| 1. |
- Lindell, Lina, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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Journey to the destination: a circular tourism economy : a training program for the hospitality industry to facilitate a transition towards increased circularity in the South Baltic Region
- 2019
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Being aware of the extent of the tourism industry and that it is ever growing, which is also encouraged in many individual countries by the national and regional governments, it is evident that the tourism industry is an essential target group for introducing circular concepts and implementing circular solutions. Yet, this sector has so far received little attention in the literature and initiatives on circularity.Circular Economy (CE) goes beyond “green” or “environmental”, it includes all aspects of a community and challenges us to create solutions that are completely different from what we are used to. It also invites us to open up and interact with other stakeholders and the general public.In your hands is the first training material in circular economy specifically developed for small to medium sized companies of the tourism industry in the South Baltic Region. It is a small but important step in the direction towards circularity and a wellbeing society. Through this work we have shown that despite cultural challenges and regional differences there is a shared, common interest in making tourism more sustainable and even to work together towards a transformation of the hospitality industry. This common vision has been stronger than the challenges we faced in making this work and this is what will ensure the continued growing awareness on circularity and its integration in different sectors in our communities. In this work we have featured some of the groundbreaking experts in this field, and some of the first good practices from our regions. They are all courageous pioneers in a field that with time will become the norm. In fact, in the 10th Annual Forum of the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (12-13/6/2019, Gdansk, Poland), CE was highlighted as the pathway to reach prosperity and wellbeing in the Baltic Sea Region.
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| 2. |
- Paulauskas, Vytautas, et al.
(författare)
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Smart Ports’ Influence on Coastal Sustainability
- 2021
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Ingår i: Transport Means - Proceedings of the International Conference. - : Kauno Technologijos Universitetas. ; , s. 396-401
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nowadays, ports are actively seeking ways to improve their safety and operational activity. An essential driver in this context is digitalisation. Since seaports are also key actors for the sustainable development of coastal regions, it is important that they transform into smart port ecosystems. Hence, the automation and digitisation of ports’ operations are important not only for the ports themselves, but also for the regions and countries hosting regional port ecosystems. Studies on the digitalisation level of ports bear the potential to detect optimal ways for increasing safety, security and visibility in terms of the digital transformation, as well as attracting passengers and freight flows, which in turn positively affects not only the ports, but particularly also the sustainable development of coastal regions. Therefore, the paper presents the results of a conducted assessment of small and medium-sized ports’ digitisation level as well as introduces ways and recommendations how to improve the level of digitisation on the path towards becoming a smarter port ecosystem. The research builds upon key insights from the Connect2SmallPorts project, part-financed by INTERREG South Baltic Programme 2014–2020. Thereby, the research utilises collected primary data concerning ports located in the Baltic, North and Mediterranean Sea Regions. Thus, the study bases on well-grounded theoretical and practical findings in the maritime science field in the nexus of digital transformation. © 2021 Kaunas University of Technology. All rights reserved.
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| 3. |
- Waara, Karl Otto, et al.
(författare)
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Inland water quality assessment - A joint European masters programme
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Science Education and Technology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1059-0145 .- 1573-1839. ; 15:5-6, s. 409-415
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- At present, there is a European shortage of personnel qualified to adequately address the comprehensive scientific and regulatory requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The joint Masters programme described in this paper will provide students with the requisite expert knowledge and skills to progress the implementation of the WFD. Its development was financially supported by the European Commission because of its specific goal of producing qualified personnel in relation to the implementation of the WFD. Since its proposed structure acknowledges the educational intent of the Bologna Accord, it thereby provides a useful template for structuring a Masters degree-level programme in accordance with Bologna principles.
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| 4. |
- Maskeliunas, R., et al.
(författare)
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IDO : Modelling a serious educational game based on hands approach for training dementia carers
- 2018
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Ingår i: International Journal of Engineering & Technology. - 2227-524X. ; 7:2, s. 143-146
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dementia is one of the burdensome diseases in older age for which there is no cure known. The demand for carers of dementia patients is growing as the population ages. We analyse serious games as an approach to provide dementia carers with training on care related problem solving and modelling real-world cases. We present the behaviour model of improved care process by applying serious games, describe the design of the interactive serious game, its game mechanics, game environment, game actors and the motivation reinforcement mechanisms. The results of the initial evaluation performed by surveying the people caring for their elderly parents and elderly persons themselves, both healthy and showing early signs of dementia, and using the System Usability Score (SUS) questionnaire provided favourable response to the game. The use of an ICT-based gamification approach as part the training package for dementia care will be beneficial for direct care workers leading to long-term improvement of dementia care quality.
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| 5. |
- Kasiuliene, Alfreda, et al.
(författare)
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Chelant-Assisted Accumulation of Cd, Cu, and Zn in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Biomass as a Renewable Energy Feedstock
- 2016
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Ingår i: Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. - : HARD Publishing Company. - 1230-1485 .- 2083-5906. ; 25:5, s. 1985-1993
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article discusses the environmental concerns regarding soil contamination by heavy metals and the possibility of growing a high biomass-yielding crop (i.e., rapeseed) as a tool of phytoremediation. The aim of our research was to investigate the growth parameters and the capacity of rapeseed to accumulate Cd, Cu, and Zn from the contaminated soil and to investigate the effects of the chelants (EDTA, EDDS) as potential heavy metal mobility-enhancing agents. A pot experiment was performed under greenhouse conditions where rapeseed was grown on heavy metal-contaminated soil taken from former septic drain fields. Chelants were applied twice using doses of 3 mmol kg(-1) of wet soil weight. Plants from contaminated soil produced more biomass and heavier seeds. The highest Cd concentrations were detected in rapeseed stems and leaves: Cu in roots and Zn in seeds and stems with leaves. Rapeseed in some cases exhibited translocation factor values for single plant parts greater than unity, whereas the bioconcentration factor was always below unity. Detected concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the biomass indicate that rapeseed may be considered an excluder rather than accumulator. Chelant application did not provide the expected enhancing effect on heavy metal uptake by rapeseed.
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| 6. |
- Wyckelsma, VL, et al.
(författare)
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Vitamin C and E Treatment Blocks Changes in Kynurenine Metabolism Triggered by Three Weeks of Sprint Interval Training in Recreationally Active Elderly Humans
- 2021
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Ingår i: Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). - : MDPI AG. - 2076-3921. ; 10:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The kynurenine pathway (KP) is gaining attention in several clinical fields. Recent studies show that physical exercise offers a therapeutic way to improve ratios of neurotoxic to neuroprotective KP metabolites. Antioxidant supplementation can blunt beneficial responses to physical exercise. We here studied the effects of endurance training in the form of sprint interval training (SIT; three sessions of 4–6 × 30 s cycling sprints per week for three weeks) in elderly (~65 years) men exposed to either placebo (n = 9) or the antioxidants vitamin C (1 g/day) and E (235 mg/day) (n = 11). Blood samples and muscle biopsies were taken under resting conditions in association with the first (untrained state) and last (trained state) SIT sessions. In the placebo group, the blood plasma level of the neurotoxic quinolinic acid was lower (~30%) and the neuroprotective kynurenic acid to quinolinic acid ratio was higher (~50%) in the trained than in the untrained state. Moreover, muscle biopsies showed a training-induced increase in kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) III in the placebo group. All these training effects were absent in the vitamin-treated group. In conclusion, KP metabolism was shifted towards neuroprotection after three weeks of SIT in elderly men and this shift was blocked by antioxidant treatment.
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