Considering the application of biophilic urbanism: A Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre discussion paper

Biophilic urbanism, or urban design which refl ects human’s innate need for nature in and around and on top of our buildings, stands to make signifi cant contributions to a range of national, state and local government policies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Potential benefi ts include reducing the heat island effect, reducing energy consumption for thermal control, enhancing urban biodiversity, improving well being and productivity, improving water cycle management, and assisting in the response to growing needs for densifi cation and revitalisation of cities. This discussion paper will give an overview of the concept of biophilia and consider enablers and disablers to its application to urban planning and design. The paper will present findings from stakeholder engagement related to a consideration of the economics of the use of biophilic elements (direct and indirect). The paper outlines eight strategic areas being considered in the project, including how a ‘daily minimum dose’ of nature can be received through biophilic elements, and how planning and policy can underpin effective biophilic urbanism.

Calibration, estimation, and sampling issues of car-following parameters

Drivers behave in different ways, and these different behaviors are a cause of traffic disturbances. A key objective for simulation tools is to correctly reproduce this variability, in particular for car-following models. From data collection to the sampling of realistic behaviors, a chain of key issues must be addressed. This paper discusses data filtering, robustness of calibration, correlation between parameters, and sampling techniques of acceleration-time continuous car-following models. The robustness of calibration is systematically investigated with an objective function that allows confidence regions around the minimum to be obtained. Then, the correlation between sets of calibrated parameters and the validity of the joint distributions sampling techniques are discussed. This paper confirms the need for adapted calibration and sampling techniques to obtain realistic sets of car-following parameters, which can be used later for simulation purposes.

Workers’ attitude towards bus rapid transit: Considering Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Government of Bangladesh is planning to develop and implement Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Dhaka city. This paper presents a stated choice survey conducted to understand workers’ attitudes toward BRT in Dhaka. The survey data are analysed using a multinomial logit (MNL) model to scrutinize social and economic factors’ impact on participant’s mode choices. Analysis results reveal that males, workers of higher age, education qualification, and income have a greater tendency towards choosing BRT.

A national research program for climate-ready cereals

This project is to develop a program of research to implement existing wheat and sorghum germplasm for potential 'climate-change' environments.

Implementation costs of Agricultural Management Practices for Water Quality Improvement in the Great Barrier Reef Catchments. CSIRO: Water for Healthy Country National Research Flagship

Executive summary. In this report we analyse implementation costs and benefits for agricultural management practices, grouped into farming systems. In order to do so, we compare plot scale gross margins for the dominant agricultural production systems (sugarcane, grazing and banana cultivation) in the NRM regions Wet Tropics, Burdekin Dry Tropics and Mackay Whitsundays. Furthermore, where available, we present investment requirements for changing to improved farming systems. It must be noted that transaction costs are not captured within this project. For sugarcane, this economic analysis shows that there are expected benefits to sugarcane growers in the different regions through transitions to C and B class farming systems. Further transition to A-class farming systems can come at a cost, depending on the capital investment required and the length of the investment period. Obviously, the costs and benefits will vary for each individual grower and will depend on their starting point and individual property scenario therefore each circumstance needs to be carefully considered before making a change in management practice. In grazing, overall, reducing stocking rates comes at a cost (reduced benefits). However, when operating at low utilisation rates in wetter country, lowering stocking rates can potentially come at a benefit. With win-win potential, extension is preferred to assist farmer in changing management practices to improve their land condition. When reducing stocking rates comes at a cost, incentives may be applicable to support change among farmers. For banana cultivation, the results indicate that the transition to C and B class management practices is a worthwhile proposition from an economic perspective. For a change from B to A class farming systems however, it is not worthwhile from a financial perspective. This is largely due to the large capital investment associated with the change in irrigation system and negative impact in whole of farm gross margin. Overall, benefits will vary for each individual grower depending on their starting point and their individual property scenario. The results presented in this report are one possible set of figures to show the changes in profitability of a grower operating in different management classes. The results in this report are not prescriptive of every landholder. Landholders will have different costs and benefits from transitioning to improved practices, even if similar operations are practiced, hence it is recommended that landholders that are willing to change management undertake their own research and analysis into the expected costs and benefits for their own soil types and property circumstances.

Learning from insurance data: Injuries to other road users in motorcyclist at-fault crashes

In multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes, the motorcycle rider is less likely to be at-fault but more commonly severely injured than the other road user. Therefore, not surprisingly, crashes in which motorcycle riders are at-fault and particularly the injuries to the other road users in these crashes have received little research attention. This paper aims to address this gap in the literature by investigating the factors influencing the severity of injury to other road users in motorcyclist-at-fault crashes. Five years of data from Queensland, Australia, were obtained from a database of claims against the compulsory third party (CTP) injury insurance of the at-fault motorcyclists. Analysis of the data using an ordered probit model shows higher injury severity for crashes involving young (under 25) and older (60+) at-fault motorcyclists. Among the not at-fault road users, the young, old, and males were found to be more severely injured than others. Injuries to vehicle occupants were less severe than those to pillions. Crashes that occurred between vehicles traveling in opposite directions resulted in more severe injuries than those involving vehicles traveling in the same direction. While most existing studies have analyzed police reported crash data, this study used CTP insurance data. Comparison of results indicates the potential of using CTP insurance data as an alternative to police reported crash data for gaining a better understanding of risk factors for motorcycle crashes and injury severity.

Effects of transit quality of service characteristics on daily bus ridership

A case study of Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia, explored how explicit measures of transit quality of service (e.g., service frequency, service span, and travel time ratio) and implicit environmental predictors (e.g., topographic grade factor) influenced bus ridership. The primary hypothesis tested was that bus ridership was higher in suburbs with high transit quality of service than in suburbs with limited service quality. Multiple linear regression, used to identify a strong positive relationship between route intensity (bus-km/h-km2) and bus ridership, indicated that both increased service frequency and spatial route density corresponded to higher bus ridership. Additionally, the travel time ratio (i.e., the ratio of in-vehicle transit travel time to in-vehicle automobile travel time) had a significant negative association with suburban ridership: transit use declined as travel time ratio increased. In contrast, topographic grade and service span did not significantly affect suburban bus ridership. The study findings enhance the fundamental understanding of traveler behavior, which is informative to urban transportation policy, planning, and provision.

Atmospheric nutrient input to coastal areas: reducing the uncertainties

A significant fraction of the total nitrogen entering coastal and estuarine ecosystems along the eastern U.S. coast arises from atmospheric deposition; however, the exact role of atmospherically derived nitrogen in the decline of the health of coastal, estuarine, and inland waters is still uncertain. From the perspective of coastal ecosystem eutrophication, nitrogen compounds from the air, along with nitrogen from sewage, industrial effluent, and fertilizers, become a source of nutrients to the receiving ecosystem. Eutrophication, however, is only one of the detrimental impacts of the emission of nitrogen containing compounds to the atmosphere. Other adverse effects include the production of tropospheric ozone, acid deposition, and decreased visibility (photochemical smog). Assessments of the coastal eutrophication problem indicate that the atmospheric deposition loading is most important in the region extending from Albemarle/Parnlico Sounds to the Gulf of Maine; however, these assessments are based on model outputs supported by a meager amount of actual data. The data shortage is severe. The National Research Council specifically mentions the atmospheric role in its recent publication for the Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources, Priorities for Coastal Ecosystem Science (1994). It states that, "Problems associated with changes in the quantity and quality of inputs to coastal environments from runoff and atmospheric deposition are particularly important [to coastal ecosystem integrity]. These include nutrient loading from agriculture and fossil fuel combustion, habitat losses from eutrophication, widespread contamination by toxic materials, changes in riverborne sediment, and alteration of coastal hydrodynamics. "

Annual Report of the East African Agricultural and Fisheries Research Council, 1961

In June, 1961, discussions were held in London to consider the future of the East Africa High Commission Services. It was agreed that the functions of the East Africa High Commission, with the exception of Defence, should be transfered to the East African Common Services Organization, which was subsequently established on 9th December, 1961, on the achievement of independence by Tanganyika. The Common Services Organization is controlled by an Authority, consisting of the principal elected Minister in each of the East African territories, which is responsible for the overall policy and direction of the Organization. The Authority is assisted by four Ministerial Committees, of which one is responsible for the Social and Research Services of the Organization

Annual Report of the East African Agricultural and Fisheries Research Council 1958

The annual report present activities carried out by the different organizations that make up the East African Agricultural & Fisheries Research Council which covers reports from the following Organisations: I. Report of the East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Organization 2. Report of the East African Fishery Research Organization 3. Report of the East African Marine Fisheries Research Organization 4. Report of the East African Trypanosomiasis Research Organization 5. Report of the East African Veterinary Research Organization The activities reported are for the period 1958

Annual Report of the East African Agricultural and Fisheries Research Council 1954-55

The annual report present activities carried out by the different organizations that make up the East African Agricultural & Fisheries Research Council which included: 1. Report of the East African Agriculture & Forestry Research Organization 2. Report of the East African Veterinary Research Organization 3. Report of the East African Fishery Research Organization 4. Report of the East African Marine Fisheries Research Organization The activities reported are for the period 1954-55.

Annual Report of the East African Agricultural and Fisheries Research Council 1955-56

The annual report present activities carried out by the different organizations that make up the East African Agricultural & Fisheries Research Council which included: 1. Report of the East African Agriculture & Forestry Research Organization 2. Report of the East African Veterinary Research Organization 3. Report of the East African Fishery Research Organization 4. Report of the East African Marine Fisheries Research Organization and 5. Report of the East African Trypanosomiasis Research Organisation. The activities reported are for the period 1955-56.

Annual Report of the East African Agricultural and Fisheries Research Council 1956-57

The annual report present activities carried out by the different organizations that make up the East African Agricultural & Fisheries Research Council which covers reports from the following Organisations: I. Report of the East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Organization 2. Report of the East African Fishery Research Organization 3. Report of the East African Marine Fisheries Research Organization 4. Report of the East African Trypanosomiasis Research Organization and 5. Report of the East African Veterinary Research Organization The activities reported are for the period 1956-57

ApcD is necessary for efficient energy transfer from phycobilisomes to photosystem I and helps to prevent photoinhibition in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp PCC 7002

Phyrobilisomes (PBS) are the major light-harvesting, protein-pigment complexes in cyanobacteria and red algae. PBS absorb and transfer light energy to photosystem (PS) II as well as PS I, and the distribution of light energy from PBS to the two photosystems is regulated by light conditions through a mechanism known as state transitions. In this study the quantum efficiency of excitation energy transfer from PBS to PS I in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 was determined, and the results showed that energy transfer from PBS to PS I is extremely efficient. The results further demonstrated that energy transfer from PBS to PS I occurred directly and that efficient energy transfer was dependent upon the allophycocyanin-B alpha subunit, ApcD. In the absence of ApcD, cells were unable to perform state transitions and were trapped in state 1. Action spectra showed that light energy transfer from PBS to PS I was severely impaired in the absence of ApcD. An apcD mutant grew more slowly than the wild type in light preferentially absorbed by phyrobiliproteins and was more sensitive to high light intensity. On the other hand, a mutant lacking ApcF, which is required for efficient energy transfer from PBS to PS II, showed greater resistance to high light treatment. Therefore, state transitions in cyanobacteria have two roles: (1) they regulate light energy distribution between the two photosystems; and (2) they help to protect cells from the effects of light energy excess at high light intensities. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

两个冠醚分子在简正坐标分析及NRCC程序在微机上的移植

本文用加拿大国立研究院(National Research Council of Canada) Fuhrer等人编制的FORTRAN语言程序（以下简称NRCC程序），对两个冠醚类化合物进行了简正坐标分析，这两个化合物分子是二氧六环(C_4H_8O_2)和12－冠－4(C_8H_(16)O_4)。作者用Synder和Zerbi提出的一般价力场，计算了二氧六环的36个简正振动频率，精化四次后的结果误差为14.04 cm~(-1)，得到了二氧六环的精化力场和势能分析矩阵；做了12－冠－4－的中红外光谱(3200-5000cm~(-1))。远红外光谱(500-70cm~(-1))和拉曼光谱(3200-50 cm~(-1)，从而归属出12－冠－4的78个简正振动频率实验值；利用二氧六环的精化力场作为初始力场，计算了12－冠－4的简正振动频率，对78个简正振动频率进行了精化计算，精化三次后的结果误差为13.99 cm~(-1)，精化后得到12－冠－4的精化力场和势能分布矩阵；将NRCC程序以BASIC语言移至TRS-80微型机上，对二氧六环进行了计算，结果良好，首次给出二氧六环一般价力场的势能分布。一、对二氧六环的处理 二氧六环分子式C_4H_8O_2，合14个原子，有3N－6＝36个简正振动频率。分子结构系由二个乙氧基(-CH_2-CH_2-O-)单元组成的含有四个碳，两个氧的六元环，平衡态分子为椅式构象，属于C_(2h)点群，36个简正振动频率分为四个对称类Ag、Au、Bg和Bu，分布是：Ag 10个，Bg 8个，Au 9个，Bu9个。二氧六环的分子结构及坐标示意图见28而图5，定义了14个伸缩内坐标，26个弯曲内坐标，6个扭曲内坐标，共46个，C－C键长1.54A，C-O键长1.41 A，C－H键长1.096A，键角都用109°28'。用CART程序（NRCC程序之一）计算二氧六环14个原子的笛卡尔坐标，用GMAT程序（NRCC程序之二）计算其B矩阵和G矩阵，用FPERT程序（NRCC程序之三）计算其简正振动频率、精化力场，计算用一般价力场，引入V矩阵对称化，将46个坐标化为46个（内）对称坐标，10个多余坐标在FPERT程序计算中除去。二、对12－冠－4的处理 12－冠－4分子式C_8H_(16)O_4，含28个原子，共3N－6＝78个简正振动频率，分子结构为四个乙氧基(-CH_2-CH_2-O-)单元组成的含八个碳、四个氧的12元环，自由分子的12－冠－4属于C点群。结构数据引自Groth的X光衍射分数和坐标，自己编制了BASIC语言程度将分数坐标化为笛卡尔坐标，用GMAT程序计算B矩阵和G矩阵，FPERT程序计算78个简正振动频率、精化力场、计算势能分布矩阵，引入U矩阵将92个内坐标化为92个对称坐标，14个多余坐标在FPERT程序中自动除去。三、结果 势能分布矩阵给出分子的振动归属，对这两个冠醚类分子的3N－6个简正振动频率，可以划分为五个振动区域。1．C－H伸缩振动区（3000－2800 cm~(-1)） 在该区中，二氧六环有八个值：2974、2966、2854和2867 cm~(-1)各两个，12－冠－4有16个值：2935、2923、2915和2907 cm~(-1)各两个，2860 cm~(-1)8个，高于2900 cm~(-1)者为反对称伸缩振动，低于2900 cm~(-1)者为对称伸缩振动。2．亚甲基弯曲振动之一(1500-1400 cm~(-1)) 该区的主要振动是亚甲基剪式振动(Scissor)，其它振动小于10％二氧六环在该区有四个频率：1443、1461、1451和1457 cm~(-1)，12－冠－4有八个频率：1466、1450、1450和1405 cm~(-1)各两个。3．亚甲基弯曲振动区二(1400-1200 cm~(-1))该区的主要振动模式为亚甲基的颤动(wag)、卷曲(twist)和摆动(rock)振动，其它振动小于13％。二氧六环在该区有八个频率：1334、1303、1396、1216、1367、1264、1377和1296 cm~(-1)，12－冠－4有十六个频率：1388、1363、……1229 cm~(-1)（其中1288、1307cm~(-1)非简并，其余皆两重简并）。4．环的骨架伸缩振动区(1200-600 cm~(-1))该区振动模式复杂，除环的骨架伸缩振动外，还有亚甲基的wag、twist、rock以及环的骨架弯曲振动，而且这些振动的势能分布值都不小。二氧六环在该区有十一个频率，从1127至610 cm~(-1)，12－冠－4有二十个频率，从1135至184 cm~(-1)且大都是二重简并的。5．低频区(600-50cm~(-1))这两个分子在低频区的势能分布略有差别。二氧六环在该区有五个频率：503、486、427、276和224 cm~(-1)，主要振动模式为骨架弯曲振动和扭曲振动，C－O、C－C的扭曲振动在三个最低频率中分布占10－30％。12－冠－4在该区有18个频率，除570和547cm~(-1)处，都是二重简并的，六个最低频率的振动模式完全属于C－O、C－C键的扭曲振动，其它振动小于10％，所以200 cm~(-1)以下可称为12－冠－4的扭曲振动区，在600－200cm~(-1)之间的12个频率主要是骨架的弯曲振动，也有一定量的亚甲基wag、twist、rock振动。12－冠－4的简正坐标分析尚未有人做过。二氧六环的计算结果与Snyder和Zerbi的分析相吻合，12－冠－4和二氧六环两分子势能分布的相对一致性证明了对12－冠－4的简正坐标分析基本是正确的。本文比较了二分子的力常数和振动频率，探讨了环的大小对振动光谱的影响。四、NRCC程序简介 NRCC程序由CART、GMAT和FPERT三个程序组成，即可联一起运用，亦可分开独立进行运算。该程序功能强，所占内存大，适于大、中型计算机使用。CART程序之名字取自Cartisian Co-or-dinates的前四个字母，功能系由分子结构参数（键长、键角）计算分子内各原子的笛卡尔坐标。GMAT程序之名字取自G matrix的前四个字母，功能系由分子内各原子的笛卡尔坐标，原子质量和内坐标定义计算分子内各原子的坐标交换矩阵B和Wilson振动动能矩阵G。FPERT程序之名字取自F Perturbation的前五个字母，功能系由分子振动功能矩阵G、势能常数即力常数矩阵F计算分子的简正振动频率和势能分布矩阵，再通过实验频率精化势能矩阵F。NRCC程序可对含30个原子、60个内坐标的分子进行简正坐标分析，扩充后容量增大一倍。该程序可选用一般价力场(General Valence Force Field, 简称GVFF)和UBS���场(Urey-Bradley-Shimanouchi Force Field)，简称UBSFF或UBFF)。可选用对称化U矩阵，可自行决定力场精化次数和阻尼常数以限制精化结果的收敛性。五、NRCC程序在TRS－80微型机上移植试尝（该部分曾在第三届长春夏季化学讨论会上宣读）针对NRCC程序占内存空间大、难以在微型机上实现的情况，作者将NRCC程序改编为BASIC语言，改变程序的原来结构，形成一组BASIC语言程序：CART／BAS、GMAT／BAS和VIFR／BAS，改编后的BASIC程序在TRS－80微型机调试通过，TRS－80机字长8位，New Dos系统内存32K。改写后的程序只保持了原程序的基本原理，在内存，语句上改动很大，以适于微型机使用。数据在程序中直接嵌入，利于修改替换，且BASIC语言简单易学，便于操作。CART／BAS程序可计算含30个原子以内的分子的笛卡尔坐标，GMAT／BAS程序可计算含20个原子、45个内坐标的分子的G矩阵，VIFR／BAS程序可计算含15个原子的分子的简正振动频率。利用这组程序，作者以二氧六环分子为例做了一些试尝运算，误差14.4 cm~(-1)，相对误差1.8%，结果较理想。