Utilizing international networks for accelerating research and learning in transformational sustainability science

A promising approach for addressing sustainability problems is to recognize the unique conditions of a particular place, such as problem features and solution capabilities, and adopt and adapt solutions developed at other places around the world. Therefore, research and teaching in international networks becomes critical, as it allows for accelerating learning by sharing problem understandings, successful solutions, and important contextual considerations. This article identifies eight distinct types of research and teaching collaborations in international networks that can support such accelerated learning. The four research types are, with increasing intensity of collaboration: (1) solution adoption; (2) solution consultation; (3) joint research on different problems; and (4) joint research on similar problems. The four teaching types are, with increasing intensity of collaboration: (1) adopted course; (2) course with visiting faculty; (3) joint course with traveling faculty; and (4) joint course with traveling students. The typology is illustrated by extending existing research and teaching projects on urban sustainability in the International Network of Programs in Sustainability, with partner universities from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. The article concludes with challenges and strategies for extending individual projects into collaborations in international networks.     

Upgrading of poly(vinyl chloride) by chemical modifications using sodium sulfide

The recycling of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is one of the most important issues in the treatment of waste plastics. To improve PVC recycling, it is necessary to develop new recycling techniques, including new techniques for the dechlorination of chlorine-containing polymers. It has been established that wet dechlorination of PVC in NaOH/ethylene glycol solution is more effective than dry dechlorination. In this study, the wet process was used, and the chemical modification of PVC by nucleophilic substitution was considered for upgrading waste PVC. Chlorine was substituted in solution by several nucleophilic reagents, thus changing the properties of PVC. The reaction of PVC in Na2S/ethylene glycol solution at 170°C resulted in the formation of a mixture comprising 32% elimination and 26% substitution products. The scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mappings and elementary analysis of PVC indicated that this chlorine-substitution process led to cross-linking by sulfur.     

Evaluation of environmental feasibility of steel pipe sheet pile cutoff wall at coastal landfill sites

An evaluation method that can express the local leakage of leachate from joint sections in steel pipe sheet pile (SPSP) cutoff walls is discussed in this study. In particular, the evaluation of environmental feasibility (containment of leachates containing toxic substances) considering a three-dimensional arrangement and hydraulic conductivity distribution of the joint sections in the SPSP cutoff wall is compared with an evaluation that uses the equivalent hydraulic conductivity. This equivalent hydraulic conductivity assumes that the joint section and the steel pipe are integrated; therefore, the hydraulic conductivity is substituted with a uniform permeable layer. However, in an evaluation that employs the equivalent hydraulic conductivity, it is difficult to consider the local leakage of leachate containing toxic substances from the joint sections in the SPSP cutoff wall. It was established that evaluations of the environmental feasibility of SPSP cutoff walls with joint sections must take into account the local leakage of leachates containing toxic substances from the joint sections. Also, it was clarified that technologies that lower the hydraulic conductivities of joint sections in SPSP cutoff walls and also facilitate the use of sparser joint arrangements contribute significantly to increasing the environmental feasibility of SPSP cutoff walls at landfill sites.     

Selection and Substantiation of an Organic Solvent Removal Apparatus at a Print Shop by Comparative Experiments Using the Activated Carbon Adsorption and Catalytic Oxidation Methods

ABSTRACT

The investigation of an appropriate organic solvent removal apparatus for installation in a newly reconstructed print shop as a countermeasure for preventing the exhaust of organic solvents was conducted.

The selection of an organic solvent removal apparatus was made after bench-scale tests of the activated carbon adsorption method and the catalytic oxidation method, both of which are effective for the removal of organic solvents, were performed on the actual exhaust gas at the print shop. The results showed that both methods were efficient enough to be applied to the removal of organic solvents, but the activated carbon adsorption method had many drawbacks, such as the need for frequent replacement of activated carbon and complex maintenance. For the catalytic oxidation method, running costs are high, but there are many merits, such as that the catalysts do not have to be replaced as often and maintenance is simple. After considering these factors, a catalytic oxidation removal apparatus was installed at the new print shop. In the results of the substantiation test on the actual apparatus using mixed catalysts of platinum and manganese plus copper, the removal efficiency was 97.998.7% and the concentration of the outlet exhaust gas was about 10 ppm (the average concentration of the inlet exhaust gas was 528 ppm) at a space velocity of 30,000 hr^-1 and a reaction temperature of 200 °C. The results of this study were substantiated.     

Extraction of raw sewage sludge containing iron phosphate for phosphorus recovery

The objective of the present study was to establish an alkali extraction technology for FePO₄-containing sewage sludge obtained from a wastewater treatment system that includes phosphorous removal by iron electrolysis. By clarifying the extraction properties of phosphorous, organic matter, and inorganic matter, conditions for alkali extraction were optimized. As a result, it was suggested that unheated phosphorous extraction would be superior for FePO₄-containing sewage sludge. And, extraction methods and sewage sludge properties were also compared, and the noteworthy result that extraction of metals can be suppressed to extremely low amounts with alkali extraction as compared with acid extraction was obtained. A new insight was also gained that, as compared with the use of incinerated ash reported in previous studies, alkali extraction was more efficient when raw sewage sludge was used.     

Exploring decentralized forest management in Ethiopia using actor-power-accountability framework: case study in West Shoa zone

Decentralized forest management is a pivotal approach in Ethiopia for balancing biodiversity conservation with demand for economic development, and for improving forest-dependent local peoples’ livelihoods. With the aim of filling the literature gap on Ethiopia, this paper explores the dynamics of decentralization in the forestry sector using the actor-power-accountability framework. Generally, three forms of decentralization are practiced: deconcentration to government administrative branches, devolution of selected decision-making power to local people, and delegation to enterprises. Although transfer of meaningful discretionary power to local people or to downwardly accountable lower-tier governments is a precondition for achieving positive outcomes from decentralization, this prerequisite has been realized in none of the three forms decentralization. Overall, three important trends emerged from the latest decentralization reform, which was a switch from the conservation-oriented deconcentration form of decentralization to the income generation-oriented delegation form of decentralization. Those trends are as follows: monetary income generation for local people through enterprise, albeit with possible risk of being deprived of income and subsistence opportunities on which local people depend for their livelihoods; moving decision-making power away from the grassroots; and lack of incentive to manage natural forests, a major source of biodiversity.     

Decolorization of oxygen-delignified bleaching effluent and biobleaching of oxygen-delignified kraft pulp by non-white-rot fungus Geotrichum candidum Dec 1

Decolorization of oxygen-delignified bleaching effluent (abbreviated as OBE) and biobleaching of oxygen-delignified kraft pulp (OKP) were conducted using a non-white rot fungus Geotrichum candidum Dec 1 (abbreviated as Dec 1) which has ability to decolorize various synthetic dyes and molasses. Dec 1 decolorized up to 77% of OBE for 6 days. In addition, Dec 1 increased the brightness of OKP from 47.8% to 51.2% and decreased the kappa value of OKP from 12.4 to 10.4 points during a 6-day incubation period at a 25% of pulp-concentration. At 2% pulp-concentration, the brightness of OKP increased by 13% and the kappa value of OKP decreased by 4 points only for a 3-day incubation period. When the decolorized OBE was used for bleaching of OKP, the brightness of OKP increased to 62.7% under the shaking culture to a 2% pulp-concentration using culture fluid of decolorized OBE. It was revealed that Dec 1 is a potential to apply for decolorization of wastewater and biobleaching of pulp in paper-mills.     

Japan’s experience of energy saving and business model for low-carbon economy

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the questions concerning stimulation of the innovation and the diffusion of energy saving or low-carbon.To do so,this paper explains using two cases of Japan-energy saving innovation after the Oil Shock and the eco points system.For the case after the oil shock,we explain the energy saving trend after the Oil Shock and the factors statistically.Then we put forward the business model for the low-carbon economy.Furthermore,we analyze the case of the eco points system from 2009-2011 in Japan and explain the significance of the business model for diffusion of the low-carbon products.     

Pheromone communication and the mushroom body of the ant, Camponotus obscuripes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Communication by means of pheromones plays predominant roles in colony integration by social insects. However, almost nothing is known about pheromone processing in the brains of social insects. In this study, we successfully applied intracellular recording and staining techniques to anatomically and physiologically characterize brain neurons of the ant Camponotus obscuripes. We identified 42 protocerebral neurons that responded to undecane and/or formic acid, components of alarm pheromones that evoke attraction or evasive behavior, respectively. Notably, 30 (71%) of these neurons were efferent (output) or feedback neurons of the mushroom body, and many of these exhibited different responses to formic acid and undecane. Eight of the remaining 12 neurons had arborizations in the lateral and/or medial protocerebrum, which receive terminations of efferent neurons of the mushroom body and from which premotor descending neurons originate. The remaining four neurons were bilateral neurons that connect lateral accessory lobes or dorsal protocerebrums of both hemispheres. We suggest that the mushroom body of the ant participates in the processing of alarm pheromones. Seventeen (40%) of 42 neurons exhibited responses to nonpheromonal odors, indicating that the pheromonal and nonpheromonal signals are not fully segregated when they are processed in the protocerebrum. This may be related to modulatory functions of alarm pheromones, i.e., they change alertness of the ant and change responses to a variety of sensory stimuli.     

Coadaptive changes in physiological and biophysical traits related to thermal stress in web spiders

Web spiders are considered to have expanded their habitats from dim to bright environments during the evolutionary history. Because they are sedentary predators exposed to the sun, they may have developed a suite of adaptive traits to cope with thermal stress. We examined the critical thermal maximum, spectral reflectance of solar energy by the body surface, and surface–volume ratio (SVR) for 11 spider species. Analysis of the four genera having a pair of species inhabiting both bright and dim environments showed that species in bright environments exhibited higher lethal temperatures, but spectral reflectance and SVR did not differ. Independent contrasts using the 11 species indicated that critical thermal maximum was positively correlated with spectral reflectance and spectral reflectance was negatively correlated with SVR. These results suggest that physiological tolerance to high temperatures and a biophysical mechanism to reduce heat gain evolved jointly during the history of habitat expansion in araneoid spiders.