The impact of the ICT4D project on sustainable rural development using a capability approach: Evidence from Bangladesh

Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) projects have shown a great promises in recent years. However, simply materializing of ICT4D projects is not enough for minimizing the prevalent digital divide in rural areas in developing countries. For the success of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) intervention, it is important to consider the capabilities of users, who are responsible for converting ICT resources into outcome. While most of the ICT-related studies are focused on the adoption of actual technologies and influences of different internal and external factors on intervention outcomes, very few studies are focused on evaluating intervention outcomes and redesigning intervention strategies. In this study, I opted for using a conceptual framework following the Capability Approach that simultaneously identifies the influence factors for intervention outcome as well as evaluates the outcome based on Noble Laureate Amartya Sen’s five freedoms concept. A qualitative technique has been chosen to conduct the study. As part of the impact evaluation of an ICT4D intervention, a project known as Union Digital Centres (UDCs) in Bangladesh was selected. A total of ten themes are identified indicating that the outcome of the intervention is contributing to socio-economic and human development. However, the study has revealed that lack of capabilities of users (e.g. prior knowledge and financial inability) bar the UDC programs to fulfill their goals at highest level. This study would practically help the UDC policy makers to adjust the UDC intervention design by addressing the shortcomings of the users to yield higher UDC program outcome. Additionally, this study theoretically contributes in ICT adoption literature by showing that there is a mutual influence between users’ capabilities and ICT-related project outcomes. Finally, using specific case study (ICT4D project in Bangladesh), this study contextualizes Amartya Sen’s five freedoms concept in the ICT-specific context.     

裴沟煤矿典型断裂构造带水化学变化特征

断裂运动是错综复杂的地质作用，物质组成的变化能够通过水质中阴阳离子含量直观表现。以裴沟煤矿近20年来的突（涌）水点化验数据为依据探究各含水层水化学普遍性质，发现阳离子含量和矿化度可以作为水源判别的重要指标，以典型构造浮山寨断层为对象研究断裂构造带水化学变化特征，结果显示距离断裂构造带越近，水中Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺含量减小、Na⁺+K⁺含量增大、矿化度降低，揭示断层两盘不同含水层间水掺和程度。     

Developing microencapsulated 12‐hydroxystearic acid (HSA) for phase change material use

Phase change materials (PCM) have an increasingly more important role as a thermal energy storage (TES) media. However, leakage problem of PCM causes limitation during their integration in TES systems. Therefore, the encapsulation of PCMs is attracting research interest to extend usage of PCMs in real TES applications in recent years. In this study, hydroxystearic acid (HSA) was encapsulated with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and different PMMA comonomer shells via emulsion polymerization method for the first time in literature. HSA with high melting temperature range (74–78°C) can widen the scope of using PCMs, and the encapsulated form can make it more versatile. The chemical structures, morphologies, and thermophysical properties of capsules were determined by FT‐IR, SEM, DSC, TGA, and thermal infrared camera. Among the produced HSA capsule candidates, PMMA‐HEMA is the most promising with latent heat of 48.5 J/g with melting range of 47 to 85°C. SEM analysis indicated that the capsules have spherical shape with compact surface at nano‐micro (100–440 nm) size range; however, some capsules exhibited agglomeration.     

Deciphering the Origins of P1-Induced Power Losses in Cu(Inx,Ga1–x)Se2 (CIGS) Modules Through Hyperspectral Luminescence

In this report, we show that hyperspectral high-resolution photoluminescence mapping is a powerful tool for the selection and optimization of the laser ablation processes used for the patterning interconnections of subcells on Cu(In_x,Ga_1−x)Se₂ (CIGS) modules. In this way, we show that in-depth monitoring of material degradation in the vicinity of the ablation region and the identification of the underlying mechanisms can be accomplished. Specifically, by analyzing the standard P1 patterning line ablated before the CIGS deposition, we reveal an anomalous emission-quenching effect that follows the edge of the molybdenum groove underneath. We further rationalize the origins of this effect by comparing the topography of the P1 edge through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) cross-section, where a reduction of the photoemission cannot be explained by a thickness variation. We also investigate the laser-induced damage on P1 patterning lines performed after the deposition of CIGS. We then document, for the first time, the existence of a short-range damaged area, which is independent of the application of an optical aperture on the laser path. Our findings pave the way for a better understanding of P1-induced power losses and introduce new insights into the improvement of current strategies for industry-relevant module interconnection schemes.     

Effect of Acute Sprint Exercise on Myokines and Food Intake Hormones in Young Healthy Men

Physical exercise is known to influence hormonal mediators of appetite, but the effect of short-term maximal intensity exercise on plasma levels of appetite hormones and cytokines has been little studied. We investigated the effect of a 30 s Wingate Test, followed by a postprandial period, on appetite sensations, food intake, and appetite hormones. Twenty-six physically active young males rated their subjective feelings of hunger, prospective food consumption, and fatigue on visual analogue scales at baseline, after exercise was completed, and during the postprandial period. Blood samples were obtained for the measurement of nesfatin-1, ghrelin, leptin, insulin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), human growth factor (hGH) and cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), irisin and plasma lactate concentrations, at 30 min before exercise, immediately (210 s) after exercise, and 30 min following a meal and at corresponding times in control sedentary males without ad libitum meal intake, respectively. Appetite perceptions and food intake were decreased in response to exercise. Plasma levels of irisin, IL-6, lactate, nesfatin-1 and ghrelin was increased after exercise and then it was returned to postprandial/control period in both groups. A significant rise in plasma insulin, hGH and PP levels after exercise was observed while meal intake potentiated this response. In conclusion, an acute short-term fatiguing exercise can transiently suppress hunger sensations and food intake in humans. We postulate that this physiological response involves exercise-induced alterations in plasma hormones and the release of myokines such as irisin and IL-6, and supports the notion of existence of the skeletal muscle–brain–gut axis. Nevertheless, the detailed relationship between acute exercise releasing myokines, appetite sensations and impairment of this axis leading to several diseases should be further examined.     

Effects of Synthesis Conditions on the Formation of Si-Substituted Alpha Tricalcium Phosphates

Powders of α-TCP containing various amounts of silicon were synthesized by two different methods: Wet chemical precipitation and solid-state synthesis. The obtained powders were then physico–chemically studied using different methods: Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), infrared and Raman spectroscopies (FT-IR and R), and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR). The study showed that the method of synthesis affects the morphology of the obtained particles, the homogeneity of crystalline phase and the efficiency of Si substitution. Solid-state synthesis leads to particles with a low tendency to agglomerate compared to the precipitation method. However, the powders obtained by the solid-state method are less homogeneous and contain a significant amount of other crystalline phase, silicocarnotite (up to 7.33%). Moreover, the microcrystals from this method are more disordered. This might be caused by more efficient substitution of silicate ions: The silicon content of the samples obtained by the solid-state method is almost equal to the nominal values.     

双层毛细芯对环路热管传热性能的实验分析

环路热管作为一种高效的相变传热装置,其性能与位于蒸发器和储液槽之间的毛细芯结构密切相关。为了更深入研究双层毛细芯对环路热管传热性能的影响,利用不同颗粒直径铜粉制备双层毛细芯,在毛细芯总厚度为5 mm的条件下,通过调整大粒径和小粒径层的相对厚度来改变毛细芯厚度比,对平板型蒸发器环路热管启动和变工况运行进行实验测试。实验结果表明:在同一工况下,不同厚度比的双层毛细芯启动特性存在显著差异,启动过程中出现小粒径层蒸发效率低引起的温度过冲和环路热管中气液两相流变化导致的温度振荡;同时存在一个较优的双铜层毛细芯厚度比,大粒径(180～280μm)铜层厚度为3 mm可提高蒸发效率,小粒径(56～71μm)铜层厚度为2 mm可提供足够毛细抽吸力保证环路热管稳定运行。搭载该厚度毛细芯的环路热管不仅启动速度快(125 s),而且总热阻和蒸发器壁面温度均最低,最大加热功率达到120 W(21.10 W/cm~2),对应热阻为0.17 K/W。     

严寒地区单体建筑太阳能-相变墙系统蓄热特性研究

利用太阳能对水加热并通入相变墙进行蓄热，对减少严寒地区单体建筑供热能耗有重要意义。以大庆市某单体建筑为例，结合该地区太阳能分布特点及建筑热负荷大小，对适用于该地区的太阳能-相变墙系统进行集热与储热能力计算，并采用CFD方法研究单一工况下该系统的热工变化规律及不同热水参数、换热管规格对相变墙蓄热特性的影响。结果表明：该相变墙热稳定性良好，但受自然对流影响，底部相变材料熔化较慢；管径DN25、入口流速0.3m/s、供水温度310.15K、回水温度309.15K、管间距107mm可使相变材料在4小时内完成蓄热，平均节能率为31.8%。研究结果可望为降低严寒地区建筑供热能耗提供新思路。