Financing of the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network (AIHSRN) through Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Projects is very expensive. As a result, most of the African countries seek financial supports from the Inte...Financing of the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network (AIHSRN) through Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Projects is very expensive. As a result, most of the African countries seek financial supports from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). However, conditions provided by the IFIs through the Performance Standards (PS) of the International Financial Corporation (IFC) increase cost of the projects and thus, it becomes a burden to most of the African countries. This study aimed to explore the causes of IFC-PS through the SGR Projects that escalate costs and how to address them. The Tanzania SGR Lot 1 Project that covered 205 km from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro was selected as a case study. The methods used for data collection involved literature review, focus group discussions and interviews. The results and findings show a gap between the IFC-PS and the National Laws and Regulations that escalates costs of the projects if funds from the IFIs were to be secured. To bridge the gap, it is recommended that the African countries should engage into negotiations with the IFIs to agree to waive IFC-PS conditions that escalate costs provided they are adequately covered in the national laws and regulations;engagement of locally established national and regional financial institutions;and the responsible government institutions in the African countries should sit together for assessment and review of the IFC-PS against the national laws and regulations.展开更多
The present work deals with the development of an Ontology-Based Knowledge Network of soil/water physicochemical & biological properties (soil/water concepts), derived from ASTM Standard Methods (ASTMi,n) and rele...The present work deals with the development of an Ontology-Based Knowledge Network of soil/water physicochemical & biological properties (soil/water concepts), derived from ASTM Standard Methods (ASTMi,n) and relevant scientific/applicable references (published papers—PPi,n) to fill up/bridge the gap of the information science between cited Standards and infiltration discipline conceptual vocabulary providing accordingly a dedicated/internal Knowledge Base (KB). This attempt constitutes an innovative approach, since it is based on externalizing domain knowledge in the form of Ontology-Based Knowledge Networks, incorporating standardized methodology in soil engineering. The ontology soil/water concepts (semantics) of the developed network correspond to soil/water physicochemical & biological properties, classified in seven different generations that are distinguished/located in infiltration/percolation process of contaminated water through soil porous media. The interconnections with arcs between corresponding concepts/properties among the consecutive generations are defined by the relationship of dependent and independent variables. All these interconnections are documented according to the below three ways: 1) dependent and independent variables interconnected by using the logical operator “<em>depends on</em>” quoting existent explicit functions and equations;2) dependent and independent variables interconnected by using the logical operator “<em>depends on</em>” quoting produced implicit functions, according to Rayleigh’s method of indices;3) dependent and independent variables interconnected by using the logical operator “<em>related to</em>” based on a logical dependence among the examined nodes-concepts-variables. The aforementioned approach provides significant advantages to semantic web developers and web users by means of prompt knowledge navigation, tracking, retrieval and usage.展开更多
Although the wireless broadband access system is developing rapidly, its development is limited due to some disadvantages , such as small capacity of bandwidth and small coverage . The Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) is o...Although the wireless broadband access system is developing rapidly, its development is limited due to some disadvantages , such as small capacity of bandwidth and small coverage . The Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) is one of the important technologies for 'last mile 'broadband wireless access . The WMN can integrate with multiple wireless systems , such as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), and Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN), to improve the performance of the wireless network and enlarge the coverage range . With the wide applications of the WMN, the IEEE 802 standard group is devoted to promoting the development of the WMN technology and establishing the related technical standards . At present, WMN standards have appeared in IEEE 802.11s , 802.15, 802.16, and 802.20.展开更多
The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has highlighted the practice of infectious diseases biobanking,as well as existing challenges and opportunities.Thus,the future of infectious diseases biobanking in the p...The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has highlighted the practice of infectious diseases biobanking,as well as existing challenges and opportunities.Thus,the future of infectious diseases biobanking in the post-pandemic era,shall not be an“entry-level version”of its counterpart in non-communicable diseases and large population cohorts,but incorporate the lessons learned.Biobanks constitute a critical research infrastructure supported by harmonized practices through the implementation of international standards,and perceived within the broader scope of healthcare's intersection with research.This perspective paper considers the barriers in biobanking and standardization of practices,as well as the emerging opportunities in the field.展开更多
This paper presents the game of production technical standards between downstream and upstream suppliers on a manufacturing supply chain network when the two parties have different partnership densities, namely, the n...This paper presents the game of production technical standards between downstream and upstream suppliers on a manufacturing supply chain network when the two parties have different partnership densities, namely, the numbers of replaceable and mature manufacturing partners. We firstly constructed a manufacturing chain network and analyzed its three relationship structures among suppliers with the presence of different relationship densities, and found that all the three relationships brought about the game of production technical standards between partnership-rich and partnership-scanty suppliers. Then we built a two-party payoff matrix, and analyzed the two-party game and evolutionary stable strategy, based on replication dynamic equation and asymmetric evolutionary game theory. The evolutionary stable strategies of two parties under varying payoff parameters were validated through numerical simulation. Finally, we proposed some suggestions for both those manufacturers with more partners and fewer partners, respectively.展开更多
This paper analyzed GPS data from the Topo-Iberia network spanning almost 12 years(2008-2020).The data quality information for all 26 Topo-Iberia stations is provided for the first time,complementing the Spanish Geolo...This paper analyzed GPS data from the Topo-Iberia network spanning almost 12 years(2008-2020).The data quality information for all 26 Topo-Iberia stations is provided for the first time,complementing the Spanish Geological Survey’s storage work.Data analyses based on quality indicators obtained using TEQC have been carried out.The guidelines and data quality information from the IGS stations have been considered as the quality references,with the stations ALJI,EPCU,and TIOU standing out as the worst stations,while on the contrary,FUEN,PALM,PILA,and TRIA meet the quality requirements to become an IGS station.The relationship between the GPS data quality and their GAMIT-and Gipsy X-derived postfit ionosphere-free phase residuals has also been investigated,and the results reveal an inversely proportional relationship.It has been found that the stations showing an increase in elevation of the horizon line,also show an increase in cycle slips and multipath,are among the poorest quality stations,and among those with the highest postfit RMS of phase residuals.Moreover,the evolution of the vegetation around the antenna should be considered as it could cause a progressive loss of quality,which is not complying with the IGS standards.The quality assessment shows that the Topo-Iberia stations are appropriate for geodetic purposes,but permanent monitoring would be necessary to avoid the least possible loss of data and quality.In addition,a method to characterize the GNSS data quality is proposed.展开更多
文摘Financing of the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network (AIHSRN) through Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Projects is very expensive. As a result, most of the African countries seek financial supports from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). However, conditions provided by the IFIs through the Performance Standards (PS) of the International Financial Corporation (IFC) increase cost of the projects and thus, it becomes a burden to most of the African countries. This study aimed to explore the causes of IFC-PS through the SGR Projects that escalate costs and how to address them. The Tanzania SGR Lot 1 Project that covered 205 km from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro was selected as a case study. The methods used for data collection involved literature review, focus group discussions and interviews. The results and findings show a gap between the IFC-PS and the National Laws and Regulations that escalates costs of the projects if funds from the IFIs were to be secured. To bridge the gap, it is recommended that the African countries should engage into negotiations with the IFIs to agree to waive IFC-PS conditions that escalate costs provided they are adequately covered in the national laws and regulations;engagement of locally established national and regional financial institutions;and the responsible government institutions in the African countries should sit together for assessment and review of the IFC-PS against the national laws and regulations.
文摘The present work deals with the development of an Ontology-Based Knowledge Network of soil/water physicochemical & biological properties (soil/water concepts), derived from ASTM Standard Methods (ASTMi,n) and relevant scientific/applicable references (published papers—PPi,n) to fill up/bridge the gap of the information science between cited Standards and infiltration discipline conceptual vocabulary providing accordingly a dedicated/internal Knowledge Base (KB). This attempt constitutes an innovative approach, since it is based on externalizing domain knowledge in the form of Ontology-Based Knowledge Networks, incorporating standardized methodology in soil engineering. The ontology soil/water concepts (semantics) of the developed network correspond to soil/water physicochemical & biological properties, classified in seven different generations that are distinguished/located in infiltration/percolation process of contaminated water through soil porous media. The interconnections with arcs between corresponding concepts/properties among the consecutive generations are defined by the relationship of dependent and independent variables. All these interconnections are documented according to the below three ways: 1) dependent and independent variables interconnected by using the logical operator “<em>depends on</em>” quoting existent explicit functions and equations;2) dependent and independent variables interconnected by using the logical operator “<em>depends on</em>” quoting produced implicit functions, according to Rayleigh’s method of indices;3) dependent and independent variables interconnected by using the logical operator “<em>related to</em>” based on a logical dependence among the examined nodes-concepts-variables. The aforementioned approach provides significant advantages to semantic web developers and web users by means of prompt knowledge navigation, tracking, retrieval and usage.
文摘Although the wireless broadband access system is developing rapidly, its development is limited due to some disadvantages , such as small capacity of bandwidth and small coverage . The Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) is one of the important technologies for 'last mile 'broadband wireless access . The WMN can integrate with multiple wireless systems , such as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), and Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN), to improve the performance of the wireless network and enlarge the coverage range . With the wide applications of the WMN, the IEEE 802 standard group is devoted to promoting the development of the WMN technology and establishing the related technical standards . At present, WMN standards have appeared in IEEE 802.11s , 802.15, 802.16, and 802.20.
文摘The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has highlighted the practice of infectious diseases biobanking,as well as existing challenges and opportunities.Thus,the future of infectious diseases biobanking in the post-pandemic era,shall not be an“entry-level version”of its counterpart in non-communicable diseases and large population cohorts,but incorporate the lessons learned.Biobanks constitute a critical research infrastructure supported by harmonized practices through the implementation of international standards,and perceived within the broader scope of healthcare's intersection with research.This perspective paper considers the barriers in biobanking and standardization of practices,as well as the emerging opportunities in the field.
基金Supported by the Science and Technology Development Strategy Research Project of Tianjin(13ZLZLZF08900)
文摘This paper presents the game of production technical standards between downstream and upstream suppliers on a manufacturing supply chain network when the two parties have different partnership densities, namely, the numbers of replaceable and mature manufacturing partners. We firstly constructed a manufacturing chain network and analyzed its three relationship structures among suppliers with the presence of different relationship densities, and found that all the three relationships brought about the game of production technical standards between partnership-rich and partnership-scanty suppliers. Then we built a two-party payoff matrix, and analyzed the two-party game and evolutionary stable strategy, based on replication dynamic equation and asymmetric evolutionary game theory. The evolutionary stable strategies of two parties under varying payoff parameters were validated through numerical simulation. Finally, we proposed some suggestions for both those manufacturers with more partners and fewer partners, respectively.
基金supported in part by the University of Jaén and the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (PTA2015-11507-I MINECO)。
文摘This paper analyzed GPS data from the Topo-Iberia network spanning almost 12 years(2008-2020).The data quality information for all 26 Topo-Iberia stations is provided for the first time,complementing the Spanish Geological Survey’s storage work.Data analyses based on quality indicators obtained using TEQC have been carried out.The guidelines and data quality information from the IGS stations have been considered as the quality references,with the stations ALJI,EPCU,and TIOU standing out as the worst stations,while on the contrary,FUEN,PALM,PILA,and TRIA meet the quality requirements to become an IGS station.The relationship between the GPS data quality and their GAMIT-and Gipsy X-derived postfit ionosphere-free phase residuals has also been investigated,and the results reveal an inversely proportional relationship.It has been found that the stations showing an increase in elevation of the horizon line,also show an increase in cycle slips and multipath,are among the poorest quality stations,and among those with the highest postfit RMS of phase residuals.Moreover,the evolution of the vegetation around the antenna should be considered as it could cause a progressive loss of quality,which is not complying with the IGS standards.The quality assessment shows that the Topo-Iberia stations are appropriate for geodetic purposes,but permanent monitoring would be necessary to avoid the least possible loss of data and quality.In addition,a method to characterize the GNSS data quality is proposed.
