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This article features a conversation between RCC Director Christof Mauch and filmmaker and anthropologist Martin Saxer about practices of collecting and scavenging across the world. Saxer leads the research project “Foraging at the Edge of Capitalism,” based at the Rachel Carson Center (RCC). Here, he elaborates on how foraging is not just a means of subsistence but also a way of seeing and engaging with the environment that contrasts with modern, commodity-driven perspectives. He emphasizes the knowledge systems embedded in foraging practices, which foster a deep connection to the land. Springs: The Rachel Carson Center Review, no. 5 (June 2024)

China joined the ICOM in 1983. Joining such an international community of museological experts and scholars implied sharing the standards and founding principles, however if we consider the development and the status quo of the art museum system in China, it is possible to point out some contradictions and peculiarities. Since the early 1980s, following a renovation process of the entirety of Chinese national institutions, the museum system has been enjoying an unprecedented development. As well, a more general discourse on the cultural heritage of the country has increasingly gained a prominent position in the cultural policy agenda. As far as art museums are concerned, since the end of the 1990s, the country has been experiencing a rapid and unprecedented development as well, encompassing both the state-owned and private sector. However, today the proliferation of art museums appears to be more driven by the compulsion for a status symbol rather than pursuing a cultural mission. Therefore, a key question arises concerning the quality of these art institutions, their effective role in the promotion of art, and their cultural impact. This study aims to enrich the debate on museums of contemporary art, and intends to offer a parameter of sustainability in order to evaluate the Chinese art museum system.

International audience We test two cloud products: Optimal Cloud Analysis (OCA) of EUMETSAT, and APOLLO from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), for the assessment of surface downwelling solar irradiance (SSI). Each product is input to the Heliosat-4 method, and the SSI estimates are compared to accurate measurements performed in the Baseline Radiation Network (BSRN). The performances obtained by the two products are compared. The overall performance of Heliosat-4 method by using different cloud products is given and conclusions on the benefit of each product for an operational Heliosat-4 are drawn.

Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) is a small grain cereal used for livestock feeding and as renewable energy source. These diverse types of usage lead to different breeding strategies, ideally resulting in continued increase of both, grain and biomass yield. Briefly, the objectives of this thesis were to explore aspects with relevance for line and hybrid breeding in triticale by phenotypic, genetic and genomic assessment of important traits. More specifically, the objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate agronomic traits, assess trait correlations, and investigate the amount of heterosis in triticale hybrids, (ii) examine the potential of line and hybrid cultivars for production of biomass, (iii) assess the phenotypic and genotypic variability in triticale germplasm, (iv) investigate long-term phenotypic trends based on cultivars registered in the past three decades, and (v) identify QTL for agronomical relevant traits. In conclusion, hybrids of triticale possess an increased biomass yield potential compared with their mid-parent values as well as compared with commercial reference cultivars. The findings on triticale germplasm and its breeding history provide important information for breeding programs. Furthermore, based on the obtained results, genomic approaches like marker-assisted or genomic selection appear promising to assist triticale breeding in the future. Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) ist eine kleinkörnige Getreideart welche in der Nutztierfütterung und als erneuerbare Energieressource eingesetzt wird. Diese unterschiedlichen Nutzungsformen führen zu diversen Züchtungsstrategien, welche im Idealfall in einem fortschreitenden Ansteigen sowohl des Korn- als auch des Biomasseertrags münden. Die Ziele dieser Arbeit in Kürze dargestellt sind es, Aspekte mit Relevanz für die Triticale-Linien- und die Triticale-Hybridzüchtüng durch die phänotypische, genetische und genomische Auswertung von wichtigen Pflanzenmerkmalen zu untersuchen. Im Detail sind die Ziele dieser Studie (I) die Evaluierung agronomischer Merkmale, das Aufzeigen von Zusammenhängen bei wichtigen Pflanzenmerkmalen und die Untersuchung des Umfanges der Heterosis, (II) das Potential von Linien- und Hybridsorten für die Biomasseproduktion festzustellen, (III) die phänotypische und genetische Variabilität des genetischen Materials von Triticale zu bewerten, (IV) die Untersuchung der langfristigen Entwicklungen von phänotypischen Merkmalen in registrierten Sorten der letzten drei Jahrzehnte und (V) die Identifizierung von QTL für agronomisch wichtige Pflanzenmerkmale. Zusammengefasst betrachtet besitzen Triticale-Hybriden, verglichen mit dem Leistungsmittel ihrer Eltern, ein erhöhtes Ertragspotential für Biomasse. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse des genetischen Materials von Triticale und seiner Züchtungshistorie stellen beträchtliche Informationen für Zuchtprogramme zur Verfügung. Auf Grund der gewonnenen Ergebnisse, sind wir darüber hinaus zur Ansicht gekommen, dass genomische Ansätze wie die Präzisionszucht (Marker Assisted Selection) und die genomische Selektion vielversprechend erscheinen, um die Triticale-Züchtung in der Zukunft zu fördern.

In the last two decades, studies that analyse the political economy of sustainable energy transitions have increasingly become available. Yet very few attempts have been made to synthesize the factors discussed in the growing literature. This paper reviews the extant empirical literature on the political economy of sustainable energy transitions. Using a well-defined search strategy, a total of 36 empirical contributions covering the period 2008 to 2022 are reviewed full text. Overall, the findings highlight the role of vested interest, advocacy coalitions and green constituencies, path dependency, external shocks, policy and institutional environment, political institutions and fossil fuel resource endowments as major political economy factors influencing sustainable energy transitions across both high income countries, and low and middle income countries. In addition, the paper highlights and discusses some critical knowledge gaps in the existing literature and provides suggestions for a future research agenda. IZNE Working Paper Series; Nr. 23/3

The presented study investigates the hardness and sliding wear behavior of cemented carbides and high-speed tool steels at elevated temperatures. Therefore, experimental analysis focus on the behavior and the microstructural changes of the aforementioned materials during sliding wear at room temperature, 400°C, and 600°C. Investigations are performed with respect to materials mechanical properties, which are represented by high temperature hardness measurements. As a result a main output of this study is an overview about the interdependencies of the microstructure and the high temperature hardness of tool materials (cemented carbides, high-speed steels). Results show that the absolute value of the room temperature and the high temperature hardness of cemented carbides are connected to the WC-carbide volume fraction. In contrast, the development of the hardness with increasing temperature is mainly influenced by the volume fraction and the characteristics of the binder matrix. In addition to the investigation of cemented carbides, the hardness of HS 6-5-3 steel grade at elevated temperatures was investigated. The value of the high temperature hardness of HS 6-5-3 high-speed steel is comparable to the hardness of cemented carbide materials, having higher binder content of 30 vol.-%.The absolute value and the temperature dependent course of the high temperature hardness of the high-speed steel are further influenced by the applied heat-treatment. Moreover, detailed wear experiments and microscopic analyses of the worn surfaces of selected materials are presented. These investigations show the main differences between room temperature sliding wear and high temperature sliding wear. In the systems studied, an increase in testing temperature leads to a rapid decrease of friction and wear rate. Microscopic investigations reveal that, the reason for this effect is the formation of a tribochemical wear layer at the surface of the wear bodies. This layer suppresses direct metallic contact and changes the characteristics of the tribological system. Discussed issues of high temperature sliding wear are the formation and stability of tribochemical wear layers, their connection to and support by the bulk material as well as the fracturing and damage of the layer-bulk-material compound. International Conference on Stone and Concrete Machining (ICSCM), Vol 3 (2015)

Bio-oil composition can differ depending on the biomass feedstock. Such information is essential if upgrading to a liquid fuel or to platform chemicals is intended. Furthermore, water and inorganic elements have to be taken into account for the catalyst selection. In this work, two bio-oils from wheat straw and beech wood were characterized by different techniques. Both were composed by a light and a heavy phase separately analyzed. The water content of the fractions differed over a wide range between 14.4 and 56.7 wt.% and therefore also the HHV (between 28.5 and 9.2 MJ/Kg). Both phases showed very low content of sulfur (<0.4 wt.%), which can have influence the lifetime of the catalyst. The 1H-NMR integration showed higher values in the regions of alkanes, carboxylic acid or keto-groups, and hetero-(aromatics) for both heavy phases, while light phases showed higher values in the water, O-H exchanging and carbohydrates region. So the heavy phases seem to be a good basis if phenols and its derivatives are expected and the light phases if alcohols are of interest. These results show that the bio-oils composition is essential for upgrading reactions, impacting on the products as well as on the choice of the catalyst. Proceedings of the 25th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 12-15 June 2017, Stockholm, Sweden, pp. 1143-1147

This report explores the role of Myanmar’s state and region governments in the development of the country’s energy sector, and how they can increase their agency in shaping their own and the nation’s energy future. It is a companion to the Asia Foundation’s October 2018 report, State and Region Governments in Myanmar, which examines the structure and execution of subnational governance and articulates needed reforms. Like that earlier effort, this report incorporates the views of state and region governments themselves on the challenges and opportunities presented by Myanmar’s evolving energy sector. Myanmar’s Union government has been gradually devolving legal and administrative powers to the states and regions since 2011, but these new powers often exist in an uncertain and untested relationship to the traditional powers and prerogatives of the central government. In the energy sector, the states and regions clearly have room to be more assertive in the areas of policy and planning; public consultation and permitting; management of the local (11 kV) electrical grid; off-grid energy, especially renewable energy mini-grids; and the promotion of private investment. This report describes how state and region governments are discharging their energy-sector responsibilities, and the extent to which existing policies and guidelines empower state/region officials to act to meet regional energy needs.