Enlargement Of Capacity Research Articles

Stream Channel Enlargement Response to Urban Land Cover in Small Coastal Plain Watersheds, North Carolina

Stream channel response to urban land use has not been well documented for southeastern Coastal Plain streams. In this study, urban channel response was evaluated in small Inner Coastal Plain watersheds (<5 km2) in eastern North Carolina. Reaches were selected across a range of watershed total impervious area (0-67% TIA). Channel dimensions and sediment grain size data were collected along 20 urban (>10% TIA) and 20 rural reaches (<10% TIA), and at 10 stormwater outfall sites (180 cross-sections). Urban cross-sectional area, channel incision ratio, and channel grain size (gravel%, D50, and D84) were greater, relative to rural channels. Bankfull cross-sectional areas were approximately 1.78 times greater for urban watersheds than for rural watersheds. Channels in urban watersheds were incised and had median full-channel capacities approximately 3.4 times greater than channels draining rural watersheds. Watershed TIA explained 65-72% of channel capacity enlargement. Urban expansion in the region began in the 1960s, with major urbanization occurring over the last 25 years. Channels draining urban watersheds are still responding to this land use change by downcutting and widening. Urban channel incision has frequently cut off streams from their floodplains, reducing floodplain sediment retention and water quality functions.

Lightning Protection of Wind Turbine Generation System

The rapid increase of wind power plants and enlargement of capacity makes the lightning problem of the wind power plants including blades serious. This report summarizes the result of the comprehensive surveillance study carried out for these several years. The contents lightning outages, the lightning phenomena and the result of the electric discharge experiment in connection with the measure against lightning of a windmill blades. Furthermore, the state of the present condition of the protective measures in the blades of windmill, mechanical parts, connecting power lines and communication lines was also considered. Especially grounding methods for wind power plants are considered.

Flood protection with dams and flood control reservoirs—before and after the extreme flood event of August 2002, Saxony

This paper presents the flood design and the effects of Saxony dams before, during and after the extreme flood event in 2002. As the Saxony dams were exposed to an extraordinary load situation (at some dams the 10 000 year design flood was exceeded) during the 2002 flood event, this paper aims to highlight the problems and damages connected to such an extreme event. The second part demonstrates with concrete examples (bypass tunnel, enlargement of bottom outlet and spillway capacities, enlargement of flood retention storage), how the management and design of the Saxony dams were changed based on the analysis of the extreme flood and consideration of new hydrological boundary conditions. In this context, the limits and potential conflict, particularly concerning multipurpose reservoirs, will be described. The last part presents an insight to the Saxony approach to determine new sites for flood control reservoirs. Immediately after the flood event in August 2002, approximately 200 potential sites have been identified. With the availability of flood protection concepts, feasibility studies for 74 potential sites have been carried out. A focal point for these assessments was to conduct cost–benefit analyses. The establishment of appropriate damage functions was the main challenge during the assessments. Hydrological, engineering and environmental investigations and the related conflict potential are also described. As a result of the feasibility studies, 13 flood retention reservoirs are currently designed and scheduled for implementation in Saxony.

Stereolitography, the Front Edge of Rapid Prototyping

Based on the annual sales volume, stereolitography (SLA) can be considered a Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology with a promising future. Besides being the pioneering equipment, when RP took the first steps in 1988, this technology has been developed with interesting and fast innovations, and a great activity in patents registration. One can assist to a strong research seeking the enlargement of the system capacity to produce large and micro-size parts, and simultaneously impose the technology as a mass production process that is evolving towards a true Rapid Manufacturing (RM) technology. SLA is an excellent tool to materialize concepts and ideas due to the high-resolution capacity, transparency and fine details of the models and prototypes that can be produced. In this study, the state of art of SLA is analyzed and the recent innovations are presented, and considering that the authors have a considerable experience in supervising design students, from different universities, some of the more emblematic projects that were developed at INEGI – Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management, are presented. SLA and direct conversion processes were combined to produce new products in materials such as glass, ceramics and metals, for different industrial sectors.

Nature rehabilitation by floodplain excavation: The hydraulic effect of 16 years of sedimentation and vegetation succession along the Waal River, NL

The “Ewijkse Plaat” is a floodplain along the Waal River, NL. In 1988, the floodplain was excavated as part of a program for enlargement of the discharge capacity and was assigned as a nature rehabilitation area. This paper describes the combined geomorphological and vegetation evolution of the floodplain until 16 years after the initial excavation using elevation data and data on vegetation structure derived from detailed aerial stereographic imagery. The impact of these processes on flow velocity and water surface elevation was evaluated by using a hydraulic model. Within 16 years, the excavated amount of sediment was redeposited in the area. The dominant geomorphological process after excavation was vertical accretion of the floodplain which resulted in the formation of natural levees. The amount of sedimentation was correlated to the across-floodplain flow ( R 2 = 0.89). In the research period, 41% of the sedimentation took place during two single major flood events. The creation of pioneer stages by excavation promoted softwood forest establishment, which influenced the sedimentation pattern significantly. The landscape evolved toward structure-rich vegetation. Nine years after excavation the initial hydraulic gain was lost by the combined effect of sedimentation and vegetation succession. Implications for river and nature management are discussed.

The application of spectral-amplitude-coding optical CDMA in passive optical networks

One code family suitable for passive optical network based on optical code division multiple access is present. Though spatial coding is used for capacity enlargement, the corresponding encoding/decoding devices require less fiber ribbons than that of the spatial/spectral systems proposed previously and the code cardinality is maintained. In addition, the multiple access interference is eliminated in the decoders of the proposed network and the phase-induced intensity noise arising during the photo-detecting process is suppressed further. Therefore, larger capacity can be accommodated in the network with simplified coding hardware.

Riding the economic long wave: why are the open innovation index and the performance of leading manufacturing industries intervened?

We examine, using correlation tables, whether the stock market index of leading open innovation companies in the USA could be used to predict capacity addition and utilisation of the leading fifth Kondratieff wave manufacturing of this country or vice versa. Our research results indicate that the two data sets are related, and therefore we argue that capacity addition and the open innovation index develop in the same direction and share a high level of correlation. However, capacity utilisation seems to hinder some interesting dynamics; when the open innovation index starts to increase, capacity utilisation will decrease for a number of years. Thus, some evidence exists that capacity addition leads to an open innovation index increase with a one- to three-year delay. Based on these observations we propose a soft system dynamics framework. With the use of this model we are able to shed more light on why capacity enlargement has occurred on a large scale in the sectors of computer and semiconductor manufacturing, and we also estimate how long the downturn in these investments will most probably last.

The hidden value of air transportation infrastructure

Air transportation is a key strategic asset in that it provides access to markets and thereby enables the economic development of nations. Thus, in order to maintain their competitiveness in a global economy, countries must invest in air transportation infrastructure to ensure their ability to meet current and future demand for aviation services. The objective of this paper is to develop and illustrate a methodology for evaluating the strategic value of air transportation infrastructure, in particular the benefits associated with the ability to react quickly to changes in the market. The hypothesis is that by recognizing and taking advantage of this strategic value, it may be possible to design better policies for aviation infrastructure delivery. The methodology developed here uses system dynamics to model different strategies for infrastructure delivery. These strategies are defined by three variables: the amount of capacity increase, the time to deliver the capacity and the congestion threshold that triggers the need for capacity delivery. Monte Carlo simulation is used to take into account multiple sources of uncertainty. The model shows that a strategy of capacity delivery based on small increments and short response times can yield more benefits than strategies that consider large capacity increases and long response times. Furthermore, in the specific airport example considered here, it was found that a congestion threshold of 75% should be the trigger for capacity enlargements if strategies based on small capacity increments and 1 or 5 years to increase capacity are considered. The lesson for decision-makers is that congestion delays must be addressed with foresight.

Investment Cycles in the Newbuilding Market of Ice-Strengthened Oil Tankers

Investment cycles and their modelling have been under the interest of system dynamics since long ago. Most often these cycles are caused by the uncertain profitability expectations involved in long-term capital investments, as well as the long manufacturing processes of the needed buildings, machines and/or equipment. This paper concentrates on the investment decisions of class I A ice-strengthened oil tankers. In the European oil transport market, these tankers are required only in the Baltic Sea region, and especially in the oil terminals of the Gulf of Finland. The demand for these special class tankers can be derived from the handling capacity available in the most important Russian oil export terminal, Primorsk. However, in the near future, planned capacity enlargements in Primorsk will create additional dynamics. Based on the simulation results, we argue that terminal capacity could not be used in full scale in the near future, if the use of appropriate ice-strengthened tanker capacity is favoured. However, if oil exports are aimed to be completed with I A class vessels, this class of tankers will face a newbuilding boom, which is expected to last at least for the next 10 years.

Effects of uninephrectomy on renal structural properties in spontaneously hypertensive rats*

1. To investigate effects of a reduction in nephron numbers on renal structural properties in hypertension, either unilateral nephrectomy (UNX) or sham operation (SO) was performed at 5 weeks of age in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (n = 9 for each operation for each strain). 2. At 10-12 weeks of age, flow-pressure (F-P) and pressure-glomerular filtration rate (P-GFR) relationships were determined for maximally vasodilated, perfused kidneys. Kidneys were then perfusion fixed for histological analysis. 3. In the SO groups, the slope of F-P (minimal renal vascular resistance, reflecting overall luminal dimensions of pre- and post-glomerular vasculature) was greater in SHR than in WKY rats. The threshold pressure for beginning filtration at P-GFR (preglomerular to post-glomerular vascular resistance ratio) was higher in SHR than in WKY rats, but the slope of P-GFR (glomerular filtration capacity) did not differ between the two strains. These results suggest that vascular narrowing occurred, especially in the preglomerular resistance vessels in the kidneys of SHR, although glomerular filtration capacity was normal. 4. In UNX animals, the following results were obtained: (i) the slope of F-P was not affected in either strain; (ii) the pressure for beginning filtration at P-GFR was unchanged in WKY rats, but was decreased in SHR; (iii) the slope of P-GFR increased in WKY rats, but a compensatory adaptive increase was missing in SHR; and (iv) histologically, small increases in the luminal cross-sectional area of interlobular arteries and glomerular tuft area were observed in both strains. However, the increase in vascular lumen was more pronounced in SHR, whereas glomerular enlargement was greater in WKY rats. 5. These results suggested that UNX attenuates vascular narrowing of the preglomerular resistance vessels and glomerular structural adaptations to UNX (i.e. increased filtering capacity and glomerular enlargement) are impaired in SHR.

Investment (Export) Option Value and Exchange Rate Volatility

In this paper we evaluate the effect of the real exchange rate volatility on the hysteresis band relative to investment plans in output and export capacity enlargement in the thirty six industrial sectors in the Brazilian input-output matrix. For this, the approach by Dixit (1989a e b) was extended to consider: a) the effect of the exchange rate volatility on the agent's income and costs; and b) on the agent's risk aversion.

Field angle dependence of AC losses in stacked Bi-2223 Ag-sheathed tapes

In case of applying oxide superconducting tapes to power devices, they are usually stacked face-to-face to form a parallel conductor for the enlargement of current capacity. The accurate estimation of ac losses in the stacked tapes is very important for the basic design of the superconducting devices. In this study, we discuss the angular dependence of the ac losses in the stacked Bi-2223 Ag-sheathed tapes exposed to an external ac magnetic field. First we measure the ac losses in the nontwisted Bi-2223 tapes using a saddle-shaped pickup coil. The experimental results show that the ac losses observed in the transverse magnetic field, whose direction has any angle with respect to the wide face of the tapes, can be well reproduced by a simple summation of the parallel- and perpendicular-field losses. Next we compare the measured ac losses with theoretical ones, which were predicted from the critical current characteristics of a short sample observed in dc magnetic fields.

Debt Collection and Bankruptcies in Slovakia: A Study of Institutional Development

The independence granted to the judiciary in 1991 and the facilities for enforcing judgements made available in 1995 have greatly contributed to the success of Slovak transition. These reforms initiated an institutional evolution which proved remarkably robust. One of the consequences was that the enforceability of credit contracts has increased. Unfortunately, this progress has been compromised by a variety of measures taken to cope with a persistent fiscal crisis. These makeshift measures have often been detrimental to the flow of credit. Government also took numerous steps to soften budget constraints of ailing companies. Usually, this postponed their collapse but did not prevent it. The capacity of the judicial system has remained grossly inadequate, yet evident opportunities for capacity enlargement have not been exploited.

ATLAS ELETRÔNICOS E INTERATIVIDADE: MÚLTIPLAS POSSIBILIDADES DE ENSINO-APRENDIZAGEM DA GEOGRAFIA

Interactive atlases have a very good field of activity in Education. One of the advantages to geographic and cartographic teaching are enlargement of the apprenticeship capacity of the pupils, caused by the new available tools. In especial, stimulating them as an active participant of the teaching process. This paper presents the project of an Interactive Atlas, to be applied in the fundamental teaching, where the pupil will be stimulated to develops his teaching of Geography and Cartography, according the National Curricular Parameters.

Hyperoxia prevents carrageenan-induced enlargement of functional residual lung capacity in rats.

Experimental pneumonia induced by intratracheal application of carrageenan or paraquat increases the functional residual lung capacity (FRC) in rats. The mechanism of this increase is not clear, but a decrease in PO2 may be involved. To test this possibility, we attempted to eliminate the PO2 decrease in carrageenan-treated rats by exposing them to hyperoxia. Animals of the first group were exposed to 7 days of hyperoxia (FIO2 0.78-0.84, group Car+O2) after intratracheal application of carrageenan (0.5 ml of 0.7 % carageenan in saline), whereas animals of the second group were given the same dose of carrageenan but breathed air (group Car+A). The third group of rats was kept for seven days in hyperoxia (group O2) and the fourth group served as controls (C). The animals were then anesthetized and intubated and their ventilatory parameters and FRC were measured during air breathing. Carrageenan application induced a FRC increase (Car+A 2.0±0.2 ml, C 1.6±0.1 ml), which was not seen in carrageenan-treated rats exposed to hyperoxia (Car+O2 1.6±0.1 ml). Hyperoxia alone did not affect the value of FRC (O2 1.5±0.1 ml). These results support the hypothesis that a decrease in PO2 plays an important role in the carrageenan-induced increase of FRC in rats.

Tailoring the pressure drop of structured packings through CFD simulations

A computational fluid dynamic methodology is proposed to breakdown into elementary dissipation mechanisms the overall single-phase gas flow bed pressure drop in towers containing corrugated sheet structured packings. The goal behind was to allow piecewise geometry optimization of such packings in terms of capacity enlargement and efficiency enhancement. The dissipations sorted in order of decreasing importance were the collision losses by jet streams at criss-crossing junctions within corrugated channels, elbow loss by form drag at interlayer transition, elbow loss by jets striking wall and subsequent flow redirection to upper channels, and elbow loss in bed entrance. Replacement of sharp bends at the interlayer junctions by progressive direction change was beneficial for the reduction of the dissipations at the wall and the interlayer junction thus stretching capacity of the structured packing. However, this improvement was not spectacular because the most energy-intensive component (criss-crossing) remained unaffected by such modifications. Computational fluid dynamics is foreseen to be a successful, rapid and economic tool to theoretically explore new geometries coping with this limitation.

Amino acid production processes.

With the exploitation of new uses and the growing markets of amino acids, amino acid production technology has made large progress during the latter half of the 20th century. Fermentation technology has played crucial roles in this progress, and currently the fermented amino acids represent chief products of biotechnology in both volume and value. This area is highly competitive in the world market and process economics are of primary importance. For cost-effective production, many technologies have been developed to establish high-productive fermentation and recovery processes. The producer organisms used in large-scale, well-established processes have been developed to a high level of production efficiency. The tools of genetic engineering of amino acid-producing organisms have been well developed and are now being applied for enlargement of biosynthetic and transport capacity, which is beginning to have a great impact on the amino acid industry. Furthermore, the rapid strides in genome analysis are bound to revolutionize the strain improvement methodology.

Territorial government and flexibility: a critical assessment

The paper examines the character of multipurpose territorial government and explores the meaning of frequent calls for more flexibility in the structures and functioning of local and regional governments. The paper elaborates on a number of starting points of debate concerned with the shift from territorial government to territorial governance. Configurations of territorial governance are operating within a broader and more diverse range of factors at both local and regional levels. These include non-elected agencies of the state, private businesses, voluntary organisations, the mass media, and EU institutions. Situations of diffused accountability arise from continuing interactions between network partners, exchange of resources and negotiation of shared purposes, and they constrain the field of democratic accountability. Importantly, one of the key characteristics of the shift from government to governance is claimed to be increased flexibility and responsiveness, in both the functioning and the structure of territorial government. Finally, building on the foregoing, the paper emphasises the issue of public interest formation and aggregation, and the adverse impacts of the fragmentation on the integrative territorial competence of multipurpose governments. The critical assessment provided shows that the notion of flexibility appears to refer to the capability to react to unpredictable future developments by enlargement of management capacity through new steering and decision-making rules. Correspondingly, flexibility does not necessarily refer to changing the existing organisational structures of territorial self-government and administration but primarily to adaptations of their mode of functioning and, therefore, to increasing flexibility of rules and approaches.

Hypercapnia does not affect functional residual capacity enlargement induced by chronic hypoxia

To determine whether changes in partial pressure of CO2 participate in mechanism enlarging the lung functional residual capacity (FRC) during chronic hypoxia, we measured FRC and ventilation in rats exposed either to poikilocapnic (group H, FIO2 0.1, FICO2 &lt;0.01) or hypercapnic (group H+CO2, FIO2 0.1, FICO2 0.04-0.05) hypoxia for the three weeks and in the controls (group C) breathing air. At the end of exposure a body plethysmograph was used to measure ventilatory parameters (V´E, fR, VT) and FRC during air breathing and acute hypoxia (10 % O2 in N2). The exposure to hypoxia for three weeks increased FRC measured during air breathing in both experimental groups (H: 3.0±0.1 ml, H+CO2: 3.1±0.2 ml, C: 1.8±0.2 ml). During the following acute hypoxia, we observed a significant increase of FRC in the controls (3.2±0.2 ml) and in both experimental groups (H: 3.5±0.2 ml, H+CO2: 3.6±0.2 ml). Because chronic hypoxia combined with chronic hypercapnia and chronic poikilocapnic hypoxia induced the same increase of FRC, we conclude that hypercapnia did not participate in the FRC enlargement during chronic hypoxia.

Restore habitat or reduce mortality? Implications from a population viability analysis of the Iberian lynx

AbstractManagers trying to preserve populations of endangered carnivores are often forced to choose between restoring habitat to allow larger breeding populations or reduce risks of mortality to increase survival rates. We modelled the viability of a metapopulation of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) under several scenarios (habitat restoration, anti‐poaching, reduction in road kills) in a real landscape to evaluate their relative effects. Increasing carrying capacity was highly effective when performed on the local populations that acted as sources but had no effect when carried out in the sinks. Realistic scenarios consisting of partial removal of the human‐related mortality (assuming additive effects of causes) predicted high risk of extinction. When combined, the effects of both management options are highly dependent on where they are carried out. If the sinks are the only targets of carrying capacity enlargement, a complete removal of human‐caused mortality is required, whereas increases in the carrying capacity of sources are always effective. The metapopulation risk of extinction decreases dramatically (from 45.5% to 2.1% in 100) if connectivity among source populations can be improved. According to our work, only a detailed knowledge of the spatial and demographic structure of the populations, combined with simulations of realistic situations, can help managers to select the a priori optimal strategy, which probably combines different management options.