Technology Development Efforts Research Articles

Five Years After; the Impact of a Participatory Technology Development Programme as Perceived by Smallholder Farmers in Benin and Ghana

Purpose: The article reports effects on livelihoods of a participatory technology development effort in Benin and Ghana (2001–2006), five years after it ended.Design: The study uses data from all smallholders who participated in seven experimental groups, each facilitated by a PhD researcher. Baseline data and controls were not available. In their dissertations the researchers had each made claims about the impact of their work on the livelihoods of those involved. These claims guided the study in each group, and referred to both impacts based on the superiority of the technology developed, and increased knowledge or capacity that participants claimed to have gained. Two local social scientists interviewed 187 farmers.Findings: The study found considerable evidence of continued beneficial use of technologies developed with farmers. The most important reason for no longer using a technology or institutional innovation was that smallholders had not been able to sustain the conditions for use. Lasting non-technological effects included more mutual understanding among community members, emancipation vis-à-vis researchers and colleagues, and an experimental attitude and research skills. Such effects were recorded for nearly all groups.Practical implications: Smallholders face small windows of opportunity. Technologies and institutional changes that depend on artificially created conditions are likely to be discontinued once those conditions are withdrawn (for example, access to Neem seeds or agreements about land use between landlords and tenants). The findings draw attention to the conditions that enable smallholders to innovate.Originality/value: The study represents a rare attempt to study impact five years later and compares seven independent cases.

English

  The rise in gross incomes and the decline in poverty in rural areas are considered evidence of economic restructuring and technological development efforts in last three decades in the United States. However, these positive effects of transformations in rural areas still do not match the rate of economic growth enjoyed by urban areas. This paper examined income convergence in 875 counties of the 10-state southeastern region using Census data for 1980 and 2000. Logarithmic difference of average per capita income between those years was regressed on socioeconomic variables using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) model. The study found important roles of human capital development and employment growth in income convergence and variations in income growth in places that differ in demographic attributes, job opportunities, geography, and resource concentrations. The study provided important insights to rural policy makers to formulate place-based economic development strategies which are practical and realistic to address economic development in the most impoverished rural places in the southeastern United States.   Key words: Agglomeration, census, clusters, convergence, industries, employment, income, southeastern.

Isolation and genetic characterization of human coronavirus NL63 in primary human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells obtained from a commercial supplier, and confirmation of its replication in two different types of human primary kidney cells

BackgroundCryopreserved primary human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTEC) were obtained from a commercial supplier for studies of Simian virus 40 (SV40). Within twelve hrs after cell cultures were initiated, cytoplasmic vacuoles appeared in many of the RPTEC. The RPTEC henceforth deteriorated rapidly. Since SV40 induces the formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles, this batch of RPTEC was rejected for the SV40 study. Nevertheless, we sought the likely cause(s) of the deterioration of the RPTEC as part of our technology development efforts.MethodsAdventitious viruses in the RPTEC were isolated and/or detected and identified by isolation in various indicator cell lines, observation of cytopathology, an immunoflurorescence assay, electron microscopy, PCR, and sequencing.ResultsCytomegalovirus (CMV) was detected in some RPTEC by cytology, an immunofluorescence assay, and PCR. Human Herpesvirus 6B was detected by PCR of DNA extracted from the RPTEC, but was not isolated. Human coronavirus NL63 was isolated and identified by RT-PCR and sequencing, and its replication in a fresh batch of RPTEC and another type of primary human kidney cells was confirmed.ConclusionsAt least 3 different adventitious viruses were present in the batch of contaminated RPTEC. Whereas we are unable to determine whether the original RPTEC were pre-infected prior to their separation from other kidney cells, or had gotten contaminated with HCoV-NL63 from an ill laboratory worker during their preparation for commercial sale, our findings are a reminder that human-derived biologicals should always be considered as potential sources of infectious agents. Importantly, HCoV-NL63 replicates to high titers in some primary human kidney cells.

Progress and Development of Coandă Jet and Vortex Cell for Aerodynamic Surface Circulation Control – An Overview

Coanda jet has always been referred to in the consideration of various flow control methods to enhance aerodynamic performance, i.e. to enhance lift, reduce drag and delay stall at higher angle of attack, along with continuous, synthetic and pulsed jets, compliant surface, vortex-cell, and the like. Coanda jet has also been applied in the development of novel aircrafts for short take off, while another circulation enhancement technique known as Trapped Vortex Cavity (TVC) is currently being given significant considerations. It is with such motivation that within the aerodynamics surface blowing techniques, Coanda jet and vortex-cell will be reviewed, to assess their characteristics in dramatically alter the behavior of aerodynamic components such as airfoils, wings, and bodies. Capitalizing on a host of research and technology development efforts on Coanda and surface blowing circulation enhancement, the present work reviews the influence, effectiveness and configuration of airfoil surface blowing of Coanda-jet and Trapped Vortex Cavity in circulation enhancement and control of aerodynamic surfaces. The crux of the TVC active research is their stabilization, while Coanda enhanced lift enhancement technique has, to a certain extent reached a stage that it can be easily implemented with advantage.

Accelerator Driven Systems (ADSs) for nuclear transmutation

The paper summarizes the rationale and the objectives of Partitioning and Transmutation (P&T) research and technology development activities. It then provides overviews of both the various nuclear fuel cycle options and the transmutation technologies (with particular emphasis on ADS), as well as a brief worldwide summary of the main research and technology development efforts in the field of ADS.

Bioscience and Medical Technology: From the Earth to Space and Back

AbstractThroughout the 70-year history of NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), technology development efforts that promoted advancement in aeronautics technologies, aerospace sciences, materials for hostile environments, and microgravity physics have also enabled the maturation of technologies that have affected medical practice on Earth, in the air, and in space. GRC’s unique skill mix, required for aeronautics research and space exploration, ultimately also advanced the development of a wide array of capabilities applicable to biomedical engineering. This paper presents a historical review of notable biomedical endeavors at GRC that have addressed common and uncommon medical conditions afflicting both astronauts and non-astronauts. It also highlights the unique physiological stressors associated with residing in space. The physiological changes associated with these stimuli present evolving challenges for researchers to devise new and innovative medical interventions and technologies.

Source tracking and scatter localization in a reverberant environment

Matched field processing (MFP) has been shown to be effective for remote sound source localization when the receiving array clearly records direct-path sound from a stationary source. Unfortunately, in imperfectly characterized confined environments, source motion, echoes, and reverberation commonly degrade localization performance. This poster presentation describes three acoustic technology development efforts focused on using matched-field processing, with and without the first reflections, (i) to track a moving source, (ii) to improve localization results by adjusting the receiving array geometry, and (iii) to determine the conditions under which a discrete scatterer may be localized. Experiments were conducted in a 1.0-meter-deep and 1.07-meter-diameter cylindrical water tank using a single sound projector, a receiving array of 16 hydrophones, and a linear actuator capable of moving the source at a speed of 0.5 m/s. Measured localization performance is reported for impulsive (100 micro-second) and longer duration signals having center frequencies from 30 kHz to near 100 kHz. As expected, source and scatterer localization accuracy is found to be limited by reverberation. The eventual application of this research is localizing sub-visual cavitation bubbles and other hydroacoustic sound sources in hydrodynamic test facilities. [Work supported by NAVSEA through the Naval Engineering Education Center.]

The European Union challenge: integration of energy, climate, and economic policy

AbstractThe European Union (EU), the largest economy in the world, has binding sustainable energy and climate goals for the year 2020. The EU has recently presented a vision of a low‐carbon Europe in 2050, which requires the cutting of carbon emissions by over 80%. This will necessitate increased technology development and market deployment efforts in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean energy. In addition, such plans need to pay attention to the uneven financial capabilities of the 27 EU member states to undertake such ambitious climate measures. To reach acceptable levels of carbon emissions on a global scale, compensating for economic asymmetries worldwide may require a considerably higher input from Europe as well. The co‐benefits of a proactive European climate policy may be considerable, in particular for economic growth. Achieving these benefits will require greater integration of energy and climate and economic policy, which could form the basis of a green economy in Europe.This article is categorized under: Energy and Climate > Economics and Policy Energy Policy and Planning > Economics and Policy

Terahertz hot electron bolometer waveguide mixers for GREAT

Supplementing the publications based on the first-light observations with the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz frequencies (GREAT) on SOFIA, we present background information on the underlying heterodyne detector technology. We describe the superconducting hot electron bolometer (HEB) detectors that are used as frequency mixers in the L1 (1400 GHz), L2 (1900 GHz), and M (2500 GHz) channels of GREAT. Measured performance of the detectors is presented and background information on their operation in GREAT is given. Our mixer units are waveguide-based and couple to free-space radiation via a feedhorn antenna. The HEB mixers are designed, fabricated, characterized, and flight-qualified in-house. We are able to use the full intermediate frequency bandwidth of the mixers using silicon-germanium multi-octave cryogenic low-noise amplifiers with very low input return loss. Superconducting HEB mixers have proven to be practical and sensitive detectors for high-resolution THz frequency spectroscopy on SOFIA. We show that our niobium-titanium-nitride (NbTiN) material HEBs on silicon nitride (SiN) membrane substrates have an intermediate frequency (IF) noise roll-off frequency above 2.8 GHz, which does not limit the current receiver IF bandwidth. Our mixer technology development efforts culminate in the first successful operation of a waveguide-based HEB mixer at 2.5 THz and deployment for radioastronomy. A significant contribution to the success of GREAT is made by technological development, thorough characterization and performance optimization of the mixer and its IF interface for receiver operation on SOFIA. In particular, the development of an optimized mixer IF interface contributes to the low passband ripple and excellent stability, which GREAT demonstrated during its initial successful astronomical observation runs.

NASA technology development priorities outlined

NASA's technology development efforts should focus on 16 high‐priority technologies and their associated top technical challenges, according to a 1 February report by a committee of the U.S. National Research Council (NRC). The report grouped technology priorities within three objectives: extend and sustain human activities beyond low‐Earth orbit; explore the evolution of the solar system and the potential for life elsewhere; and expand our understanding of Earth and the universe in which we live. In pulling together its priority list, the committee boiled down priority technologies from a much longer list to “as short a list as is reasonable in the face of anticipated constrained budgets.” In addition, the committee also “assumes NASA will pursue enabling technology related to all three objectives in a balanced approach, and the committee does not advocate support for one objective over another.”

Source localization in a reverberant environment using first reflections

Matched field processing (MFP) has been shown to be effective for remote sound source localization when the receiving array clearly records direct-path sound. Unfortunately, in imperfectly characterized confined environments, echoes and reverberation commonly degrade localization performance. However, inclusion of first reflections in the requisite MFP field model should improve localization performance and such inclusion may be tractable as well. This presentation describes an acoustic technology development effort focused on source localization in a simple confined environment using both direct-path and once-reflected sounds. Experiments were conducted in a 1.0-m-deep and 1.07-m-diameter cylindrical water tank having a reverberation time of ~10 ms using a single sound projector and a linear receiving array of 16 hydrophones. Measured localization performance is reported for impulsive (100 μs) and longer duration sounds having frequencies from 20 to 150 kHz. Appropriate cropping of the signal coda and inclusion of a simplified characterization of the reflection properties of the tank's walls allows successful integration of first reflections that improve MFP localization results. The intended application of this research is localizing sub-visual cavitation bubbles and other hydroacoustic sound sources in hydrodynamic test facilities. [Work sponsored by NAVSEA through the Naval Engineering Education Center.]

Multi-Objective Optimization of a Turbofan for an Advanced, Single-Aisle Transport

Considerable interest surrounds the design of the next generation of single-aisle commercial transports in the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 class. Aircraft designers will depend on advanced, next-generation turbofan engines to power these airplanes. The focus of this study is to apply single- and multi-objective optimization algorithms to the conceptual design of ultrahigh bypass turbofan engines for this class of aircraft, using NASA s Subsonic Fixed Wing Project metrics as multidisciplinary objectives for optimization. The independent design variables investigated include three continuous variables: sea level static thrust, wing reference area, and aerodynamic design point fan pressure ratio, and four discrete variables: overall pressure ratio, fan drive system architecture (i.e., direct- or gear-driven), bypass nozzle architecture (i.e., fixed- or variable geometry), and the high- and low-pressure compressor work split. Ramp weight, fuel burn, noise, and emissions are the parameters treated as dependent objective functions. These optimized solutions provide insight to the ultrahigh bypass engine design process and provide information to NASA program management to help guide its technology development efforts.

A review of the current application of N 2O emission reduction in CDM projects

The number of clean development mechanism (CDM) projects aimed at reducing N 2O emissions has increased in recent years. While N 2O reduction projects account for only 2.6% of all CDM projects, these N 2O reduction projects account for 13% of the total reduction of all greenhouse gases measured on a CO 2 equivalent basis under the CDM. China is the host nation for half of all N 2O CDM reduction projects while approximately 78% of the N 2O reduction technologies for these CDM projects come from Japan, the UK, and Switzerland. This paper consists of an investigation of the present status of and prospects for CDM projects to reduce N 2O emissions based on the data of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). N 2O reduction in CDM projects has been applied to production plants for such chemicals as nitric acid, adipic acid, and caprolactam. The technologies for N 2O reduction used in these CDM projects were thermal or catalytic decomposition and selective catalytic reduction with the selection of a specific reduction strategy dependent upon the underlying production process. This paper presents case studies which examine the application of specific N 2O reduction technologies that have been implemented under the CDM. The CDM market for N 2O reductions from the industrial sector is nearing saturation and therefore further growth will likely be dependent upon technological progress and the ability to deploy N 2O reduction technologies with combustion based stationary sources and mobile sources. A particular focus of technological development efforts should be cost effectiveness and development of technologies that can simultaneously reduce N 2O and NOx emissions.

Defect and damage analysis of advanced discontinuous carbon/epoxy composite materials

Recent composite technology research and development efforts have focused on discontinuous carbon fiber/epoxy molding systems derived from chopped aerospace-grade unidirectional tape prepreg. This study analyzes in detail the meso-structure of this class of materials, which exhibit point-to-point variations associated with the random chip distribution, by means of destructive and non-destructive inspections, in the attempt to identify characteristic traits that can yield insight in its quality and performance. Results show that several types of defects can be encountered within the molded panel, such as macro-voids, fiber kinking and swirling, or resin-rich areas. However, it is found that failure may or may not occur in proximity of these hot spots, independently from their size and location, even for specimens containing the circular hole. Therefore it appears that for this class of materials conventional ultrasonic inspection and defect classification may not be suitable as criteria for part acceptance or rejection.

Methodology for estimating probability of success of Escape, Evacuation, and Rescue (EER) strategies for arctic offshore facilities

Abstract Offshore oil and gas production platforms must have Escape, Evacuation, and Rescue (EER) plans and resources to protect personnel in the event of a major accident. However, for offshore platforms in arctic regions, existing solutions may not be sufficient due to the extreme environmental conditions. This paper presents a methodology for evaluating the relative probabilities of success of arctic EER strategies to (1) help prioritize technology development and data collection efforts needed to develop and select a robust EER strategy and (2) analyze the predicted probabilities of success of various EER strategies in more detail once the input parameters are better known. The methodology is based on well known risk assessment tools (event trees and Monte Carlo simulation) that can easily be adjusted to account for the appropriate level of detail. As an example, the method is applied to hypothetical EER strategies composed of various combinations of helicopters, ice-breaking platform supply vessels, Air Cushioned Vehicles, Tracked Amphibious Vehicles, and ice-strengthened lifeboats. Input parameters used in the analysis include prevalence of various environmental conditions by month (low temperature, high seas, low visibility, etc.), ability to deploy craft in a hazardous situation, ability to transit over ice ridges, ability to transit heavy seas, operator competence, etc.

Stochastic laminate analogy for simulating the variability in modulus of discontinuous composite materials

Abstract Recent composite technology research and development efforts have focused on discontinuous carbon fiber/epoxy molding systems derived from chopped aerospace-grade unidirectional tape prepreg. Although the average elastic modulus of this material has been shown to be as high as that of the continuous tape quasi-isotropic benchmark, experimental measurement by means of strain gage or extensometer has shown variation as high as 20%. Digital Image Correlation can be used successfully to obtain a full-field strain measurement, and it shows that a highly non-uniform strain distribution exists on the surface of the specimen, with distinct peaks and valleys. This pattern of alternating regions of high and low strain gradients, and which exhibit a characteristic shape and size, can be described in terms of Random Representative Volume Element (RRVE). The RRVE proposed here exhibits random elastic properties, which are assigned based on stochastic distributions. This approach leads to the analysis method proposed here, which is designed to compensate for the fact that traditional methods cannot capture the experimentally observed variation in modulus within a specimen and among different specimens. The method utilizes a randomization process to generate statistical distributions of fractions and orientations of chips within the RRVE, and then applies Classical Laminated Plate Theory to an equivalent quasi-isotropic tape laminate to calculate its average elastic properties. Validation of this method is shown as it applies to a finite element model that discretizes the structure in multiple RRVEs, whose properties are generated independently of the neighboring ones, and then are solved simultaneously. The approach generates accurate predictions of the strain distribution on the surface of the specimen.

The diversity of rural livelihoods and their influence on soil fertility in agricultural systems of East Africa – A typology of smallholder farms

Technological interventions to address the problem of poor productivity of smallholder agricultural systems must be designed to target socially diverse and spatially heterogeneous farms and farming systems. This paper proposes a categorisation of household diversity based on a functional typology of livelihood strategies, and analyses the influence of such diversity on current soil fertility status and spatial variability on a sample of 250 randomly selected farms from six districts of Kenya and Uganda. In spite of the agro-ecological and socio-economic diversity observed across the region (e.g. 4 months year −1 of food self-sufficiency in Vihiga, Kenya vs. 10 in Tororo, Uganda) consistent patterns of variability were also observed. For example, all the households with less than 3 months year −1 of food self-sufficiency had a land:labour ratio (LLR) < 1, and all those with LLR > 1 produced enough food to cover their diet for at least 5 months. Households with LLR < 1 were also those who generated more than 50% of their total income outside the farm. Dependence on off/non-farm income was one of the main factors associated with household diversity. Based on indicators of resource endowment and income strategies and using principal component analysis, farmers’ rankings and cluster analysis the 250 households surveyed were grouped into five farm types: (1) Farms that rely mainly on permanent off-farm employment (from 10 to 28% of the farmers interviewed, according to site); (2) larger, wealthier farms growing cash crops (8–20%); (3) medium resource endowment, food self-sufficient farms (20–38%); (4) medium to low resource endowment relying partly on non-farm activities (18–30%); and (5) poor households with family members employed locally as agricultural labourers by wealthier farmers (13–25%). Due to differential soil management over long periods of time, and to ample diversity in resource endowments (land, livestock, labour) and access to cash, the five farm types exhibited different soil carbon and nutrient stocks (e.g. Type 2 farms had average C, N, P and K stocks that were 2–3 times larger than for Types 4 or 5). In general, soil spatial variability was larger in farms (and sites) with poorer soils and smaller in farms owning livestock. The five farm types identified may be seen as domains to target technological innovations and/or development efforts.

Technology readiness assessments: A retrospective

The development of new system capabilities typically depends upon the prior success of advanced technology research and development efforts. These systems developments inevitably face the three major challenges of any project: performance, schedule and budget. Done well, advanced technology programs can substantially reduce the uncertainty in all three of these dimensions of project management. Done poorly, or not at all, and new system developments suffer from cost overruns, schedule delays and the steady erosion of initial performance objectives. It is often critical for senior management to be able to determine which of these two paths is more likely—and to respond accordingly. The challenge for system and technology managers is to be able to make clear, well-documented assessments of technology readiness and risks, and to do so at key points in the life cycle of the program. In the mid 1970s, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) introduced the concept of “technology readiness levels” (TRLs) as a discipline-independent, programmatic figure of merit (FOM) to allow more effective assessment of, and communication regarding the maturity of new technologies. In 1995, the TRL scale was further strengthened by the articulation of the first definitions of each level, along with examples (J. Mankins, Technology readiness levels, A White Paper, NASA, Washington, DC, 1995. [1]). Since then, TRLs have been embraced by the U.S. Congress’ General Accountability Office (GAO), adopted by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and are being considered for use by numerous other organizations. Overall, the TRLs have proved to be highly effective in communicating the status of new technologies among sometimes diverse organizations. This paper will review the concept of “technology readiness assessments”, and provide a retrospective on the history of “TRLs” during the past 30 years. The paper will conclude with observations concerning prospective future directions for the important discipline of technology readiness assessments.

Research Alone Is Not Enough

Powerful forms of business innovation represent a challenge to U.S. efforts in technology development.

An Exploration of Factors Shaping Technology-Upgrading Efforts in Mozambican Manufacturing Firms

This paper presents an analysis of factors shaping technology-upgrading efforts in the Mozambican manufacturing sector. It uses firm-level data to examine these issues for the metalworking and light chemicals sectors, using Logit regression analysis to identify factors associated with firms' decisions to engage in technology-upgrading efforts in three areas: (i) product development; (ii) production technology development aimed at upgrading existing equipment or purchasing entirely new manufacturing technologies; (iii) and process engineering. In line with much of the literature on industrial organization and the microeconomics of technology change, this paper finds that existing production and technological conditions play an important role in shaping technological efforts. However, this association is not linear, cumulative or uniform across the various relevant spheres of manufacturing, underscoring the multifaceted nature of technology change at this level. Moreover, factors often identified cited as being instrumental in shaping technology development efforts, such as skills or foreign ownership, play no role in dynamics of this kind in Mozambique. At the same time, other factors that have received less attention, such as the ability of firms to engage in technology cooperation arrangements, or the role played by demand and market conditions appear as important factors shaping these technology-upgrading efforts.