The Impacts and Causes of Land Fragmentation on Farm Productivity: Case Review of East African Countries

This report provides an overall assessment of land fragmentation problems in East Africa. Many parts of East Africa have become highly fragmented, putting development systems and activities in these areas at risk of complete collapse. Land fragmentation occurs when land gets converted for agriculture, industrialization, or urbanization, invaded by non-local plants, or enclosed for individual use and by subdividing farmlands into subsequent smaller units called parcels with varying average farm sizes. Fragmentation results from inappropriate agricultural development processes and ineffective land use planning that fails to recognize how farmland is used, and the importance of its interconnected areas. Insecurity of tenure and resource rights are key factors in making this possible. Land fragmentation is one of the key reasons why the ability of most resources in East Africa becomes scarcer, and those remaining become “privatized” by more powerful community members—keen to maintain their access to them. Such individualistic attitudes are new and disadvantage the poorest even further by affecting the traditional customary safety nets and agricultural outputs. Neither the government nor customary governance systems effectively protect resource access for the poorest. This review summary report identifies the key causes, measures, and implications, government interventions, and the common remedies to land fragmentation problems in the East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania including neighboring Ethiopia, and the Sudan. The findings indicated from 2005 to 2015, the population kept increasing for all the named countries in East Africa with Rwanda and Uganda having a substantial increase in population density. The study review further explores the trend in the performance of agriculture by average farm sizes within the intervals of five years by highlighting their strong linkages and found that the average farm size has declined drastically, especially for Kenya. This can only mean that small farms kept becoming smaller and smaller and that there were more small-scale farmers. The results further depicted that the major and commonly cultivated food crops among the East African countries include maize, sorghum, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, Irish potatoes, beans, peas, etc., with maize yields (Mt/ha) in 2003 for Uganda being the highest (1.79 Mt/ha) and the lowest in Rwanda (0.77 Mt/ha) respectively. Therefore, from the review results, recommendations are being made as to how the negative impacts of land fragmentation on agricultural productivity can be reduced or mitigated. One way is by community sensitization and awareness about the importance of land consolidation and its proposition on farm productivity.

An experimental investigation on the effect of grain size on oil-well sand production

Sand production in oil wells is closely related to the mechanical behavior and petrographical properties of sandstones reservoir. Grain size is one of the main parameters controlling the phenomenon, which is studied in this paper. Large-scale hollow cylindrical synthetic samples with the same rock strength but different grain sizes were tested by an experimental setup in the laboratory. Different external stresses and fluid flow rates were applied to the samples and produced sand was measured continuously. Results show two different trends between sanding stress level and grain size. For the samples with finer grain size （D50〈0.3 mm）, the required confining stress for different sanding levels decreased with an increase in the grain size and for the samples with the coarser grains （D50〉0.3 mm） the required confining stress for different sanding levels dramatically increased with an increase in the grain size. Those two different trends were discussed and explained. The first one was production of individual grains and the second was bigger chunks in the slab form. In samples with large grains, plastic zones around hole were changed to a completely loose zone including interlocked individual grains or cluster of grains. In these samples after breakage of these interlocked zones sand was produced in the form of individual grains and clusters. Contrary to this, for samples with smaller grain size, shear bands were formed around the plastified hole and sand was produced in the form of big chunks or slabs.

Factors affecting the adoption of on-farm milk safety measures in Northern China-An examination from the perspective of farm size and production type

The cow stock of smallholder farmers with less than 100 cows still accounted for nearly 50% of total cows in China. Since the milk scandal occurred in 2008, raw milk safety has become focus for the sound development of the Chinese dairy industry. Adoption of on-farm milk safety measures by smallholders is a key for ensuring milk safety, and these measures are largely voluntary in nature. The recent survey conducted in northern China reveals that an overall adoption rate of various milk safety measures by smallholders is close to 48% with wide variations across the dairy farmers. We employ the Poisson regression model to study the determinants of farmers' adoption of voluntary milk safety measures. Compared with backyard dairy farmers, dairy complex and scaled dairy farms adopted more milk safety measures. Moreover, the empirical result indicates that farmers' adoption of raw milk safety measures is positively affected by farm size. These findings suggest that the changing dairy production structure towards larger farms and away from backyard dairy farming prompts smallholder dairy farmers to adopt more raw milk safety measures. This lends some support to the role of recent policy initiatives towards larger farms and away from backyard dairy farming on increasing the farmers' milk safety practices and reducing on-farm incidence of milk safety.

Effect of Pelleted Total Mixed Ration of Different Particle Sizes on Production Performance and Serum Biochemical Index of Fattening Hainan Black Goats

[Objective] The paper to investigate the effects of pelleted total mixed ration of different particle size on production performance and serum biochemical index of fattening Hainan black goats.[Method] Thirty-six fattening Hainan black goats with the same genetic backgrounds and similar initial weight of(19.02±0.22) kg were randomly divided into three treatments. Goats were fed with Juncao+concentrate(control group), pel-leted total mixed ration I(particle size 6 mm, experimental group I) and II(particle size 5 mm, experimental group II), respectively. The trial lasted 45 d.[Result](1) The final weight and daily gain of experimental group II were significantly higher than those of control group( P<0.05), and the daily gain of experimental group II was also higher than that of experimental group I(P<0.05);the feed intake of experimental group II was markedly higher than that of control group(P<0.05), but was significantly lower than that of experimental group I(P<0.05). The feed/gain ratio of experimental group II was significantly lower than those of control group and experimental group I(P<0.05).(2) The feed gain cost of experimental group II was markedly lower than that of control group(P<0.05), but the gross profit was significantly higher than those of control group and experimental group I(P<0.05).(3) Compared with the control group, the serum total protein content of experimental group II increased markedly( P<0.05) while the urea nitrogen level decreased(P>0.05).[Conclusion] The pelleted total mixed ration with the particle size of 5 mm obtained better fattening ef-fect, and obviously improved the serum total protein level.

Size structure of biomass and primary production of phytoplankton：environmental impact analysis in the Dongsha natural gas hydrate zone, northern South China Sea

The size-fractionated biomass and primary production of phytoplankton, and the influence of environmental factors on it were studied in the Dongsha natural gas hydrate zone of the northern South China Sea in May 2013.Low nutrient, low chlorophyll a（Chl a） and primary productivity characteristics were found in these waters. The phenomena of subsurface Chl a maximum layers（SCMLs） and primary production maximum layers（SPMLs）were observed in the Dongsha waters. There were significant differences in the size-fractionated biomass and primary production that showed picophytoplankton〉nanophytoplankton〉microphytoplankton in terms of biomass and degree of contribution to production. Vertical biomass distribution indicated there were considerable differences among different phytoplankton within the euphotic zone（Zeu） in spring. For example,microphytoplankton was distributed evenly in the euphotic layer and nanophytoplankton was mainly distributed in the subsurface or in the middle of the euphotic layer, while picophytoplankton was mainly distributed in the middle or bottom of the euphotic layer. Smaller cell size and larger relative surface area allow picophytoplankton to benefit from nutrient competition and to hold a dominant position in the tropical oligotrophic waters of low latitudes. There was a positive correlation between size-fractionated biomass and temperature with pH and a negative correlation between size-fractionated biomass and silicate with phosphate. There was a positive correlation between size-fractionated primary production and temperature and a negative correlation between size-fractionated biomass and salinity with phosphate. Phosphate was an important factor influencing the size structure of phytoplankton. Meanwhile, irradiation and the euphotic layer were more important in regulating the vertical distribution of size-fractionated phytoplankton in the Dongsha natural gas hydrate zone.

Synergistic effect of size-dependent PtZn nanoparticles and zinc single-atom sites for electrochemical ozone production in neutral media

Electrochemical ozone production(EOP) via water electrolysis represents an attractive method for the generation of high-purity O3. Herein, the X-PtZn/Zn-N-C electrocatalysts show a strong structural sensitive behavior depends on the size of the PtZn nanoparticles and their EOP activity exhibits a volcano-type dependence for the O3 performance in neutral media. The 7.7-PtZn/Zn-N-C exhibits EOP current efficiency of 4.2%, and shows the prominent performance in the production of gaseous O3 with a value of 1647 ppb at 30 min, which is almost 4-fold compared to 2.2-Pt Zn/Zn-N-C. Based on the experiments and theoretical calculations, the performance of the EOP process was determined by the nanoparticle size-effect and the synergistic effect between the PtZn nanoparticles and atomically dispersed Zn-N-C. Furthermore, the fivemembered cyclic structure of O3 can be stabilized between the PtZn nanoparticle and the Zn-N-C support,indicating that O3 is produced at the interface.

Size fractionated biomass and productivity of phytoplankton and new production in the Prydz Bay and the adjacent Indian sector of the Southern Ocean during the austral summer 1998/1999

The paper deals with the studies on the cell abundance, the composition of dominant species, size fractionated biomass and productivity of phytoplankton, new production, the environmentally restricted mechanism in the Prydz Bay and the adjacent Indian sector of the Southern Ocean during the austral summer 1998/1999. The results showed that there was marked feature of spatial zonation in the sea areas investigated. In the Prydz Bay and its adjacent continental shelf, the biomass and productivity of phytoplankton were high; those of continental slope and open ocean area were obviously low. The nutrient concentration had opposite distribution trend, due to the consumption of phytoplankton. It mainly affected by the vertical stability of water column, grazing pressure of zooplankton, temperature and light etc. The results of size-fractionation showed that the average contribution of netplankton to total chlorophyll a in studied sea areas was 52.2 %, those of nano- and picoplankton were 29.4 % and 18.4 %, respectively. The average contribution of netplankton to total primary production was 52.4 %, those of nano- and picoplankton were 28.7 % and 18.9 %, separately. It is same as previous conclusion that the contribution of picoplankton to productivity is slightly larger than that to biomass of phytoplankton communities. The average new production and f-ratio were 230.6 mg/ (m(2.)d) and 0.43, respectively.

Distribution characteristics of size-fractionated chlorophyll a, primary production and new production in the Laizhou Bay, July 1997

The distributions of chlorophyll a concentration, primary production and new productionwere observed in the Laizhou Bay of the Bohai Sea in both spring and neap tides during July 1997. The results showed that there were marked features of spatial zonation in the surveyed area, due to the differences between the geographic environment and the hydrological conditions. Chlorophyll a, primary production and new production were all higher in spring tides than that in neap tides in the Laizhou Bay. The highest values of these parameters were encountered in the central regions of the bay. At most stations, chlorophyll a concentrations at the bottom were higher than that at the surface. The results of size-fractionated chlorophyll a and primary production showed that contributions of nanocombining pi-coplankton ( <20 μm) to total chlorophyll a and primary production were dominant in phytoplankton community biomass and production of the Laizhou Bay. The environmental factors, primary production and new production in the Laizhou Bay are compared with other sea areas.

Consumer Panel Size in Sensory Cosmetic Product Evaluation: A Pilot Study from a Statistical Point of View

Subjective evaluations are nowadays applied more commonly in cosmetic product assessment. They are used in quality control, product development steps and efficacy studies for claim support. Several studies have been published to determine the adequate number of panelists, but recommendations and guidelines dealing with this topic are rare in the cosmetic sector. The aim of the present pilot study was to recommend a suitable study plan and define the adequate consumer panel size for cosmetic consumer assessment. A questionnaire-based product evaluation study, with three different cosmetic products, was organized as a consumer test using a seven-point scale. As a last step, a specific statistical calculation was performed to define the minimum sample size. It showed that the minimum sample size, besides the obvious statistical parameters of standard deviation and confidence interval, also depends on age and gender of the panelists and product assessment item. Utilizing a CI of 95% a minimum of 60 panelists seems to be sufficient for home-use-test (HUT) with a given seven-point scale. A minimum of 101 panelists are shown to be sufficient utilizing a CI of 99%.

Optimal production lot size with process deterioration under an extended inspection policy

A mathematical model to determine the optimal production lot size for a deteriorating production system under an extended product inspection policy is developed. The last-K product inspection policy is considered so that the nonconforming items can be reduced, under which the last K products in a production lot are inspected and the nonconforming items from those inspected are reworked. Consider that the products produced towards the end of a production lot are more likely to be nonconforming, is proposed an extended product inspection policy for a deteriorating production system. That is, in a production lot, product inspections are performed among the middle K1 items and after inspections, all of the last K2 products are directly reworked without inspections. Our objective here is the joint optimization of the production lot size and the corresponding extended inspection policy such that the expected total cost per unit time is minimized. Since there is no closed form expression for our optimal policy, the existence for the optimal production inspection policy and an upper bound for the optimal lot size are obtained. Furthermore, an efficient solution procedure is provided to search for the optimal policy. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the proposed model and indicate that the expected total cost per unit time of our product inspection model is less than that of the last-K inspection policy.

Improved Algebraic Model for Serial Production Lines with Limited Buffer Sizes

The ordered event model is improved to describe serial production lines with limited buffer sizes. The improved model hasthe same computational burden as the original one and can be constrUcted directly according to given principles. Several simulationexamples are cited to verify this improved model. Extensions and open problems are also indicated. By means of this new model, serialProduotion lines with limitations of resources can be stUdied analytically.

Size-fractionated phytoplankton standing stock and primary production in the Bohai Sea during late spring

During June 1997 cruise by R/V Science No.l, observations on temporal and spatialvariations of the size-fractionated phytoplankton standing stock and primary production were carried out in the Bohai Sea. The size-fractionated chlorophyll a (Chl a) and primary production, photosynthet-ically available radiation (PAR), as well as the related physico-oceanographic and zooplanktonic parameters were measured at five time-series observation stations representing sub-areas of the sea. Results obtained show that there were the marked features of spatial zonation of Chl a and primary production in the Bohai Sea. The values in the Laizhou Bay, the Liaodong Gulf and the Bohai Gulf were high and showed close relation with tidal fluctuations, i.e. high Chi a concentration occurred during high tide in the Laizhou Bay, and during low tide in the Liaodong Gulf and the Bohai Gulf. In the strait and the central region of the Bohai Sea, the values were relatively low and no relationship with tidal fluctuation could be found. Chlorophyll a concentration vertically decreased from surface to bottom in the Liaodong Gulf and the Bohai Gulf, while it increased in the Laizhou Bay, the strait and the central region of the Bohai Sea, and the highest value was encountered at the bottom. Size-fractionation results showed that nano - combining pico -plankton ( < 20 μm) predominated in phytoplankton communities of the Bohai Sea during late spring. The average contribution to total Chl a in each station ranged 76% -95 % (mean is 87 %). The contribution of net (> 20 μm), nano - (2- 20 fan) and picoplankton (< 2 μm) was 13% , 63% and 24% to total production, and 9% , 53% and 38% to total Chl a, respectively. It proved the importance of nano - and pico -plankton in phytoplankton communities in the Bohai Sea e-cosystems. In this paper the factors, such as light intensity and zooplankton grazing pressure, governing standing stock and production of phytoplankton in the Bohai Sea were also discussed.

不同尺寸片烟游离氨基酸和阿马杜里化合物差异分析

【目的】明确打叶复烤后不同尺寸片烟游离氨基酸和阿马杜里(Amadori)化合物的变化规律,为稳定卷烟质量和调整配方提供理论依据。【方法】以河南中烟工业有限责任公司6个中间香型烤烟多等级配打模块打叶后的片烟为研究对象,经叶片振动分选筛筛分后得到大片、中片、小片、碎片和碎末5种不同尺寸的片烟,分别测定其游离氨基酸和阿马杜里化合物含量,并对其分别进行差异显著性分析、主成分分析和聚类分析。【结果】(1)不同尺寸片烟21种游离氨基酸总量为14 586.82~18 614.04μg/g,其中脯氨酸、天冬酰胺、丙氨酸和天冬氨酸含量较高;不同尺寸片烟17种阿马杜里化合物总量为21 674.68~29 371.17μg/g,其中果糖-脯氨酸(Fru-Pro)、果糖-丙氨酸(Fru-Ala)、果糖-氨基丁酸(Fru-Amb)和果糖-天冬酰胺(Fru-Asn)含量较高;不同尺寸片烟在多个游离氨基酸组分、阿马杜里化合物组分及阿马杜里化合物总量上存在显著差异。(2)主成分分析表明,游离氨基酸前3个主成分的累积方差贡献率为89.89%,表明这3个主成分可以反映21个变量(游离氨基酸成分)的大部分信息;阿马杜里化合物前4个主成分的累积方差贡献率为88.95%,表明这4个主成分能够反映17个变量(阿马杜里化合物)的大部分信息。(3)聚类分析结果表明,根据游离氨基酸主成分综合得分,可将不同尺寸片烟聚为3类,其中大片、中片和小片烟聚为一类;碎片烟和碎末烟各自单独聚为一类;根据阿马杜里化合物主成分综合得分,可将不同尺寸片烟聚为2类,其中大片、中片和小片烟聚为一类;碎片烟和碎末烟聚为一类。【结论】大片片烟和中片片烟具有较好的品质,工业可用性较高;碎片烟和碎末烟品质较差,在打叶复烤时应尽量减少其产出。

硬质合金六面顶顶锤研究进展

顶锤是超高压装置的关键部件和主要耗材,硬质合金材质以其高抗压、高刚度及优良的导热、导电性能成为顶锤的最佳材质。压机和合成腔体持续大型化,对顶锤质量及其使用又提出了更高的要求。文章综述了硬质合金顶锤相关研究进展。首先,从顶锤的材质设计、生产制造、产品后处理、新型微观结构方面,对顶锤材质与生产进行探讨,以提高顶锤质量;其次,从顶锤的几何参数与调整、受力与失效分析、新型外观尺寸入手,阐述优化顶锤尺寸设计,以改善顶锤的应力分布状态;最后,从去应力时效、过盈量、小斜面摩擦力、冷却水、叶蜡石尺寸等使用技术方面进行总结,以提高顶锤的使用寿命。

江汉水牛生产性能及经济效益研究

[目的]研究江汉水牛的主要体尺指标和生产性能,为江汉水牛保种和开发利用提供理论依据。[方法]测定20头2.5岁左右、平均体质量(360±59)kg江汉水牛(公牛10头、母牛10头)的主要体尺指标,并进行134d的强度育肥试验。育肥结束后,选取12头江汉水牛(公牛6头、母牛6头)进行屠宰和肉质性能测定。[结果]江汉水牛育肥期平均日增质量为(818±189) g,平均日采食量为26.87 kg。江汉水牛屠宰率为45.4%,净肉率37.6%,眼肌面积85.7 cm^(2),肌肉嫩度平均为80.35 kg/cm^(2),肌肉肉色评分7.83,滴水损失1.17%,江汉水牛产肉成本为27.57元/kg。[结论]江汉水牛躯体高大,骨骼粗壮,肉质优良,是培育乳肉兼用水牛新品种的良好遗传素材。

金融支持先进制造业的国际经验及借鉴

加快发展先进制造业,是我国加快形成新质生产力、建设现代化产业体系、加快构建国内国际双循环新发展格局的重中之重。文章以德国和日本为例,梳理总结了发达国家金融支持先进制造业发展的经验,剖析了我国金融支持先进制造业发展面临的技术识别专业度受限、科创类贷款与企业研发资金需求不匹配、产业链配套中小企业信用资源不足、部分行业产能过剩风险加大等方面问题。在此基础上,本文提出金融支持先进制造业的对策建议:坚持顶层设计,完善产业创新支持体系;坚持深化研判,强化对先进制造业产业链的认识;坚持放权赋能,提升产业链综合金融服务能力;坚持系统协同,加大配套中小企业“链式”支持;坚持底线思维,保障金融支持可持续性。

固体火箭发动机中最终凝相产物特性分析

铝颗粒的加入可以有效提高固体推进剂的能量特性,但也带来了两相流比冲损失、熔渣沉积和喷管烧蚀加剧等消极影响,因此,对固体火箭发动机最终凝相产物特性展开研究对评估和提升固体火箭发动机性能具有重要意义。以燃烧终产物为主要研究对象,搭建了基于粒度分析仪的高温高速颗粒特性动态测量系统,对AP/HTPB含铝复合推进剂开展了高温高压下固体火箭发动机试验研究,获得了排气羽流中燃烧终产物分布特性,包括燃烧终产物粒径、均值粒径及颗粒种类等随时间的变化规律,为全面了解凝相产物粒度分布特性提供试验和数据支撑。根据发动机燃烧室压力分布趋势,将固体火箭发动机的工作过程划分为3个阶段(阶段①~③),研究表明:阶段①排气羽流中固体颗粒包括黑火药和推进剂两种燃烧产物,黑火药的随机燃烧特性、燃烧室压力和温度的突升会共同影响该阶段的燃烧终产物分布特性;阶段②燃烧稳定性最高,且该阶段不同时刻燃烧终产物粒径具有较为一致的分布特性,可采用特征模式描述阶段②燃烧终产物的粒径分布;阶段③燃烧终产物粒径分布离散度小于阶段①,该阶段燃烧室压力和温度的突降会影响燃烧终产物分布特性;燃烧室压力和温度突变会改变燃烧终产物模态、峰值粒径及均值粒径等分布特性,不同类型颗粒质量分数随发动机工作阶段的变化而变化。

销售端回收的包装尺寸与产品线决策研究

本文通过构建逆向供应链中制造商主导零售商跟随的Stackelberg博弈模型,研究了零售商回收包装废弃物模式下,制造商如何决定产品包装尺寸和产品线选择的问题。首先,制造商做出产品包装尺寸、批发价格以及产品线的决策;其次,零售商从制造商购买产品后决定产品的零售价格和产品包装的回收率;最后,零售商回收的产品包装废弃物回到制造商。研究结果表明:当包装回收难度系数较低时,制造商应同时提供大小包装的产品;当包装回收难度系数不低时,仅提供小包装的产品是最优决策。当包装回收难度系数处于中间水平时,制造商会选择推出小包装的产品,小包装产品的回收率反而小于大包装产品的回收率,同时提供大小两种包装的产品时的回收率最低。有意思的是,单位回收价格的增加会导致零售商和制造商利润都增加,补贴价格的增加则导致两者的利润降低。

Rh_(n)Ni_(n)合金团簇尺寸对Rh_(n)Ni_(n)/TiO_(2)催化合成气制乙醇性能的影响

本工作采用密度泛函理论(DFT)和微观动力学方法研究了不同Rh-Ni合金团簇尺寸的Rh_(n)Ni_(n)/TiO_(2)(n=1、2、3、4)催化剂上的合成气制乙醇反应。结果表明,Rh_(1)Ni_(1)/TiO_(2)和Rh_(3)Ni_(3)/TiO_(2)能够显著促进CO活化转化及C−C链的形成,并抑制甲烷的生成。其中,Rh_(1)Ni_(1)/TiO_(2)表现出最高的乙醇生成活性和相对选择性。电子性质分析表明,在Rh_(1)Ni_(1)/TiO_(2)催化剂上,合金团簇上Ni原子及载体上Ti和O原子向Rh原子转移的电荷最多,合金团簇上Rh-Ni间相互作用最强,且合金团簇与TiO_(2)载体间的相互作用也最强,其催化活性最高。在525 K下,从头算分子动力学模拟(AIMD)模拟显示Rh_(1)Ni_(1)/TiO_(2)催化剂具有较高的热稳定性。

中小型白酒企业产品追溯体系建设方案研究

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