Planning and implementing sustainability in higher education institutions: an overview of the difficulties and potentials

Planning in sustainable development is believed to be an important element in allowing higher education institutions to set their goals and to commit themselves towards undertaking concrete actions and measures at all levels in order to implement sustainability. Yet, there is a paucity of research that has looked at the extent to which planning can support institutions of higher education to assess their performances and to determine whether the set aims have been met. This research gap needs to be met to allow a better understanding of how planning can help to promote the integration of the three components of sustainable development – economic development, social development and environmental protection in higher education. This paper explores the challenges for planning the sustainable development in higher education, also outlining the potentials lessons learned that could assist in improving Education for Sustainable Development efforts in Higher Education Institutions. Among its main results are the fact that many universities wish to pursue sustainable development, but their efforts are hindered by lack of institutional support and planning and limited emphasis on approaches, such as problem-based learning. The universities that are engaged in the field have to face many problems, varying from limited resources to lack of trained staff. As a result, integrated approaches to sustainability become difficult to implement. Finally, the paper has identified the fact that many opportunities offered mainstream developments, such as the UN Declaration ‘The World we Want’ or the UN Sustainable Development Goals are not being put to full use.     

基于染色示踪实验的芦苇湿地垂向水文运移特征研究

海水入侵导致黄河三角洲滨海湿地盐碱化不断向陆相扩张,改变了许多物种的栖息地环境.保护区管理人员通过引黄河淡水,修建淡水恢复区来遏制这一趋势,而与此同时这也改变了潮间带植物群落和土壤理化性质的改变:大面积芦苇生长,土壤盐分降低,土壤孔隙度增加,优先流路径改变,从而导致小尺度内,垂向水文连通的改变,进而影响整个区域的水文过...     

数值模拟结合SF_6示踪法确定煤层钻孔瓦斯抽采有效半径

为准确确定煤层钻孔的瓦斯抽采有效半径,实现最优钻孔设计及最佳抽采效果,根据煤层瓦斯流动理论与煤岩体变形理论,建立钻孔抽采煤层瓦斯的气固耦合数学模型。并利用COMSOLMultiphysics软件,模拟SF6气体在瓦斯渗流场内的运移过程。利用SF6气体示踪法进行现场测试。依据相似定律,结合模拟与实测结果确定钻孔抽采有效半径的范围。以黄陵集团一号煤矿306工作面为例进行试验研究。试验结果表明,模拟结果与实测结果基本吻合;在钻孔直径为94 mm,抽采负压为15 kPa的条件下,预抽30天后,试验工作面抽采有效半径为5.88 m。     

Green shipping practices in the shipping industry: Conceptualization, adoption, and implications

There have been increasing concerns about the adverse impacts on the environment caused by cargo movement in international trade. Different stakeholders ranging from shippers and carriers to government bodies and international communities have expressed worries about the environmental impacts brought by shipping related activities. The pollution and waste created in the shipping processes have imposed environmental burdens and accelerated resource depletion. The situation is set to worsen in the face of intensifying trade globalization, which has contributed to sustained growth in international shipping activities. To help protect the environment, many shipping firms have taken the initiative to find ways to lessen the environmental damage of their operations while enhancing their performance. The objective of this study is to examine the environmental awareness and the environmental measures taken in the shipping industry. We propose a conceptual framework for evaluating green shipping practices and develop several propositions stating the conditions under which shipping firms would behave in an environmentally responsible manner. We conclude with managerial and policy implications of the conceptual framework to promote green shipping practices in the shipping industry.     

中国流域水资源生态补偿的法律问题与对策

随着我国经济社会的不断发展,水资源不足和水质污染引起的水危机已经成为许多地区可持续发展中的重要制约因素。在这种背景下,为了平衡环境、社会和经济多元利益,寻求先进的法律机制来调节平衡、保护流域生态环境、促进流域的可持续发展已成为一种共识。开展流域水资源生态补偿是实现流域上下游之间等相关方利益公平的关键所在。但由于我国缺乏生态补偿立法和相应的制度安排,流域水资源生态补偿目前仍面临许多问题：我国流域水资源生态补偿进展缓慢、法律制度滞后、部分法律法规彼此之间矛盾和相互冲突、流域水资源生态补偿的法律制度缺位、立法模式不适合当今流域生态环境问题解决等。本文通过对我国有关涉水法律中存在问题的分析,提出一些有关流域水资源生态补偿法律制度建设和完善的对策,以期对中国流域水资源生态补偿的推进和进一步实现水资源的可持续利用有所帮助。     

国内外旅游国际化研究综述

在经济全球化的大背景下,旅游业也在加速走向国际化,旅游国际化也成为了学术界研究的一个热点。对国内外旅游国际化的研究现状进行了回顾,着重评述了当前研究的几大方面:现状与对策、影响因素、国际化与本土化关系、对目的地的影响,在此基础上总结了现阶段国内研究的薄弱环节,并对今后的研究发展方向提出了建议。     

Large eddy simulation of plume dispersion behind an aircraft in the take-off phase

The aim of this paper is to provide an investigation, using large eddy simulation, into plume dispersion behind an aircraft in co-flowing take-off conditions. Validation studies of the computational model were presented by Aloysius and Wrobel (Environ Model Softw 24:929–937, 2009) and a study of the flow and dispersion properties of a double-engine aircraft jet was presented by Aloysius et al. (EEC/SEE/2007/001, EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre, ), in which only the engine was modelled. In this paper, the complete geometry of a Boeing 737 is modelled and investigated. The current work represents a contribution towards a better understanding of the source dynamics behind an airplane jet engine during the take-off and landing phases. The information provided from these simulations will be useful for future improvements of existing dispersion models.     

Transport of volatile compounds in porous media in the presence of a trapped gas phase

The presence of an immobile gaseous phase in an otherwise-saturated porous medium affects the transport of volatile compounds. The linear theory of partitioning tracers suggests that a volatile tracer introduced into such a system should be retarded with a constant retardation factor. Using high concentrations, however, the saturation of the gaseous phase will change as an effect of the tracer test itself. Competitive gas transfer among all volatile compounds and the change of saturation may lead to tracer concentrations that are temporarily higher than those injected. We analyze the system in the framework of the coherence theory by Helfferich [Soc. Pet. Eng. J. 21 (1) (1981) 51]. The governing equations are formulated as functions of total concentration, i.e., the mass of solutes in all phases per pore volume. Neglecting dispersion and mass-transfer kinetics, we derive the characteristic form of the resulting system of hyperbolic equations. In a system with N volatile compounds, a variation of the concentrations splits up into N waves, each traveling with its own characteristic velocity. If the presence of a gaseous phase is sustained, one wave will be a standing one. We perform numerical model calculations for tracers with various Henry's law coefficients and show that the results agree with the semi-analytical solution obtained by coherence theory.     

氚水在大豆土壤系统中的迁移与分布

采用模拟污染物的同位素示踪技术研究氚水在大豆-土壤模拟生态系统中的迁移、分布规律.通过为期50d的模拟试验,测定了植物和土壤样品中2种形态氚(自由水氚和结合态氚)的比活度.结果表明:引入土壤中的氚水,不仅在系统各分室间转移和分配,而且迅速向系统外散逸;氚水中的氚以自由水氚和结合态氚形态存在于大豆植株和土壤中;大豆植株中的自由水氚比活度于6h时即达最大值(根19.4Bq·g^-1;茎叶12.3Bq·g^-1),随后便逐渐下降,而结合态氚呈缓慢增加;大豆根中的总氚比活度开始时高于茎叶中的比活度,而后趋于平衡,表层土中2种形态氚基本呈逐渐下降.运用示踪动力学分室模型原理对实验数据拟合得:土壤中的比活度C_s=88.37e^-11.847t+7.38e^-0030t;大豆植株中的比活度C_b=10.30(e^-0.030t-e^-11.847t).     

Application of arsenic baselines in the assessment of soil contamination in Finland

In Finland, a new Government Decree on the Assessment of Soil Contamination and Remediation Needs (214/2007) came into force on 1 June 2007. According to the Decree, natural baseline concentration levels should be taken into account when assessing potential soil contamination and the need for remediation. This applies particularly in the case of toxic metallic elements, since baseline concentrations may naturally be rather high. The new decree prescribes soil screening values for 52 substances or groups of substances. The natural baseline concentrations have been taken into account in the definition of the screening values for inorganic pollutants. The Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) carried out a nation-wide geochemical mapping of till on a reconnaissance scale in 1983 and on a regional scale during 1984–1992. These surveys have provided information on natural elemental distribution in subsoils of the glacial till. However, some important trace elements in regional mapping such as arsenic are missing from the analysis, and subsoil samples do not reflect the diffuse anthropogenic input. Thus, GTK has continued the survey work by determining geochemical baselines around suburban areas. Samples have been taken from humus, topsoil and subsoil layers, and the soil parent material has covered sandy soils, glacial tills and fine-grained sediments. According to the studies, a regional difference in the levels of arsenic and some other trace elements can be clearly seen, especially in minerogenic soils. The results illustrate the importance of information on regional baseline concentrations while assessing potential soil contamination.