Nontraditional Participation in Disaster Recovery Planning: Cases From China,India, and the United States

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Stakeholder participation facilitates efficient identification of recovery needs, dynamic exchange of information, and consolidation of diverse perspectives as well as builds long-term trust and social capital between stakeholders. Yet, planners often fail to use the full potential of participatory planning when they are caught in the fast-paced, uncertain, and complex post-disaster environment. We draw lessons from case studies on recovery planning after three major disasters: the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004), Hurricane Katrina (2005), and the Wenchuan earthquake (2008) in China. We collected qualitative data about participatory planning using key informant interviews with stakeholders, supplemented by field observations, records of planning meetings, and government documents. We find that stakeholder participation in disaster recovery planning can happen in nontraditional yet effective ways, including indirect representation and active opposition. Disasters can rebalance power relationships and create more opportunities for participation by marginalized groups. Stakeholders’ participatory behaviors evolve over the course of recovery due to shifting priorities, intensified resource competition, and the difficulty of using “normal” participatory mechanisms.

Takeaway for practice: Stakeholder participation, a time-consuming process, can actually speed up recovery in the long run. Planners must critically examine the local community's social and power structures, identify potential for nontraditional participation, tap into networks of indirect representation, and adapt to the changing landscape of actors and local interests to contend with the challenges of participation in disaster recovery and make use of new opportunities as they arise.     

Sensitive determination of nitrite in food samples using voltammetric techniques

A [5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-methoxyphenyl) porphyrinato] manganese (III)chloride (TMOPPMn(III)Cl)-modified gold electrode sensor was developed for the determination of nitrite in food samples. The developed sensor showed an excellent catalytic activity and stability for nitrite oxidation. Under optimized conditions, nitrite concentration as low as 2.9 × 10⁻⁹ M can be determined in various food samples using the developed sensor. Effect of common interfering ions have been investigated in simulated mixtures containing high levels of interfering ions and the sensor was found to be tolerant against these ions. The determination of nitrite in food samples such as chicken ham, sausage and pickled vegetables with the proposed sensor was in good agreement with those obtained by standard spectrophotometric method.     

Carotenoid content,its stability during drying and the antioxidant activity of commercial coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) varieties

Although populations of several tropical countries are under severe vitamin-A deficiency, traditional sources of pro-vitamin-A carotenoids have not been exploited due to the lack of relevant research data. In this study, ten commercial varieties of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), grown at identical conditions, were evaluated for carotenoids, their bio-efficacy and stability during drying, with the main emphasis on β-carotene (vitamin-A precursor) analysis by HPLC-MS. In all varieties, β-carotene content was higher in foliage at mature stage, than in seedlings and seeds. Variety GS4 Multicut produced highest biomass (6.18 ± 0.73 g/plant), total carotenoids (217.50 ± 5.6 mg/100 g DW) and β-carotene (73.64 ± 0.3 mg/100 g DW) at pre-flowering stage. Carotenoids extract showed a high antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ value of 14.29 ± 1.68 μg/ml, scavenging hydroxyl radicals and rendering higher protection to DNA than by standard gallic acid (IC₅₀ = 357.21 ± 4.29). Microwave drying of foliage was rapid with better retention of pigments, high intactness of trans-β-carotene and higher extractability of pigments when compared with oven drying.     

Landscape,race and memory: biographical mapping of the routes of British Asian landscape values

In this paper the migration routes of British Asian women living in London are examined. It is shown that British Asians connect with a myriad of landscapes abroad, including East Africa, India and Pakistan. These connections to past landscapes are mapped and considered here as valued environments of British Asian women in Britain. Through the mapping of their biographies, it is apparent that memories of other landscapes are embedded in environmental practices in Britain, therefore contributing to making the landscape in Britain inclusive and meaningful in the context of the South Asian migration. The maps of migration show the heterogeneity of landscapes experienced by the British Asian women. Memories of other lands manifest themselves in the UK. The effect of these memories on the South Asian home itself in the process of shaping diasporic geographies of belonging and being within the UK is illustrated.     

Mechanism of geopolymerization and factors influencing its development: a review

Geopolymerization is a developing field of research for utilizing solid waste and by-products. It provides a mature and cost-effective solution to many problems where hazardous residue has to be treated and stored under critical environmental conditions. Geopolymer involves the silicates and aluminates of by-products to undergo process of geopolymerization. It is environmentally friendly and need moderate energy to produce. This review presents the work carried out on the chemical reaction, the source materials, and the factor affecting geopolymerization. Literature demonstrates that certain mix compositions and reaction conditions such as Al₂O₃/SiO₂, alkali concentration, curing temperature with curing time, water/solid ratio and pH significantly influences the formation and properties of a geopolymer. It is utilized to manufacture precast structures and non-structural elements, concrete pavements, concrete products and immobilization of toxic metal bearing waste that are resistant to heat and aggressive environment. Geopolymers gain 70% of the final strength in first 3–4 h of curing.     

Sulfonic acid functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 for one-pot synthesis of substituted aryl-14H-dibenzo xanthenes and bis(indolyl) methanes

The comparative catalytic activity studies of biologically and industrially important compounds such as Xanthenes and bis (indolyl) methanes were evaluated over propylsulfonic acid functionalized SBA-15/SO₃H. The material was characterized via standard characterization techniques such as Powder X-ray diffraction, FTIR, Temperature programmed desorption studies of NH₃. The catalytic performance of SBA/SO₃H under environmentally benign conditions results in high yield of xanthenes compared to bis (indolyl) methanes and finally the mechanism for both the reactions were proposed.     

One step liquid phase heterogeneous synthesis of phenytoin over MgAl calcined hydrotalcites

Heterogeneous liquid phase synthesis of phenytoin (5,5-diphenylhydantoin) was carried out over MgAl calcined hydrotalcites for the first time under environmental friendly conditions. The catalytic activity results showed very high conversion (80–95%) and selectivity (90–95%) of the desired product phenytoin over MgAl calcined hydrotalcites. The calcined hydrotalcites can be recycled without further loss in the activity and the possible mechanism of the reaction is also proposed.     

Processing,tensile, and fracture properties of injection molded Hdpe‐Al2O3‐HAp hybrid composites

The aim of this study is to characterize the physical and mechanical properties of HDPE‐alumina‐HAp composites prepared by injection molding techniques and to demonstrate their superiority over unreinforced HDPE. Composites with up to 30 vol. % of filler, composed of equal volumes of HAp and alumina, were successfully processed by injection molding. On the basis of the analysis of processing results, i.e., melt viscosity, volume flow rate, shear rate, mixing torque, the critical ceramic loading was determined. Tensile tests done at varying crosshead speeds confirm that an increase in ceramic loading results in an increase in strength, as well as a simultaneous decrease in the total elongation at failure. A maximum strength of 20 MPa and a maximum tensile modulus of around 1 GPa was achieved with 30 vol % ceramic loading in semicrystalline HDPE matrix. SEVNB test results demonstrate an improvement in toughness at 20 vol %. The fracture properties are discussed in terms of interfacial bonding between ceramic fillers and the semicrystalline HDPE matrix. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

NLCC controller for SEPIC-based micro-wind energy conversion system

The growth of the power industry is gaining greater momentum as the usage of the non-conventional energy sources that include fuel, solar, and wind energies, increases. Wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) are gaining more popularity and are expected to be able to control the power at the output. This paper describes the current control (CC), non-linear carrier charge control (NLCCC), and fuzzy logic control (FLC) applied to the single-ended primary inductor converter (SEPIC)-based WECS. The current controller has an inherent overcurrent protection with better line noise rejection. The pulses for the switch of the SEPIC are obtained by comparing the current flowing through it with the virtual current reference. FLC is also investigated for the micro-wind energy conversion system (μWECS), since it improves the damping characteristics of WECS over a wide range of operating points. This cannot attain the unity power factor rectification. In this paper, NLCCC is proposed for high-power factor rectifier-based SEPIC in continuous conduction mode (CCM) for μWECS. The proposed converter provides an output voltage with low input current ripple due to the presence of the inductor at the input side. By comparing the signal proportional to the integral of switch current with a periodic non-linear carrier wave, the duty ratio of the converter switch is determined for the NLCC controller. By selecting the shape of the periodic non-linear carrier wave the input-line current can be made to follow the input-line voltage. This work employs a parabolic carrier waveform generator. The output voltage is regulated for changes in the wind speed. The results obtained prove the effectiveness of the NLCC controller in improving the power factor.