707 research outputs found
Supporting evidence-based adaptation decision-making in Queensland: a synthesis of climate change adaptation research
No full textThis research synthesis provides policy-makers and practitioners with an understanding of the building blocks for effective adaptation decision-making, as evidenced through the NCCARF research program. It synthesised a portfolio of adaptation research for each Australian state and territory and addressing the complex relationships between research and policy development. Each state and territory synthesis report directs users to research relevant identified priorities.
Authored by Jennifer Cane, Laura Cacho, Nicolas Dircks, Peter Steele
Supporting evidence-based adaptation decision-making in the Australian Capital Territory: a synthesis of climate change adaptation research
No full textThis research synthesis provides policy-makers and practitioners with an understanding of the building blocks for effective adaptation decision-making, as evidenced through the NCCARF research program. It synthesised a portfolio of adaptation research for each Australian state and territory and addressing the complex relationships between research and policy development. Each state and territory synthesis report directs users to research relevant identified priorities.
Authored by Jennifer Cane, Laura Cacho, Nicolas Dircks and Peter Steele
A Comparative Analysis of the Equity Outcomes in Three Sugarcane–Ethanol Systems
No full textThis article identifies equity outcomes associated with three biofuel systems in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. Acknowledging that winners and losers are socially and politically generated, the article identifies some of the factors behind the distribution of winners and losers along different stages of three sugarcane–ethanol supply chains. Analyzing the outcomes for equity within each case study reveals an uneven distribution that, we argue, is related to the procedure and structure of the given sugarcane–ethanol system, and the recognition of the impacts on different actors within those structures. Increasing equity in sugarcane–ethanol systems will require greater openness in decision-making processes, in order that multiple voices are taken into account in the promotion, production, and consumption of biofuels—particularly those of smaller and less powerful actors
Production of microbial transglutaminase on media made from sugar cane molasses and glycerol
No full textTransglutaminase is an enzyme that catalyses an acyl transfer reaction between γ-carboxamide groups of glutaminyl residues and lysine residues in proteins. Due to this property, this enzyme is used for enhancing textural properties of protein-rich food. The transglutaminase used as food additive is obtained by microorganisms, mainly by Streptoverticillium ladakanum. On the other hand, sugar cane molasses is a viscous liquid rich in noncrystallized carbohydrates (saccharose, glucose and fructose). In this work, the feasibility of using sugar cane molasses as a carbon source for the production of microbial transglutaminase by Streptoverticillium ladakanum NRRL 3191 has been studied. Carbon sources including sugar cane molasses (60 g of total sugars per L), glycerol (60 g/L) and their mixture in a ratio of 1:1 (30 g/L of each) were evaluated. Time course of microbial growth, transglutaminase activity and carbon source consumption were determined every 24 h during 120 h of fermentations at three agitation speeds (200, 300 or 400 rpm). The results showed that with the increase in agitation speed, the biomass concentration increased up to 8.39 g/L in the medium containing sugar cane molasses alone or the mixture of molasses and glycerol. The highest transglutaminase activity was obtained at 400 rpm in the medium containing a mixture of molasses and glycerol, reaching 0.460 U/mL, while in the medium containing sugar cane molasses alone, the activity was 0.240 U/mL, and using glycerol alone it was 0.250 U/mL. These results show that sugar cane molasses is a suitable medium for transglutaminase production when it is combined with glycerolA grant from FOMIX CONACYT – Gobierno de Tamaulipas (Ref. 2004/1055) to author Portilla-Rivera is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are grateful to Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spain) for the financial support of this work (Project: AGL2006-08250/ALI)S
From Rainforest to Cane Field in Cuba An Environmental History Since 1492
No full textIn this award-winning environmental history of Cuba since the age of Columbus, Reinaldo Funes Monzote emphasizes the two processes that have had the most dramatic impact on the island's landscape: deforestation and sugar cultivation. During the first 300 years of Spanish settlement, sugar plantations arose primarily in areas where forests had been cleared by the royal navy, which maintained an interest in management and conservation for the shipbuilding industry. The sugar planters won a decisive victory in 1815, however, when they were allowed to clear extensive forests, without restriction, for cane fields and sugar production. This book is the first to consider Cuba's vital sugar industry through the lens of environmental history. Funes Monzote demonstrates how the industry that came to define Cuba--and upon which Cuba urgently depended--also devastated the ecology of the island.The original Spanish-language edition of the book, published in Mexico in 2004, was awarded the UNESCO Book Prize for Caribbean Thought, Environmental Category. For this first English edition, the author has revised the text throughout and provided new material, including a glossary and a conclusion that summarizes important developments up to the present.Intro -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- 1 The Omnipresent Forest and the Beginnings of the Sugar Industry -- 2 Shipbuilding and the Sugar Industry, 1772-1791 -- 3 The Struggle over Private Ownership of Forests, 1792-1815 -- 4 Sugar and the Absolute Freedom to Clear Forests, 1815-1876 -- 5 Centralization of the Sugar Industry and the Forests, 1876-1898 -- 6 North American Capital and Sugar's Final Assault on the Forest, 1898-1926 -- Conclusion: From Forests to Sugar: An Insignificant Change? -- Appendix 1 Scientific Names of Plants and Animals -- Appendix 2 Temperature and Precipitation in the Natural Regions of Cuba -- Appendix 3 Units of Measure, with Equivalents -- Notes -- Glossary -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- H -- I -- L -- M -- P -- R -- S -- T -- W -- Bibliographic Essay -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y -- ZIn this award-winning environmental history of Cuba since the age of Columbus, Reinaldo Funes Monzote emphasizes the two processes that have had the most dramatic impact on the island's landscape: deforestation and sugar cultivation. During the first 300 years of Spanish settlement, sugar plantations arose primarily in areas where forests had been cleared by the royal navy, which maintained an interest in management and conservation for the shipbuilding industry. The sugar planters won a decisive victory in 1815, however, when they were allowed to clear extensive forests, without restriction, for cane fields and sugar production. This book is the first to consider Cuba's vital sugar industry through the lens of environmental history. Funes Monzote demonstrates how the industry that came to define Cuba--and upon which Cuba urgently depended--also devastated the ecology of the island.The original Spanish-language edition of the book, published in Mexico in 2004, was awarded the UNESCO Book Prize for Caribbean Thought, Environmental Category. For this first English edition, the author has revised the text throughout and provided new material, including a glossary and a conclusion that summarizes important developments up to the present.Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, YYYY. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries
Report on Nullarbor sites (master tape)
No full textAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this video recording contains images, voices and names of people who are deceased. -- Explanation of a report written on Aboriginal sites on the Nullarbor Plain. Features photographs taken by Dr. Cane of various sites. -- Recorded 24 August 1989
Intelligent Cane
No full textCreated in fulfillment of the course requirements for ENGG*3100 Engineering and Design III. This course combines the knowledge gained in the advanced engineering and basic science courses with the design skills taught in ENGG*1100 and ENGG*2100 in solving open-ended problems. These problems are related to the student's major. Additional design tools are presented, including model simulation, sensitivity analysis, linear programming, knowledge-based systems and computer programming. Complementing these tools are discussions on writing and public speaking techniques, codes, safety issues, environmental assessment and professional management. These topics are taught with the consideration of available resources and cost.In this paper we present a new system for indoor blind accessibility. The main idea is an intelligent cane which is capable of navigating a fully blind person through the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The design consists of a modified white cane, containing RFID transponders which receive information from RFID tags in the hallways. The user wears a headset to give commands and receive information. A rumble feature in the cane is used to give the user directional feedback. The design's directional feedback software was simulated and the results show that the software is successful and will competently keep the user on the path to their specified location
Cold hardiness and water content during deacclimation of grapevine bud and cane tissue
No full text1988 Summer.Covers not scanned.Includes bibliographical references.Computer assisted thermal analysis was used to measure deep supercooling in dormant bud and cane tissue of Vitis vinifera L. cv. 'Merlot' during a five week deacclimation time period. The temperature of the Low Temperature Exotherm (LTE), an indicator of hardiness, of both cane (internode) and primary bud tissue responded to weekly increases in air temperatures with bud tissue responding faster than cane tissue. Bud tissue from pruned and unpruned canes retained the capacity to supercool until early bud swell 18 April 1987, when the mean LTE temperature of -9.8°C became obscured by High Temperature Exotherms (HTEs) occurring between -5 and -8°C. Cane tissue had lower LTEs than bud tissue on each date and at each position. Cane positions nearest the trunk, whether canes were pruned or unpruned, were found to be slightly hardier than those more distally oriented, which was not observed with buds. Pruning treatments did not influence the loss of hardiness in either bud or cane tissue. Water content of canes was more affected by all three factors (date, position, and pruning) than was hardiness. Bud water content was only affected by date, and was lower than cane water content for every date and each position throughout the study. Canes increased in water content with each more distal position. Pruning slowed the rate of cane hydration during the week it was most rapid, especially at the most distal position. Observations during the most pertinent three weeks of this study indicate that cane tissue hydrates rapidly but dehardens only slowly, while buds deharden more quickly yet have only a small increase in bulk water content. The main effect of pruning was on cane water content
DotBot: Searching for a positive white cane experience
No full textThe design of the white cane, the most used mobility aid for visually impaired, has not changed significantly since the mid-20th century. New concepts and technological solutions have failed to catch on. However, the cane seems unappealing and outdated to some potential users. Margot Scheltema, the initiator of this graduation project, is a future cane user. She feels that the current cane design is alien from her identity and she feels reluctant to use it. She is not alone: due to the social stigma, many cane users feel self-conscious when using the device, some even decide not to use it, despite the mobility limitations resulting from such decision. Research After the initial desk research phase, field research was conducted to explore questions of VIP mobility. The process contributed to a high level of empathy for VIPs. Autoethnographic studies were conducted in collaboration with Thijs te Velde, to build a base of self-experience concerning VIP mobility struggles. Through the collaboration with Visio Den Haag and Margot Scheltema, different perspectives were represented in the research data. The most important mobility struggles and attitudes concerning mobility aids were identified. Positive aspects of VIP life and the inherent dilemmas were also collected. The design solution The Dot Bot is a navigation aid consisting of a network of location-specific navigational and environmental information nodes (Dots) accessible to a specific user group. The information is stored in the form of audio descriptions created by the userbase. This way virtual DotBot community facilitates the sharing of commuting know-how. The information Dots make use of existing VIP relevant infrastructural elements in the tactile paving. It is aimed to enhance the perks of being part of the VIP community, cultivating feelings of connectedness and belonging. The semantic qualities of the cane are preserved, to keep it recognisable and ensure user safety in commute. However, there are moments where the effects of impairment are preferred to keep private. For this reason, I aimed to limit the need to ask for directions and aid VIPs in cultivating pride and the feeling of competence through exercising their ability to navigate autonomously. The way the information is stored and accessed supports this: for the outsider eye accessing information from a road stud on the tactile paving is invisible. During the evaluation phase, several aspects of the DotBot concept were tested with VIP participants. In the first validation session, insights on information needs during navigation were collected. In the second validation session the envisioned interaction was evaluated by the help of functional prototypes, and feedback types were also investigated. Further studies would be needed to establish the optimal Dot density in vibrotactile feedback pattern and intensity.Integrated Product Desig
Designing a positive white cane: A future vision and design approach
No full textContext & case You are reading the report for a master’s graduation project conducted at Delft University of Technology. This project is chaired by prof. dr. ir. Pieter Desmet and coached by dr. Rebecca Price. The project was initiated by Margot Scheltema, an influential Dutch commissioner with multiple companies. She initiated this project because she is suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive eye disease, and will soon have to walk using a white guiding cane. However, she finds this cane too stigmatising and is looking for a more positive white cane. Research In order to get insights into possible design directions for a positive white cane, extensive user research was conducted. This research was conducted in collaboration with Visio, an institution that helps the visually impaired that is based in Den Haag. With help from Visio, three auto-ethnographic studies were conducted, as well as one generative session and three observation studies. These observation studies were conducted by means of participant observation and gave insight into how cane walkers are trained, how the visually impaired interact with technology and how visually impaired people can be profoundly misunderstood by their environments. Independently, two observations of Margot Scheltema were conducted that gave insights into how the visually impaired are still able to live a rich life. Also, one generative session was conducted and two events were visited that include a trade fair and the Dutch retina day. The research shows that the visually impaired face multiple problems on a daily basis. These problems include increased visibility due to (the effects of) visual impairment, loss of agency, difficulty communicating (the effects of) visual impairment and experiencing a negative self-image. Some attitudes towards assistive devices were also observed, and these are connecting the image of the assistive device to self-image, facing the reality of the situation, not letting the opinions of bystanders affect you and being concerned about the social effects of using specific assistive products. From these insights, four personas were created that can be places in certain situations in a journey map. These personas, combined with an extensive literature study and the journey map served as a basis to develop design proposals upon. Design proposal After some failed attempts to reaching a meaningful design proposal, a tool was created that allows concepts to be developed while keeping research front and center. The final concept consists of a modular cane that used contemporary technology to give the visually impaired an edge in developing their unique skills and add their insights to the world. It leverages positive aspects about being visually impaired and amplifies them, making them actionable. Three embodiments of this modular, open-ended design were developed and presented in scenarios. The aesthetics of the cane were designed in such a way that it shows the technological advances it makes use of, while still having a very striking and unique appearance. Combining the added benefits with this unique identity brings together multiple strategies that serve the purpose of de-stigmatising assistive products that were found in literature research. Validation The concept was validated using a stigmaticity test and a generative session at Visio using visually impaired participants. The session at Visio gave insights into what kind of data the visually impaired imagined to be generating, with whom they would want to share that and which degree of privacy they would prefer to be associated with which kind of data. The stigmaticity tests shed some light into the effect of the aesthetics of the positive white cane. In these tests, the dyadic distance between participants and a research confederate were measured and the amount of looks the research confederate received were recorded. It was found that, in the female research confederate, dyadic distance was significantly closer when wielding the positive white cane. This means that people were more comfortable getting closer to her than when she was wielding the current white cane. This was also the cane with the male research confederate, but less significantly so. Conclusion The results of this design project suggest that a positive white cane be made that combines advances in technology and a unique aesthetic that not only de-stigmatised the white cane but also brings meaningful new features to the visually impaired. These new features will allow them to become more connected, learn faster and contribute to society in a more direct manner. The data generated by this positive white cane would also serve researchers in their attempts to shape the world and make it more inclusive for everybody. Next steps that can be taken include the making of functional prototypes, holding joint workshops with both professionals working in the field of visual impairment, visually impaired users and government workers to explore the possibilities the positive white cane has to offer and many others. This project will exhibit at the Design United exhibition at Dutch Design week and I hope to make many connections there that could potentially allow me to develop this project further
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