518 research outputs found
Environmental ethics: values in and duties to the natural world (summarized with commentary by Panagiotis Perros)
No full textSummarized with commentary in Greek by Panagiotis Perros.Environmental ethics stands on a frontier, as radically theoretical as it is applied. Alone, it asks whether there can be nonhuman objects of duty. Animals, plants, endangered species, ecosystems, and even Earth are progressively unfamiliar as objects of duty, and puzzles arise both for theory and practice. Answers to such questions are as urgent as any humans face, and intimately related to the four principal issues on the world agenda: peace, population, development, and environment
R-CAUSTIC: Rippling CAUSTICs underwater Image dataset
No full text<p><strong>Description</strong></p><p>Rippling caustics seem to be the main factor degrading the underwater RGB image quality and affecting the image- based 3D reconstruction process in very shallow waters. These effects are adversely affecting image matching algorithms by throwing off most of them, leading to less accurate matches and causing issues in the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) based navigation of the Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) on shallow waters. Also, they are the main cause for dissimilarities in the generated textures and orthoimages. In order to fill the gap in the literature regading underwater rippling caustics imagery with real ground truth and reference images, the first real-world underwater caustics benchmark dataset which contains 1465 underwater images is presented. Together with the RGB imagery, the corresponding generated ground truth images are delivered for facilitating the training and testing of machine learning and deep learning methods for image classification. R-CAUSTIC dataset also provides the necessary data to evaluate, at least to some extent, the performance of 3D reconstruction approaches. Data were acquired using a GoPro Hero 4 Black action camera with image dimensions of 4000 x 3000 pixels, focal length of 2.77mm and pixel size of 1.55μm and a tripod. Action cameras are widely used for underwater image acquisition. The dataset was captured in near-shore underwater sites at depths varying from 0.5 to 2m. No artificial light sources were used. Due to the wind, the turbulent surface of the water created dynamic rippling caustics on the seabed. In total 1465 RGB images were collected, separated in 7 different datasets; five of them containing stereo images, one of them tri-stereo images and one consists of multi-stereo imagery acquired in 7 different camera poses.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Publication</strong></p><p>The paper is availbale in Open Access here: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10172291</p><p><strong>If you use this dataset please cite it as R-CAUSTIC</strong> [Reference].<br>[Reference]: <strong>P. Agrafiotis, K. Karantzalos and A. Georgopoulos, "Seafloor-Invariant Caustics Removal From Underwater Imagery," in </strong><i><strong>IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering</strong></i><strong>, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 1300-1321, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.1109/JOE.2023.3277168.</strong></p><p>BibTeX:</p><p>@ARTICLE{10172291,
author={Agrafiotis, Panagiotis and Karantzalos, Konstantinos and Georgopoulos, Andreas},
journal={IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering},
title={Seafloor-Invariant Caustics Removal From Underwater Imagery},
year={2023},
volume={48},
number={4},
pages={1300-1321},
doi={10.1109/JOE.2023.3277168}}</p><p> </p>
R-CAUSTIC: Rippling CAUSTICs underwater Image dataset
No full text<p> </p>
<h3><strong>Version 2 available! Please make sure to download the latest version of the dataset! <br></strong></h3>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Description</strong></p>
<p>Rippling caustics seem to be the main factor degrading the underwater RGB image quality and affecting the image- based 3D reconstruction process in very shallow waters. These effects are adversely affecting image matching algorithms by throwing off most of them, leading to less accurate matches and causing issues in the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) based navigation of the Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) on shallow waters. Also, they are the main cause for dissimilarities in the generated textures and orthoimages. In order to fill the gap in the literature regading underwater rippling caustics imagery with real ground truth and reference images, the first real-world underwater caustics benchmark dataset which contains 1465 underwater images is presented. Together with the RGB imagery, the corresponding generated ground truth images are delivered for facilitating the training and testing of machine learning and deep learning methods for image classification. R-CAUSTIC dataset also provides the necessary data to evaluate, at least to some extent, the performance of 3D reconstruction approaches. Data were acquired using a GoPro Hero 4 Black action camera with image dimensions of 4000 x 3000 pixels, focal length of 2.77mm and pixel size of 1.55μm and a tripod. Action cameras are widely used for underwater image acquisition. The dataset was captured in near-shore underwater sites at depths varying from 0.5 to 2m. No artificial light sources were used. Due to the wind, the turbulent surface of the water created dynamic rippling caustics on the seabed. In total 1465 RGB images were collected, separated in 7 different datasets; five of them containing stereo images, one of them tri-stereo images and one consists of multi-stereo imagery acquired in 7 different camera poses.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Publication</strong></p>
<p>The paper is availbale in Open Access here: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10172291</p>
<p><strong>If you use this dataset please cite it as R-CAUSTIC</strong> [Reference].<br>[Reference]: <strong>P. Agrafiotis, K. Karantzalos and A. Georgopoulos, "Seafloor-Invariant Caustics Removal From Underwater Imagery," in </strong><em><strong>IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering</strong></em><strong>, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 1300-1321, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.1109/JOE.2023.3277168.</strong></p>
<p>BibTeX:</p>
<p>@ARTICLE{10172291, author={Agrafiotis, Panagiotis and Karantzalos, Konstantinos and Georgopoulos, Andreas}, journal={IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering}, title={Seafloor-Invariant Caustics Removal From Underwater Imagery}, year={2023}, volume={48}, number={4}, pages={1300-1321}, doi={10.1109/JOE.2023.3277168}}</p>
<p> </p>
Does genetic diversity on corporate boards lead to improved environmental performance?
No full textElsevier
Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money
Volume 84, April 2023, 101756
Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money
Does genetic diversity on corporate boards lead to improved environmental performance?
Author links open overlay panelRenatas Kizys a, Emmanuel C. Mamatzakis b, Panagiotis Tzouvanas c
Show more
Outline
Share
Cite
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2023.101756
Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access
Highlights
•
We examine the effect of boards’ genetic diversity (GENETICD) on corporate ESG performance.
•
ESG performance and disclosures are higher in more genetically diverse firms.
•
The positive GENETICD effect on ESG performance is driven by the environmental pillar.
•
Corporate carbon performance significantly improves with increases in GENETICD.
We study the effects of boards’ genetic diversity on corporate environmental performance. Using a multidimensional information set for 3690 US firms during the period from 2005 to 2019, and three different measures of genetic diversity, we find that, pursuant to the diversity theory, which posits that diversity improves the quality of management decisions and business ethics, genetic diversity leads to improved environmental performance. We also find that genetic diversity improves carbon and governance performance, and ESG disclosure. Particularly, a one percentage point increase in boards’ genetic diversity will increase the carbon performance, measured by the inverse of the carbon emissions to total assets ratio, and environmental performance by 3.54% and 5.57%, respectively. Our results remain robust to different model specifications, while also controlling for endogeneity. In terms of policy implications, results suggest that the key to tackling climate challenges is to promote boards’ genetic diversity
A novel faulted section location technique for future active distribution networks
No full textDistribution Network Operators (DNOs) face increasingly higher challenges to preserve quality and continuity of supply due to the widespread penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) [1–8]. In parallel, more advanced technologies are being introduced into secondary substations for better observability and controllability. These features provided via instrumented substation assets and Information Communication Technologies (ICT) present opportunities for the development and implementation of new functions aiming to the effective operation and monitoring of active distribution networks [9–14]. This thesis focuses on one of these functionalities – that is, leveraging the ability of Low Voltage (LV) sensors to locate 11 kV unsymmetrical faults by monitoring and processing the network voltage profile during fault conditions. In particular, a novel technique has been developed which identifies the Faulted Section (FS) of the Medium Voltage (MV) feeder after a fault has occurred. The proposed algorithm, of which the successful operation depends solely on distributed LV voltage monitoring devices, represents the main contribution of the research work. A key characteristic is that, although the LV sensors connected at the secondary side of MV/LV step-down transformers require communication to transmit the data to a central point, they do not require time synchronisation. The technique facilitates the fault location procedure,which is of major importance as it accelerates restoration, reduces the system downtime, minimises repair cost, and hence, increases the overall availability and reliability of the distribution network. Moreover, the thesis deals with the challenges related to the complexity of modern distribution networks, taking into account ring topologies, MV lateral connections, pre-fault load unbalance and the presence of DERs. In this sense, the empirical characterisation of grid connection stability and fault response of small scale commercially available LV PV inverters was realised. The purpose was twofold: 1) highlight the diversity among the inverters’ responses as observed during the testing and indicate the risk of loss of PV generation during typical MV and HV level faults and 2) develop a dynamic model representing the behaviour of a real inverter under the applied physical testing conditions. The particular model was deployed in the power system studies conducted, aiding the evaluation of the FS location technique. Laboratory investigation was also carried out at the facilities of the Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) to further examine the performance of the developed faulted section location algorithm. The tests were performed in both MV radial and ring PNDC network configurations and measurements were acquired from various LV test-bays. It was demonstrated that the scheme can reliably identify the faulted section of the line while consistently maintaining high accuracy across a wide range of fault scenarios. Further sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the proposed scheme is robust against partial loss of communications and noise interference. The thesis concludes with an overview of future work that is required to further advance the concepts demonstrated.Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) face increasingly higher challenges to preserve quality and continuity of supply due to the widespread penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) [1–8]. In parallel, more advanced technologies are being introduced into secondary substations for better observability and controllability. These features provided via instrumented substation assets and Information Communication Technologies (ICT) present opportunities for the development and implementation of new functions aiming to the effective operation and monitoring of active distribution networks [9–14]. This thesis focuses on one of these functionalities – that is, leveraging the ability of Low Voltage (LV) sensors to locate 11 kV unsymmetrical faults by monitoring and processing the network voltage profile during fault conditions. In particular, a novel technique has been developed which identifies the Faulted Section (FS) of the Medium Voltage (MV) feeder after a fault has occurred. The proposed algorithm, of which the successful operation depends solely on distributed LV voltage monitoring devices, represents the main contribution of the research work. A key characteristic is that, although the LV sensors connected at the secondary side of MV/LV step-down transformers require communication to transmit the data to a central point, they do not require time synchronisation. The technique facilitates the fault location procedure,which is of major importance as it accelerates restoration, reduces the system downtime, minimises repair cost, and hence, increases the overall availability and reliability of the distribution network. Moreover, the thesis deals with the challenges related to the complexity of modern distribution networks, taking into account ring topologies, MV lateral connections, pre-fault load unbalance and the presence of DERs. In this sense, the empirical characterisation of grid connection stability and fault response of small scale commercially available LV PV inverters was realised. The purpose was twofold: 1) highlight the diversity among the inverters’ responses as observed during the testing and indicate the risk of loss of PV generation during typical MV and HV level faults and 2) develop a dynamic model representing the behaviour of a real inverter under the applied physical testing conditions. The particular model was deployed in the power system studies conducted, aiding the evaluation of the FS location technique. Laboratory investigation was also carried out at the facilities of the Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) to further examine the performance of the developed faulted section location algorithm. The tests were performed in both MV radial and ring PNDC network configurations and measurements were acquired from various LV test-bays. It was demonstrated that the scheme can reliably identify the faulted section of the line while consistently maintaining high accuracy across a wide range of fault scenarios. Further sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the proposed scheme is robust against partial loss of communications and noise interference. The thesis concludes with an overview of future work that is required to further advance the concepts demonstrated
Dataset in support of the Southampton doctoral thesis 'The boatbuilding tradition of the Aegean during the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age periods. Typological classification, digital reconstruction and seakeeping assessment'
No full textDataset in support of the Southampton doctoral thesis 'The boatbuilding tradition of the Aegean during the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age periods. Typological classification, digital reconstruction and seakeeping assessment' Appendix D - Resistance data and Appendix C - Stability data.
This dataset is focused on two appendices:
Appendix D - Resistance data. D.1 Resistance data produced by the author via MAXSURF Resistance for this thesis.
Appendix C - Stability data
C1. Stability data – STIX and ISO criteria, produced by the author via MAXSURF Stability software for his thesis
This research was funded by Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI), Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship, Greek Archaeological Committee UK (GACUK)
</span
ΕΞΥΠΝΑ & ΠΡΑΣΙΝΑ ΛΙΜΑΝΙΑ
No full textΗ ραγδαία αύξηση του παγκόσμιου εμπορίου και η πρόοδος της ψηφιοποίησης έχουν οδηγήσει στην ανάγκη για πιο σύνθετες υποδομές για τη στήριξη της αυξημένης ποσότητας φορτίων και προσαρμογή της υλικοτεχνικής υποστήριξης στα νέα δεδομένα. Παράλληλα, η αντιμετώπιση της κλιματικής αλλαγής αποτελεί σήμερα μια από τις σημαντικότερες προκλήσεις της παγκόσμιας κοινότητας και οι λιμένες, οι οποίοι αποτελούν σημαντικές πηγές ρύπανσης, οφείλουν να συμβάλουν στην προστασία του περιβάλλοντος. Σε αυτήν την κατεύθυνση, τα έξυπνα λιμάνια μέσω της χρήσης τεχνολογικών καινοτομιών για την ενίσχυση των λιμενικών δραστηριοτήτων και υπηρεσιών στοχεύουν στην αύξηση της ανταγωνιστικότητας και της οικονομικής βιωσιμότητας μιας περιοχής, ενώ, παράλληλα, συμβάλλουν στην μείωση των εκπομπών αερίου του θερμοκηπίου και την εξοικονόμηση ενέργειας. Σκοπός της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι να αναλύσει τις αρχές στις οποίες πρέπει να βασίζεται η κατασκευή και η λειτουργία ενός έξυπνου και πράσινου λιμένα, καθώς επίσης και τρόπους ώστε η λιμενική βιομηχανία να γίνει πιο φιλική προς το περιβάλλον. Αρχικά, παρουσιάζονται οι ορισμοί του έξυπνου και πράσινου λιμένα. Εξετάζεται η συμβολή των τεχνολογιών πληροφορικής και τηλεπικοινωνιών στην ανάπτυξη, την οργάνωση και τη διαχείριση των λιμένων, καθώς και οι δυσκολίες που θα πρέπει να εξαλειφθούν για τη μετάβαση στην ψηφιακή εποχή. Εν συνεχεία, παρουσιάζονται παραδείγματα λιμένων που έχουν ενσωματώσει με αποτελεσματικό τρόπο τις ψηφιακές τεχνολογίες στις λειτουργίες τους. Επιπλέον, αναλύεται η ανάγκη για την εφαρμογή πολιτικών φιλικών προς το περιβάλλον, τη διαχείριση της ενέργειας και την εξεύρεση εναλλακτικών τύπων καυσίμου για τις θαλάσσιες μεταφορές, ώστε ο λιμενικός κλάδος και η ναυτιλία να συμβάλουν ουσιαστικά στην προστασία του περιβάλλοντος. Τέλος, για να εξεταστεί το θέμα πιο αποτελεσματικά, γίνονται προτάσεις για το πως οι ελληνικοί λιμένες θα μπορούσαν να αξιοποιήσουν τον γεωφυσικό τους πλούτο και να ενσωματώσουν τις νέες έξυπνες και πράσινες τεχνολογίες, προκειμένου να επιτύχουν βιώσιμη ανάπτυξη και προστασία του περιβάλλοντος.The rapid growth of world trade and the progress of digitization have led to the need for more complex infrastructures to support the increased amount of cargo and the adaptation of logistical support to the new data. At the same time, tackling climate change is one of the most important challenges facing the global community today and ports, which are major sources of pollution, must contribute to the protection of the environment. In this regard, smart ports through the use of technological innovations to enhance port activities and services aim to increase the competitiveness and economic viability of an area, while, at the same time, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy savings. The purpose of the present MSc thesis is to analyze the principles on which the construction and operation of a smart and green port should be based, as well as ways to make the port industry more environmentally friendly. Firstly, we present the definitions of smart and green ports. We examine the contribution of information and communication technologies to the development, organization and management of ports, as well as the difficulties that need to be eliminated in order to move to the digital age. Following that, we present examples of ports that have effectively integrated digital technologies into their operations. In addition, we analyze the need to implement environmentally friendly policies, energy management and find alternative fuels for maritime transportations, so that the port and shipping industry contribute substantially to the protection of the environment. Finally, to address the issue more effectively, proposals are made on how the Greek ports could utilize their geophysical wealth and integrate the new smart and green technologies in order to achieve sustainable development and protection of the environmen
Ideas in trenches: Power and polemics in Panagiotis Kondylis
No full textThe author of the article attempts to examine the positions of Panagiotis Kondylis on the intellectual history and ideas’ polemical nature that is the basic feature for understanding the configuration and development of an idea-theory in history. In order to achieve a full understanding of the specific concept of the intellectual history, first of all we have to analyze the Greek thinker's positions on the power and the way in which the search for power as a basic and irrevocable anthropological condition leads to a polemic condition within the social field. This polemic condition is also evident in the field of ideas, as ideas can be seen as the attempt to form worldviews by the respective subject or group of subjects that have the purpose of self-preservation and expanding their power. Therefore, in this article the emphasis is placed on two different areas of Kondylis' thought, the philosophy of man and then on the description of the ideas’ formulation. 
Mini-review: The role of crop rotation, intercropping, sowing dates and increased crop density towards a sustainable crop and weed management in arable crops
No full textSaabunud / Received 17.05.2020 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 29.05.2020 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 30.05.2020 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Panagiotis Kanatas e-mail: [email protected] extended and in many cases unjustified use of herbicides
has resulted in herbicide resistance development and serious environmental
concerns. Therefore, the need for implementation and wider adoption of
several agronomic and cultural practices is imperative. Ecologically-based
crop management practices like crop rotation, intercropping, delay of
sowing date and increased crop density can be also the basis for effective
and sustainable weed management. In the present review, several cases are
presented and the key points of each method are discussed. Special attention
is given to the fact that the efficacy of each practice is depended on the
specific soil and climatic conditions along with the field history of each site
and crop. Alternative methods of weed management should be further
studied and optimized to include them in both organic and conventional
production systems and ensure the sustainability of agroecosystems
Latin America's experience with export subsidies
No full textTwenty years ago, it ws believed that export subsidies would produce more diversification and better export performance. This has not happened. In most cases, export subsidies were not supported by more open import policies - so subsidies reduced only marginally the anti-export bias of Latin American countries. Unstable real exchange rates have also hurt exports. Export subsidies appear to have improved exports in Brazil, which also liberalized imports, stabilized exchange rates, and promoted other policies conducive to export growth. Yet Mexico, after reducing import barriers, also enjoyed improved exports - with minimum export subsidies, and with apparently lower social costs than Brazil experienced. Export subsidies have failed in other Latin American countries - and particularly hurt development in Argentina, where fraud, corruption, and rent-seeking have been rampant. The author contends that the failure of export subsidies should remind us of the importance of distinguishing what is possible from what is likely. Finally, export subsidies compete with other government programs, and, considering their failure rate, the money might be better spent on infrastructure, health, and education projects.Tax Law,Economic Theory&Research,TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Stabilization
- …
