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The paper presents a development methodology achieving the optimal concept of a humanoid‐like robot which targets the educational environment. This is presented through a series of stages, which served as the basis for developing a range of concepts. To establish the main function, a systematic approach is required, which involved decomposing it into subfunctions and determining the critical ones. These are used to determine the necessary components for the development of the robot. To develop conceptual solutions that address these critical subfunctions, the application of suitable strategies and techniques is required. The optimal concept is selected following the implementation of screening and evaluation matrix, to obtain a functional prototype. The multidisciplinary approach encompasses mechanical design, electronics, control systems, and sensor integration. Key aspects include analyzing human anatomy and motion, selecting appropriate materials, and actuation methods. It also takes into consideration power supply and human–robot interaction interfaces. Finally, a functional method is proposed to develop an optimum concept for a humanoid‐like robot used in the educational system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the paper is to define long-term factors and trends in the development of the world energy industry and their refraction to Ukrainian realities. The article consists of an introduction, three sections, namely: the main trends in the development of the global fuel and energy complex, analysis of the current state, long-term factors and trends in the development of the national fuel and energy complex of Ukraine. Conclusions end the paper. As for the world energy sector it is shown that its modern changes - Grand Transit - are due to the ideology of sustainable development and have the character of an extraordinary change in the technocenosis, the transition from the use of fossil fuels to energy from renewable sources, mainly - wind and photovoltaic nature. Along with the major tendencies of the Great Transition, there is also the trilemization and politicization of energy sector. Trilemization components are: Energy Security, Energy Equity and Environmental Sustainability. There are three scenarios for the development of the global energy - Unfinished Symphony, Modern Jazz and Hardrock, distinguished by the degree of greening and the availability of energy resources. Political motives are becoming more and more significant at all levels - from global to local. Major players are lobbying their interests, there is an activity of structures from the field of nuclear energy, powerful fuel companies, owners of gas transportation and gas distribution infrastructure. In Ukraine, transformation processes are taking place against the backdrop of low environmental acceptability and high depreciation of fuel and energy sector facilities and infrastructure, political and economic instability. The requirements of decarbonization create challenges to the very existence of coal energy, which is the main component of the energy generating fund of the country and the regions, where mines are located. Options for the development of hydrogen/ammonia energy in the form of vertically integrated energy-chemical systems with the nuclear power plants and reformed coal-fired thermal power plants are considered as promising; energy diversification of mining regions; the creation of virtual power plants based on hydrodynamic water heating installations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global drive to provide universal access to sustainable and modern energy by 2030 is creating numerous opportunities for energy users and suppliers. However, men and women do not benefit equally from these opportunities. As users, they have different energy needs linked to their different gender roles. Gender blindness in the sector has led to women's needs often being ignored. As suppliers, the energy sector has traditionally been male dominated. Despite stark gender differences in the energy sector, there has been a lack of evidence to inform more equitable policymaking. This issue of the IDS Bulletin aims to fill some of these evidence gaps through five original papers, part of ENERGIA's Gender and Energy Research Programme. The issue pays particular attention to women's involvement in the supply chain as energy entrepreneurs, an emerging area of research in the gender and energy space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design and implementation of an isolated microgrid developed in La Guajira, north of Colombia. It was designed through the collaboration and capacity building of the community itself. Several activities were developed by the research group in order to improve the technical design. With the objective of reaching a consensus in terms of the final desgin, several visits were made to the community. During the implementation, some new ideas on how to improve the design appeared. In any case, if the microgrid (that uses both solar and wind energy) would be replicated in any other location, we strongly recommend to include, from the beginning, the community needs and the ideas of its inhabitants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the application of the MESSAGE model for analysis of the energy sector development in three Baltic countries--Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The main issue for the Baltic countries is an efficient, secure and environmentally benign manner of power system development after the predetermined closure of the Ignalina NPP, the biggest power plant in the region. The paper focuses on the methodology of analysis, describes in detail the structure of the multi-regional model, presents options analysed for the future power system development, gives characteristics of the scenarios analyzed. The paper focuses on highlighting the circumstances under which a new nuclear power plant can be economically justified in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing with great pressure to feed the demand outstripping the supply situation as well as alleviate the energy pollution problem, China has accelerated the pace of shale gas exploration. During the 12th Five-Year-Plan (FYP) period, Chinese government and petroleum enterprises actively promoted the development of shale gas industry, and made certain progresses in various aspects. Meanwhile, a series of preferential and supportive policies were developed to encourage shale gas exploration. However, as the shale gas industry is still in the initial stage in China, there are many challenges and difficulties existing in shale gas development. This paper presents a systematical review on the current status and policies of shale gas industry in China, aiming to provide important reference to the policy-makers for introducing and improving policies. Firstly, the current status including progresses and difficulties is presented. Subsequently, the recent policies for shale gas development are reviewed. The analyses of current policies and implementation barriers are followed. Finally, specific policy suggestions are proposed and a general conclusion is drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: China''s total installed electrical power capacity reached 700GW by the end of 2007 and is predicted to surpass 900GW in 2010. The rapid increase in energy demand and increasing global warming have both pushed China to change its current electrical power structure where coal power accounts for nearly 75% of the total electric power generation. China has already become the world''s largest solar water heater producer and user. However, there is still much to be done in the solar thermal power field before its commercialization. Solar thermal power technologies including solar power towers, solar parabolic trough concentrators, solar dish/stirling systems, linear Fresnel reflectors, and solar chimneys have been studied in China since the 1980s. A 10kW dish/stirling project was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) during 2000–2005 with a 1MW solar power tower and research of trough concentrator metal–glass evacuated tubes supported during 2006–2010. This paper describes a continued solar thermal power development roadmap in China in 5-year intervals between 2006 and 2025. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper analyses the events leading to the 2006 uprising of the Achuar people of the Corrientes basin (Loreto), who have suffered four decades of contamination due to oil exploitation. It also examines the Peruvian State's and the oil company's attitudes throughout the protest and after signing an agreement aiming to stop contamination and remedy environmental and social havoc. Materials used include interviews conducted with different stake holders and a wide range of written records, such as political declarations, reports on local people's health's and remediation work, agreement documents and letters exchanged between stake holders, as well as historical and socio economic background information. Findings highlight the strength of organized indigenous people's claiming for their rights; the greater commitment to assuming responsibility shown by the oil company's as compared to the Peruvian State; and the weakness of a political discourse equating development with the extraction of natural resources. The main conclusion is that the Peruvian State does not fulfill the paradigm set in the first article of the Constitution: that the defense of the human person and the respect of its dignity are its supreme aim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the gender and disaster literature calls for more gender-sensitive disaster relief and research by focusing on the ways in which women are more vulnerable in a disaster or on their unique capabilities as community leaders or natural resource managers, which are often overlooked or underutilised in emergency management strategies. As well as seeking to overcome the (strategic) essentialism that is part of these calls and debates, this paper pays closer attention to gender identity and subjectivity as these are constructed and reworked through the disaster process to highlight the complexities and contradictions associated with women's responses to a disaster. This focus, while crucial to gaining a deeper understanding of the gendered dimensions of disaster, also complicates attempts to create more gender-sensitive frameworks for disaster response. It draws on qualitative research conducted with a number of women in the wake of Hurricane Mitch (1998) in Nicaragua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the current state and trends in the development of the electric power industry in Kazakhstan. An analysis of the energy supply and energy intensity of Kazakhstan's GDP is provided in this paper. The results of the foresight of the risks and opportunities of the energy industry are described. This study identifies the relationship between the traditional development of the energy industry and the development of alternative energy sources. In addition, the work examines the risks and consequences of various trends in the development of national and global energy. Previous studies have shown that government efforts are insufficient in developing an alternative energy sector in Kazakhstan. The research results show that there is a need to transform energy production from traditional sources towards greater efficiency and environmental friendliness, as well as the active involvement of the business community in the development of an alternative energy market. This is expected to attract more investments and transfer technologies to maintain the country's position in the energy market of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]