Academic literature on the topic 'Series stabilized'

A laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of two products used to accelerate strength improvement of a silty sand (SM) material stabilized with nontraditional stabilizers. SM soil samples were mixed with selected products and tested under both “wet” and dry conditions after 1- and 7-day cures. Nine nontraditional stabilizers, including lignosulfonates, polymers, silicates, and tree resins, were evaluated in this experiment. Two accelerator products, an acrylic polymer and Type I portland cement, were evaluated. Samples were also stabilized with either an asphalt emulsion or cement to provide a comparison for traditional stabilizers under the same conditions. The average unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of three replicates of each mixture was compared with the results of the remaining mixtures, the traditional stabilization results, and a series of untreated control samples. The results indicate increased UCS of samples stabilized with Silicate 1 and Polymer 3 compared with both the untreated control series and the traditional stabilization alternatives. Lignosulfonate 1; Polymers 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6; and Tree Resin 1 did not demonstrate significant increased strength over the control series for the conditions of this experiment. The UCS following the 7-day cure provided the maximum UCS of the samples evaluated in both wet and dry conditions. One accelerator, cement, in combination with a nontraditional stabilizer did show significant improvement in early strength gain when compared to the control series.

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the durability of stabilized soil. The effect of the addition of chemical stabilizers such as cement, lime, filler and their combination on the durability of clay was examined. The durability of stabilized material was evaluated by conducting series of cyclic wetting-drying and weight loss tests. The study shows that the durability of earth material can be improved by cement and lime stabilizers. These stabilizers provide interesting properties of clays and the durability of stabilized material is greatly enhanced by a combination of these stabilizers.

Black cotton soil (BCS) forms a major soil group in Kenya and is characterized by high shrink/swell potential when exposed to water. A comprehensive series of laboratory tests were performed on BCS treated with lime (0–9%), volcanic ash (VA, 0–25%), and their combinations in order to study the physical–mechanical properties and mineralogical changes of the stabilized BCS. Moreover, a test road which replaced the BCS with the lime–VA-stabilized BCS was constructed to investigate the moisture change and soil movement in the BCS foundation. The results revealed that BCS stabilized with combinations of lime and VA shows larger California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values when compared with a single stabilizer. BCS stabilized with 3% lime + 15% VA meets the performance requirements of roadbed materials in accordance with JTG D30-2015. The increase of pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in the stabilized soil promotes chemical reactions between the stabilizers and BCS to form new cementing agents, which are confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) findings. The replacement of BCS with 3% lime + 15% VA-stabilized BCS shows an obvious effect on controlling the moisture change and soil movement in the foundation BCS. This research provides a low-cost strategy for making use of the vast resources of BCS in Kenya obtained from foundation excavation.

A laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the stabilization of low- and high-plasticity clay soils with nontraditional chemical or liquid stabilizers. Clay soil specimens were mixed with various stabilization products and compacted using a gyratory compaction machine to approximate ASTM D1557 moisture–density compaction. Each specimen was subjected to wet and dry testing following a 28-day cure. Twelve nontraditional stabilizers were evaluated, including an acid, enzymes, a lignosulfonate, a petroleum emulsion, polymers, and a tree resin. Additional specimens were stabilized with Type I portland cement and hydrated lime for comparison with traditional stabilizers under the same mixing, compaction, and curing conditions. Analysis of the test data consisted of determining the average strength, in terms of unconfined compressive strength, of three replicate specimens of each mixture. The average strength of the three replicates of each additive was compared with the average strength results of the remaining nontraditional additives, the traditional stabilization results, and a series of control specimens that were not stabilized. The experiment results indicate an increased strength of some nontraditionally stabilized specimens when compared with that of both the control series and the traditional stabilization alternatives. Other nontraditional stabilizers did not demonstrate significant increased strength compared with that of the control series for the conditions of this experiment. Many of the stabilized specimens were highly susceptible to moisture, indicating the potential for poor performance when exposed to adverse environmental conditions, whereas a few specimens demonstrated excellent performance when exposed to moisture. Specific product categories are recommended for stabilizing low- and high-plasticity clay soils.

The addition of chemical or mechanical materials, such as fibers or stabilizers, is frequently utilized in geotechnical engineering to improve the mechanical properties of problematic soils. In this study, great efforts have been made to obtain insight into the mechanical properties of the natural, fiber, and chemical additive-stabilized soil in heavy-haul railway embankment. A series of triaxial compression tests are conducted on the stabilized samples of different preparation conditions, including water content, compaction degree, confining pressure, fiber content, fiber length, stabilizer content, and curing time. Results show that the shear strength of natural soils shows a distinct increase after adding fiber and chemical additive stabilization. The optimum fiber content and length for fiber stabilization are 0.2% and 12 mm, respectively. The initial tangential modulus and failure stress of chemical stabilized samples increase with the increase of additive dosage or curing time. Meanwhile, a brittle characteristic is observed. In the process of determining the reinforcement methods in practical projects, several other considerations are included, such as equipment and time available, especially for stabilized soils. The fiber-reinforced soils and stabilized soils are efficient for increasing the shear strength and changing of the brittleness character of the heavy-haul railway embankment. The results of this study could provide a valuable reference for geotechnical engineers dealing with soil problems, especially for the heavy-haul railway embankment.

The calculated dependences for determining the deviation of the output current of the resonant power supply of the materials pulsed processing system from a given stabilized value are obtained. The inversely proportional dependence of the output current on the frequency at the input of the series resonant circuit is obtained. These dependencies can be applied for the frequency control of the inverter’s switches commutation which stabilizes the RMS value of the output current. At the close to short circuit modes, the deviation of the output current from the stabilized value does not exceed 2%, and therefore it can be ignored.

A secondary by-product, quarry fines, has previously been investigated for applications in high volume as pavement construction materials. Results from a series of laboratory tests suggest qualified basic properties except for the possibility of frost susceptibility for the virgin quarry fines. In Part II of the research, stabilized quarry fine specimens were prepared and investigated in view of the mechanical behavior, and the durability represented by susceptibility to freezing and thawing cycles. The unconfined compressive strength, which is also the commonly used strength indicator, was adopted to evaluate the validity of the stabilized quarry fines as pavement construction materials. The laboratory-determined parameters were then compared among specimens treated with different stabilizers and with the typical requirements for pavement base/subbase layers. The stabilized quarry fines can be qualified for applications in pavement base, subbase and filter layer depending on the types of stabilizers used and degrees of compaction achieved.

The stability of a stabilized with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) magnetic fluid to alcohols of a saturated homologous series was investigated. We used alcohols with a linear molecular structure and their possible isomers. It was found that the solubility of the PDMS stabilized particles strongly depends on the length of the coagulant molecules and, quite unexpectedly, on the degree of isomerization. The first tested coagulants, ethanol and acetone, did not mix with PDMS stabilized magnetic fluid. The next member of the homologous series, linear propanol, is an effective coagulant that causes a sharp precipitation of particles. Meanwhile, with isopropanol, coagulation occurs very smoothly. The butanol isomers differ even more. Normal butanol causes the liquid to coagulate at a higher concentration than propanol. Whereas tert-butanol is mixed with PDMS stabilized magnetic fluid in any proportion. The last linear alcohol in the homologous series that can serve as a coagulant is hexanol-1. The next members of the homologous series no longer mix with the PDMS stabilized magnetic fluid. This is typical only for linear molecules. For example, 2ethylhexanol (isooctanol) perfectly dissolves PDMS stabilized particles. This property can be used to separate mixtures of isomers and linear molecules.

This document designed a stabilized platform of 2-DOF spherical parallel mechanism with 1-DOF in series. DC servo motors are adopted as the driver of the mechanism. The system uses an inertial gyro sensor as the feedback of the angular position. Software and hardware of the platform were developed. The full closed-loops control structure based on Advantech IPC with NI multifunction data acquisition card(PCI-6230), including current loop, velocity loop and angular position loop, gets wide speed range and high precision for angular tracking. Control software was the Matlab with embedded real-time QuaRC. Experiment results meet the technical index and precision requirement, and illustrate the practicability and effectiveness of the scheme.

A series of tests were conducted to evaluate the difference of strengths of soils stabilized with enzyme and ground quicklime respectively. Perma-Zyme as an enzymatic soil stabilizer was used in this research. The analysis of the experimental data indicated that the type of soil and curing condition affected those treated with Perma-Zyme or ground quicklime significantly. Perma-Zyme can clearly improve the strengths of fine-grained soil and coarse-grained soil from 7 to 60 days of curing under air-dry condition, but had no significant effect on the strengths of silty loam under air-dry condition and those in sealed glass containers. Under the air-dry conditions, the unconfined compressive strengths of lime-stabilized soil were lower than those treated with Perma-Zyme at different ages. In sealed glass containers, the unconfined compressive strengths of lime-stabilized soil were higher than those treated with Perma-Zyme, because the water in specimens can not evaporate and can promote further hydration of the ground quicklime particles.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis presents results of a study on the small-signal stability of a single-machine infinite-bus power system. Conditions of generator loading and network impedance are identified that require additional stability support. Two methods of stability enhancement are investigated, namely the power system stabilizer and the controlled series capacitor. Both stabilizers employ the conventional (classic) control structure, and parameters are evaluated for optimum performance using an integral-of-the-squared-error-based method. Results for damping capability versus generator loading and system impedance were generated. The ability of the power system stabilizer and controlled series capacitor to provide stability support is compared. This comparison is based on (a) the ability to provide more damping torque when needed, and (b) the amount of damping torque contributed by the stabilizer.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierin word die resultate van 'n studie op die klein-sein stabiliteit van 'n enkel-masjien oneindige-bus kragstelsel weergegee. Kondisies van generator belasting en netwerk impedansie waar dempings-ondersteuning benodig word, word geïdentifiseer. Twee metodes van stabiliteits-verbetering word ondersoek, naamlik die kragstelstel stabiliseerder en die beheerde serie kapasitor. Beide stabiliseerders maak gebruik van die konvensionele (klassieke) beheerstruktuur, waarvan parameters geëvalueer word deur gebruik te maak van 'n integraal-van-die-vierkant-fout-gebaseerde metode. Resultate vir dempingsvermoë teenoor generator belasting en stelsel impedansie word verkry. Die vermoë van die kragstelsel stabiliseerder en beheerde serie kapasitor om stabiliteits-ondersteuning te verskaf, word vergelyk. Hierdie vergelyking is gebasseer op (a) die vermoë om meer dempingswrinkrag te voorsien wanneer benodig, en (b) die hoeveelheid dempingswrinkrag deur die stabiliseerder bygedra.

Pour depasser le cadre de la theorie locale de la triple deck de stewartson et williams, on etablit une formulation en triple couche et en double echelle longitudinale jusqu'au second ordre des developpements asymptotiques. Celle-ci exige une utilisation precise de la regle du raccord asymptotique dont on donne l'expression appropriee. L'utilisation de developpements non reguliers, tenant compte de l'epaississement de la couche limite, s'avere particulierement bien adaptee aux ecoulements sur une plaque presentant une serie d'indentations. En effet, cette nouvelle approche montre que l'on peut traiter simultanement les problemes du premier et second ordre, dans chaque couche, par la resolution d'un probleme unique. Elle met egalement en evidence l'existence d'une nouvelle longueur caracteristique des indentations qui contribue a une meilleure interpretation du phenomene de deplacement de la couche limite. Dans une premiere partie, on etudie la reduction de la trainee laminaire en fonction des parametres geometriques des indentations ainsi que des variations locales du nombre de reynolds. Dans la seconde, on examine la stabilite lineaire et faiblement non lineaire des ecoulements generes par les perturbateurs. Dans le cadre de la theorie de la stabilite lineaire parallele, conduisant a l'equation d'orr - sommerfeld, on caracterise analytiquement et numeriquement l'apparition d'ondes de tollmien - schlichting ainsi que l'influence de la geometrie des indentations sur l'amplification de ces ondes. Des lors, une configuration geometrique optimisee des perturbateurs est construite pour simultanement reduire la trainee laminaire et reculer l'abscisse du debut de la transition. Enfin, a l'aide d'un code pse (parabolized stability equations) de l'onera-cert, on exprime les variations qualitatives des resultats de la stabilite lineaire lorsque l'on tient compte des effets faiblement non lineaires.

This thesis investigates the impact of harmonics as a power quality issue on the dynamic behaviour of the power systems. The effectiveness of the power system stabilizers in distorted conditions is also investigated. This thesis consists of three parts as follows:The first part focuses on the operation of the power system under distorted conditions. The conventional model of a synchronous generator in the dq-frame of reference is modified to include the impact of time and space harmonics. To do this, the synchronous generator is first modelled in the harmonic domain. This model helps in calculating the additional parts of the generator fundamental components due to the harmonics. Then the Park transformation is used for calculating the modified fundamental components of the synchronous generator in dq axes. The modified generator rotor angle due to the presence of harmonics is calculated and the impact of damper windings under the influence of harmonics is investigated. This model is used to study the small-signal stability of a distorted Single Machine Infinite Bus (SMIB) system. The eigenvalue analysis method is employed and the system state space equations are calculated by linearizing the differential equations around the operating point using an analytical method. The simulation results are presented for a distorted SMIB system under the influence of different harmonic levels. The impact of damper windings and also harmonics phase angles are also investigated.In the second part of the thesis, the effectiveness of the power system damping controllers under distorted conditions is studied. This investigation is done based on a distorted SMIB system installed with a Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC). In the first step, the system state space equations are derived. A Power Oscillation Damping (POD) controller with a conventional structure is installed on the SSSC to improve the system dynamic behaviour. A genetic-fuzzy algorithm is proposed for tuning the POD parameters. This method along with the observability matrix is employed to design a POD controller under sinusoidal and distorted conditions. The impact of harmonics on the effectiveness of the POD controller under distorted conditions is investigated.In the last part, the steady state and dynamic operation of an actual distributed generation system under sinusoidal and distorted conditions are studied. A decoupled harmonic power flow program is employed for steady state analysis. The nonlinear loads are modelled as decoupled harmonic current sources and the nonlinear model of synchronous generator in harmonic domain is used to calculate the injected current harmonics. For the system dynamic stability study, the power system toolbox with the modified model of the synchronous generator is used. The system eigenvalues are calculated and the effectiveness of the installed Power System Stabilisers (PSS) is investigated under sinusoidal and distorted conditions. Simulation results show that in order to guarantee the effectiveness of a PSS in distorted conditions, it is necessary to consider the harmonics in tuning its parameters.

Let R be a domain, V a left R-module, and L a composition series of direct summands of V. Our main results show that if U is a stabilizer group of L containing the McLain-group associated with L , then U determines the chain (L,⊆) uniquely up to isomorphism or anti-isomorphism.

All of the titles in the Stahl's Illustrated series are designed to be fun. Concepts are illustrated by full-color images that will be familiar to all readers of Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 3rd Edition and The Prescriber's Guide. The visual learner will find that these books make psychopharmacology concepts easy to master, while the non-visual learner will enjoy a shortened text version of complex psychopharmacology concepts. Within each book, each chapter builds on previous chapters, synthesizing information from basic biology and diagnostics to building treatment plans and dealing with complications and comorbidities. Novices may want to approach Stahl's Illustrated series by first looking through all the graphics and gaining a feel for the visual vocabulary. Readers more familiar with these topics should find that going back and forth between images and text provides an interaction with which to vividly conceptualize complex pharmacologies. And, to help guide the reader toward more in-depth learning about particular concepts, each book ends with a Suggested Reading section.

German Angst analyzes the relationship of fear and democracy in postwar West Germany. While fear has historically been associated with authoritarian regimes, the book highlights the role of fear and anxiety in a democratizing society: these emotions undermined democracy and stabilized it at the same time. By taking seriously postwar Germans’ uncertainties about the future, the book challenges dominant linear and teleological narratives of postwar West German “success.” It highlights the prospective function of memories of war and defeat, of National Socialism and the Holocaust. Fears and anxieties derived from memories of a catastrophic past that postwar Germans projected into the future. Based on case studies from the 1940s to the present, the book provides a new interpretive synthesis of the Federal Republic. It tells the history of the Federal Republic as a series of recurring crises, in which specific fears and anxieties emerged, served a variety of political functions, and then again abated. Drawing on recent interdisciplinary insights of emotion studies, the book transcends the dichotomy of “reason” and “emotion.” Fear and anxiety were not exclusively irrational and dysfunctional but served important roles in postwar democracy. These emotions sensitized postwar Germans to the dangers of an authoritarian transformation, and they also served as the emotional engine of the environmental and peace movements. The book also provides an original analysis of the emotional basis of right-wing populism in Germany today, and it explores the possibilities of a democratic politics of emotion.

A laboratory-scale swirl-stabilized combustor is experimentally characterized for various configurations involving variable air flow rates and different fuel injection locations. Unsteady pressure and heat release rate measurements were obtained simultaneously in order to determine the stability map of the combustor for the experimented configurations. It is observed that a sharp rise in pressure amplitude coincides with a break in the dominant spectral content variation with the inlet Reynolds number. The time series data were analyzed by using the tools of symbolic dynamic filtering and the divergences among the outputs of each sub-class of observations were obtained as anomaly measures. In the proposed method, symbol strings are generated by partitioning the (finite-length) time series to construct a special class of probabilistic finite state automata (PFSA) that have a deterministic algebraic structure. The anomaly measures are defined based on the probabilistic state vectors distribution across each sub class. The method which is based on representing a given time series data as a set of PFSA is observed to be capable of predicting an impending combustion instability as well as to distinguish between the symbol-state distribution among various instability conditions. The measure also successfully captures changes in the thermoacoustic regime as a function of the fuel injection location.

Swirl is used in a wide range of combustions systems such as engines, furnaces, gasifiers, and boilers, to enhance mixing, stabilize flames, and reduce pollutant emissions. Numerical modeling of swirling flows remains a challenging task, since there may exist complex recirculating flow patterns and flow instabilities associated with vortex breakdown, precessing vortex core, and jet precession. In swirling flames, the situation becomes more complex because the unsteady heat release can add other modes of instability. The origins and nature of these instabilities are still not well understood despite many experimental and numerical studies have been conducted in the area. The Sydney swirl burner flame series provide an excellent platform for validating numerical methods for turbulence-chemistry interactions and have been target flames for the TNF workshop series. The burner has well-defined boundary conditions and comprehensive experimental data sets have been documented for different fuel compositions and flow conditions. Compared with the piloted and bluff-body stabilized flames, swirl-stabilized flames pose an additional challenge to numerical modeling because of the complex flow patterns and inherent flow instabilities. In this study, a large eddy simulation (LES)-based multi-environment turbulent combustion model is used to model the Sydney swirl burner flame SMH1. The multi-environment filtered density function model (MEFDF) depicts the filtered density function (FDF) as a weighted summation of a small number of multi-dimensional Dirac delta functions in composition space. It is derived from the transport FDF equation using the direct quadrature method of moments (DQMOM). The MEFDF method with multiple reactive scalars retains the unique property of the joint FDF model of treating the chemical source term exactly. A 19-species mechanism reduced from GRI-Mech 2.11 is employed for chemical kinetics. The in situ adaptive tabulation algorithm (ISAT) is used to speed-up the evaluation of the chemical source term. The predicted radial profiles of the axial velocity, azimuthal velocity, mixture fraction, temperature, and species mass fractions of CO2, CO, and NO are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. It has been found that, compared with the experimental data, the profiles of the temperature and species mass fractions shifted slightly outward in the radial direction at downstream locations and NO mass fraction is slightly over-predicted at most locations. Further work will be needed to find out possible reasons for these discrepancies.

Navigation channels, turning basins, and other US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)–managed navigation infrastructure often serve as repositories for contaminated sediment from off-site sources. As much as 10% of the material that USACE dredges on an annual basis is contaminated such that it requires additional and more costly management (for example, rehandling and placement in managed confined disposal facilities). Presence of contaminated sediments constrain potential management options resulting in additional costs and opportunity loss from the inability to beneficially use the material. One potential solution is applying clean dredged material to stabilize and isolate contaminated sediment sources, preventing further transport and introduction to USACE-managed infrastructure. This document summarizes a comprehensive literature review of laboratory and field case studies relevant to using clean dredged material to isolate or stabilize contaminated sediments, focusing on the physical, chemical, and biological parameters critical to establishing its feasibility and long-term effectiveness. Potentially effective engineering control measures were also reviewed where erosion and site hydrodynamics are facilitating the transport of contaminated sediments to USACE-maintained navigation infrastructure. This literature review documents and summarizes those factors considered in establishing feasibility and long-term effectiveness of the approach as well as the applicable engineering tools employed and constraints encountered.

Lebanon is extremely unequal and has been rocked by massive protests in recent months. The country is facing a financial crisis and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about a potential bailout programme. Other IMF programmes in the region have focused on austerity and have driven increases in poverty and inequality. A business-as-usual approach by the IMF in Lebanon could have serious and far-reaching adverse impacts. Any potential policies pushed by the IMF in Lebanon must first be shown not to impact negatively on economic and gender inequalities, and must be drawn up transparently in consultation with local communities, civil society organizations and social movements.

Linear city bus services are facing increased challenges from city growth. Increased number of inhabitants on increasing acres of built-up areas, makes it demanding to maintain adequate bus services within reasonable catchment areas. Number of departures per hour give a partial description of the bus service quality. Number of departures give reference to the time aspect of bus service quality, but say nothing about the geographical aspect. What part of the entire line network is within reach of direct bus service when frequencies are limited? To address the geographical aspect of bus service quality, the term network ratio is introduced. The term Network Ratio (NR) signifies what part of the entire line network is within reach of direct bus service to or from a certain place in the network. Network Ratio is given as a mathematical term whereby direct bus lines are calculated as a percentage of the entire network. The character and development of Network Ratio in a specific city is illustrated through an analysis of the urban growth of line network and built-up areas in the twin cities of Stavanger and Sandnes. The analysis is covering the period 1920 – 2000 in intervals of 20 years from the first bus lines were established in the urban area. Year 2010 is also included due to major changes implemented right after the turn of the millennium. Development show there is a close relation between bus network and built-up areas. When areas are being built, bus lines follow. The initial fase 1920 – 40 with extensive development of bus lines combined with some areal growth, is followed by a fase of consolidation 1940 – 60. The latter period is characterized by moderate areal growth, extended lines reducing network ratios, and increasing frequencies on the best bus lines. Extensive areal growth in the following period 1960 – 80, implies increased number of bus lines. As a consequence network ratios as well as frequencies are falling in the entire network. In 1960 certain lines had developed as much as 6 departures per hour, while maximum bus line frequency in 1980 has diminished to 2. New bus service development is introduced in the following period between 1980 and 2000. Numerous bus companies are united, and a more comprehensive planning of bus services are applied. The number of bus lines is stabilized at about 40, the fall in network ratio is reduced, and certain lines develop 4 departures per hour. Parallell to the bus development, growth of built-up areas is slowing down due to increased urban renewal with higher densities within built-up areas. In the period 2000 – 2010 new efforts are given to the development of bus services. Development of Network Ratio takes a new direction: The length of network links with high NR is increasing, while links with very low NR are diminishing. Number of bus lines is decreasing, and by 2010 almost 50% of the bus lines are served with 4 departures or more. Passenger comfort is improved in buses as well as on bus stops, and low floor buses are introduced to ease accessibility. Bus service quality is further developed after 2010. Digital services are introduced including digital ticketing, bus service information and real-time information on internet. In addition real-time information is presented at high frequency bus stops through visual screen and auditory speaker. Inside the buses name of next stop is given on screen and through loudspeaker. Further development of the bus services, should include improved Network Ratios in the entire network, as well as increased frequencies on major bus corridors. The latter is a task not only for the bus service planners, but just as well for the city planners and politicians in collaboration with the developers implementing urban density and allocation of important destinations. A last, but not least, objective for bus service development will be to improve punctuality and total travel time. Today a considerable proportion of city bus services are delayed in car traffic congestions. This is occurring especially on main streets and during rush hours. A set of different solutions are needed to address this question: 1. Dedicated bus streets (including car access to limited addresses) 2. Bus lines through local streets in concentrated housing, office and shopping areas. 3. Dedicated bus lane on main streets where possible. 4. Car traffic regulations on main streets without space for extra bus lane. As an overall vision, we need to cultivate the word of Flemming Larsen: urban growth as pearls on a string, as shown in fig. 13 and fig. 14.

The overall objective of the research project was to utilize biochemical insights together with both classical and molecular genetic strategies to improve tomato starch accumulation. The proposal was based on the observation that the transient starch accumulation in the immature fruit serves as a reservoir for carbohydrate and soluble sugar content in the mature fruit, thereby impacting on fruit quality. The general objectives were to optimize AGPase function and activity in developing fruit in order to increase its transient starch levels. The specific research objectives were to: a) perform directed molecular evolution of the limiting enzyme of starch synthesis, AGPase, focussing on the interaction of its regulatory and catalytic subunits; b) determine the mode of action of the recently identified allelic variant for the regulatory subunit in tomato fruit that leads to increased AGPase activity and hence starch content. During the course of the research project major advances were made in understanding the interaction of the small and large subunits of AGPase, in particular the regulatory roles of the different large subunits, in determining starch synthesis. The research was performed using various experimental systems, including bacteria and Arabidopsis, potato and tomato, allowing for broad and meaningful conclusions to be drawn. A novel discovery was that one of the large subunits of tomato AGPase is functional as a monomer. A dozen publications describing the research were published in leading biochemical and horticultural journals. The research results clearly indicated that increasing AGPase activity temporally in the developing fruit increase the starch reservoir and, subsequently, the fruit sugar content. This was shown by a comparison of the carbohydrate balance in near-isogenic tomato lines differing in a gene encoding for the fruit-specific large subunit (LS1). The research also revealed that the increase in AGPase activity is due to a temporal extension of LS1 gene expression in the developing fruit which in turn stabilizes the limiting heterotetrameric enzyme, leading to sustained starch synthesis. This genetic variation can successfully be utilized in the breeding of high quality tomatoes.

This rapid review synthesises the literature from academic sources, knowledge institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and trusted independent media outlets on the approach used by the Russian government to provide any support or services to civilians in the territories it controls. The rapid review concludes that Russia provides economic, social, government, and military support to de facto states that it controls, such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria and the Donbas region. Russia covers large parts of the state’s budget of these separatist regions. This review uses the term aid referring to a wide range of support, such as humanitarian, social safety nets, basic services, infrastructure, state development, and security. Due to the lack of transparency on the Russian aid money that flows into the regions that are the subject of this review, it is impossible to show disaggregated data, but rather a broader overview of Russian aid to these regions. Russia used humanitarian aid and assistance to provide for civilians. During armed conflict it provided, to some extent, food, and medicines to the people. However, from the literature Russia has used humanitarian aid and assistance as an instrument to pursue broader policy goals that could not be defined as humanitarian in nature. Russia often relied on the language of humanitarianism to strengthen its credentials as a neutral and impartial actor and to justify its continued support for the residents and de facto authorities of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria, to secure its aim to strengthen the political and social ties with these regions while weakening their allegiance to Georgia and Moldova. As the humanitarian activities to the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine demonstrate, the Russian state is not willing to allow scrutiny of their humanitarian aid by independent organisations. Mistrust, corruption, and the use of aid for propaganda, even smuggling arms into the separatist region, are commonly mentioned by trusted sources. After a conflict becomes more stabilised, Russia’s humanitarian aid becomes more of a long-term strategic “friendship”, often sealed in a treaty to integrate the region into the Russian sphere, such as the cases of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Transnistria clearly show. Although all these separatist regions rely on Russia (economically, politically, and through Russia’s military presence), this does not mean that they always do exactly what Russia wants, which is particularly the case for Abkhazia and Transnistria.

Emergency Relief (ER) is a Department of Social Services (DSS) funded program, delivered by 197 community organisations (ER Providers) across Australia, to assist people facing a financial crisis with financial/material aid and referrals to other support programs. ER has been playing this important role in Australian communities since 1979. Without ER, more people living in Australia who experience a financial crisis might face further harm such as crippling debt or homelessness. The Emergency Relief National Coordination Group (NCG) was established in April 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to advise the Minister for Families and Social Services on the implementation of ER. To inform its advice to the Minister, the NCG partnered with the Institute for Governance at the University of Canberra to conduct research to understand the issues and challenges faced by ER Providers and Service Users in local contexts across Australia. The research involved a desktop review of the existing literature on ER service provision, a large survey which all Commonwealth ER Providers were invited to participate in (and 122 responses were received), interviews with a purposive sample of 18 ER Providers, and the development of a program logic and theory of change for the Commonwealth ER program to assess progress. The surveys and interviews focussed on ER Provider perceptions of the strengths, weaknesses, future challenges, and areas of improvement for current ER provision. The trend of increasing case complexity, the effectiveness of ER service delivery models in achieving outcomes for Service Users, and the significance of volunteering in the sector were investigated. Separately, an evaluation of the performance of the NCG was conducted and a summary of the evaluation is provided as an appendix to this report. Several themes emerged from the review of the existing literature such as service delivery shortcomings in dealing with case complexity, the effectiveness of case management, and repeat requests for service. Interviews with ER workers and Service Users found that an uplift in workforce capability was required to deal with increasing case complexity, leading to recommendations for more training and service standards. Several service evaluations found that ER delivered with case management led to high Service User satisfaction, played an integral role in transforming the lives of people with complex needs, and lowered repeat requests for service. A large longitudinal quantitative study revealed that more time spent with participants substantially decreased the number of repeat requests for service; and, given that repeat requests for service can be an indicator of entrenched poverty, not accessing further services is likely to suggest improvement. The interviews identified the main strengths of ER to be the rapid response and flexible use of funds to stabilise crisis situations and connect people to other supports through strong local networks. Service Users trusted the system because of these strengths, and ER was often an access point to holistic support. There were three main weaknesses identified. First, funding contracts were too short and did not cover the full costs of the program—in particular, case management for complex cases. Second, many Service Users were dependent on ER which was inconsistent with the definition and intent of the program. Third, there was inconsistency in the level of service received by Service Users in different geographic locations. These weaknesses can be improved upon with a joined-up approach featuring co-design and collaborative governance, leading to the successful commissioning of social services. The survey confirmed that volunteers were significant for ER, making up 92% of all workers and 51% of all hours worked in respondent ER programs. Of the 122 respondents, volunteers amounted to 554 full-time equivalents, a contribution valued at $39.4 million. In total there were 8,316 volunteers working in the 122 respondent ER programs. The sector can support and upskill these volunteers (and employees in addition) by developing scalable training solutions such as online training modules, updating ER service standards, and engaging in collaborative learning arrangements where large and small ER Providers share resources. More engagement with peak bodies such as Volunteering Australia might also assist the sector to improve the focus on volunteer engagement. Integrated services achieve better outcomes for complex ER cases—97% of survey respondents either agreed or strongly agreed this was the case. The research identified the dimensions of service integration most relevant to ER Providers to be case management, referrals, the breadth of services offered internally, co-location with interrelated service providers, an established network of support, workforce capability, and Service User engagement. Providers can individually focus on increasing the level of service integration for their ER program to improve their ability to deal with complex cases, which are clearly on the rise. At the system level, a more joined-up approach can also improve service integration across Australia. The key dimensions of this finding are discussed next in more detail. Case management is key for achieving Service User outcomes for complex cases—89% of survey respondents either agreed or strongly agreed this was the case. Interviewees most frequently said they would provide more case management if they could change their service model. Case management allows for more time spent with the Service User, follow up with referral partners, and a higher level of expertise in service delivery to support complex cases. Of course, it is a costly model and not currently funded for all Service Users through ER. Where case management is not available as part of ER, it might be available through a related service that is part of a network of support. Where possible, ER Providers should facilitate access to case management for Service Users who would benefit. At a system level, ER models with a greater component of case management could be implemented as test cases. Referral systems are also key for achieving Service User outcomes, which is reflected in the ER Program Logic presented on page 31. The survey and interview data show that referrals within an integrated service (internal) or in a service hub (co-located) are most effective. Where this is not possible, warm referrals within a trusted network of support are more effective than cold referrals leading to higher take-up and beneficial Service User outcomes. However, cold referrals are most common, pointing to a weakness in ER referral systems. This is because ER Providers do not operate or co-locate with interrelated services in many cases, nor do they have the case management capacity to provide warm referrals in many other cases. For mental illness support, which interviewees identified as one of the most difficult issues to deal with, ER Providers offer an integrated service only 23% of the time, warm referrals 34% of the time, and cold referrals 43% of the time. A focus on referral systems at the individual ER Provider level, and system level through a joined-up approach, might lead to better outcomes for Service Users. The program logic and theory of change for ER have been documented with input from the research findings and included in Section 4.3 on page 31. These show that ER helps people facing a financial crisis to meet their immediate needs, avoid further harm, and access a path to recovery. The research demonstrates that ER is fundamental to supporting vulnerable people in Australia and should therefore continue to be funded by government.

1.1 Macroeconomic summary Economic recovery has consistently outperformed the technical staff’s expectations following a steep decline in activity in the second quarter of 2020. At the same time, total and core inflation rates have fallen and remain at low levels, suggesting that a significant element of the reactivation of Colombia’s economy has been related to recovery in potential GDP. This would support the technical staff’s diagnosis of weak aggregate demand and ample excess capacity. The most recently available data on 2020 growth suggests a contraction in economic activity of 6.8%, lower than estimates from January’s Monetary Policy Report (-7.2%). High-frequency indicators suggest that economic performance was significantly more dynamic than expected in January, despite mobility restrictions and quarantine measures. This has also come amid declines in total and core inflation, the latter of which was below January projections if controlling for certain relative price changes. This suggests that the unexpected strength of recent growth contains elements of demand, and that excess capacity, while significant, could be lower than previously estimated. Nevertheless, uncertainty over the measurement of excess capacity continues to be unusually high and marked both by variations in the way different economic sectors and spending components have been affected by the pandemic, and by uneven price behavior. The size of excess capacity, and in particular the evolution of the pandemic in forthcoming quarters, constitute substantial risks to the macroeconomic forecast presented in this report. Despite the unexpected strength of the recovery, the technical staff continues to project ample excess capacity that is expected to remain on the forecast horizon, alongside core inflation that will likely remain below the target. Domestic demand remains below 2019 levels amid unusually significant uncertainty over the size of excess capacity in the economy. High national unemployment (14.6% for February 2021) reflects a loose labor market, while observed total and core inflation continue to be below 2%. Inflationary pressures from the exchange rate are expected to continue to be low, with relatively little pass-through on inflation. This would be compatible with a negative output gap. Excess productive capacity and the expectation of core inflation below the 3% target on the forecast horizon provide a basis for an expansive monetary policy posture. The technical staff’s assessment of certain shocks and their expected effects on the economy, as well as the presence of several sources of uncertainty and related assumptions about their potential macroeconomic impacts, remain a feature of this report. The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, continues to affect the public health environment, and the reopening of Colombia’s economy remains incomplete. The technical staff’s assessment is that the COVID-19 shock has affected both aggregate demand and supply, but that the impact on demand has been deeper and more persistent. Given this persistence, the central forecast accounts for a gradual tightening of the output gap in the absence of new waves of contagion, and as vaccination campaigns progress. The central forecast continues to include an expected increase of total and core inflation rates in the second quarter of 2021, alongside the lapse of the temporary price relief measures put in place in 2020. Additional COVID-19 outbreaks (of uncertain duration and intensity) represent a significant risk factor that could affect these projections. Additionally, the forecast continues to include an upward trend in sovereign risk premiums, reflected by higher levels of public debt that in the wake of the pandemic are likely to persist on the forecast horizon, even in the context of a fiscal adjustment. At the same time, the projection accounts for the shortterm effects on private domestic demand from a fiscal adjustment along the lines of the one currently being proposed by the national government. This would be compatible with a gradual recovery of private domestic demand in 2022. The size and characteristics of the fiscal adjustment that is ultimately implemented, as well as the corresponding market response, represent another source of forecast uncertainty. Newly available information offers evidence of the potential for significant changes to the macroeconomic scenario, though without altering the general diagnosis described above. The most recent data on inflation, growth, fiscal policy, and international financial conditions suggests a more dynamic economy than previously expected. However, a third wave of the pandemic has delayed the re-opening of Colombia’s economy and brought with it a deceleration in economic activity. Detailed descriptions of these considerations and subsequent changes to the macroeconomic forecast are presented below. The expected annual decline in GDP (-0.3%) in the first quarter of 2021 appears to have been less pronounced than projected in January (-4.8%). Partial closures in January to address a second wave of COVID-19 appear to have had a less significant negative impact on the economy than previously estimated. This is reflected in figures related to mobility, energy demand, industry and retail sales, foreign trade, commercial transactions from selected banks, and the national statistics agency’s (DANE) economic tracking indicator (ISE). Output is now expected to have declined annually in the first quarter by 0.3%. Private consumption likely continued to recover, registering levels somewhat above those from the previous year, while public consumption likely increased significantly. While a recovery in investment in both housing and in other buildings and structures is expected, overall investment levels in this case likely continued to be low, and gross fixed capital formation is expected to continue to show significant annual declines. Imports likely recovered to again outpace exports, though both are expected to register significant annual declines. Economic activity that outpaced projections, an increase in oil prices and other export products, and an expected increase in public spending this year account for the upward revision to the 2021 growth forecast (from 4.6% with a range between 2% and 6% in January, to 6.0% with a range between 3% and 7% in April). As a result, the output gap is expected to be smaller and to tighten more rapidly than projected in the previous report, though it is still expected to remain in negative territory on the forecast horizon. Wide forecast intervals reflect the fact that the future evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant source of uncertainty on these projections. The delay in the recovery of economic activity as a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in the first quarter appears to have been less significant than projected in the January report. The central forecast scenario expects this improved performance to continue in 2021 alongside increased consumer and business confidence. Low real interest rates and an active credit supply would also support this dynamic, and the overall conditions would be expected to spur a recovery in consumption and investment. Increased growth in public spending and public works based on the national government’s spending plan (Plan Financiero del Gobierno) are other factors to consider. Additionally, an expected recovery in global demand and higher projected prices for oil and coffee would further contribute to improved external revenues and would favor investment, in particular in the oil sector. Given the above, the technical staff’s 2021 growth forecast has been revised upward from 4.6% in January (range from 2% to 6%) to 6.0% in April (range from 3% to 7%). These projections account for the potential for the third wave of COVID-19 to have a larger and more persistent effect on the economy than the previous wave, while also supposing that there will not be any additional significant waves of the pandemic and that mobility restrictions will be relaxed as a result. Economic growth in 2022 is expected to be 3%, with a range between 1% and 5%. This figure would be lower than projected in the January report (3.6% with a range between 2% and 6%), due to a higher base of comparison given the upward revision to expected GDP in 2021. This forecast also takes into account the likely effects on private demand of a fiscal adjustment of the size currently being proposed by the national government, and which would come into effect in 2022. Excess in productive capacity is now expected to be lower than estimated in January but continues to be significant and affected by high levels of uncertainty, as reflected in the wide forecast intervals. The possibility of new waves of the virus (of uncertain intensity and duration) represents a significant downward risk to projected GDP growth, and is signaled by the lower limits of the ranges provided in this report. Inflation (1.51%) and inflation excluding food and regulated items (0.94%) declined in March compared to December, continuing below the 3% target. The decline in inflation in this period was below projections, explained in large part by unanticipated increases in the costs of certain foods (3.92%) and regulated items (1.52%). An increase in international food and shipping prices, increased foreign demand for beef, and specific upward pressures on perishable food supplies appear to explain a lower-than-expected deceleration in the consumer price index (CPI) for foods. An unexpected increase in regulated items prices came amid unanticipated increases in international fuel prices, on some utilities rates, and for regulated education prices. The decline in annual inflation excluding food and regulated items between December and March was in line with projections from January, though this included downward pressure from a significant reduction in telecommunications rates due to the imminent entry of a new operator. When controlling for the effects of this relative price change, inflation excluding food and regulated items exceeds levels forecast in the previous report. Within this indicator of core inflation, the CPI for goods (1.05%) accelerated due to a reversion of the effects of the VAT-free day in November, which was largely accounted for in February, and possibly by the transmission of a recent depreciation of the peso on domestic prices for certain items (electric and household appliances). For their part, services prices decelerated and showed the lowest rate of annual growth (0.89%) among the large consumer baskets in the CPI. Within the services basket, the annual change in rental prices continued to decline, while those services that continue to experience the most significant restrictions on returning to normal operations (tourism, cinemas, nightlife, etc.) continued to register significant price declines. As previously mentioned, telephone rates also fell significantly due to increased competition in the market. Total inflation is expected to continue to be affected by ample excesses in productive capacity for the remainder of 2021 and 2022, though less so than projected in January. As a result, convergence to the inflation target is now expected to be somewhat faster than estimated in the previous report, assuming the absence of significant additional outbreaks of COVID-19. The technical staff’s year-end inflation projections for 2021 and 2022 have increased, suggesting figures around 3% due largely to variation in food and regulated items prices. The projection for inflation excluding food and regulated items also increased, but remains below 3%. Price relief measures on indirect taxes implemented in 2020 are expected to lapse in the second quarter of 2021, generating a one-off effect on prices and temporarily affecting inflation excluding food and regulated items. However, indexation to low levels of past inflation, weak demand, and ample excess productive capacity are expected to keep core inflation below the target, near 2.3% at the end of 2021 (previously 2.1%). The reversion in 2021 of the effects of some price relief measures on utility rates from 2020 should lead to an increase in the CPI for regulated items in the second half of this year. Annual price changes are now expected to be higher than estimated in the January report due to an increased expected path for fuel prices and unanticipated increases in regulated education prices. The projection for the CPI for foods has increased compared to the previous report, taking into account certain factors that were not anticipated in January (a less favorable agricultural cycle, increased pressure from international prices, and transport costs). Given the above, year-end annual inflation for 2021 and 2022 is now expected to be 3% and 2.8%, respectively, which would be above projections from January (2.3% and 2,7%). For its part, expected inflation based on analyst surveys suggests year-end inflation in 2021 and 2022 of 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. There remains significant uncertainty surrounding the inflation forecasts included in this report due to several factors: 1) the evolution of the pandemic; 2) the difficulty in evaluating the size and persistence of excess productive capacity; 3) the timing and manner in which price relief measures will lapse; and 4) the future behavior of food prices. Projected 2021 growth in foreign demand (4.4% to 5.2%) and the supposed average oil price (USD 53 to USD 61 per Brent benchmark barrel) were both revised upward. An increase in long-term international interest rates has been reflected in a depreciation of the peso and could result in relatively tighter external financial conditions for emerging market economies, including Colombia. Average growth among Colombia’s trade partners was greater than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. This, together with a sizable fiscal stimulus approved in the United States and the onset of a massive global vaccination campaign, largely explains the projected increase in foreign demand growth in 2021. The resilience of the goods market in the face of global crisis and an expected normalization in international trade are additional factors. These considerations and the expected continuation of a gradual reduction of mobility restrictions abroad suggest that Colombia’s trade partners could grow on average by 5.2% in 2021 and around 3.4% in 2022. The improved prospects for global economic growth have led to an increase in current and expected oil prices. Production interruptions due to a heavy winter, reduced inventories, and increased supply restrictions instituted by producing countries have also contributed to the increase. Meanwhile, market forecasts and recent Federal Reserve pronouncements suggest that the benchmark interest rate in the U.S. will remain stable for the next two years. Nevertheless, a significant increase in public spending in the country has fostered expectations for greater growth and inflation, as well as increased uncertainty over the moment in which a normalization of monetary policy might begin. This has been reflected in an increase in long-term interest rates. In this context, emerging market economies in the region, including Colombia, have registered increases in sovereign risk premiums and long-term domestic interest rates, and a depreciation of local currencies against the dollar. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in several of these economies; limits on vaccine supply and the slow pace of immunization campaigns in some countries; a significant increase in public debt; and tensions between the United States and China, among other factors, all add to a high level of uncertainty surrounding interest rate spreads, external financing conditions, and the future performance of risk premiums. The impact that this environment could have on the exchange rate and on domestic financing conditions represent risks to the macroeconomic and monetary policy forecasts. Domestic financial conditions continue to favor recovery in economic activity. The transmission of reductions to the policy interest rate on credit rates has been significant. The banking portfolio continues to recover amid circumstances that have affected both the supply and demand for loans, and in which some credit risks have materialized. Preferential and ordinary commercial interest rates have fallen to a similar degree as the benchmark interest rate. As is generally the case, this transmission has come at a slower pace for consumer credit rates, and has been further delayed in the case of mortgage rates. Commercial credit levels stabilized above pre-pandemic levels in March, following an increase resulting from significant liquidity requirements for businesses in the second quarter of 2020. The consumer credit portfolio continued to recover and has now surpassed February 2020 levels, though overall growth in the portfolio remains low. At the same time, portfolio projections and default indicators have increased, and credit establishment earnings have come down. Despite this, credit disbursements continue to recover and solvency indicators remain well above regulatory minimums. 1.2 Monetary policy decision In its meetings in March and April the BDBR left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.75%.

Banco de la República’s main objective is to preserve the purchasing power of the currency in coordination with the general economic policy that is intended to stabilize output and employment at long-term sustainable levels. Properly meeting the goal assigned to the Bank by the 1991 Constitution critically depends on preserving financial stability. This is understood to be a general condition in which the financial system assesses and manages the financial risks in a way that facilitates the economy’s performance and efficient allocation of resources while, at the same time, it is able to, on its own, absorb, dissipate, and mitigate the shocks that may arise as a result of adverse events. This Financial Stability Report meets the goal of giving Banco de la República’s diagnosis of the financial system’s and its debtors’ recent performance as well as of the main risks and vulnerabilities that could affect the stability of the Colombian economy. In this way, participants in financial markets and the public are being informed, and public debate on trends and risks affecting the system is being encouraged. The results presented here also serve the monetary authority as a basis for making decisions that will enhance financial stability in the general context of its objectives. In recent months, several positive aspects of the financial system have preserved a remarkable degree of continuity and stability: the liquidity and capital adequacy of financial institutions have remained well above the regulatory minimums at both the individual and consolidated levels, the coverage of past-due loans by loan-loss provisions remains high, and the financial markets for public and private debt and stocks have continued to function normally. At the same time, a surge in all the types of loan portfolios, a sharp downturn in the non-performing loan portfolio, and a rise in the profitability of credit institutions can be seen for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. In line with the general recovery of the economy, the main vulnerability to the stability of the Colombian financial system identified in the previous edition—uncertainty about changes in the non-performing loans portfolio—has receded and remains on a downward trend. In this edition, the main source of vulnerability identified for financial stability in the short term is the system’s exposure to sudden changes in international financial conditions; the results presented in this Report indicate that the system is sufficiently resilient to such scenarios. In compliance with its constitutional objectives and in coordination with the financial system’s security network, Banco de la República will continue to closely monitor the outlook for financial stability at this juncture and will make the decisions necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the economy, facilitate the flow of sufficient credit and liquidity resources, and further the smooth functioning of the payment system. Leonardo Villar Gomez Governor Box 1 -Decomposition of the Net Interest Margin in Colombia and Chile Wilmar Cabrera Daniela Rodríguez-Novoa Box 2 - Spatial Analysis of New Home Prices in Bogota, Medellín, and Cali Using a Geostatistical Approach María Fernanda Meneses Camilo Eduardo Sánchez Box 3 - Interest Rate Model for the SYSMO Stress Test Exercise Wilmar Cabrera Diego Cuesta Santiago Gamba Camilo Gómez Box 4 - The Transition from LIBOR and other International Benchmark Rates Daniela X. Gualtero Briceño Javier E. Pirateque Niño