Evaluating Open Space in Urban Fabric on Basis of Different Landscape Aspects Case Study: Circuit House Park, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Urban open spaces are integral parts of city life to provide better quality of life. Rapid development processes initiate expansion of the city but lead to declining green open spaces. Mymensingh, a city of Bangladesh, is on verge of expansion, which raises question about sustaining its riverfront, green open spaces and historical relics. Because of the close proximity with the capital, Dhaka, it will possibly become a high density city in future, while it is expanding to the other side of the river Brahmaputra. Mymensingh Circuit House Park, which is a riverfront park, is taken as a case study to structure the research and central focus, as a vast green space with a historical playground. The following study examines the quality of urban open space, integration with adjacent neighborhood and user’s perception. Different methodological approaches were used for data collection and analysis, including informal interview, attitudinal questionnaire, observation through photographic evidence and spatial configurational analysis using ‘Space Syntax’. The study considers the relevant type of usages and future structure plan of expansion of Mymensingh city. The study shows how to develop the relationship between open spaces and city dwellers and schematic design proposal of an ecological corridor as touristic walking trail connecting open spaces and historical places, with future growing urban settlement. The possible correlation between green and blue infrastructure could ensure the better life quality of the city and sustain its green core and historical identity

Regulatory barriers of internationalisation for the SMEs: an emerging market context

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to identify, categorise and compare regulatory barriers of internationalisation for the SMEs from an emerging market context. Design/methodology/approach -Using primary data from a questionnaire survey, this paper has developed and validated a partial least square-based structural model to assess the key regulatory barriers of internationalisation with particular attention to the SMEs in Bangladesh. Findings -The results indicate that both administrative and economic regulatory barriers are significant for the internationalisation of SMEs where administrative regulatory barriers are slightly more substantial in Bangladesh. Originality/value –Internationalisation of SMEs has received increasing attention over recent decades, but the association between these two components (regulatory barriers and internationalisation of SMEs) is under explored particularly from emerging country context. By integrating findings from previous studies, this study provides further discussion from both theoretical and methodological aspects, and points out the directions for future research

A novel multi-scale numerical model for prediction of texture-related impacts on fuel consumption

It is estimated that to overcome rolling resistance (RR) a typical vehicle, on average, consumes 4152 MJ/119 L of fuel annually, depending not only on vehicle-related factors but also on pavement-related factors. A slight improvement in surface properties may thus decrease fuel consumption, bringing substantial long-term socioeconomic benefits per capita per country. This aligns with ever-tighter limits on CO2 in the European Union (95 g/km until 2021), fostering sustainable construction and exploitation of tires and pavements. This paper outlines a newly developed multiscale three-dimensional numerical methodology to quantify texture-dependent RR due to indentation of aggregates into viscoelastic tread compound. It consists of a microscale tread block single-aggregate model and a macroscale car tire finite element model, rolling in a steady-state mode over a rigid smooth surface. Microscale interaction rates are deduced from the macroscale model. Tread compound is simulated by application of a time-dependent, linear, viscoelastic model. The microscale simulations enabled quantification of RR induced by an arrangement of surface aggregates. The outlined texture-dependent RR estimates are based on contact force moment around the contact patch center. The computed contact force results show a significant peak of normal force due to viscoelastic and inertia effects at the onset of the tire–surface contact phase, followed by a gradually decreasing/relaxing stress region with a sudden release at the end of the interaction. The contact forces seem to be of a reasonable distribution and magnitude. The proposed approach allows prediction of RR losses due to compressive forces at the microscale. Macro-distortional RR (which is not the subject of this paper) would then have to be added to find the total tire-related RR

Decarbonylation Reaction of [Os\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e(CO)\u3csub\u3e10\u3c/sub\u3e(\u3cem\u3eμ\u3c/em\u3e-H)(\u3cem\u3eμ\u3c/em\u3e-SN\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eC\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3eH\u3csub\u3e5\u3c/sub\u3e)]: X-ray Structures of the Two Isomers of [Os\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e(CO)\u3csub\u3e9\u3c/sub\u3e(\u3cem\u3eμ\u3c/em\u3e-H)(\u3cem\u3eμ\u3c/em\u3e\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e-\u3cem\u3eη\u3c/em\u3e\u3csup\u3e2\u3c/sup\u3e-SN\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eC\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3eH\u3csub\u3e5\u3c/sub\u3e)]

The thermal reaction of [Os3(CO)10(μ-H)(μ-SN2C4H5)] (1) at 110 °C afforded the new compound [Os3(CO)9(μ-H)(μ 3-η 2-SN2C4H5)] (2) in 84% yield. Compound 2 exists as two isomers, which differ in the disposition of the bridging hydride ligand. Both of the isomers of 2 have been characterized by a combination of elemental analysis, infrared and 1H NMR spectroscopic data together with single crystal X-ray crystallography. The isomers crystallize together in the triclinic space group P-1 with a = 10.4775(2), b = 13.3056(3), c = 15.0325(3) Å, α = 110.8890(10), β = 99.3880(10), γ = 96.1620(10)°, Z = 2 and V = 1900.31(7) Å3

Determinants of participating in non-farm economic activities in rural Zanzibar.

Thesis (M.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.This study set out to examine the determinants of participation in non-farm economic activities by farming households in rural Zanzibar, using data from the Agriculture Census of 2003. The study goes beyond the traditional focus of non-farm studies that focus on analysing geographical and socio-economic variables on decisions to participate in non-farm activities and in so doing, fills an information gap and contributes to the understanding of determinants of farm household participation in non-farm activities in rural Zanzibar. The survey from which data were drawn, included surveys of 4755 household heads. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression model were applied to investigate the effect of individual characteristics on the decision to participate in non-farm economic activities. Gender, age, family size and level of education were used as variables to explain individual preference with regard to the decision to undertake non-farm economic activities. The analysis also included farm production factors including farm size, planted area and the main source of household income. The results show that gender, age, household size and income sources outside agriculture are the key factors that influence farming household’s decisions to participate in non-farm activities. Women and young farmers were more likely to participate in non-farm activities. Heads of larger households were also more likely to participate in non-farm activities, and undertake more than one activity in this sector. The type of activity engaged in also seems to have a positive influence on the decision to participate in the non-farm sector, with selling of agricultural products, fishing (including seaweed farming and selling of fish), wage employment and petty trade being more popular and attractive activities. Factors like education, landholding size and area of land planted were less important in influencing participation in non-farm activities. All sampled households participated in non-farm economic activities, with 70 per cent of the participants undertaking more than four activities simultaneously. This points to the importance of non-farm economic activities in providing opportunities to sustain household food security and increase the capacity for households to mitigate shocks. However, a strong relationship was found between participation in non-farm activities and the use of forest resources, as a significant number of activities depend on forest resources. The forest-based non-farm activities reported were: beekeeping, charcoal making and tree logging for poles, timber and firewood. This raises significant concern over the over-utilization of forest resources and subsequent sustainability of the related activities. It is recommended that efforts towards promoting non-farm economic activities should be directed towards developing non-farm activities that are not dependent on forest resources. Interventions enabling increased farm productivity or non-forest activities are important in ensuring food security in Zanzibar. More policy and programme attention should be given to the role of women in non-farm activities

Activation of Tri(2-Furyl)Phosphine at a Dirhenium Centre: Formation of Phosphido-Bridged Dirhenium Complexes

Reaction of tri(2-furyl)phosphine (PFu3) with [Re2(CO)10−n(NCMe)n] (n = 1, 2) at 40 °C gave the substituted complexes [Re2(CO)10−n(PFu3)n] (1 and 2), the phosphines occupying axial position in all cases. Heating [Re2(CO)10] and PFu3 in refluxing xylene also gives 1 and 2 together with four phosphido-bridged complexes; [Re2(CO)8−n(PFu3)n(μ-PFu2)(μ-H)] (n = 0, 1, 2) (3–5) and [Re2(CO)6(PFu3)2(μ-PFu2)(μ-Cl)] (6) resulting from phosphorus–carbon bond cleavage. A series of separate thermolysis experiments has allowed a detailed reaction pathway to be unambiguously established. A similar reaction between [Re2(CO)10] and PFu3 in refluxing chlorobenzene furnishes four complexes which include 1, 2, 6 and the new binuclear complex [Re2(CO)6(η1-C4H3O)2(μ-PFu2)2] (7). All new complexes have been characterized by a combination of spectroscopic data and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies

Flash Flood Risk and Resilience Analysis of Tanguar Haor Adjacent Areas

Bangladesh faces various types of natural hazards from its birth due to geographical location and physiographic sitting. Flood is the most common event among them. North-eastern part of Bangladesh faces flash flood almost every year with large scale of damage. Tanguar Haor, a famous ramsar site of Bangladesh located in Sunamganj district. This wetland adjacent areas are the most vulnerable zone in terms of flash flood hazard. About more than 80% people are the direct victim of this hazard. This study tries to assess the risk and resilience status of flash flood using risk and resilience assessment matrix. To accomplish this research both primary and secondary data have used. Through this work the comparative view between risk and resilience status has tried to represent. That shows the actual penetration of the depth of risk reduction policy making to improve the condition and minimize the losses of flash flood in the study area

A Study of Employee Welfare Leading to Corporate Sustainability in Garments Industries of Bangladesh

Employee welfare is an area of social welfare, which covers a broad field of Corporate Sustainability and connotes a state of well-being, happiness, satisfaction, conservation and development of human resources. Evidences from contemporary literature suggest that employee welfare contributes to the sustainability of the business significantly. This paper is based on descriptive and inferential research. This study has tried to measure the extent to which the garments industries in Chittagong city of Bangladesh are providing their employees (plant level) with welfare facilities. The findings of this study suggests that most of the sample farms offer welfare benefits to their employees and such benefits have improved the productivity and sustainability of the business. The study also opens avenue for further research in this field considering employee welfare reporting as a tool for corporate sustainability in the developing counties