High energy-storage performance of lead-free AgNbO3 antiferroelectric ceramics fabricated via a facile approach

AgNbO₃ lead free AFE ceramics are considered as one of the promising alternatives to energy storage applications. In the majority of studies concerning the preparation of AgNbO₃ AFE ceramics, an oxygen atmosphere is required to achieve high performance, increasing the complexity of the fabrication process. Herein, a facile approach to preparing AgNbO₃ ceramics in the ambient air was reported, in which the AgNbO₃ ultrafine powder with stable perovskite structure was synthesized by hydrothermal method instead of the conventional ball milling process, leading to a lower temperature of phase formation and thus smaller grain size. The resulting ceramics sintered at 940 °C displayed high breakdown strength (216 kV/cm) and a recoverable energy density of 3.26 J/cm³ with efficiency of 53.5 %. Also, the high thermal stability of recoverable energy density (with minimal variation of ≤20 %) and efficiency (≤ 10 %) over 30–150℃, enables AgNbO₃ ceramics achieved to be a promising candidate for energy storage applications.     

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.     

Economic effects of regulating the seismic strengthening of older buildings

The marked increase in the awareness of earthquake risk following the Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand offered a unique opportunity to investigate the economic effect of disaster-mitigation regulations on the commercial building stock. A difference-in-differences (DD) framework was used to determine whether earthquake risk has been capitalized into the property prices of buildings constructed prior to 1976, as a response to the national policy requiring assessment and strengthening (or demolition) of the existing earthquake-prone building stock. A negative externality is found in the policy announcement on affected (pre-1970s) office and retail buildings which caused office buildings to suffer a 12.5% stigma discount. However, retail properties were less impacted suffering a 2.3% stigma loss. The value of the commercial building stock has been affected by the policy. These findings provide policy-makers with timely evidence as to the economic effects of New Zealand’s earthquake-prone buildings policy. Facing losses in property value and financial responsibility for retrofitting their assets, building owners will be looking for a workable set of regulatory and non-regulatory incentives to encourage disaster risk management and protect the built environment.     

Economic Indicators

Currency exchanges rates – updated monthly. Economic indicators of industrial production. Countries included: France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan (Total G-7), Eurozone and Total EU-28 (Total OECD). Updated monthly. Economic indicators of car registration in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Japan, Republic of Korea and Other OECD (Total OECD-30). Updated monthly. Monthly averages of crude steel production in thousand metric tons for the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Iran, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Australia.     

Genetic algorithm to simultaneously optimise stope sequencing and equipment dispatching in underground short-term mine planning under time uncertainty

ABSTRACT

The main issue in short-term planning optimisation for underground mining is organising the mining process with limited resources in the form of equipment and materials to satisfy production targets and stable feed grade requirements. In this paper, an integrated optimisation model is proposed based on an individual generation algorithm and an improved Genetic Algorithm to simultaneously optimise stope extraction sequencing and timing, extracted ore grade and equipment dispatching. The model objectives are to shorten the time gap between the stope mining processes and the overall working time. When the uncertainty of equipment working time is taken into account in a short-term scheduling model, the Monte Carlo simulation is applied to evaluate the risk of not meeting the production target. A modification strategy is defined to evaluate equipment failure. Consequently, any available equipment is automatically reassigned to the mining site to replace the broken-down equipment. A case study is used to validate the model in the Sanshandao gold mine of China to formulate an optimal monthly schedule. Compared with the conventional approach, the new model could reduce the variance of ore tonnage and feed grade and improve the equipment allocation efficiency. Discussions are presented to address the uncertainty.     

浅谈高压中速磨粉系统在磷酸二铵生产中的应用

通过对磷酸二铵生产造粒特性分析,高压中速磨粉机原理分析,结合实践生产中的工艺需求,利用高压中速磨粉系统将颗粒状不合格品磨成细粉后添加进系统重新喷浆造粒,提高返料添加量,减少不合格品的产生,腾空仓库有限货位,以获取更大的经济价值。     

An economic evaluation of management strategies to mitigate the negative effect of twinning in dairy herds

Our objectives were to develop an economic model to estimate the economic impact of twinning in dairy cows and to evaluate management strategies to mitigate the negative economic impact of twinning in dairy herds. A probabilistic tree considering spontaneous embryo reduction, early pregnancy loss, abortion, metritis, retained placenta, and culling rate at 120 d of the second, at the end of the second, and at the end of the third lactation was developed for a single pregnancy; we also developed 3 management options upon diagnosis of a twin pregnancy: (1) do nothing, (2) induce abortion using PGF_2α, or (3) attempt manual embryo reduction. A value was given to each branch of the tree by simulating cow states on a farm for 1,400 d to encompass 4 consecutive lactations. The incomes considered in the simulations included milk income over feed cost, income from calves, and slaughter value upon culling. The expenses taken into account depending on each branch included additional inseminations and synchronization protocols, embryo reduction, induction of abortion, replacement heifers, and costs due to metritis and retained placenta. The gross value for a singleton pregnancy and the 3 management options upon diagnosis of a twin pregnancy were calculated by adding the value of all braches multiplied by their probability. The costs for the 3 management options were calculated by subtracting its gross value minus the gross value of a singleton pregnancy. The negative economic impact of a twin pregnancy ranged from $97 to $225 depending on the type of twin pregnancy (unilateral vs. bilateral), parity, and DIM when the twin pregnancy occurred. The overall negative economic impact of twinning on dairy farm profitability in the United States was estimated to be $96 million per year. Attempting manual embryo reduction early during gestation upon diagnosis of a twin pregnancy was the optimal management strategy for mitigating the negative economic impact of twinning under a wide variety of scenarios.     

长江经济带城市生态效率演变及驱动因素分析

城市生态文明建设依托于生态效率的改善，基于2005—2016年长江经济带107座城市面板数据，采用超效率SBM（slacks-based measure)模型测算生态效率，并结合探索性空间分析与空间马尔科夫链等探讨生态效率时空演化格局的内在规律， 实证分析生态效率驱动因素的影响效果。研究表明：2005—2016年经济带生态效率总体呈平稳态势，上、中、下游呈现“阶梯型”分布，下游依次优于中游和上游地区，部分地区生态效率呈“两级型”分化趋势；城市间生态效率发展存在空间联动效应，与生态效率高的城市为邻，其正向溢出作用促进城市状态向高水平跃迁，而与生态效率低的城市为邻，其负向作用拉动城市状态向低水平发展；人口规模与产业升级对经济带不同流域具有异质性作用，其提升下游生态效率而抑制中游和上游生态效率，产业升级与生态效率存在“U”型关联，意味着产业升级在短期内并不能使生态效率状态改善，而经济发展有利于促进生态效率向高水平状态演变。     

一种调度遥控操作双路径安全校核机制的探索

为解决调度端远方操作路径单一情况下可能出现操作错误的问题,文章探索提出一种对远方操作进行双路径安全确认的构建方案,在常规遥控发起路径之外建立独立的操作许可路径,在操作业务通信的出口处部署操作许可安全网关、操作许可工作站,通过操作发起路径的操作员、监护人和操作许可路径的许可员相结合的多重校验,强化对遥控操作的合法性认证,可以有效避免操作人、操作员站、操作网络环境的不可靠因素带来的操作安全风险,提高电网操作的安全性。     

浅谈在矿山供电课程中如何高效利用慕课mooc和混合式教学

伴随着人类社会的向前推进,信息技术已经渗透到我们生活的方方面面,深刻地改变了教育事业,慕课就是在信息时代下诞生的一种新兴教学工具。但是,如何利用好这一工具却仍然是个值得研究的课题。本文从慕课的内涵出发,分析了将混合式教学模式应用于慕课这一教学平台的重要意义。并且,就混合式教学模式在慕课平台中的应用进行了分析。希望能够给相关工作者以一定的启发。