Developing a new policy framework for the use of combined heat and power technology in small and medium enterprises.

The aim of this research is to develop a new policy framework for the use of Combined Heat & Power systems' (CHP) in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises2 (SMEs). This entailed an assessment of the extent to which the current national policy framework for the use of CHP is effective and from contemporary data obtained from CHP operators, policy makers, designers and regulators, subsequently to develop a new policy framework. The design of the research process combines the strengths of engineering, economic and social policy academic disciplines for an examination of the potential for the use of CHP in SMEs. The research methodology dictated the use of qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection. The analyses of the data collected formed the basis for proposing a new Governance policy framework designed to encourage the use of CHP in the SMEs. The new Governance framework is proposed as an amalgamation of Support Systems set on the macro and micro levels of SME governance. A Governance Support System (GSS) offers SMEs an integrated structure for regional sustainable development, including flexible decision support base. The Business Decision Support System (BDSS) is designed as a simple tool for use by SME managers' considering CHP as part of any proposal involving capacity constraints for heat or electricity in the business. The thesis concludes that proactive adoption of the new Governance framework would allow for easier access of SMEs to CHP systems as well as assisting the Government in meeting its climate change objectives. 1 A CHP system is one that simultaneously produces heat and electricity in a single process. 2 Enterprises that employ less than 250 staff, with an annual turnover no more than 40 million Euros andis less than 25% owned by s large enterprise

Information Visualization Of An Agent-Based Financial System Model

This paper considers the application of information visualization techniques to an agent-based model of a financial system. The minority game is a simple agent-based model which can be used to simulate the events in a real-world financial market. To aid understanding of this model, we can apply information visualization techniques. Treemap and sunburst are two such information visualization techniques, which previous research tells us can effectively represent information similar to that generated by the minority game. Another information visualization technique, called logical fisheye-lens, can be used to augment treemap and sunburst, allowing users to magnify areas of interest in these visualizations. In this paper, treemap and sunburst, both with and without fisheye-lens, are applied to the minority game, and their effectiveness is evaluated. This evaluation is carried out through an analysis of users performing various tasks on (simulated) financial market data using the visualization techniques. A subjective questionnaire is also used to measure the users’ impressions of the visualization techniques.Dynamic Models, Minority Game, Visualization

Space-filling Techniques in Visualizing Output from Computer Based Economic Models

One important factor concerning economic models is that frequently large amounts of data are produced. There is the research issue of how end-users (who may not be researchers or model developers) can be presented with this data so that maximum benefits can be attained from the data production. The usual approach with economic models is a series of tables or data series plots. In this paper we use space-filling information visualization techniques as an aid to user’s understanding of data from an economic model. Based upon evaluation of the effectiveness of existing treemap and sunburst techniques through user experimentation, we introduce two new space-filling visualization techniques. We also describe fisheye-lens techniques applicable to these new visualizations.User Interfaces, Information visualisation, Minority Game

Insect-Resistant Crops Through Genetic Engineering (1995)

For centuries, humans have searched for crop plants that can survive and produce in spite of insect pests. Knowingly or unknowingly, ancient farmers selected for pest resistance genes in their crops, sometimes by actions as simple as collecting seed from only the highest-yielding plants in their fields. With the advent of genetic engineering, genes for insect resistance now can be moved into plants more quickly and deliberately. Bt technology is only one example of ways genetic engineering may be used to develop insect resistant crops now and in the future

Primate crop raiding in Uganda: actual and perceived risks around Budongo Forest Reserve

Crop damage by wildlife is a significant threat to global conservation and human development. This interdisciplinary study compared the actual and perceived risk of primate crop raiding around Budongo Forest Reserve, northwest Uganda during 2004/2005. Weekly farm monitoring established that at least seven wild species damage crops. and primates (primarily baboons) are responsible for forty percent of all raids. The creation of risk maps using GIS technology and logistic regression revealed that those cultivating maize close to the forest edge are particularly vulnerable to loss. An elevated level of human presence was found to significantly reduce raids by wild species although it is not considered effective due to the high social cost. Overall the majority of farmers experience little damage by wildlife and many other factors limit agricultural production e.g. insects, weather and domestic livestock; goats raid more frequently than any other animal and their pruning of maize was proven to significantly reduce yield. Despite the low risk of actual loss, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participant observation revealed that crop raiding by wild species is believed to be the most significant limitation to livelihoods in this area. Damage intensity, fluctuations in social condition and restrictions on traditional crop protection methods all inflate perceptions of risk. Crop damage by wildlife also symbolizes control by external forces; the forest is believed to be 'owned' by the same organizations that impose conservation legislation and restrict access to resources. Raiding species, and primates in particular, are judged alongside human moral values and local people are more tolerant of animals they believe they can control or that have associated benefits i.e. domestic and game species. This thesis emphasises the need to both reduce damage to acceptable levels and increase tolerance toward wild species at this site. Mitigation strategies are suggested that build upon traditional techniques, provide an economic incentive for conserving wildlife and assist farmers to manage the conflict. Ultimately, however, the success of any initiative will depend on the participation of local people

Cosmic ray isotope measurements with a new Cerenkov X total energy telescope

Measurements of the isotopic composition of cosmic nuclei with Z = 7-20 are reported. These measurements were made with a new version of a Cerenkov x total E telescope. Path length and uniformity corrections are made to all counters to a RMS level 1%. Since the Cerenkov counter is crucial to mass measurements using the C x E technique - special care was taken to optimize the resolution of the 2.4 cm thick Pilot 425 Cerenkov counter. This counter exhibited a beta = 1 muon equivalent LED resolution of 24%, corresponding to a total of 90 p.e. collected at the 1st dynodes of the photomultiplier tubes

p, He, and C to Fe cosmic-ray primary fluxes in diffusion models: Source and transport signatures on fluxes and ratios

The propagated fluxes of proton, helium, and heavier primary cosmic-ray species (up to Fe) are a means to indirectly access the source spectrum of cosmic rays. We check the compatibility of the primary fluxes with the transport parameters derived from the B/C analysis, but also if they bring further constraints. Proton data are well described in the simplest model defined by a power-law source spectrum and plain diffusion. They can also be accommodated by models with, e.g., convection and/or reacceleration. There is no need for breaks in the source spectral indices below $\sim 1$ TeV/n. Fits on the primary fluxes alone do not provide physical constraints on the transport parameters. If we let free the source spectrum $dQ/dE = q \beta^{\eta_S} {\cal R}^{-\alpha}$ and fix the diffusion coefficient $K(R)= K_0\beta^{\eta_T} {\cal R}^{\delta}$ such as to reproduce the B/C ratio, the MCMC analysis constrains the source spectral index $\alpha$ to be in the range $2.2-2.5$ for all primary species up to Fe, regardless of the value of the diffusion slope $\delta$. The $\eta_S$ low-energy shape of the source spectrum is degenerate with the low-energy shape $\eta_T$ of the diffusion coefficient: we find $\eta_S-\eta_T\approx 0$ for p and He data, but $\eta_S-\eta_T\approx 1$ for C to Fe primary species. This is consistent with the toy-model calculation in which the shape of the p/He and C/O to Fe/O data is reproduced if $\eta_S-\eta_T\approx 0-1$ (no need for different slopes $\alpha$). When plotted as a function of the kinetic energy per nucleon, the low-energy p/He ratio is shaped mostly by the modulation effect, whereas primary/O ratios are mostly shaped by their destruction rate.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures: accepted in A&A (1 table added