This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the current tax preferential policies for small-scale individual businesses and compared them with similar policies both domestically and internationally,aiming to reveal t...This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the current tax preferential policies for small-scale individual businesses and compared them with similar policies both domestically and internationally,aiming to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of the current system.After examining the impact of these tax preferential policies on the economic status of individual business owners and the broader social economy,this article proposes a set of innovative tax preferential strategies based on theoretical foundations.By developing these innovative strategies and clarifying their implementation paths,the aim is to promote the sustainable and healthy development of small-scale individual businesses,thereby fostering comprehensive socio-economic progress.The conclusion of this study not only summarizes policy recommendations with practical significance but also provides theoretical support for the optimization and innovation of future related systems.展开更多
Small-scale farming accounts for 78% of total agricultural production in Kenya and contributes to 23.5% of the country’s GDP. Their crop production activities are mostly rainfed subsistence with any surplus being sol...Small-scale farming accounts for 78% of total agricultural production in Kenya and contributes to 23.5% of the country’s GDP. Their crop production activities are mostly rainfed subsistence with any surplus being sold to bring in some income. Timely decisions on farm practices such as farm preparation and planting are critical determinants of the seasonal outcomes. In Kenya, most small-scale farmers have no reliable source of information that would help them make timely and accurate decisions. County governments have extension officers who are mandated with giving farmers advisory services to farmers but they are not able to reach most farmers due to facilitation constraints. The mode and format of sharing information is also critical since it’s important to ensure that it’s timely, well-understood and usable. This study sought to assess access to geospatial derived and other crop production information by farmers in four selected counties of Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine the profile of small-scale farmers in terms of age, education and farm size;to determine the type of information that is made available to them by County and Sub-County extension officers including the format and mode of provision;and to determine if the information provided was useful in terms of accuracy, timeliness and adequacy. The results indicated that over 80% of the farmers were over 35 years of age and over 56% were male. Majority had attained primary education (34%) or secondary education (29%) and most farmers in all the counties grew maize (71%). Notably, fellow farmers were a source of information (71%) with the frequency of sharing information being mostly seasonal (37%) and when information was available (43%). Over 66% of interviewed farmers indicating that they faced challenges while using provided information. The results from the study are insightful and helpful in determining effective ways of providing farmers with useful information to ensure maximum benefits.展开更多
The small-scale drilling technique can be a fast and reliable method to estimate rock strength parameters. It needs to link the operational drilling parameters and strength properties of rock. The parameters such as b...The small-scale drilling technique can be a fast and reliable method to estimate rock strength parameters. It needs to link the operational drilling parameters and strength properties of rock. The parameters such as bit geometry, bit movement, contact frictions and crushed zone affect the estimated parameters.An analytical model considering operational drilling data and effective parameters can be used for these purposes. In this research, an analytical model was developed based on limit equilibrium of forces in a Tshaped drag bit considering the effective parameters such as bit geometry, crushed zone and contact frictions in drilling process. Based on the model, a method was used to estimate rock strength parameters such as cohesion, internal friction angle and uniaxial compressive strength of different rock types from operational drilling data. Some drilling tests were conducted by a portable and powerful drilling machine which was developed for this work. The obtained results for strength properties of different rock types from the drilling experiments based on the proposed model are in good agreement with the results of standard tests. Experimental results show that the contact friction between the cutting face and rock is close to that between bit end wearing face and rock due to the same bit material. In this case,the strength parameters, especially internal friction angle and cohesion, are estimated only by using a blunt bit drilling data and the bit bluntness does not affect the estimated results.展开更多
When used with large energy sparkers, marine multichannel small-scale high-resolution seismic detection technology has a high resolution, high-detection precision, a wide applicable range, and is very flexible. Positi...When used with large energy sparkers, marine multichannel small-scale high-resolution seismic detection technology has a high resolution, high-detection precision, a wide applicable range, and is very flexible. Positive results have been achieved in submarine geological research, particularly in the investigation of marine gas hydrates. However, the amount of traveltime difference information is reduced for the velocity analysis under conditions of a shorter spread length, thus leading to poorer focusing of the velocity spectrum energy group and a lower accuracy of the velocity analysis. It is thus currently debatable whether the velocity analysis accuracy of short-arrangement multichannel seismic detection technology is able to meet the requirements of practical application in natural gas hydrate exploration. Therefore, in this study the bottom boundary of gas hydrates(Bottom Simulating Reflector, BSR) is used to conduct numerical simulation to discuss the accuracy of the velocity analysis related to such technology. Results show that a higher dominant frequency and smaller sampling interval are not only able to improve the seismic resolution, but they also compensate for the defects of the short-arrangement, thereby improving the accuracy of the velocity analysis. In conclusion, the accuracy of the velocity analysis in this small-scale, high-resolution, multi-channel seismic detection technology meets the requirements of natural gas hydrate exploration.展开更多
The conventional Duffing oscillator weak signal detection method, which is based on a strong reference signal, has inherent deficiencies. To address these issues, the characteristics of the Duffing oscillator＇s phase...The conventional Duffing oscillator weak signal detection method, which is based on a strong reference signal, has inherent deficiencies. To address these issues, the characteristics of the Duffing oscillator＇s phase trajectory in a small- scale periodic state are analyzed by introducing the theory of stopping oscillation system. Based on this approach, a novel Duffing oscillator weak wide-band signal detection method is proposed. In this novel method, the reference signal is discarded, and the to-be-detected signal is directly used as a driving force. By calculating the cosine function of a phase space angle, a single Duffing oscillator can be used for weak wide-band signal detection instead of an array of uncoupled Duffing oscillators. Simulation results indicate that, compared with the conventional Duffing oscillator detection method, this approach performs better in frequency detection intervals, and reduces the signal-to-noise ratio detection threshold, while improving the real-time performance of the system.展开更多
In Balochistan, Agriculture is dominated by small-scale farmers and the apple production sector is confronted with the chronic constraint of low output per unit of input. Although some agricultural policies have been ...In Balochistan, Agriculture is dominated by small-scale farmers and the apple production sector is confronted with the chronic constraint of low output per unit of input. Although some agricultural policies have been implemented in this province, studies on effectiveness and impacts of such policies over apple production and farmers' performance are still limited. This study is an effort to bridge the research gap on this potential crop in the plateau by investigating technical and scale efficiency of 181 officially designated small-scale apple farmers in mountainous district Mastung in Balochistan; then explored factors that underlie differences in production inefficiency. A two-stage input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) methodology was employed to evaluate technical and scale efficiency followed by truncated bootstrapped regression framework to analyze the correlative determinants to efficiency. Average technical and scale efficiencies of larger landholders were higher than medium and small landholders. Analysis indicated that there is still ample scope for inefficient sample farmers to reduce the input use by 33% without compromising the given yield level. Maximum contributions to the total input savings were from the use of urea, farm yard manure(FYM) and labor-use. Farmer's experience, farm ownership, irrigation constraints, and farmer's access to trainings, credit and extension services significantly affected apple farmers' technical efficiency. Based on the findings of this study, strategies are suggested to enhancing efficiencies by farmers' capacity development through effective extension services and trainings and provision of adequate credit.展开更多
This paper attempts to study dolomite failure using small-scale blast tests.The experimental setup consisted of a cylindrical specimen with a central borehole fitted with a detonation cord inside a copper pipe.The spe...This paper attempts to study dolomite failure using small-scale blast tests.The experimental setup consisted of a cylindrical specimen with a central borehole fitted with a detonation cord inside a copper pipe.The specimen was confined using lead material.During the test,acceleration histories were recorded using sensors placed on the lead confinement.The results showed that heterogeneity and initial cracks significantly influenced the observed failure and cracking patterns.The tests were numerically represented using the previously validated Johnson-HolmquistⅡ(JH-2)constitutive model.The properties of the detonation cord were first determined and verified in a special test with a lead specimen to compare the deformation in the test with that of numerical simulation.Then,the small-scale blast test was simulated,and the failure of the dolomite was compared with the test observations.Comparisons of acceleration histories,scabbing failure,and number of radial cracks and crack density confirmed the overall repeatability of the actual testing data.It is likely that the proposed model can be further used for numerical studies of blasting of dolomite rock.展开更多
Active control of a fully developed turbulence boundary layer(TBL) over a flat plate has been investigated with a statistical view. The piezoelectric(PZT) oscillator is employed to produce periodic input into the inne...Active control of a fully developed turbulence boundary layer(TBL) over a flat plate has been investigated with a statistical view. The piezoelectric(PZT) oscillator is employed to produce periodic input into the inner region of the TBL.A wall probe is fixed upstream of the oscillator to identify the high-or low-speed fluctuations as the detecting signals.Then, the impact of the detecting signals on the small-scale bursting process is investigated based on the data acquired by the traversing probe downstream of the oscillator. The results indicate that the small-scale bursting intensity is restrained more apparently at high-speed detecting fluctuations but less impacted at low-speed detecting fluctuations. Furthermore, the perturbed-scale fluctuations arrange the small-scale bursting process in the near-wall region. The detecting signals have an obvious impact on this arrangement, especially the high-intensity regions of the small-scale bursting events: the vibration enhances the intensity at high-speed detecting signals but weakens it at low-speed detecting signals in these regions, which gives a direct evidence on how detecting signals interfering the small-scale bursting process.展开更多
It has been shown that farmers with limited knowledge of the use and safe handling of pesticides may suffer exposure which results in adverse health effects. In Buea, Cameroon, small-scale tomato farmers commonly use ...It has been shown that farmers with limited knowledge of the use and safe handling of pesticides may suffer exposure which results in adverse health effects. In Buea, Cameroon, small-scale tomato farmers commonly use pesticides for pest control. Information was obtained from these tomato farmers to determine the extent and types of their pesticide use, their knowledge of pesticide use and effectiveness, and their perception of potential harm resulting from pesticide use. A standardized questionnaire, interviews, field observations and an analytical ranking game were used to describe the pesticide use of 93 tomato farmers. Many farmers (47.6%) used pyrethiod and organophosphorus insecticides and identified these chemicals as the most effective in pesticide control;these are WHO Class II pesticides which are the most hazardous to humans. Most farmers (83.8%) used knapsack sprayers to apply pesticides, with 76.3% using no or partial personal protective equipment (PPE). It was notable that 55.5% of farmers expressed no concern regarding the wind direction (pesticide drift) during spraying. The results showed a significant association between the method of pesticides application and farm size (P < 0.001). Most farmers (85.0%) reported at least one symptom of acute pesticide poisoning following spraying. This study revealed that the tomato farmers have a high exposure to pesticides secondary to inadequate knowledge of the safe and judicious use of pesticides. Strategies that provide training on the appropriate use of pesticides, how to reduce exposure to and health risks of pesticides and alternative options of pest management and control are required. The study also raised concerns that further control of the sale and distribution of pesticides may be indicated.展开更多
In recent years, China has been frequented by floods and droughts which has greatly evoked much concern from the Central Government about rural water conservancy construction. Irrigation is closely related to the &quo...In recent years, China has been frequented by floods and droughts which has greatly evoked much concern from the Central Government about rural water conservancy construction. Irrigation is closely related to the "three rural" issues and concerns about the vital interests of farmers. To achieve a virtuous circle of agricultural water supply, it is necessary and urgent to establish Farmer Water User Association (FWUA) to participate in the construction, management and maintenance of small-scale irrigation system. Based on the survey on nationwide "Small-scale irrigation conditions", the roles of FWUA in the construction, management and maintenance of small-scale water conservancy have studied in this study.展开更多
Large-scaled reclamation modifies the coastal environment dramatically while accelerating the disappearance of salt marshes,which causes the degradation of the coastal ecosystem and the biodiversity function.In this s...Large-scaled reclamation modifies the coastal environment dramatically while accelerating the disappearance of salt marshes,which causes the degradation of the coastal ecosystem and the biodiversity function.In this study,we explored the changes of tidal flat and salt marsh coverage in a small-scale tidal flat with an area of ~160 000 m^2 in the plain coast of Jiangsu Province,China.Human activities（e.g.,the construction of dikes） are a crucial contributor that benefits for the tidal flat accretions and the following changes of salt marsh coverage.Located in the front of the man-made ＂concave coastline＂,the study area is suitable for sediment accretion after the dike construction in the end of 2006.On the basis of the annual tidal surface elevation survey from 2007 to 2012,the sedimentation rates in the human influenced tidal flat varied from a few centimeters per year to 23 cm/a.The study area experienced a rapid accretion in the tidal flat and the expansion of the salt marsh,with the formation of a longshore bar,and a subsequent decline of the salt marsh.Breaking waves during the flooding tide brought much sediment from the adjacent tidal flat to the study area,which caused burial and degeneration of the salt marsh.The vertical grain size changes within a 66 cm long core in the study area also demonstrated the above changes in the tidal environment.This study indicates that the responses of small-scale tidal flat changes to reclamation are significant,and the rational reclamation would benefit for the new salt marsh formation in front of the dikes.Further research about the evolution of small scale tidal flat as well as the spatial planning of the polder dike should be strengthened for the purpose to maintain a healthier coastal environment.展开更多
Fisheries management worldwide struggles to strike a balance between protecting resources,ensuring fair access to resources and promoting economic effectiveness and stability.The transition to a participatory democrac...Fisheries management worldwide struggles to strike a balance between protecting resources,ensuring fair access to resources and promoting economic effectiveness and stability.The transition to a participatory democracy in South Africa in 1994 resulted in the transformation of government institutions and an extensive process of legislative reform regarding展开更多
Genes are continually being created by the processes of genome duplication （ohnolog） and gene duplication （paralog）. Whole-genome duplications have been found to be widespread in plant species and play an importan...Genes are continually being created by the processes of genome duplication （ohnolog） and gene duplication （paralog）. Whole-genome duplications have been found to be widespread in plant species and play an important role in plant evolution. Clearly un-overlapping duplicated blocks of whole-genome duplications can be detected in the genome of sequenced rice （Oryza sativa）. Syntenic ohnolog pairs （ohnologues） of the whole-genome duplications in rice were identified based on their syntenic duplicate lines. The paralogs of ohnologues were further scanned using multi-round reciprocal BLAST best-hit searching （E〈e^-14）. The results indicated that an average of 0.55 sister paralogs could be found for every ohnologue in rice. These results suggest that small-scale duplications, as well as whole-genome duplications, play a significant role in the two duplicated rice genomes.展开更多
This study presents a numerical multi-scale simulation framework which is extended to accommodate hybrid simulation （numerical-experimental integration）. The framework is enhanced with a standardized data exchange f...This study presents a numerical multi-scale simulation framework which is extended to accommodate hybrid simulation （numerical-experimental integration）. The framework is enhanced with a standardized data exchange format and connected to a generalized controller interface program which facilitates communication with various types of laboratory equipment and testing configurations. A small-scale experimental program was conducted using a six degree-of-freedom hydraulic testing equipment to verify the proposed framework and provide additional data for small-scale testing of shear- critical reinforced concrete structures. The specimens were tested in a multi-axial hybrid simulation manner under a reversed cyclic loading condition simulating earthquake forces. The physical models were 1/3.23-scale representations of a beam and two columns. A mixed-type modelling technique was employed to analyze the remainder of the structures. The hybrid simulation results were compared against those obtained from a large-scale test and finite element analyses. The study found that if precautions are taken in preparing model materials and if the shear-related mechanisms are accurately considered in the numerical model, small-scale hybrid simulations can adequately simulate the behaviour of shear-critical structures. Although the findings of the study are promising, to draw general conclusions additional test data are required.展开更多
In an attempt to identify solutions to the effects of erratic rainfall patterns and droughts that limit agricultural production growth,the Rwandan government has recently increased investments in irrigation developmen...In an attempt to identify solutions to the effects of erratic rainfall patterns and droughts that limit agricultural production growth,the Rwandan government has recently increased investments in irrigation development.In this study,we analyze the adoption of small-scale irrigation technologies(SSITs)and its impact on land productivity using cross-sectional data from a sample of 360 farmers in Rwanda.The study uses the propensity score matching technique to address potential self-selection bias.Our results reveal that adoption decisions are significantly influenced by factors such as education,farm size,group membership,gender,extension services,access to credit,access to weather forecast information,risk perceptions,access to a reliable source of water for irrigation,awareness of rainwater harvesting techniques,and awareness of subsidy programs.In addition,the results show that the adoption of SSITs has a significantly positive impact on land productivity.The study concludes with policy implications that highlight the need to promote the adoption of SSITs among farmers as a strategy to improve agricultural productivity and food security in Rwanda.展开更多
A theoretical model which describes the small-scale irregularities excited by powerful high frequency （3–30 MHz） electromagnetic wave in ionosphere heating is investigated quantitatively in this paper. The model is...A theoretical model which describes the small-scale irregularities excited by powerful high frequency （3–30 MHz） electromagnetic wave in ionosphere heating is investigated quantitatively in this paper. The model is based on the transport equation in magnetic plasma and mode conversion from electromagnetic wave to electrostatic wave in ionospheric modification.Threshold electric field for exciting small-scale （meter scale） irregularities and spatial spectra of irregularities are analytically calculated by this model. The results indicate that background electron density and geomagnetic field play an important role for the threshold electric field and the spatial scale of the electron density irregularities. The results demonstrate that the electric field threshold increases with the decrease of the spatial scale of the irregularities. For exciting meter scale irregularities, the threshold electric field is about tens of mV m^（-1）. The theoretical results are consistent with those of the experiments.展开更多
A potentiometric study on the complexes of His,Gly-His,ALa-His,Gly-Gly and Gly—Gly—Gly with Zn(Ⅱ)and Cd(Ⅱ)has been reported.Small-scale potentiometric titrations were car- ried out to determine stabil ity constant...A potentiometric study on the complexes of His,Gly-His,ALa-His,Gly-Gly and Gly—Gly—Gly with Zn(Ⅱ)and Cd(Ⅱ)has been reported.Small-scale potentiometric titrations were car- ried out to determine stabil ity constants of complexes at 25℃ with I=0.10 mol dm^(-3)(KNO_3).The com- puter programs SUPERQUAD were applied for data treatment with satisfactory results.展开更多
Small-scale farmer is defined by the domestic and foreign experts and scholars.They point out that since the fragmentation of production and the diseconomy of scale in small-scale farmer is inconsistent with the chara...Small-scale farmer is defined by the domestic and foreign experts and scholars.They point out that since the fragmentation of production and the diseconomy of scale in small-scale farmer is inconsistent with the characteristics of scale and technology of modern agricultural production,it is necessary to eliminate the adverse effects of existing mode in order to provide theoretical references for the relevant researches.Citrus industry in Shimen County,Hunan Province,China is introduced from the aspects of natural geographical condition and socio-economic benefit.Impact of small-scale production mode on citrus production in Shimen County is discussed.Firstly,blindness of small-scale production is the main reason leading to overproduction of citrus.Secondly,small-scale production mode has limitation on the acceptance of new technologies,restricts the operation of geographical trademark,and constraints the enthusiasm of enterprises in entering the agricultural field.Finally,suggestions are put forward,such as encouraging the circulation of rural land,improving the organization degree of farmers,changing the work function of grass-roots government and perfecting the agricultural financial credit system.展开更多
Background: The ability of managers of small-scale enterprises (SSEs) to prioritize health, working conditions, and their own physical fitness is an important issue for workplace health promotion in Norway and Sweden,...Background: The ability of managers of small-scale enterprises (SSEs) to prioritize health, working conditions, and their own physical fitness is an important issue for workplace health promotion in Norway and Sweden, where most owner-manager positions are in SSEs. Aim: To assess the physical fitness status of SSE managers compared to a norm population and to study changes in physical fitness status, self-reported physical activity, and sickness outcomes after workplace health interventions. Methods: The study allocated SSE managers to either an intervention or a reference group. The intervention, over twelve months, consisted of motivational input related to lifestyle and physical activity through tests and feedback, individual support, and courses on health and psychosocial working conditions. The participants (N = 28) completed health screening checks, questionnaires and testing before and after the intervention. Results: SSE managers in the study had positive outcomes for BMI levels and strength compared to the norm population, while percentage of fat for both men and women indicated poor results. There were no further improvements in the intervention group after comparison with the reference group. Separately, both groups seemed to improve strength and body composition. Conclusion: Workplace health interventions with essentially motivational components may increase SSE managers’ attention to physical fitness, but appear to have limited effects on objective and subjective physical fitness outcomes.展开更多
Small-scale gold mining is the largest anthropogenic contributor of mercury pollution on planet Earth. The miners grind gold ore together with mercury in order to recover the fine gold grains. The gold amalgam is burn...Small-scale gold mining is the largest anthropogenic contributor of mercury pollution on planet Earth. The miners grind gold ore together with mercury in order to recover the fine gold grains. The gold amalgam is burned whereby the mercury evaporates and gold is left behind. This processing extracts only a fraction of the gold in the ore and the released mercury causes serious global health and environmental problems. However, a mercury-free method described below has proved to extract up to twice as much gold without need of investment in new processing equipment and without longer processing time. The method has successfully been tested in the Philippines, Indonesia, Tanzania, Bolivia and Zimbabwe.展开更多
文摘This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the current tax preferential policies for small-scale individual businesses and compared them with similar policies both domestically and internationally,aiming to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of the current system.After examining the impact of these tax preferential policies on the economic status of individual business owners and the broader social economy,this article proposes a set of innovative tax preferential strategies based on theoretical foundations.By developing these innovative strategies and clarifying their implementation paths,the aim is to promote the sustainable and healthy development of small-scale individual businesses,thereby fostering comprehensive socio-economic progress.The conclusion of this study not only summarizes policy recommendations with practical significance but also provides theoretical support for the optimization and innovation of future related systems.
文摘Small-scale farming accounts for 78% of total agricultural production in Kenya and contributes to 23.5% of the country’s GDP. Their crop production activities are mostly rainfed subsistence with any surplus being sold to bring in some income. Timely decisions on farm practices such as farm preparation and planting are critical determinants of the seasonal outcomes. In Kenya, most small-scale farmers have no reliable source of information that would help them make timely and accurate decisions. County governments have extension officers who are mandated with giving farmers advisory services to farmers but they are not able to reach most farmers due to facilitation constraints. The mode and format of sharing information is also critical since it’s important to ensure that it’s timely, well-understood and usable. This study sought to assess access to geospatial derived and other crop production information by farmers in four selected counties of Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine the profile of small-scale farmers in terms of age, education and farm size;to determine the type of information that is made available to them by County and Sub-County extension officers including the format and mode of provision;and to determine if the information provided was useful in terms of accuracy, timeliness and adequacy. The results indicated that over 80% of the farmers were over 35 years of age and over 56% were male. Majority had attained primary education (34%) or secondary education (29%) and most farmers in all the counties grew maize (71%). Notably, fellow farmers were a source of information (71%) with the frequency of sharing information being mostly seasonal (37%) and when information was available (43%). Over 66% of interviewed farmers indicating that they faced challenges while using provided information. The results from the study are insightful and helpful in determining effective ways of providing farmers with useful information to ensure maximum benefits.
文摘The small-scale drilling technique can be a fast and reliable method to estimate rock strength parameters. It needs to link the operational drilling parameters and strength properties of rock. The parameters such as bit geometry, bit movement, contact frictions and crushed zone affect the estimated parameters.An analytical model considering operational drilling data and effective parameters can be used for these purposes. In this research, an analytical model was developed based on limit equilibrium of forces in a Tshaped drag bit considering the effective parameters such as bit geometry, crushed zone and contact frictions in drilling process. Based on the model, a method was used to estimate rock strength parameters such as cohesion, internal friction angle and uniaxial compressive strength of different rock types from operational drilling data. Some drilling tests were conducted by a portable and powerful drilling machine which was developed for this work. The obtained results for strength properties of different rock types from the drilling experiments based on the proposed model are in good agreement with the results of standard tests. Experimental results show that the contact friction between the cutting face and rock is close to that between bit end wearing face and rock due to the same bit material. In this case,the strength parameters, especially internal friction angle and cohesion, are estimated only by using a blunt bit drilling data and the bit bluntness does not affect the estimated results.
基金supported by the National Scientific Foundation of China (Grant no. 41506085)the Open Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Ministry of Land and Resources, China (Grant no. SHW [2014]-DX-12)the China Geological Survey Project (Grant no. DD20160213)
文摘When used with large energy sparkers, marine multichannel small-scale high-resolution seismic detection technology has a high resolution, high-detection precision, a wide applicable range, and is very flexible. Positive results have been achieved in submarine geological research, particularly in the investigation of marine gas hydrates. However, the amount of traveltime difference information is reduced for the velocity analysis under conditions of a shorter spread length, thus leading to poorer focusing of the velocity spectrum energy group and a lower accuracy of the velocity analysis. It is thus currently debatable whether the velocity analysis accuracy of short-arrangement multichannel seismic detection technology is able to meet the requirements of practical application in natural gas hydrate exploration. Therefore, in this study the bottom boundary of gas hydrates(Bottom Simulating Reflector, BSR) is used to conduct numerical simulation to discuss the accuracy of the velocity analysis related to such technology. Results show that a higher dominant frequency and smaller sampling interval are not only able to improve the seismic resolution, but they also compensate for the defects of the short-arrangement, thereby improving the accuracy of the velocity analysis. In conclusion, the accuracy of the velocity analysis in this small-scale, high-resolution, multi-channel seismic detection technology meets the requirements of natural gas hydrate exploration.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.61673066)
文摘The conventional Duffing oscillator weak signal detection method, which is based on a strong reference signal, has inherent deficiencies. To address these issues, the characteristics of the Duffing oscillator＇s phase trajectory in a small- scale periodic state are analyzed by introducing the theory of stopping oscillation system. Based on this approach, a novel Duffing oscillator weak wide-band signal detection method is proposed. In this novel method, the reference signal is discarded, and the to-be-detected signal is directly used as a driving force. By calculating the cosine function of a phase space angle, a single Duffing oscillator can be used for weak wide-band signal detection instead of an array of uncoupled Duffing oscillators. Simulation results indicate that, compared with the conventional Duffing oscillator detection method, this approach performs better in frequency detection intervals, and reduces the signal-to-noise ratio detection threshold, while improving the real-time performance of the system.
基金supported by core funds of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and the University of Balochistan (Reg.440/07),under Faculty Development Project
文摘In Balochistan, Agriculture is dominated by small-scale farmers and the apple production sector is confronted with the chronic constraint of low output per unit of input. Although some agricultural policies have been implemented in this province, studies on effectiveness and impacts of such policies over apple production and farmers' performance are still limited. This study is an effort to bridge the research gap on this potential crop in the plateau by investigating technical and scale efficiency of 181 officially designated small-scale apple farmers in mountainous district Mastung in Balochistan; then explored factors that underlie differences in production inefficiency. A two-stage input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) methodology was employed to evaluate technical and scale efficiency followed by truncated bootstrapped regression framework to analyze the correlative determinants to efficiency. Average technical and scale efficiencies of larger landholders were higher than medium and small landholders. Analysis indicated that there is still ample scope for inefficient sample farmers to reduce the input use by 33% without compromising the given yield level. Maximum contributions to the total input savings were from the use of urea, farm yard manure(FYM) and labor-use. Farmer's experience, farm ownership, irrigation constraints, and farmer's access to trainings, credit and extension services significantly affected apple farmers' technical efficiency. Based on the findings of this study, strategies are suggested to enhancing efficiencies by farmers' capacity development through effective extension services and trainings and provision of adequate credit.
基金supported by the Interdisciplinary Center for Mathematical and Computational Modeling(ICM),University of Warsaw(Grant No.GA73-19)as part of the implementation of the Military University of Technology(Grant No.22-876)。
文摘This paper attempts to study dolomite failure using small-scale blast tests.The experimental setup consisted of a cylindrical specimen with a central borehole fitted with a detonation cord inside a copper pipe.The specimen was confined using lead material.During the test,acceleration histories were recorded using sensors placed on the lead confinement.The results showed that heterogeneity and initial cracks significantly influenced the observed failure and cracking patterns.The tests were numerically represented using the previously validated Johnson-HolmquistⅡ(JH-2)constitutive model.The properties of the detonation cord were first determined and verified in a special test with a lead specimen to compare the deformation in the test with that of numerical simulation.Then,the small-scale blast test was simulated,and the failure of the dolomite was compared with the test observations.Comparisons of acceleration histories,scabbing failure,and number of radial cracks and crack density confirmed the overall repeatability of the actual testing data.It is likely that the proposed model can be further used for numerical studies of blasting of dolomite rock.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11972251,11732010,11572221,11502066,and 11872272)。
文摘Active control of a fully developed turbulence boundary layer(TBL) over a flat plate has been investigated with a statistical view. The piezoelectric(PZT) oscillator is employed to produce periodic input into the inner region of the TBL.A wall probe is fixed upstream of the oscillator to identify the high-or low-speed fluctuations as the detecting signals.Then, the impact of the detecting signals on the small-scale bursting process is investigated based on the data acquired by the traversing probe downstream of the oscillator. The results indicate that the small-scale bursting intensity is restrained more apparently at high-speed detecting fluctuations but less impacted at low-speed detecting fluctuations. Furthermore, the perturbed-scale fluctuations arrange the small-scale bursting process in the near-wall region. The detecting signals have an obvious impact on this arrangement, especially the high-intensity regions of the small-scale bursting events: the vibration enhances the intensity at high-speed detecting signals but weakens it at low-speed detecting signals in these regions, which gives a direct evidence on how detecting signals interfering the small-scale bursting process.
文摘It has been shown that farmers with limited knowledge of the use and safe handling of pesticides may suffer exposure which results in adverse health effects. In Buea, Cameroon, small-scale tomato farmers commonly use pesticides for pest control. Information was obtained from these tomato farmers to determine the extent and types of their pesticide use, their knowledge of pesticide use and effectiveness, and their perception of potential harm resulting from pesticide use. A standardized questionnaire, interviews, field observations and an analytical ranking game were used to describe the pesticide use of 93 tomato farmers. Many farmers (47.6%) used pyrethiod and organophosphorus insecticides and identified these chemicals as the most effective in pesticide control;these are WHO Class II pesticides which are the most hazardous to humans. Most farmers (83.8%) used knapsack sprayers to apply pesticides, with 76.3% using no or partial personal protective equipment (PPE). It was notable that 55.5% of farmers expressed no concern regarding the wind direction (pesticide drift) during spraying. The results showed a significant association between the method of pesticides application and farm size (P < 0.001). Most farmers (85.0%) reported at least one symptom of acute pesticide poisoning following spraying. This study revealed that the tomato farmers have a high exposure to pesticides secondary to inadequate knowledge of the safe and judicious use of pesticides. Strategies that provide training on the appropriate use of pesticides, how to reduce exposure to and health risks of pesticides and alternative options of pest management and control are required. The study also raised concerns that further control of the sale and distribution of pesticides may be indicated.
文摘In recent years, China has been frequented by floods and droughts which has greatly evoked much concern from the Central Government about rural water conservancy construction. Irrigation is closely related to the "three rural" issues and concerns about the vital interests of farmers. To achieve a virtuous circle of agricultural water supply, it is necessary and urgent to establish Farmer Water User Association (FWUA) to participate in the construction, management and maintenance of small-scale irrigation system. Based on the survey on nationwide "Small-scale irrigation conditions", the roles of FWUA in the construction, management and maintenance of small-scale water conservancy have studied in this study.
基金The National Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China under contract No.2012BAC07B01the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41371024,41230751 and 41071006
文摘Large-scaled reclamation modifies the coastal environment dramatically while accelerating the disappearance of salt marshes,which causes the degradation of the coastal ecosystem and the biodiversity function.In this study,we explored the changes of tidal flat and salt marsh coverage in a small-scale tidal flat with an area of ~160 000 m^2 in the plain coast of Jiangsu Province,China.Human activities（e.g.,the construction of dikes） are a crucial contributor that benefits for the tidal flat accretions and the following changes of salt marsh coverage.Located in the front of the man-made ＂concave coastline＂,the study area is suitable for sediment accretion after the dike construction in the end of 2006.On the basis of the annual tidal surface elevation survey from 2007 to 2012,the sedimentation rates in the human influenced tidal flat varied from a few centimeters per year to 23 cm/a.The study area experienced a rapid accretion in the tidal flat and the expansion of the salt marsh,with the formation of a longshore bar,and a subsequent decline of the salt marsh.Breaking waves during the flooding tide brought much sediment from the adjacent tidal flat to the study area,which caused burial and degeneration of the salt marsh.The vertical grain size changes within a 66 cm long core in the study area also demonstrated the above changes in the tidal environment.This study indicates that the responses of small-scale tidal flat changes to reclamation are significant,and the rational reclamation would benefit for the new salt marsh formation in front of the dikes.Further research about the evolution of small scale tidal flat as well as the spatial planning of the polder dike should be strengthened for the purpose to maintain a healthier coastal environment.
文摘Fisheries management worldwide struggles to strike a balance between protecting resources,ensuring fair access to resources and promoting economic effectiveness and stability.The transition to a participatory democracy in South Africa in 1994 resulted in the transformation of government institutions and an extensive process of legislative reform regarding
基金the National NaturalSciencc Foundation of China (90208022,30471067) IBM Shared University Research (LifeScience).
文摘Genes are continually being created by the processes of genome duplication （ohnolog） and gene duplication （paralog）. Whole-genome duplications have been found to be widespread in plant species and play an important role in plant evolution. Clearly un-overlapping duplicated blocks of whole-genome duplications can be detected in the genome of sequenced rice （Oryza sativa）. Syntenic ohnolog pairs （ohnologues） of the whole-genome duplications in rice were identified based on their syntenic duplicate lines. The paralogs of ohnologues were further scanned using multi-round reciprocal BLAST best-hit searching （E〈e^-14）. The results indicated that an average of 0.55 sister paralogs could be found for every ohnologue in rice. These results suggest that small-scale duplications, as well as whole-genome duplications, play a significant role in the two duplicated rice genomes.
文摘This study presents a numerical multi-scale simulation framework which is extended to accommodate hybrid simulation （numerical-experimental integration）. The framework is enhanced with a standardized data exchange format and connected to a generalized controller interface program which facilitates communication with various types of laboratory equipment and testing configurations. A small-scale experimental program was conducted using a six degree-of-freedom hydraulic testing equipment to verify the proposed framework and provide additional data for small-scale testing of shear- critical reinforced concrete structures. The specimens were tested in a multi-axial hybrid simulation manner under a reversed cyclic loading condition simulating earthquake forces. The physical models were 1/3.23-scale representations of a beam and two columns. A mixed-type modelling technique was employed to analyze the remainder of the structures. The hybrid simulation results were compared against those obtained from a large-scale test and finite element analyses. The study found that if precautions are taken in preparing model materials and if the shear-related mechanisms are accurately considered in the numerical model, small-scale hybrid simulations can adequately simulate the behaviour of shear-critical structures. Although the findings of the study are promising, to draw general conclusions additional test data are required.
基金This work was supported by the Research Scholarship of Chungnam National University,South Korea.
文摘In an attempt to identify solutions to the effects of erratic rainfall patterns and droughts that limit agricultural production growth,the Rwandan government has recently increased investments in irrigation development.In this study,we analyze the adoption of small-scale irrigation technologies(SSITs)and its impact on land productivity using cross-sectional data from a sample of 360 farmers in Rwanda.The study uses the propensity score matching technique to address potential self-selection bias.Our results reveal that adoption decisions are significantly influenced by factors such as education,farm size,group membership,gender,extension services,access to credit,access to weather forecast information,risk perceptions,access to a reliable source of water for irrigation,awareness of rainwater harvesting techniques,and awareness of subsidy programs.In addition,the results show that the adoption of SSITs has a significantly positive impact on land productivity.The study concludes with policy implications that highlight the need to promote the adoption of SSITs among farmers as a strategy to improve agricultural productivity and food security in Rwanda.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC grants 41204111,4157414641774162 and 41704155)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2017M622504)
文摘A theoretical model which describes the small-scale irregularities excited by powerful high frequency （3–30 MHz） electromagnetic wave in ionosphere heating is investigated quantitatively in this paper. The model is based on the transport equation in magnetic plasma and mode conversion from electromagnetic wave to electrostatic wave in ionospheric modification.Threshold electric field for exciting small-scale （meter scale） irregularities and spatial spectra of irregularities are analytically calculated by this model. The results indicate that background electron density and geomagnetic field play an important role for the threshold electric field and the spatial scale of the electron density irregularities. The results demonstrate that the electric field threshold increases with the decrease of the spatial scale of the irregularities. For exciting meter scale irregularities, the threshold electric field is about tens of mV m^（-1）. The theoretical results are consistent with those of the experiments.
文摘A potentiometric study on the complexes of His,Gly-His,ALa-His,Gly-Gly and Gly—Gly—Gly with Zn(Ⅱ)and Cd(Ⅱ)has been reported.Small-scale potentiometric titrations were car- ried out to determine stabil ity constants of complexes at 25℃ with I=0.10 mol dm^(-3)(KNO_3).The com- puter programs SUPERQUAD were applied for data treatment with satisfactory results.
文摘Small-scale farmer is defined by the domestic and foreign experts and scholars.They point out that since the fragmentation of production and the diseconomy of scale in small-scale farmer is inconsistent with the characteristics of scale and technology of modern agricultural production,it is necessary to eliminate the adverse effects of existing mode in order to provide theoretical references for the relevant researches.Citrus industry in Shimen County,Hunan Province,China is introduced from the aspects of natural geographical condition and socio-economic benefit.Impact of small-scale production mode on citrus production in Shimen County is discussed.Firstly,blindness of small-scale production is the main reason leading to overproduction of citrus.Secondly,small-scale production mode has limitation on the acceptance of new technologies,restricts the operation of geographical trademark,and constraints the enthusiasm of enterprises in entering the agricultural field.Finally,suggestions are put forward,such as encouraging the circulation of rural land,improving the organization degree of farmers,changing the work function of grass-roots government and perfecting the agricultural financial credit system.
文摘Background: The ability of managers of small-scale enterprises (SSEs) to prioritize health, working conditions, and their own physical fitness is an important issue for workplace health promotion in Norway and Sweden, where most owner-manager positions are in SSEs. Aim: To assess the physical fitness status of SSE managers compared to a norm population and to study changes in physical fitness status, self-reported physical activity, and sickness outcomes after workplace health interventions. Methods: The study allocated SSE managers to either an intervention or a reference group. The intervention, over twelve months, consisted of motivational input related to lifestyle and physical activity through tests and feedback, individual support, and courses on health and psychosocial working conditions. The participants (N = 28) completed health screening checks, questionnaires and testing before and after the intervention. Results: SSE managers in the study had positive outcomes for BMI levels and strength compared to the norm population, while percentage of fat for both men and women indicated poor results. There were no further improvements in the intervention group after comparison with the reference group. Separately, both groups seemed to improve strength and body composition. Conclusion: Workplace health interventions with essentially motivational components may increase SSE managers’ attention to physical fitness, but appear to have limited effects on objective and subjective physical fitness outcomes.
文摘Small-scale gold mining is the largest anthropogenic contributor of mercury pollution on planet Earth. The miners grind gold ore together with mercury in order to recover the fine gold grains. The gold amalgam is burned whereby the mercury evaporates and gold is left behind. This processing extracts only a fraction of the gold in the ore and the released mercury causes serious global health and environmental problems. However, a mercury-free method described below has proved to extract up to twice as much gold without need of investment in new processing equipment and without longer processing time. The method has successfully been tested in the Philippines, Indonesia, Tanzania, Bolivia and Zimbabwe.
