Assessment of the Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) approach: Case studies from Malawi and Uganda

This paper presents lessons from applying an innovative action research approach for linking smallholder farmers to markets, in eastern and southern Africa. The Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) approach aims to strengthen social organization and entrepreneurial capacity in rural communities. It focuses on fostering community‐based capacity for the inclusion of rural women and the poor in analyzing and accessing market opportunities. Using case studies from Malawi and Uganda the paper assesses the outcomes of ERI on rural communities with a focus on human capital, gender issues and investment in natural resource management. Results show that households are benefiting significantly from linkages to markets in terms of increasing household incomes, and accumulating assets. Skills in analyzing markets and in negotiating with traders have increased among smallholder farmers. The integration of gender in the approach has led to changes in gender decision making patterns at household and community level towards a more shared decision‐making process. The results however show a difference in skills between men and women, with women showing lower levels of skills acquisition. Farmer participatory research has increased investments in improved technologies such as fertilizer applications for soil fertility management.     

Locating ‘power’ in wind power planning processes: the (not so) influential role of local objectors

There have been conflicting accounts of the role and influence of local opposition within planning application outcomes for wind power developments. There is an expanding literature that considers public responses to proposed renewable energy developments and much of this suggests that public opposition is a key factor in the slow growth in renewable energy capacity. However, this paper will show that local opposition groups' power over such planning processes is very limited, and in fact extends only so far as delaying an outcome. Through a thematic content analysis of objection letters to one particular proposed wind power development, the key issues raised in connection with the development will be highlighted. Subsequently, these issues will be compared with those discussed in the official report of the planning appeals process, and it will be shown that the concerns of local objectors had little influence over the eventual verdict.     

The Influence of a Coal-Fired Power Plant in Turkey on the Chemical Composition of Rain Water in a Certain Region

In this study, the chemical composition of the rainwater in Yatağan, which is a region surrounding a coal power plant was investigated from February to April 2002. Rainwater samples were obtained from Yatağan, located northwest of Muğla City in Turkey. pH values and concentrations of major ions (Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, , , ) in the rainwater samples were analyzed. The pH varied from 5.1 to 7.9 with an average of 6.7 which was in alkaline range considering 5.6 as the neutral pH of cloud water in equilibrium with atmospheric CO₂. In the total of 30 rain events, only three events were observed with water in the acidic range (<5.6), which occurred after continuous rains. The equivalent concentration of components followed the order: Ca²⁺ > > Na⁺ > > > K⁺ > H⁺. The anion and cation concentrations in the rainwater samples showed a high sulphate concentration (131 μEq/l), as well as high sodium (40 μEq/l) and calcium (298 μEq/l) concentrations. These values indicate that one probable source of the high sodium concentration is fly ash, after the coal burning process and the power plant can be effective on level concentrations in rainwater. In addition, the dust-rich local and surrounding limestone environment might have caused the high concentration of Ca²⁺ in rainwater of the Yatağan Basin. Due to a large contribution of these cations to the sulphate neutralization action, the rainwater of this region displays only a moderate acidity, which does not cause significant environmental impact.     

中国煤电和核电的环境影响与健康风险比较

将煤电与核电的环境影响和健康风险从全燃料链角度进行比较 ,结果表明 ,煤电燃料链的环境影响和健康风险比核电燃料链大。     

拱形抗滑桩墙支护结构体系模型试验相似材料研制

根据模型试验相似比尺和桩土间应力协调要求,用机制砂、河砂、水泥、石粉等配置了40组(每组6个)低强度、低弹性模量的圆柱形微混凝土相似材料试件.测试结果表明:微混凝土具有和原型混凝土大致相同的应力应变阶段和破坏模式,可以模拟原型结构的力学行为和变形、破坏特征.砂率和石粉取代率不同时,微混凝土试件的轴压强度和弹性模量在较大...     

简析超声波声能密度对污泥减量的影响

介绍了超声波用于污泥减量的机理,研究了超声波声能密度对污泥减量的影响.研究表明当超声波频率为200 KHz,声能密度1.1W/mL,t=300 s,MISS减少率max=28.3%;SCOD从30 mg/L上升到110 mg/L.在声能密度0.22 W/mL时,t=450 s,MISS减少率max=12.8%;SCOD从30 mg/L上升到85 mg/L.另外,试验中还发现大功率超声波不利于提高污泥的脱水能力.     

电力设备火灾危险性分析与防控技术

为研究电网及电力设备火灾危险性以及电力设备防火灭火技术,梳理归纳典型电力设备火灾机理与特性以及电力设备火灾风险、火灾相关的多灾种风险评估研究现状,介绍目前先进的电力设备火灾监控技术及典型电力设备防火灭火技术现状及发展趋势,并对电力设备火灾风险评估及防控未来发展趋势进行分析。研究结果表明：需进一步定量化和系统化进行风险分析与评估研究,智能化与全方位进行电力火灾监控,提高并完善灭火技术。研究结果可为电力设备火灾相关安全研究提供参考。     

混合酶强化剩余污泥微生物燃料电池性能

为了提高剩余污泥为燃料的微生物燃料电池(SMFC)产电性能以及污泥减量化效果,在不同的温度(40、45和50℃)研究单室无膜微生物燃料电池中酶对SMFC产电特性的强化效果.加入单一酶(蛋白酶或α-淀粉酶)的结果表明,随着温度的上升,SMFC功率密度均上升,但40℃时强化效果最明显,与加入失活酶的对照组相比分别增加198％和130％.在40℃下,混合酶比(蛋白酶浓度:淀粉酶浓度)为2∶3时,SMFC最大功率密度为776 mW/m2.随着混合酶中淀粉酶的比例提高,SMFC库伦效率逐渐增加,当混合酶比为4∶1时,CE(库伦效率)可达18.3％,同时TCOD、TSS和VSS去除率分别为70.3％、66.7％和80.4％.因此,温度相对较低时,外加酶强化效果更明显;与单种酶相比,混合酶对SMFC产电性能和污泥减量化的强化效果更显著.     

论在社会主义市场经济条件下地震台站建设的几个问题

地震台站是地震科学发展和顺利完成我国防震减灾任务的基础单元。随着我国改革开放的不断深化,我省的地震台站面临着许多新的问题。文章对此进行了剖析,提出可从加强政治思想工作、转变思想观念、拓宽工作领域等方面解决这些问题。同时提出应注意认真选拔地震台长并加强对他们的培养,帮助台站建立一套灵活的用人制度等合理化建议。     

汉江蜀河水电站库水位对岸坡稳定性的影响分析

汉江蜀河水电站属于Ⅱ等大(2)型水电站,水库的建成、运行可能对岸坡的稳定性造成一定的影响,尤其是水库蓄水后的库水位变化及与库水位变化相关的参数,对岸坡的稳定影响极大,因此弄清楚库水位变化与其相关的参数对岸坡稳定性的影响,是汉江蜀河水电站成功运营必须解决的问题之一。以地质背景为基础,结合具体坡段的岩性、结构特征等,从水库水位公式的建立,到在不同库水位的条件下,运用数值模拟对岸坡稳定性系数和相关参数的变化进行了分析评价。