Level Of Industrial Production Research Articles

Risks in the North Caucasus: Potential or Real Escalation of the Ethnopolitical Situation

Introduction. Positive dynamics in the ethnopolitical sphere of the North Caucasus does not mean that there are no further risks of the escalation of the ethnopolitical tension and stabilizing processes are irreversible. The goal and objectives of the article are the identification of the current ethnopolitical situation in the North Caucasus and assessment of the achievements or failures of the decade-long implementation of programs of reconstructiong the region. The authors identify risk factors of the ethnopolitical tension in the North Caucasus as a key approach to conflict forecasting, develop a hierarchy of risk factors, and assess the optimality of management decisions. Methods and discussion. In the context of the discussion the most relevant is understanding risks as an inevitable product of decision-making (Luhmann). The analysis of risk generating processes in the North Caucasus is most effective from the standpoint of the conflict studies (conflict resolution) approach (Burton). Empirical data was obtained by series of expert surveys, the Delphi method, content analysis of media sources (the Internet, printed press, radio, television) and analysis of official statistical data. The conclusion was made that during the past three years positive results have been achieved mainly due to administrative resources and activities of the institutions of force (“siloviki”), but those resources are close to exhaustion. All “classical” risk factors identified by the country’s leadership in 2009 remain and “new” risk factors are actualized. Among the “classical” risks, the first positions are occupied by the low level of industrial production, the critical dependence of the North Caucasus republics on federal budget subsidies, the lag in life standards in these republics from the average in Russia, the retention of a high unemployment rate. These risks are to a large extent due to such factor as the low efficiency of regional authorities. The “new” risk factors include those that were in a latent state, but now can turn into manifest conflicts. This is, above all, a land-use problem that has various modifications: ethnic, territorial, economic, historical. Further studies of the problems of the North Caucasus are related to the analysis of the effectiveness of the system of ethnopolitical security and centre-peripheral relations, to the new non-trivial approaches in the theory of Russian federalism, to the choice of a model of spatial development of the Russian Federation. Analysis and results. Despite the general improvement of the climate of ethnic relations, risk factors in the ethnopolitical situation in the North Caucasus can result in the return of the region to the negative conflict scenario. The modern North Caucasus can be characterized as a risk society, in which risks appear as a result of decision making more and more frequently. Some positive “shifts” in the economic and social basis of life in the region are not sufficient for irreversible changes of the situation for the better. The specificity of current problems in the North Caucasus is that their conflict potential can be implemented “unexpectedly” through various indirect links.

ОЦЕНКА ИНДИКАТОРОВ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ ПРОМЫШЛЕННОГО ПРОИЗВОДСТВА КАЛИНИНГРАДСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The article considers a research of the economic security level of industrial production in the Kaliningrad region for the period from 2005 to 2018. The relevance of this research is due to the important role of industrial production in ensuring the competitiveness of the regional economy. The analysis is based on a comparison of economic security indicators with their threshold values. For analysis, indicators are transformed to a dimensionless value. As a result of the research, information about the status of economic security indicators of industrial production in the Kaliningrad region was obtained. Information about the location of indicators relative to the zone of “risk” and “stability” in dynamics was obtained. The results of research give an idea about the level of the economic security of industrial production. The results of the analysis can be used to assess the sustainability of the industrial production development, as well as to assess the level of economic security of the region as a whole.

Aramid nanofiber interlayer for improved interlaminar properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composites

Delamination is a persistant problem that restricts the ability of carbon fiber reinforced composites to support out-of-plane loading. One method to alleviate this issue which has shown promise in recent years is the use of nanoscale interleaves to strengthen the interlaminar region of carbon fiber composites. Here, layers of aramid nanofibers (ANFs) are deposited onto the surface of woven carbon fabric using a spray-coating technique that avoids agglomeration issues and improves the interlaminar properties of carbon fiber composites. The excellent compatibility of the ANF interlayer with epoxy resin allows for both improved chemical and mechanical interaction between the fiber and the matrix. The areal density of the ANF interlayer was adjusted for optimal mechanical performance, resulting in a 33.7% and 81.6% improvement in apparent short beam strength and initiation Mode I fracture toughness (GIC), respectively, while maintaining tensile strength. The improved resistance to crack initiation and propagation is the result of the transition of interlaminar failure from adhesive to cohesive due to the ANF reinforcement. Therefore, this work presents a simple, fast, and cost-effective technique that can be scaled up to industrial production levels for the fabrication of high toughness carbon fiber reinforced composite structures.

Gravity casting of aluminum-Al2O3 hollow sphere syntactic foams for improved compressive properties

Alumina hollow spheres with a diameter range of 1–2 mm were filled in 6061 Al alloy by gravity infiltration casting to synthesize Al-matrix syntactic foams. The effects of infiltration temperature and heat treatment on microstructure, compressive properties, and energy absorption properties of the syntactic foams were studied. The results show that high quality syntactic foams could be synthesized in the infiltration temperature range 770–830 °C and the particles seamlessly bonded with the matrix. The average density and porosity of the syntactic foams were around 1.66 g/cm3 and 37.47%, respectively. The highest energy absorption capacity and specific energy absorption of the as-cast syntactic foams occurred at infiltration temperature 770 °C, reaching 41.11 MJ/m3 and 23.63 kJ/kg, respectively, while these parameters for the heat-treated samples showed the maximum values for the solution-aging treated samples, reaching 48.92 MJ/m3 and 31.36 kJ/kg respectively. Extensive literature survey is presented in this work by extracting the compressive properties of a variety of Al-matrix syntactic foams and comparing them with the results obtained in the present work. It is observed that the syntactic foams synthesized by gravity infiltration method equal or exceed the properties demonstrated by many Al-matrix syntactic foams synthesized by other methods reported in recent years. As a major advantage, the gravity infiltration method can be scaled up to industrial production level.

High-efficiency and low-cost production of cadaverine from a permeabilized-cell bioconversion by a Lysine-induced engineered Escherichia coli

Cadaverine is the monomer of bio-based nylons polyamide 5.4, 5.6 and 5.10. In this study, a litre-scale integrated strategy was developed for high-efficiency and low-cost production of cadaverine using an engineered Escherichia coli. Firstly, the engineered strain BL21-Pcad-CadA induced by cheap l-lysine-HCl instead of IPTG was constructed. Then the permeabilized cells were served as the biocatalyst for the production of cadaverine, because the enhanced permeability facilitated the mass transfer of the substrate and the release of products. After the replacement of industrial materials and the solution of the scale-up permeabilization process, cadaverine concentration reached 205 g/L with the yield of 92.1% after 20 h in a 2 L bioconversion system, achieving the level of industrial production. Furthermore, the costs of industrial materials for 2 L integrated strategy ($2.78) was only 1/11 of the lab reagents ($30.88). Therefore, the proposed strategy is a promising candidate for the industrial process of cadaverine.

A robust optimization for agricultural crops area planning and industrial production level in the presence of effluent trading

Suitable cropland use is not only beneficial for satisfying human daily demand, but also for controlling non-point source pollution leaks into adjacent rivers. Optimal industrial production levels are economical, and they also avoid water deterioration. With the promise of being lower than the total allowed emission cap, water use participants have to balance trade-offs between optimal production levels and emission amounts. Effluent trading seems to be a cost-effective method to reduce effluent emission as it allows effluent reallocation among different sectors. Because of changing hydrological information and continuous development of treatment technology, the effluent production ratio is regarded as uncertain and is characterized as polygonal budget sets. This study tries to control the total emission quantity by optimizing cropland use and non-agricultural production levels using effluent trading under uncertain future environments. To illustrate the feasibility of the proposed model, an application is conducted in Indonisian Citarum River. The application finds that the proposed model is able to (1) identify an optimal effluent trading scheme that balances various production plans from multiple water users; (2) balance the trade-off between total emission reduction and total benefit maximization by changing budget levels; and (3) ease the decision makers burden, avoid information losses or distortions, and guide them in adjusting farmland planning, production levels, and effluent trading results under uncertainty. Based on the results, managerial implications are analyzed in terms of (1) the optimal crop area planning in the agricultural sector and the optimal production level in non-agricultural sectors; and (2) the optimal effluent trading pattern that expands economic development without deteriorating water environments. Finally, the comparison analysis with a traditional deterministic model, verify that with the incorporation of robust parameters, flexible solutions are offered to decision makers that have different attitudes toward constraints-violation risks.

Together We are Less Alone - A Concept for a Regional Open Innovation Learning Lab

Open Innovation propagates the idea that sharing ideas with external parties is beneficial for sustaining innovativeness of a firm. However, recent studies have found that industry is hesitant to open up their innovation processes. Other studies have identified factors that enable successful adoption of Open Innovation in industrial firms. Accordingly, appropriate organizational culture and practical learning of open innovation are considered important. Moreover, a shared physical environment has been found to support open innovation and especially practical learning of open innovation practices. In a recent attempt at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, we have developed a concept that aims at bringing together regional industrial firms with regional education and research institutions and private makers through an Open Innovation Learning Lab. The Lab is intended to play a vital role in reaching the next level of industrial production in a region that has a long-standing history in industrial production in Austria. In the paper, we will describe results of interviews with regional industry, their requirements and attitudes regarding open innovation in the region and a concept for a regional Open Innovation Learning Lab.

Теоретичні завдання визначення секторальної структури економічної системи

The article aims to determine the methodical approach to the analytical assessment of the structure of a country’s national economy in accordance with the sectoral classification of the economic formations theory using tourism as an example. With this aim in mind, the main tasks have been fulfilled, namely: a comparative analysis of the main cost indicators of the global market in the periods of stability and crisis has been carried out through grouping primary, secondary and tertiary economy sectors; the main trends in the dynamics and structure of the tourism industry in Ukraine by volumes of agricultural, industrial and services sales have been identified; the demand pattern of the tourist market in Ukraine has been characterized by determining the contribution of small and microenterprises to the total volume of the products sold; the necessity of providing an additional forecasting approach has been substantiated, the approach being based on carrying out structural analysis and studying intersectoral relationships by means of the number series extrapolation method, used by the World Travel and Tourism Council to determine trends in national tourism markets. Having made a review of research on the theoretical aspects of the national economies classification we have come to conclusion that a three-sectoral model (agriculture, industry, services) still dominates in the field, although it no longer meets modern requirements as to carrying out empirical research. This is the reason why the number of published works, whose authors suggest to expand the list of sectors, has been growing. The author of the study in question suggests to provide an additional independent sector that accumulates surplus funds and distributes them among the market actors. The analysis of the global GDP carried out shows that the shares of the primary sector and extractive industry grow in times of crisis, while the service sector, and tourism in particular, requires macroeconomic stability. The same trends have been observed in Ukraine. The countries of the world have been clustered according to their national economy structure, with Ukraine getting into the most numerous group of countries with a developed agro-industrial complex (though it does not play the leading role in forming the GDP), a high share of the service sector and a sufficient level of industrial production.

Angular dependence of nanoparticle generation in the matrix assembly cluster source

The matrix assembly cluster source (MACS) represents a bridge between conventional instruments for cluster beam deposition (CBD) and the level of industrial production. The method is based on Ar+ ion sputtering of a pre-condensed Ar-M matrix (where M, is typically a metal such as Ag). Each Ar+ ion produces a collision cascade and thus the formation of metal clusters is in the matrix, which are then sputtered out. Here we present an experimental and computational investigation of the cluster emission process, specifically its dependence on the Ar+ ion angle of incidence and the cluster emission angle. We find the incidence angle strongly influences the emerging cluster flux, which is assigned to the spatial location of the deposited primary ion energy relative to the cluster into the matrix. We also found an approximately constant angle between the incident ion beam and the peak in the emitted cluster distribution, with value between 99° and 109°.

A new model of industrial internet of things with security mechanism—An application in complex workshop of diesel engine

Intelligent manufacturing is the future development direction of manufacturing industry. There are still some problems lurk in the traditional mode of production, such as “information island” and “network security”, which result in low productivity but high-cost production, and information leakage. With application of the new generation information technology in manufacturing field is expanded, the deep integration of information technology and manufacturing industry promotes the development of production towards intellectualization, networking, and service. Single mode of production is gradually replaced by the way of large-scale collaborative production, so the traditional industrial internet of things (IoT) and manufacturing architecture are not suitable for the needs of actual production any more. For instance, the great challenges of compatibility and coordination of interface protocols, huge data, cost, and safety. In order to solve these problems, a new model of industrial IoT with security mechanism used in intelligent workshop is proposed. Firstly, this article analyzes the current situation of manufacturing industry and information technology, a secure transmission model of industrial IoT was designed based on the new generation information technology. Secondly, combined with the structure of the IoT and the real production demands, a six-tier industrial IoT architecture based on the new generation information technology is proposed. Finally, the three dimensions of the intelligent manufacturing model are expanded according to the architecture of the IoT. Not only a six-tier intelligent manufacturing system framework based on the new generation of information technology is obtained, but also the network security mechanism is introduced. On one hand, it realizes the coordinated operation of industrial chain, supply chain, and value chain of production process, on the other hand, it also improves the networking, intellectualization, and service level of industrial production. What is more the system can also provide the reference model for the various application of IoT.

Industrial activities and primary schooling in early nineteenth-century France

This article investigates the relation between industrial activities and the expansion of primary instruction in early nineteenth-century France. To do so, I use a newly constituted database on the location and characteristics of primary schools at the level of municipalities. This database is extracted from the Guizot Survey conducted in 1833, before the implementation of the first national law making the opening of a school mandatory in any municipality more than 500 inhabitants. By using mineral deposits as an instrument, I first show that the presence of industrial activities and the level of industrial production in a given municipality were positively influencing the presence of primary schools. Second, I show that this was due to an income effect thanks to which municipalities were capable of attracting teachers and of more frequently paying them on a regular basis. Other economic factors, as the agricultural resources of districts, and geographical or demographical factors as population dispersion were also important in explaining the location of primary schools. Finally, I show that this came at a price in terms of children enrolment in schools. The same economic factors were contributing to a diversion of children from schools, either because of a relative impoverishment of workers or because of an increased opportunity cost of schooling.

Influence of industrial atmospheric pollution on the development of pathology of respiratory organs

Due to the technogenic load, first of all, the quality of the air basin is disturbed. More than 80 % of diseases depend to some extent on its quality, but in an industrial city, atmospheric pollution determines the priority of pathology of respiratory organs. The purpose of the work was to study the peculiarities of the development of pathological conditions of the respiratory organs in the population living in conditions of significant atmospheric pollution. Materials and methods. Industrial emissions into the air basin from enterprises of the metallurgical industry were investigated. The type of violations of ventilation functions (obstruction, restriction, obstruction on the background of restriction) was determined from the “flow – volume” curve of the forced expiration. The incidence was studied according to the statistical materials of hospitals. Results. The residents of the industrial city have a complex of ecotoxicants, which leads to a dangerous degree of pollution and a very contaminated level. In 53.8 % of the city's residents there are deviations in the ventilation function (by the method of the flow-volume curve analysis) due to the development of obstructive changes in the bronchopulmonary apparatus of the upper respiratory tract. After 49 years of living in such conditions, nearly in all the population prenosological conditions are registered (91.7–93.9 %). With prolonged residence in conditions of contamination, obstruction significantly increases against the background of restriction. The incidence of respiratory diseases in adults is higher with a high level of use of production capacity. Conclusions. In 53.8 % of the inhabitants of the industrial city, there are deviations in the ventilation function due to the development of obstructive changes in the broncho-pulmonary apparatus of the upper respiratory tract (obstruction combined with a restriction and obstruction). With age, the proportion of persons with prenosological conditions of respiratory function increases, especially at the age of 30–39 and 40–49 years. A high degree correlation exists between air pollution and population morbidity. Thus, the correlation coefficient between the total city air pollution indexes and respiratory diseases is 0.72 (P < 0.01) in adults and 0.66 (P < 0.05) in children. The morbidity of the adult population of the megapolis with diseases of the respiratory organs has waved in the last years. The trend of its dynamics was y = 3343.2 – 47.97x, with a coefficient of multiple correlation of 0.78 (P < 0.05). The regularities of long-term chromodynamics of respiratory organs incidence among children is almost the same as at high and at a moderate level of industrial production - dynamics tendency has a look of equation y = 10190.3 – 41.2x and y = 8813.9 – 76.3x with a coefficient of multiple correlation 0.59–0.64 (P < 0.05).

Research of adaptive features of industrial enterprise crisis management system

Currently, there is a significant decrease of industrial production level in Russia. The Russian economy has entered a recession, a moderate economic downturn, which will last at least until 2020. In 2019, analysts predict a decline in turnover for the equipment manufacture by 10%. At the same time, banks, having studied the market, give forecasts from 15 to 25 %. Retailers predict a decline in turnover of up to 30%. In this economic environment the researched enterprise JSC “R&D Zenith” will have to reduce production volumes. The article deals with the main features of the crisis management system at the enterprise such as flexibility and adaptability. The authors describe the method of analysis of the adaptive features of the crisis management system of the industrial enterprise, taking into account the specifics of its activities. This method is based on the key factors of the enterprise activity, which affect the adaptive features of the crisis management system, the nature of their changes and the relationship between them.

Oil price Fluctuation, Gold Returns and Inflationary Pressure: An Empirical Analysis Using Cointegration Approach

Given that oil and gold prices are the major representative for commodity market, they both play a crucial role in determining the level of consumption, industrial production and investment due to the direct effect by the changes in their prices. In addition, both oil and gold prices have inflationary pressure which has a direct impact on countries economic growth. Therefore, it is of crucial practical significance to analyze their cointrgration relationships to understand the co-movement of both prices. To do so, this paper aims to examine the impact of oil price fluctuation on gold prices taking into account the inflationary pressure in the United States (US). Using monthly data from April, 1986 to September, 2018, Johansen multivariate cointegration test procedure and vector error correction model (VECM) have been employed to examine the long-run relationship between the variables in the US. The key findings suggest that there is a significant positive long run relationship between crude oil prices, gold prices and inflation. In the short run, the impact of any changes in crude oil prices will have a delayed effect on the prices of gold, while the impact of inflation in not different from zero. In addition, both gold prices and inflation are found to have no impact on gold prices in the short run. The findings of this research are important for investors, portfolio managers, corporate houses, crude oil traders, the government and policy makers.

HBIM AND THE 20TH CENTURY STEEL BUILDING HERITAGE – A PROCEDURE SUITABLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION HISTORY IN ITALY

Abstract. The use of steel technologies in Italian architecture still represents an unexplored field of research, characterised by limited and fragmented episodes that reveal important design experimentations and relevant architectural results of the 20th century. For this reason, the aim of the research consists of defining a HBIM methodological approach addressed to the study of modern steel architectures, considering their specific features and their hybrid constructive nature. Indeed these buildings are often characterized by a high level of industrial production of building components merged with the recovery of a craftsmanship tradition, particularly appearing at the scale of structure and envelope details. The balance between standardization and traditional techniques in production processes, leads to the definition of a HBIM method composed of three steps: an operational tools for existing buildings of 20th century made of steel that could support the construction of building digital archives, the organisation of maintenance programs and possible transformative actions, avoiding the loss of this heritage sometimes caused by bad interventions that deeply change original and valuable features of these architectures.

SSP Long Run Scenarios for European NUTS2 Regions

In this paper we illustrate the development of a modeling framework aimed at producing detailed quantitative estimates for economic variables, consistent with Shared Socio-economic Pathways, and their assumptions about national income and population. Our model not only provides information on industrial production levels, employment, consumption patterns, trade flows and other macroeconomic variables, but disaggregates them further at the sub-national level, for European NUTS2 regions. Estimates are produced by an especially designed dynamic general equilibrium model (G-RDEM), augmented with a regional down-scaling module. The latter takes into account the different sectoral composition of the regional economies, their endowments of primary resources, as well as the possible existence of structural and agglomeration externalities. After describing the methodology, the paper presents an illustrative sample of results produced by the model, focusing on Italian regions and the Shared Socio-economic Pathway 1 in the period 2011-2051.

东南诸河流域1990-2015年土地利用时空变化特征及驱动机制

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 东南诸河流域1990-2015年土地利用时空变化特征及驱动机制 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201810102187 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金地区基金项目（31660233）；国家自然科学基金项目（51711520317） Spatial and temporal variability characteristics and driving mechanisms of land use in the Southeastern River Basin from 1990 to 2015 Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:土地利用/覆被变化作为影响全球环境变化的重要因素，是人类活动最直接的反映，其驱动力分析能够很好地揭示人类活动对土地资源的影响机制。运用ArcGIS空间分析和SPSS主成分分析等方法，从整个东南诸河流域片区的尺度上，研究了包含中国台湾地区在内的1990-2015年间的土地利用时空变化特征，并探究其主要驱动机制。研究结果为：（1）全流域各土地类型面积占比为：林地 > 耕地 > 草地 > 城乡建设用地 > 水域 > 未利用土地，林地与耕地的空间分布特征均为"北聚南散，北多南少"，城乡建设用地集中分布在经济较为发达的台湾海峡两岸沿海地区以及流域大陆北部靠近长江三角洲的地区。（2）全流域土地类型的面积变化量为：城乡建设用地 > 耕地 > 草地 > 林地 > 水域 > 未利用土地。流域土地利用综合动态度为0.68%，整体用地类型转化程度先降低再增加，并以城乡建设用地和耕地为主要变化类型。流域南部各市的土地利用变化较北部剧烈，台湾地区主要土地利用变化类型为耕地和城乡建设用地。（3）大陆地区城乡建设用地变化的主要驱动力为人口数量及结构、城市化和社会经济发展，台湾地区在此基础上增加了社会工农产业结构调整因素。大陆耕地变化的主要驱动力为人口数量及结构、城市化水平和社会工农产业结构，社会工农产业结构和农业生产水平是台湾地区耕地变化的主要驱动力。本研究为东南诸河流域土地资源规划管理提供科学依据，为自然流域尺度的土地利用变化及其驱动机制研究提供可靠实例。 Abstract:Land use change, an important factor affecting global environmental change, is one of the most crucial human activities. Research on land use change is critical to reveal the mechanism of impacts of human activities on land resources. In this study, we used the ArcGIS spatial analysis function and the SPSS principal components method to analyze the spatial and temporal changes of land use in the Southeastern River Basin (including Taiwan) from 1990 to 2015 and explore the possible driving mechanisms. The main results are as follows:(1) From 1990 to 2015, the proportions of different land types throughout the basin was forest land > farmland > grassland > urban and rural construction land > water area > unused land. Forest and cultivated land largely gather on the north of the basin, while they are more scattered and less in the south. Urban and rural construction land is concentrated in the coastal areas of Taiwan province, where the economy is relatively well developed, as well as in the northern basin near the Yangtze River Delta. (2) The comprehensive dynamic degree of land use in the basin is 0.68%, and the degree of conversion of overall land use type first declined and then increased from 1990 to 2015. Most changes occurred on urban and rural construction lands and cultivated land. Land usage change in the southern region of the basin is more intense than that in the north. The main type of land use change in Taiwan province was cultivated land and urban and rural construction land. The comparison of changes in the area of land types in the basin is:urban and rural construction land > cultivated land > grassland > forest land > water area > unused land. The most significant increases in urban and rural construction comes from cultivated land. Hence, the increases in cultivated land begins with forest land and then gradually transitions to urban and rural construction land. There is a certain degree of synergy between the intensity of urban land use and cultivated land. The latter has maintained a large degree of change and dominates the changing structure of each period. The average annual dynamics of other construction land in the past 25 years was 17.30%, showing clear growth trends. (3) The main driving forces behind urban and rural construction land usage changes in mainland China are population quantity and structure, urbanization level, and level of social and economic development. On this basis, Taiwan province has increased the social industrial and agricultural industrial structure adjustment factors. Additionally, the main driving forces behind changes in cultivated land in mainland China are population size and structure, urbanization level, and social and agricultural industrial structures. In Taiwan province, the social and agricultural industrial structures and agricultural production levels are the main forces driving changes in cultivated land. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal variability and driving mechanisms of land use changes in the southeastern river basins. This study provides theoretical support for the rational planning for land resources in the region, and provides baseline data support for the comprehensive management of resources and the environment at the basin-wide scale. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

U.S. DIESEL FUEL PRICE RESPONSES TO THE GLOBAL CRUDE OIL SUPPLY AND DEMAND

The objective of this study is to examine the monthly movements of U.S. diesel price for the period 1974–2017. We argue that the diesel price may be responsive to crude oil market fundamentals. The model employed includes the global demand and supply for crude oil, in addition to the inventory of crude oil and the level of industrial production for the U.S. The Structural Vector Autoregressive formulation and the Vector Error Correction model suggest that global demand shocks to crude oil, including the inventory of crude oil in the U.S. are primarily responsible for diesel price movements in the U.S., accounting for up to 30–70% of its variation.

STATE AND TENDENCIES OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL REGULATION IN UKRAINE IN CONDITIONS OF FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION

A balanced socio-economic development of any country is closely related to the efficiency of the system of intergovernmental relations, which should be aimed at optimizing the process of fiscal decentralization and clear definition of the powers of local government. Interbudgetary regulation in Ukraine reflects processes of the national and political importance and is of great importance in the composition of intergovernmental fiscal relations, which priority is growing in terms of decentralization reforms. Purpose. The main objectives of this study are: to summarize a complex task that is resolved in the process of budgetary control; to analyze the dynamics of revenues of the consolidated budget of Ukraine in 2007-2016 and the proportion of own local revenues in GDP; to distinguish formation features of Ukrainian local budgets by region; to analyze volumes of local budgets per capita in terms of area; to highlight the leverage rate of local budgets; to analyze the share of interbudget transfers in total local budgets. Results. The study is a synthesis of the complex challenges that must be resolved in the process of budgetary control, such as: balancing the budget; foster the interest of local governments in the maximum revenue mobilization; reallocation of existing budgetary resources, taking into account local features. The dynamics of the revenues of the consolidated budget of Ukraine in 2007-2016 was analyzed and concluded that the proportion of own local revenues in GDP tended to decrease with a simultaneous increase in the share of the interbudget transfers from the state budget. Abovementioned resulted in the ensuring of a stable share of local budgets in the GDP structure (at 14-15%). As a result of the intergovernmental fiscal decentralization reform by the results of 2016 the share of own revenues of local budgets Ukraine in GDP rose to 7.2%, or 1.1% compared to 2015 with a simultaneous decrease in the interbudget transfers share from the state budget to 8.2% (0.6% compared to 2015). Analyzed the share interbudget transfers in total local budgets, which for a long period tended to increase (from 47.2% in 2007 to 53.4% in 2016), which is contrary to the basic principles of fiscal decentralization. Conclusion. Grounded features of Ukrainian local budget revenues by region and proved that the unevenness of income between regions of Ukraine are often equivalent to the level of industrial production. Analyzed volumes of local budgets per capita in terms of area. Presented the list of influence instruments on local budgets indexes of incomes, including the increase in the minimum wage, inflation, continuing reform of the budget system in the direction of fiscal decentralization and transfer volumes.

A scalable life cycle inventory of an automotive power electronic inverter unit\u2014part II: manufacturing processes

PurposeA scalable life cycle inventory (LCI) model, which provides mass composition and gate-to-gate manufacturing data for a power electronic inverter unit intended for controlling electric vehicle propulsion motors, was developed. The purpose is to fill existing data gaps for life cycle assessment (LCA) of electric vehicles. The model comprises new and easy-to-use data with sufficient level of detail to enable proper component scaling and in-depth analysis of inverter units. The aim of this article (part II) is to describe the modeling of all production steps and present new datasets. Another objective is to explain the strategies for data collection, system boundaries, and how unit process datasets were made to interact properly with the scalable design model (part I).MethodsData for the manufacturing of the inverter unit was collected from a variety of literature, technical specifications, factory data, site visits, and expert interviews. The model represents current levels of technology and modern industrial scale production. Industry data dates back to 2012. Some older literature is referred to, but only if it was found to remain relevant. Upstream, new data has been gathered to the point where the Ecoinvent database can be used to model a full cradle-to-gate inventory. To make the LCI model easy to use, each flow crossing the system boundary is reported with a recommended linked flow to this database.Results and discussionThe screening and modeling of manufacturing inverter units resulted in a substantial compilation of new inventory data. In close integration with the design model, which is scalable in size over a range of 20–200 kW in nominal power and 250–700 V in DC system voltage (part I), it forms a comprehensive scalable LCI model of a typical automotive power electronic inverter unit intended for traction motor control. New production data covers electroplating of gold, electro-galvanization, machining and anodizing of aluminum, ceramic substrate fabrication, direct copper bonding, photoimaging and regenerative etching, power module assembly with a two-step soldering process, and the assembly of automotive printed circuit boards.ConclusionsInterviews with experts were found to be vital for effective data collection and the reporting of details a key to maintaining data usability over time, for reuse, rework, and criticism by other LCA practitioners.