Measurement of refractory black carbon mass concentrations in falling and deposited snow in the Arctic

GRENE北極気候変動研究事業研究成果報告会日時：2016年3月4日（金）　14：30-16：30 (Core time 14：.30-15：40)会場：国立国語研究所　2Fホワイ

Data Extraction from Dynamic Web Pages

Tato práce obsahuje stručný přehled technologií používaných pro prezentaci a získání dat na WWW a popisuje vybrané nástroje pro extrakci dat z webových stránek. Práce dále navrhuje nový nástroj pro získání stránek, generovaných na základě vyplnění webových formulářů, který umožňuje uživateli definovat data na takovýchto webových stránkách a dokáže takto definovaná data extrahovat a nabídnout ve formátu XML, použitelném pro další strojové zpracování.This work contains a brief overview of technologies for representation and obtaining data on WWW and describes selected web data extraction tools. The work designs a new tool for obtaining pages generated by filling in web forms, which allows its user to define data on such web pages and which can extract those data and offer it in a XML format suitable for future machine processing.

New heterogeneous catalysts for trans-esterification of triglycerides

This paper describes preliminary work done towards the development of new metallic heterogeneous catalysts to be used in the transesterification reaction of triglycerides, which is of considerable interest in the production of biodiesel. Biodiesel, is a mixture of mono-alkyl esters of fatty acids, and is currently manufactured by transesterification of triglycerides with methanol using NaOH or KOH as liquid base catalyst. Catalysts as such are corrosive to the equipment, and as these catalysts are in liquid phase must be neutralized after the completion of the reaction, typically using HCl, thus producing salt streams. Moreover, due to the presence of free fatty acids it reacts to form soaps as unwanted by-products, hence requiring more expensive separation processes. Therefore, there is a great need on the development of industrial processes for biodiesel production using solid acid catalysts. The key benefit of using solid acid catalysts is that no polluting by-products are formed and the catalysts do not have to be removed since they do not mix with the biodiesel product

Biodiesel production from waste frying oils over lime catalysts

Biodiesel production from semi-refined oils (SRO) and waste frying oils (WFO) was studied using commercial CaO as heterogeneous catalyst. The methanolysis tests were carried out in mild reaction conditions (62 A degrees C, atmospheric pressure). With such conditions, SRO (soybean and rapeseed) allowed to produce a biodiesel containing 97-98 % of methyl esters (FAME), whereas WFO only provided 86-87 % of FAME. The lower FAME yield for WFO oil is ascribable to the partial neutralization of the catalyst by free fatty acids. Also, soaps formation from the WFO oil reduced the weight yield of the oil phase (containing FAME) obtained and increased the MONG content of the glycerin phase. The catalysts stability tests showed high stability even when WFO oil was processed. Catalytic tests performed with blends of WFO/semi-refined oils showed blending as a good strategy to process low value raw oils with minor decay of the catalyst performance. Both WFO and semi-refined oils showed S-shape kinetics curves thus discarding significant differences of the reaction mechanisms

Caregivers' perceptions of emotional and behavioural difficulties experienced by teenage orphans living in Mogapi (Botswana)

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master’s Degree in Research Psychology At the University of the Witwatersrand 2015The research project explored the caregivers’ perceptions of emotional and behavioural problems experienced by teenage orphans in Mogapi. Semi-structured interviews were utilized. The sample size was nine participants from Mogapi village in Botswana. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and several themes were identified. The themes that emerged were orphans’ emotional and behavioural problems; caregivers feeling disrespected by orphans under their care; caregivers’ feelings of helplessness; challenges faced by caregivers; absent fathers; as well as caregivers’ disregard for importance of communication with the orphans under their care. The results indicated that these caregivers do not attribute the orphans’ emotional and behavioural problems to orphan-hood as was suggested by the literature. Few of the caregivers indicated that they offer emotional and psychological support to orphans under their care by giving advice and ensuring that the orphans are aware that they have a provider that is as much of a parent as their late biological parent(s). A few recommendations were made based on these findings, such as the need for further research in this area, as well as training and workshops for caregivers, teachers and orphaned children in this regard

Geospatial Data for Sustainable Development in Mozambique: Challenges on Spatial Data Infrastructure Development & Ecosystem Service Integration in Decision Making

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Information Management, specialization in Geographic Information SystemsThe Agenda 2030 challenges the countries to use and produce new spatial data to support the path to Sustainable Development (SD). This requires development and adoption of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), and the production of new relevant spatial data to support implementation, monitoring and reporting the progress on the targets on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The importance of access to spatial data for development and resource management is widely acknowledged worldwide. Unrestricted, reliable and efficient access to accurate, timely, and upto- date spatial data may be achieved through a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). Thus, most developed countries implemented and continue to develop their SDI. The Ecosystem Service (ES) is also crucially for SD and the concept needs to be expressed and communicated effectively to be successfully integrated into decision making. This study assessed the challenges and opportunities on SDI development and analyzed the documents relevant to LUP process and implementation. On the SDI, we identified and characterized through a survey the government institutions producing, sharing, and using spatial data in the country to estimate their potential contribution to the development of the Mozambican SDI. On the integration of ES into LUP, we conducted a review of relevant documents to Mozambique’s spatial planning by performing a content analysis based on ES categories. Based on the possible contribution of the institutions producing and using spatial data, we proposed an SDI for Mozambique based on four pillars: i) organizational framework; ii) legal framework; iii) technical framework; and iv) accessibility. The periodical revision of tools and participatory approaches in LUP opens opportunities for integrating ES into LUP processes. This integration could be achieved by establishing a SEA legal framework based on LUP and Environment legal frameworks assisted by a set of common planning tools that consider ES as an additional indicator applied to spatial planning in Mozambique