The objective of the present study is to observe the surface morphology, structure and elemental composition of the ash particles produced from some thermal power stations of India using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). This information is useful to better understand the ash particles before deciding its utility in varied areas.

Two kinds of solar thermal power generation systems (trough and tower) are selected as the research objects. The life cycle assessment (LCA) method is used to make a systematic and comprehensive environmental impact assessment on the trough and tower solar thermal power generation. This paper mainly analyzes the three stages of materials, production and transportation of two kinds of solar thermal power generation, calculates the unit energy consumption and environmental impact of the three stages respectively, and compares the analysis results of the two systems. At the same time, Rankine cycle is used to compare the thermal efficiency of the two systems.

Cucumis sativus is an important vegetable crop in the world. Agrobacterium mediated transgenic technology is an important means to study plant gene function and variety improvement. In order to further accelerate the transgenic research and breeding process of cucumber, aiming at the Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation method of cucumber, this paper expounds the research progress and existing problems of Agrobacterium mediated transgenic cucumber from the aspects of influencing factors of cucumber regeneration ability, genetic transformation conditions and various added substances in the process, and prospects the future of improving the efficiency of cucumber genetic transformation and the application of safety screening markers, in order to provide reference for cucumber stress resistance breeding and fruit quality improvement.

This work investigates epoxy composites reinforced by randomly oriented, short glass fibres and silica microparticles. A full-factorial experiment evaluates the effects of glass fibre mass fraction (15 wt% and 20 wt%) and length (5 mm and 10 mm), and the mass fraction of silica microparticles (5 wt% and 10 wt%) on the apparent density and porosity, as well as the compressive and tensile strength and modulus of the hybrid composites. Hybrid epoxy composites present significantly higher tensile strength (9%) and modulus (57%), as well as compressive strength (up to 15%) relative to pure epoxy.

Cross-border infrastructure projects offer significant economic and social benefits for the Asia-Pacific region. If the required investment of $8 trillion in pan-Asian connectivity was made in the region’s infrastructure during 2010–2020, the total net income gains for developing Asia could reach about $12.98 trillion (in 2008 US dollars) during 2010–2020 and beyond, of which more than $4.43 trillion would be gained during 2010–2020 and nearly $8.55 trillion after 2020. Indeed, infrastructure connectivity helps improve regional productivity and competitiveness by facilitating the movement of goods, services and human resources, producing economies of scale, promoting trade and foreign direct investments, creating new business opportunities, stimulating inclusive industrialization and narrowing development gaps between communities, countries or sub-regions. Unfortunately, due to limited financing, progress in the development of cross-border infrastructure in the region is low.

This paper examines the key challenges faced in financing cross-border projects and discusses the roles that different stakeholders—national governments, state-owned enterprises, private sector, regional entities, development financing institutions (DFIs), affected people and civil society organizations—can play in facilitating the development of cross-border infrastructure in the region. In particular, this paper highlights the major risks that deter private sector investments and FDIs and provides recommendations to address these risks.

Infrastructure investment has long been held as an accelerator or a driver of the economy. Internationally, the UK ranks poorly with the performance of infrastructure and ranks in the lower percentile for both infrastructure investment and GDP growth rate amongst comparative nations. Faced with the uncertainty of Brexit and the likely negative economic impact this will bring, infrastructure investment may be used to strengthen the UK economy. This study aims to examine how infrastructure funding impacts economic growth and how best the UK can maximize this potential by building on existing work.
The research method is based on interviews carried out with respondents involved in infrastructure operating across various sectors. The findings show that investment in infrastructure is vital in the UK as it stimulates economic growth through employment creation due to factor productivity. However, it is critical for investment to be directed to regional opportunity areas with the potential to unlock economic growth and maximize returns whilst stimulating further growth to benefit other regions. There is also a need for policy consistency and to review UK infrastructure policy to streamline the process and to reduce cost and time overrun, with Brexit likely to impact negatively on infrastructure investment.