Optimal Timing to Adopt an Environmental Policy in a Strategic Framework

In this paper, the problem of optimal timing, when to adopt an environmental policy in a strategic framework is considered. Using real options theory and some basic tools of game theory, we show that, under certain assumptions, a country behaving strategically should wait longer before adopting such a policy than if it behaves unstrategically or within a larger entity. Such a postponed decision is sub-optimal as regards to the environment protection.     

Comparative study on effect of blending,thermal barrier coating (LHR) and injector nozzle geometry on biodiesel-fuelled engines

Increased petroleum prices, increased threat to the environment from exhaust emissions and global warming have generated intense international interest in developing renewable and alternative non-petroleum fuels for internal combustion engines. Evolving suitable technology for addressing energy crisis creates a continued investigation into the search for sustainable and clean-burning renewable fuels. This work investigates suitability of different non-edible-derived biodiesels such as cotton seed oil methyl ester (COME), Honne oil methyl ester (HnOME) and Rubber seed oil methyl ester (RuOME) to four stroke, single cylinder compression ignition (CI) engine. Engine tests were conducted to study the effect of fuel blending, thermal barrier coating (TBC) or Low Heat Rejection (LHR) and injector nozzle geometry on the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of COME, HnOME and RuOME in the modified CI engine. Blends of biodiesels with diesel were varied from 20 to 80% in steps of 20%. Two thermal barrier coatings of partially stabilized zirconium (PSZ) and aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) were provided on the engine to make it fully adiabatic. Nozzle injectors of 3, 4 and 5 holes, with size of orifice varied from 0.2 to 0.3 mm size were selected for the study. It was concluded that B20 biodiesel blend, PSZ-coated engine and four hole nozzle injector of 0.2 mm size resulted in overall better engine performance with increased brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and reduced HC, CO, smoke emissions for the fuel combinations tested. Combustion analysis to study the effect of biodiesel blends, LHR coatings, injector nozzle geometry on the performance of the biodiesel-fuelled engine has been presented to give more insight into the behaviour of operation.     

Daytime light intensity affects seasonal timing via changes in the nocturnal melatonin levels

Daytime light intensity can affect the photoperiodic regulation of the reproductive cycle in birds. The actual way by which light intensity information is transduced is, however, unknown. We postulate that transduction of the light intensity information is mediated by changes in the pattern of melatonin secretion. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of high and low daytime light intensities on the daily melatonin rhythm of Afro-tropical stonechats (Saxicola torquata axillaris) in which seasonal changes in daytime light intensity act as a zeitgeber of the circannual rhythms controlling annual reproduction and molt. Stonechats were subjected to light conditions simulated as closely as possible to native conditions near the equator. Photoperiod was held constant at 12.25 h of light and 11.75 h of darkness per day. At intervals of 2.5 to 3.5 weeks, daytime light intensity was changed from bright (12,000 lux at one and 2,000 lux at the other perch) to dim (1,600 lux at one and 250 lux at the other perch) and back to the original bright light. Daily plasma melatonin profiles showed that they were linked with changes in daytime light intensity: Nighttime peak and total nocturnal levels were altered when transitions between light conditions were made, and these changes were significant when light intensity was changed from dim to bright. We suggest that daytime light intensity could affect seasonal timing via changes in melatonin profiles. Professor Dr. E. Gwinner died on 07 September 2004.     

喷射时刻对柴油甲醇组合燃烧发动机颗粒物排放的影响

为了进一步减少甲醇掺烧后的柴油机颗粒物排放,在一台由增压中冷的高压共轨柴油机改造成的柴油甲醇组合燃烧(DMCC—diesel/methanol compound combustion)发动机上详细研究了柴油喷射时刻对两种燃料共燃时的颗粒物生成及其排放的影响.试验工况选择重型柴油机常用的A50工况.试验结果表明,当柴油在上止点后喷射时,颗粒物排放的数量浓度随着甲醇替代率的增加而减少,当上止点前喷射时,颗粒物的数量浓度先减少后增加.随着喷射时刻的提前,颗粒中超细颗粒所占比例增大.随着喷射时刻的推迟,甲醇替代率降低颗粒物质量浓度的作用增强,同时甲醇替代率降低颗粒物几何平均直径的作用减弱.     

基于GSM的远程家庭智能监控系统设计

针对现有的GSM无线网络,介绍了基于GSM的远程家庭智能报警系统的设计及实现方法.利用各种传感器对家中可能出现的各种意外情况进行采集,并通过PT2262/PT2272组建的家中内部无线网络及时向单片机进行中断报警.GSM模块在单片机控制下,利用GSM网络,将各种报警信息通过短信的方式发送到预先设定的手机中,达到了远程无线智能报警的功能.经过测试,该系统经济、可靠、稳定性高.家庭无需为传感器布线,具有广泛的市场推广价值.     

A numerical study on the effects of EGR and spark timing to combustion characteristics and NOx emission of a GDI engine

EGR is one of the most significant strategies for reducing especially nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions from internal combustion engines. The thermal efficiency of spark ignition engines is lower than compression ignition engines because of its lower compression ratio. If the compression ratio is increased to obtain higher thermal efficiency, there may be a knocking tendency in spark ignition engines. EGR can be used in order to reduce NO_x emissions and avoid knocking phenomena at higher compression ratios. In-cylinder temperature at the end of combustion is decreased and heat capacity of fresh charge is increased when EGR applied. Besides EGR, spark timing is another significant parameter for reducing exhaust emissions such as nitrogen oxides, and unburned hydrocarbon (UHC). In this study the effects of EGR and spark timing on spark ignition engine were investigated numerically. KIVA codes were used in order to model combustion process. The combustion process has been modeled for a single cylinder, four stroke and gasoline direct injection (GDI) spark ignition engine. The results showed that in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate decrease as EGR ratio increase. In-cylinder pressure increases with the advancing of spark timing. Advancing spark timing increases the heat release rate and in-cylinder temperature. The simulation results also showed that EGR reduced exhaust gas temperature and NO_x emissions.     

AN APPLICATION OF INVESTMENT TIMING ANALYSIS: DUAL WATER SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT: A general methodology to study the economics of dual water systems (defined here as a separate distribution system for untreated low quality local surface Water for outdoor municipal water supply) is summarized and the application of the method to a rapidly growing city is presented. In the first step, a cost-benefit criterion for evaluating dual systems is developed. The criterion is then extended to a dynamic case where the population to be served increases with time and where the dual system is allowed to expand. The optimal investment time to introduce the dual water supply project is obtained by maximizing social welfare. The model is applied to the city of West Jordan, Utah, where a dual system is currently being proposed. Model results indicate that for the city as a whole dual supply is not economically feasible. However, when the model is applied to a part of the city, it is found feasible and the optimal time to initiate the project would be in the year 1989.     

Arrival timing and seasonal reproductive performance in a long-distance migratory landbird

The date when a landbird migrant arrives on its breeding grounds may have reproductive consequences. Generally, early arriving individuals begin breeding earlier and consequently experience greater seasonal reproductive performance. Here, we describe relationships between arrival timing and seasonal reproductive performance in the American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), a long-distance passerine migrant, arriving at northerly breeding grounds in Michigans eastern Upper Peninsula. Evidence suggests that both males and females benefited from early arrival at the breeding grounds. Early males appeared to settle on higher quality territories and hatched nestlings sooner than later arrivals. Early females began their clutches early, produced heavier nestlings and possibly laid more eggs than later arrivals. Larger clutches and heavier offspring increase the likelihood of offspring recruiting into the breeding population. The findings of this study point to fitness consequences arising from when a bird arrives at its breeding grounds. These results also have implications for understanding how events occurring during spring migration influence reproductive performance as migratory delays likely influence arrival timing.Communicated by: W. Wiltschko     

Timing of the evening emergence from day roosts of the grey-headed flying fox, Pteropus poliocephalus: the effects of predation risk, foraging needs, and social context

This study addresses the functional question of how variation in foraging strategy, predation risk, and social context influence the timing of the evening emergence from day roosts of the grey-headed flying fox, Pteropus poliocephalus. The onset of evening emergence was expected to vary according to the relative costs and benefits of emerging early and should, therefore, reflect an optimal trade-off between predation risks and foraging needs. The onset of the colony-wide emergence was closely correlated with the time of sunset and cloud cover. However, as expected, the onset of the colony-wide emergence was delayed when a diurnal avian predator was present, whereas the onset was advanced during lactation when presumably energetic demands are higher. The trade-off between predation risks and foraging needs was further reflected in the emergence times of individual bats: adult females emerged earlier when they had higher foraging needs as indicated by their body condition; young emerged later when they were smaller and likely to be more at risk from predation due to their less developed flying skills. However, the emergence time of adult males depended on their social status: smaller bachelor males emerged from the colony earlier than larger harem-holding males who guard their harems until the last female had left. Thus, whereas the colony-wide emergence time reflected the outcome of a trade-off between predation risks and general foraging needs, on an individual level, the outcome of this trade-off depended on sex, age, body condition, and structural size and was modified by social context.     

不同喷油策略对柴油-四氢呋喃混合燃料燃烧和排放的影响

为了解决环境污染和能源短缺等问题,本研究针对四氢呋喃作为一种含氧替代燃料展开研究.在一台六缸增压柴油机上开展了不同喷油策略下四氢呋喃和柴油混合燃料对柴油机燃烧和排放的影响研究,所用3种燃料分别为：纯柴油、5%四氢呋喃和95%柴油、15%四氢呋喃和85%柴油混合燃料（混合比例均为体积比）,以原机国六脉谱图为基准调节主喷时刻和喷油压力.结果表明,添加5%四氢呋喃使燃油消耗率增加,有效热效率降低,当加入15%四氢呋喃后燃油消耗率进一步升高,有效热效率相比于添加5%四氢呋喃有一定程度改善,但仍低于纯柴油燃料;当喷油压力高于100 MPa时,混合燃料的燃油消耗率和有效热效率随喷油压力的提高基本保持不变.四氢呋喃加入使小负荷下NO_x、CO和HC排放增加;大负荷下使NO_x排放增加,CO和HC排放逐渐降低,各工况下的碳烟排放均降低.由此可见,柴油-四氢呋喃混合燃料的有效热效率相比于纯柴油降低了1%~2%,加入四氢呋喃可有效降低碳烟排放和改善部分工况下的气体污染物排放.