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The repository software dream has been a team of dedicated, in-house developers who work within their institutions and the various OS communities, hand-crafting new functionality and sharing the code. The reality has always been more complicated and messy. For a variety of reasons, many institutions find themselves without expert repository developers, but still needing to have bespoke work carried out. And commercial service providers have stepped up with offers to bridge this gap. Increasingly, institutions are working with such service providers as their technical partners. For the institutions, it means that OS software remains a viable option even without an in-house technical team. But can commercial providers be invested in Open Source in the same way that in-house developers are? Do they contribute to the long-term stability, sustainability and accessibility of OS software and communities, or are they just taking the money? The panel will present a range of views from both commercial service providers, those who keep technical expertise in-house, and some who do a little of both. We expect the discussion to be lively, though-provoking and insightful, hopefully sparking further discussions in the community about how we might continue to sustain the OS community within repositories.

Abstract Pyrolysis tar and char yields were measured at atmospheric pressure between 400–800 °C in three reactors with significantly different design characteristics: a fluidized bed; a wire-mesh reactor; and a ‘hot-rod’ fixed bed reactor. Ranges of conditions under which results were generally in good agreement were identified using a common sample of Linby (low rank British bituminous) coal. Differences highlighted important non-ideal characteristics in the behaviour of all three systems. The causes of these non-idealities and their implications for the interpretation of pyrolysis data from the three types of reactors are discussed in detail.

Value chain analyses are commonly used to understand socioeconomic and power relationships in the production chain from the initial starting material to a final (generally high value) product. These analyses help in terms of understanding economic processes but also have been used in the context of socioeconomic and socioecological research.However, there is a gap in the ethnopharmacological literature in terms of understanding what relevance a critical analysis of value chains of herbal medicines could have. Here we provide a research framework for achieving such an analysis.An extensive review of the literature available on value chains and their analysis was conducted, based both on a systematic online search of the relevant literature and a hand search of bibliographies and discussions with experts in value chain analysisWhile the concept of value chains is commonly used in the relevant industries, very few studies investigate the value chains of herbal medicines and products derived from them. The studies identified mostly look at socio-ecological aspects, especially in the context of sustainable resource use. We suggest an analytical framework which can help in understanding value chains in the context of ethnopharmacology and can serve as a basis for addressing questions related to value chains and their relevance in ethnopharmacology.We identified a crucial gap in current ethnopharmacological and medicinal plant research which impacts on a wide-range of factors relevant for a sustainable, socio-culturally equitable and safe supply of herbal medicines.

Le consortium du programme de recherche sur la recherche appliquée en matière d'assainissement et d'hygiène pour l'équité (SHARE) est un programme financé par le ministère britannique du développement international (DFID) qui vise à contribuer à la réalisation de l'accès universel à un assainissement et à une hygiène efficaces, durables et équitables dans le monde entier. La composante de développement des capacités est un pilier important de ce programme et différentes stratégies ont été conçues et mises en œuvre au cours des différentes phases de SHARE. Ce document décrit et réfléchit aux stratégies de renforcement des capacités de ce grand consortium de recherche multinational, en identifiant les leçons apprises et en proposant des recommandations pour les futurs programmes de recherche en santé mondiale. Dans la première phase, la stratégie s'est concentrée sur le renforcement de la capacité des individus et des institutions des pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire à mener leurs propres recherches. SHARE a soutenu six doctorants et 25 étudiants en MSc, et a organisé un large éventail d'événements de formation pour différentes parties prenantes. SHARE a examiné toutes les propositions soumises par les chercheurs dans le cadre de plusieurs cycles de financement et a proposé un examen par les pairs externe pour tous les rapports produits dans le cadre des plateformes de recherche du partenaire. Dans la deuxième phase, l'objectif était de soutenir le développement des capacités d'un plus petit nombre d'institutions de recherche africaines afin de progresser vers leur durabilité indépendante, en mettant davantage l'accent sur les scientifiques en début et en milieu de carrière au sein de ces institutions. Dans chaque institution, un chercheur a été soutenu et un plan spécifique de développement des capacités a été élaboré conjointement. Les stratégies qui ont été couronnées de succès étaient l'apprentissage par la pratique (soutien aux institutions et aux étudiants de troisième cycle sur la recherche en assainissement et en hygiène), l'octroi de bourses pour nommer des scientifiques en milieu de carrière afin de soutenir le développement personnel et institutionnel, et le soutien de plans de renforcement des capacités sur mesure. Les principaux enseignements tirés ont été que les programmes de renforcement des capacités de recherche doivent être pilotés par des initiatives locales adaptées avec le soutien de partenaires. Nous recommandons que les futurs programmes visant à renforcer les capacités de recherche envisagent des stratégies ciblées pour les individus en début, en milieu et en fin de carrière et soient sensibles aux autres opérations institutionnelles pour soutenir à la fois les capacités de recherche et de gestion. El consorcio del Programa de Investigación de Investigación Aplicada de Saneamiento e Higiene para la Equidad (SHARE) es un programa financiado por el Departamento de Desarrollo Internacional del Reino Unido (DFID) que tiene como objetivo contribuir a lograr el acceso universal a un saneamiento e higiene efectivos, sostenibles y equitativos en todo el mundo. El componente de desarrollo de capacidades es un pilar importante para este programa y se diseñaron e implementaron diferentes estrategias durante las diversas fases de SHARE. Este documento describe y reflexiona sobre las estrategias de desarrollo de capacidades de este gran consorcio de investigación multinacional, identificando las lecciones aprendidas y proponiendo recomendaciones para futuros programas mundiales de investigación en salud. En la primera fase, la estrategia se centró en aumentar la capacidad de las personas e instituciones de los países de ingresos bajos y medios para realizar sus propias investigaciones. SHARE apoyó a seis estudiantes de doctorado y 25 estudiantes de maestría, y organizó una amplia gama de eventos de capacitación para diferentes partes interesadas. SHARE revisó por pares todas las propuestas que los investigadores presentaron a través de varias rondas de financiación y ofreció una revisión externa por pares para todos los informes producidos en las plataformas de investigación del socio. En la segunda fase, el objetivo era apoyar el desarrollo de capacidades de un número menor de instituciones de investigación africanas para avanzar hacia su sostenibilidad independiente, con un mayor enfoque en los científicos de carrera temprana y media dentro de estas instituciones. En cada institución, se apoyó a un becario de investigación y se desarrolló conjuntamente un plan específico de desarrollo de capacidades. Las estrategias que tuvieron éxito fueron aprender haciendo (apoyando a instituciones y estudiantes de posgrado en investigación de saneamiento e higiene), proporcionando becas para nombrar científicos a mitad de carrera para apoyar el desarrollo personal e institucional, y apoyando planes de desarrollo de capacidades personalizados. Las principales lecciones aprendidas fueron que los programas de creación de capacidad de investigación deben ser impulsados por iniciativas locales adaptadas con el apoyo de los socios. Recomendamos que los futuros programas que busquen fortalecer la capacidad de investigación consideren estrategias específicas para las personas en las etapas iniciales, intermedias y posteriores de la carrera y que sean sensibles a otras operaciones institucionales para apoyar tanto las capacidades de investigación como de gestión. The Sanitation and Hygiene Applied Research for Equity (SHARE) Research Programme consortium is a programme funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) that aims to contribute to achieving universal access to effective, sustainable, and equitable sanitation and hygiene worldwide. The capacity development component is an important pillar for this programme and different strategies were designed and implemented during the various phases of SHARE. This paper describes and reflects on the capacity-building strategies of this large multi-country research consortium, identifying lessons learnt and proposing recommendations for future global health research programmes. In the first phase, the strategy focused on increasing the capacity of individuals and institutions from low- and middle-income countries in conducting their own research. SHARE supported six PhD students and 25 MSc students, and organised a wide range of training events for different stakeholders. SHARE peer-reviewed all proposals that researchers submitted through several rounds of funding and offered external peer-review for all the reports produced under the partner's research platforms. In the second phase, the aim was to support capacity development of a smaller number of African research institutions to move towards their independent sustainability, with a stronger focus on early and mid-career scientists within these institutions. In each institution, a Research Fellow was supported and a specific capacity development plan was jointly developed. Strategies that yielded success were learning by doing (supporting institutions and postgraduate students on sanitation and hygiene research), providing fellowships to appoint mid-career scientists to support personal and institutional development, and supporting tailored capacity-building plans. The key lessons learnt were that research capacity-building programmes need to be driven by local initiatives tailored with support from partners. We recommend that future programmes seeking to strengthen research capacity should consider targeted strategies for individuals at early, middle and later career stages and should be sensitive to other institutional operations to support both the research and management capacities. اتحاد برنامج أبحاث البحوث التطبيقية في مجال الصرف الصحي والنظافة الصحية من أجل الإنصاف (SHARE) هو برنامج تموله وزارة التنمية الدولية في المملكة المتحدة (DFID) يهدف إلى المساهمة في تحقيق الوصول الشامل إلى الصرف الصحي والنظافة الصحية الفعالة والمستدامة والمنصفة في جميع أنحاء العالم. يعد عنصر تنمية القدرات ركيزة مهمة لهذا البرنامج وتم تصميم وتنفيذ استراتيجيات مختلفة خلال المراحل المختلفة للمشاركة. تصف هذه الورقة وتعكس استراتيجيات بناء القدرات لهذا الاتحاد البحثي الكبير متعدد البلدان، وتحديد الدروس المستفادة واقتراح توصيات لبرامج البحوث الصحية العالمية المستقبلية. في المرحلة الأولى، ركزت الاستراتيجية على زيادة قدرة الأفراد والمؤسسات من البلدان المنخفضة والمتوسطة الدخل على إجراء أبحاثهم الخاصة. دعمت SHARE ستة طلاب دكتوراه و 25 طالب ماجستير، ونظمت مجموعة واسعة من الأحداث التدريبية لمختلف أصحاب المصلحة. شارك جميع المقترحات التي قدمها الباحثون من خلال عدة جولات من التمويل واستعرضها الأقران وقدموا مراجعة خارجية لجميع التقارير التي تم إنتاجها في إطار منصات البحث الخاصة بالشريك. في المرحلة الثانية، كان الهدف هو دعم تنمية قدرات عدد أقل من المؤسسات البحثية الأفريقية للتحرك نحو استدامتها المستقلة، مع التركيز بشكل أكبر على العلماء الأوائل والمتوسطين داخل هذه المؤسسات. في كل مؤسسة، تم دعم زميل باحث وتم وضع خطة محددة لتنمية القدرات بشكل مشترك. كانت الاستراتيجيات التي حققت النجاح هي التعلم بالممارسة (دعم المؤسسات وطلاب الدراسات العليا في أبحاث الصرف الصحي والنظافة)، وتقديم زمالات لتعيين علماء في منتصف حياتهم المهنية لدعم التنمية الشخصية والمؤسسية، ودعم خطط بناء القدرات المصممة خصيصًا. كانت الدروس الرئيسية المستفادة هي أن برامج بناء القدرات البحثية يجب أن تكون مدفوعة بمبادرات محلية مصممة بدعم من الشركاء. نوصي بأن تنظر البرامج المستقبلية التي تسعى إلى تعزيز القدرة البحثية في الاستراتيجيات المستهدفة للأفراد في المراحل المهنية المبكرة والمتوسطة واللاحقة وأن تكون حساسة للعمليات المؤسسية الأخرى لدعم كل من القدرات البحثية والإدارية.

Circular economy has gained momentum since the 1970s as a regenerative alternative to the traditional linear economy. However, as the circular economy has gone mainstream, circularity claims have become fragmented and remote, consisting of indirect contributions, such as the life extension of other products and the use of waste as feedstock, without addressing the actual cause of waste. The present study aims to identify the strategic motivations of manufacturers participating in the circular economy and the corresponding relationship to ecological embeddedness. This paper explores the circular economy in manufacturing through existing products on the market and their relationship to eco-design by considering the product, packaging, and its production. Legitimacy is found to be a decisive factor in whether the type of circular economy strategy manufacturers adopt yields ecological benefits. The results from the case study of products clearly indicate the superiority of ecological embeddedness, as a form of circularity supporting strong sustainability. Finally, a novel template is proposed to support the implementation of ecological embeddedness in manufacturing.

Abstract Energy systems in rural China are experiencing a transition from traditional fossil fuels to renewables. This paper aims to investigate the potential factors that influence the choices of rural residents regarding water heaters with a focus on the low-carbon transition to solar water heating systems. To this end, a face-to-face questionnaire survey is undertaken with 3404 rural households randomly selected among 12 representative provinces. A comprehensive set of discrete choice modelling approaches were used. The empirical results show that (1) sociodemographic variables have significant effects on residents’ first-stage choice of a water heater (to buy or not to buy) but few effects on the second-stage decision to choose electric, LPG, or solar water heaters (which type to buy); (2) information spillover is important to facilitate the usage of water heaters, particularly of solar products; (3) the electricity price, which is regulated at a very low rate, has no apparent effect on the choice of solar water heaters; (4) government subsidy has a significant effect in the first stage but no differentiated effect on the decision choice in the second stage. Policy and managerial implications are presented to speed up the ongoing low-carbon transition of energy systems in China.

Abstract In this study, a methodology is developed to assess the feasibility of a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination system powered by a stand-alone salinity driven pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) technology. First, the proposed hybrid RO–PRO system is analysed as a thermodynamic cycle and its feasibility is mathematically interpreted using a feasible condition (FC) number, several dimensionless operational variables and a number of constraints to represent the objective of zero brine discharge. Then, a study of the stand-alone feasibility of a hybrid seawater RO–PRO system is carried out. The results show that lower RO water recovery and higher dimensionless flow rate improve the stand-alone feasibility of the system. A subsystem, a look inside the PRO, is developed to study the applied pressure and the required membrane area to achieve the operations with optimum FC numbers. It is found that the optimum applied hydraulic pressure is inversely proportional to the dimensionless flow rate in the feasible range of stand-alone operations and more area of membrane is required by a larger FC number. Finally, a case study of a selected operation is presented based on its energy performance, and two influencing factors, the inefficiency of the components and the salinity concentration of the feed water.