was not. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Российская дипломатия и Корея накануне и в годы русско-японской войны 1904–1905 гг.

The article investigates a number of documents contained in the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire — thus, introducing the materials into scientific discourse — and explores the nature of Russo-Korean relations and the activities of Russian diplomacy in Korea on the eve of and during the Russo-Japanese war of 1904–1905. The article argues that Russia’s main goal regarding Korea was to preserve its independence and territorial integrity. The paper primarily seeks to to show the efforts of Russian diplomacy during the period undertaken to ensure the independent existence of the Korean state and prevent the final transition of the country under the rule of Japan. As the author points out, Russia was the first among the powers to recognize the neutral status of the Korean state, being the only power to have condemned Japan’s violent course of action in immediate aftermath of its initiated hostilities and proclaimed it be illegal to seize power in the independent Korean state that had declared itself neutral. The article consistently examines the active support by Russian diplomats to the attempts of the Korean emperor Gojong to preserve the independence of the country, their opposition to the persistent attempts of the Japanese authorities to intimidate Gojong to conclude an agreement on the establishment of a Japanese protectorate over Korea. The work provides convincing evidence of the important contribution by Russian diplomats to the establishment of deeply trusting relations between the Russian and Korean imperial houses. Their honesty, decency, sincere concern for the welfare of Korea and its security proved efficient to win the favor and friendship of the Korean emperor who had repeatedly asked for asylum in the Russian mission in case of personal danger and even about assistance for resettling him towards Russia. The paper demonstrates the understanding by Russian diplomacy of the national-state interests in the region which resolved into preventing Korea from becoming a springboard for hostile actions against Russian Far Eastern possessions, analyzes the role of Russian representatives in developing Russia’s position on recognizing the neutral status of the Korean state as a measure to counteract the calculations of the Japanese Government to tie Korea by allied commitments in the event of hostilities and establish its protectorate over the latter. The article highlights in detail the joint efforts of Russian diplomats undertaken along with the French mission in Seoul in the absence of the Russian mission there aimed to defend the interests of the Russian Government and private Russian-nationals in Korea. In addition, the article mentions the efforts of Russian diplomats and agents to provide the Russian Government with accurate data about the plans and capabilities of the Japanese top military to prepare a base in Korea for a future war, in particular, on the disclosure of areas where enemy units were located, and on developing routes, providing troops with food supply in Korea in future defensive campaigns. Particular attention is paid to showing the aggressive policy of Japan in Korea.

Outdoor thermal sensation and logistic regression analysis of comfort range of meteorological parameters in Hong Kong

Warm and hot days account for most of the time in Hong Kong. Outdoor thermal comfort studies in Hong Kong should give its first consideration to warm and hot days. This study presents investigations about thermal comfort through 1600 human subject responses from the onsite survey with concurrent meteorological parameter measurements. Probit analysis was used for searching the thermal neutral range of Hong Kong residents in a year span. Logistic regression was used for locating the meteorological parameter ranges for thermal neutral and comfort conditions. It is shown that people had difficulties defining their actual thermal feelings near the thermal neutral status when being asked to use the nine-point thermal sensation scale. Obvious thermal adaptation effect for thermal neutral conditions were observed among Hong Kong residents over the seasons in a year. The transitional seasons had a wider thermal neutral range than that of winter and summer. Summer had the narrowest thermal neutral range. Wind and solar radiation had an interaction effect with air temperature in determining thermal sensation and thermal comfort. Wind can effectively offset the negative effect of solar radiation in summer when the air temperature was lower than 31 °C. The thermal comfort condition allowed a higher limit of solar radiation than the thermal neutral condition when the air temperature was lower than 31 °C. The investigations in this study provide some unique insights into the way to assess urban thermal comfort in the building design stage.

Land cover transitions and changing climate conditions in the Polish Carpathians: Assessment and management implications

AbstractWidespread, human‐induced land cover (LC) transitions in areas surrounding national parks and nature reserves, accompanied by changing climate conditions, can trigger serious consequences for these natural environments and their ecosystems. The aim of the study was to assess the direction and magnitude of transitions in LC in the Polish Carpathians since 1990 for determining the current status of land degradation neutrality and future degradation risk as well as to analyze concomitant changes in climate conditions to enable sustainable land management. The study area encompasses six national parks with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization biosphere reserves, several dozen nature reserves, and landscape parks and is a key source of drinking water in Poland. We studied detailed changes in LC (13 classes). The Wilcoxon signed rank test indicated significant increases in built‐up areas (urban fabric and industrial/transport infrastructure), waters, dense forest cover, and herbaceous vegetation but a decrease in heterogeneous agricultural areas. On the basis of two new methods, we assessed the LC transitions for 20 mountain catchments and for the entire Polish Carpathians. Although we found a slight positive transition in LC for the entire Polish Carpathians, clearly negative transitions occurred in the five analyzed catchments, including those covering two national parks. These LC transitions are accompanied by changing climate conditions with significant increases in air temperature and precipitation. The ongoing intensive urbanization in the studied mountain region, which is accompanied by significant regional warming, implies the need to apply sustainable management practices that will avoid or reduce degradation in the catchments involved.

(Auto) representaciones en internet de los guardias de seguridad privada peruanos en Irak

This article analyzes the self-representations in social media of a group of Peruvian workers hired as Private Security Guards in Iraq (2005-2012), as well as their different identifications referring to the hypermedia narratives of the Internet, about the globalized culture and regulated by the military workforce of transnational companies. In addition to the strong nationalist roots consistent with the authoritarian and classist tradition of Peruvian society and the realization of their manhood, these identities manifest an autographic and epic presence of seasonal migration experiences through their videos and interactive environments. As well as strengthening the social construct embodied by the mercenary, this this type of guard is a sign of contemporary civility that helps regulate the system. Its legal and supposedly neutral status collides with an empirical position of combatant giving way to a critical social role. In this, the paradox of a prototype of a subject adapted to the market economy would be possible thanks to a war and the strengthening of masculinity patterns specific to the local context.

A two-layer model for dynamic pricing of electricity and optimal charging of electric vehicles under price spikes

Pilot projects in power networks conducted across continents have established the benefits of dynamic pricing by inducing increased demand response. However, a key hurdle in the growth of demand response is the lack of widespread availability of advanced metering infrastructure, which has stymied the adoption of dynamic pricing. We believe that this hurdle will be partially addressed by the growth of electric vehicles (EVs), as smart and connected EV parking lots will be a provider of demand response. We develop a two-layer optimization model that simultaneously determines dynamic pricing policy for the system operator and demand response strategies for the EV parking lots. The model minimizes the cost to consumers, while ensuring the system operator's revenue neutral status and addressing real-time price uncertainties. A variant of the 5-bus PJM network is used to demonstrate model implementation. Numerical results show that for a low to moderate price spike scenario, dynamic pricing with demand response from EVs alone can lower the daily average consumer cost of 1.42% compared to the cost of flat pricing. A cost reduction of 6.5% is achieved when price spikes are relatively high. Computational challenges of implementing our model for real networks are discussed in the concluding remarks.

CO2 recovery from wine production: Possible implications on the carbon balance at territorial level

The Province of Siena (Tuscany, Italy) is characterized by two features: 1) the carbon neutrality of its territory and 2) the great production of quality wine. The GHG balance of the Province of Siena, realized in time series according to the IPCC guidelines and validated ISO 14064-1 under the REGES Project, testifies the carbon neutrality of the territory (the percentage abatement of gross emissions passed from 72% in 2006 to 106% in 2015). This ambitious goal was achieved in 2011 after the activation of specific environmental policies (concerning energy and waste sectors, forests, transport and education) with local benefits in the short run. This paper presents a systemic investigation of the effects of the application of technologies for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture/storage on the GHG balance of the provincial area; in particular, recovery of biogenic CO2 from alcoholic fermentation of grapes could be seen as a new strategy to consolidate the status of carbon neutrality. The hypothetical installation of recovery plants in Siena wine farms could approximately capture more than 6000 t CO2, corresponding to an improvement of the GHG balance of the territory (i.e. increase of net absorption of almost 8%). CO2 can be captured and stocked in high-pressure containers and reused in production activities, both within and outside the area, avoiding the use of gas obtained in chemical industries by fossil fuel-driven production processes. The economic evaluation confirms good performances obtained by the environmental assessment. These results can inspire policies at the farm level for reducing impacts on GHG emissions from a life cycle thinking viewpoint and at the territorial (or producer consortia) level, in order to decrease impacts by means of dedicated projects, generating positive effects on the local carbon balance and relevant consequences at global scale.

The Status Signals Paradox

Making friends is critical to well-being. We also live in a society where the display of status is ubiquitous and billions of dollars are spent on high-status consumer goods. In the present analysis, we introduce the Status Signals Paradox: When making new friends, people tend to think that displaying high-status markers of themselves (e.g., a BMW, a Tag Heuer watch) will make them more attractive to others than neutral markers (e.g., a Honda, a generic brand watch); however, from the perspective of would-be friends, individuals who display high-status markers are found to be less attractive as new friends than those with neutral status markers. Six studies provide converging evidence of the status signals paradox.