38796 research outputs found
Sort by
An Exploration of Virtual Reality User Profiles and Their Relationship with Symptoms of Addiction
No full textPrevious research on digital media and well-being showed that the impact of media technologies on users largely depends on specific usage characteristics, context, and individual user factors. This research report explores the existence of distinct user profiles in virtual reality (VR), using an existing dataset and applying latent class analysis. The results point to the existence of three classes: two of them primarily include VR game users, who differ in the intensity of their psychological engagement (sense of presence) during gameplay, and a third class that includes users of social VR platforms, who report a relatively very high level of engagement with these platforms. The three groups differ in symptoms of addiction to the technology. These results provide valuable proof of concept for the usefulness of identifying usage profiles as a way to reveal how the relationship between VR and well-being might vary across different usage situations.JRC.S.4 - Centre for Advanced Studie
Clean Energy Technology Observatory: Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin in the European Union - 2025 Status Report on Technology Development, Trends, Value Chains and Markets
Get PDFRenewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) are pure renewable hydrogen or synthetic fuels produced from renewable hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) or nitrogen (N₂). They represent a key solution to decarbonise transport and industry, where direct electrification is not viable. RFNBO can deliver over 70% greenhouse gas savings compared to fossil fuels, while using part of the existing energy infrastructure. Currently, the best market options, such as e-methanol, ekerosene, e-ammonia, and e-methane, have reached Technology Readiness Levels 6–8, with early commercial projects operating in Germany and Denmark. Despite this progress, the limited supply of renewable hydrogen, low penetration of carbon capture technologies, and high capital and operating costs still constrain competitiveness. Supported by the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), ReFuelEU Aviation, FuelEU Maritime, and the Net-Zero Industry Act, EU policy provides a strong framework for large-scale production by 2050. The EU maintains a global leadership in research and demonstration and has promoted several support mechanisms for accelerating the industry developments.JRC.C.2 - Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Improved Hardware-in-the-Loop-Based Testing
No full textReal-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop techniques are crucial for testing advanced power energy systems. This chapter covers the state-of-the-art of hardware-in-the-loop techniques, highlighting its key research and application challenges associated with stability, accuracy, and sensitivity. Advanced hardware-in-the-loop stability enhancement schemes, time delay compensation-aided accuracy improvement, and a novel framework for hardware-in-the-loop sensitivity analysis are presented. Based on these approaches, case studies showcasing successful hardware-in-the-loop testing of advanced power techniques are presented at the end of this chapter.JRC.C.3 - Energy Security, Distribution and Market
A bottom-up perspective on how fire changes ecosystem biogeochemistry via plant-soil interactions
No full textThe effect of fire on plants and soils cannot be viewed in isolation. Plant-soil interactions, and their role in determining the response of ecosystem to fire, has been a widely debated topic. Most studies describe patterns rather than the mechanisms that may lead to variable effects on soils across ecosystems.JRC.D.1 - Forests and Bio-Econom
The Corporate Income Tax Gap
Get PDFThis report presents new estimates of the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) compliance gap for 23 EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland, using a harmonised top-down methodology developed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC). The CIT compliance gap reflects the shortfall in revenue due to non-compliance with tax laws, including tax evasion and certain forms of tax avoidance. Recognising the limitations of existing methods—particularly the data demands of the IMF’s RA-GAP approach—the JRC proposes a simplified, scalable methodology based on Eurostat’s Tabular Approach to Exhaustiveness. This method leverages adjustments for undeclared economic activity in national accounts to estimate the gap in a transparent and comparable way. The results highlight substantial variation across countries, with compliance gaps ranging from under 3% to over 35%, and an average shortfall of 10.9% of potential CIT revenues in 2017. Sectoral analysis for selected countries reveals systematic differences in compliance across industries. The approach offers a feasible and replicable tool for regular monitoring of corporate tax compliance, supporting evidence-based policymaking and cross-country comparison.JRC.B.2 - Fiscal Policy Analysi
African integration with global reach: spillover effects of AfCFTA non-tariff measure reforms
Get PDFUsing the MAGNET recursive-dynamic CGE model, we quantify AfCFTA non-tariff measure (NTM) reforms. We advance the methodology by modeling regulatory spillovers as public goods, deviating from standard Vinerian assumptions. Results indicate spillovers generate welfare gains up to 16 times larger than tariff cuts. However, a structural tradeoff emerges: while maximizing aggregate efficiency, spillovers reinforce comparative advantages in primary commodities, disproportionately benefiting resource-rich economies regardless of development status. We conclude that successful integration requires strategic sequencing of input harmonization and targeted adjustment funds to manage this efficiency-industrialization tension.JRC.D.4 - Economics of the Food Syste
Urban Micromobility in Practice: Insights from a Full-Year Analysis of Shared Scooter Use in Tel Aviv
No full textThis paper investigates the spatiotemporal patterns and accessibility implications of shared e-scooter use in Tel Aviv, drawing on a complete year (2024) of trip-level data from all licensed providers. Shared micromobility services are often promoted as tools for reducing car dependency and improving urban accessibility, yet their actual usage patterns and equity outcomes remain underexplored, especially outside North America and Western Europe. This study aims to address this gap by integrating over 9 million reconstructed scooter trips with public transport accessibility data, local weather records, and institutional calendar effects. Multivariate regression was applied to quantify temporal and environmental determinants of demand, seasonal-trend decomposition to reveal cyclical usage patterns, and spatial analysis to assess whether scooters extend or reinforce existing mobility hierarchies. Findings indicate that scooter use in Tel Aviv is highly structured, peaking during afternoon hours, dropping during holidays and rain, and reflecting the weekly rhythms of the workweek in Tel Aviv. However, spatial patterns show a strong concentration of usage within already well-connected central areas, with limited activity in low-accessibility zones. These results suggest that shared e-scooters are not currently fulfilling their potential as first- or last-mile connectors; instead, they primarily serve as short-range, intra-core alternatives to walking.JRC.C.4 - Sustainable, Smart and Safe Mobilit
Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) – Implementation of the Technical Measures Regulation (STECF 24-16)
Get PDFEWG 24-16 was tasked with the development of a bio-economic modelling framework to assess the impact of the implementation of technical measures. The EWG focused on tool preparation (data and code); framework application (two case studies); and framework development to identify additional aspects required to fully operationalise the bioeconomic and social assessment of the impact of technical measures within Western Waters and Mediterranean. This work builds on the body of research conducted in four previous working groups that focused on the review of the technical measure's regulation (EWG 20-02, EWG 21-07, EWG 22-19, EWG 23-15). The previous EWG’s (20-02, 21-07, 22-19) developed several tools to translate and apply the finding of gear selectivity studies to the single species stock data to produce selectivity indications which could estimate the likely impact of selectivity measures on stocks. EWG 23-15 focused on the implemen-tation of the technical measures regulation by identifying the tools, steps and routes required to operationalise a bioeconomic (ecological, economic and social) impact assessment of the technical measures.
To assess the impact of the technical measures requires multidisciplinary expertise. This expertise was well represented at EWG 24-16 which was attended by 18 experts (biologist, economist, gear technologist, mathematicians and social scientists), including 2 JRC staff; 1 representative from DG MARE, and 10 observers from diverse backgrounds including Advisory Councils.
The Terms of Reference to the EWG were all addressed and an overview of the findings in the report can be summarised as follows:
• EWG 24-16 progressed the development of a decision support tool to assess and visualise the short-term bioeconomic impact assessment of technical measures. It will take another year to fully operationalise the process of providing robust and transparent advice using this tool for short term projections.
• ToR 1 reviewed the outputs of an ad hoc contract to determine suitability of data and code provided for implementation during the EWG 24-16. The material and report provided by the ad hoc were successfully implemented during EWG 24-16
• ToR 2 documented the application of two bioeconomic case studies on hake mixed fisheries using the data and code presented in ToR1. One case study on the Bay of Biscay using the model developed by ICES WGMIXFISH advice. The second case study on EMU2 (GSAs 8, 9, 10, 11) using the model developed by the STECF West MED MAP EWG.
• ToR 3 utilised the experience of experts and observers to determine what scenarios could be tested in these specific studies, and what scenarios would be of relevance to the specific fishery and management challenges in these regions. Once operational, these decision support tools will provide a platform by which to easily explore trade-offs to a spectrum of different scenarios.
• ToR 4 summarised the remaining steps required to fully operationalise a short-term fore-cast application over the next year for the two identified case studies; and what is required to operationalise a long-term forecast over the next 2 years.JRC.D.2 - Ocean and Wate
Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) – Monitoring the Performance of the Common Fisheries Policy (STECF-Adhoc-25-01)
Get PDFCommission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. This report deals with the monitoring of the performance of the Common Fisheries Policy.JRC.D.2 - Ocean and Wate
The effect of seismic damage on the heating energy demand of buildings: A combined experimental study
No full textThis study addresses the yet underexplored impact of seismic damage on the energy efficiency of buildings, specifically focusing on air leakages and the resultant increases in heating energy demand. Recognising the combined need for seismic and energy retrofitting, it is important to better understand the effect of minor structural damage, such as earthquake-induced cracking, on the energy performance of existing buildings. This study presents for the first time a combined experimental study on these aspects of building performance. Novel findings from a series of consecutive earthquake and blower-door tests conducted on a full-scale, five-storey masonry-infilled reinforced concrete building are presented. Using a hybrid pseudo-dynamic testing approach that includes both physical and simulated components, the correlation between various extents of seismic damage and the corresponding air leakage rates is evaluated. Observations from earthquake tests are presented, and by means of blower door testing and thermal imaging, a connection between observed structural damage and air leakage metrics was confirmed. The experimental data was then used to conduct a detailed building energy modelling analysis, highlighting the broader implications of seismic damage on the heating energy demand of typical European mid-rise residential buildings. It was found that even low-level seismic damage can significantly affect a building's air tightness, leading to increased heating energy consumption. This research not only contributes to the understanding of seismic damage effects on the airtightness of building envelopes but also underscores the importance of integrated retrofitting strategies that consider both energy efficiency and seismic resilience to reduce environmental impact across the building life cycle.JRC.E.3 - Built Environmen