Challenges for modelling and integrating environmental performances in concept design: the case of an automotive component lightweighting

The objective of this paper is to discuss the main barriers for modelling and integrating the environmental performances in the automotive concept design. Incorporating environmental assessment in the early design phase of a vehicle component is known as an important challenge that car makers need to face in order to develop more sustainable design solutions; in this regard, the Life Cycle Assessment is the most widespread methodology for the environmental assessment and comparison of alternatives. The present work illustrates the combination of such methodology with the traditional design procedure at two different levels of the component design phase, material choice and concept design. In particular, the potential benefits originated by a lightweight solution for the automotive component Throttle Body are evaluated by considering environmental and technical implications at the same level. The case study shows that a multi-disciplinary approach for design effectively allows the integration of the environmental issue in the company’s established procedures. However, interpretation of results is still a challenging aspect due to the inevitable contradicting elements which should not discourage to develop comprehensive sustainability assessment within the early design stage.     

Attitudes towards sex selection for non-medical reasons: a review

Early non-invasive fetal sexing is widely available over the Internet, leading to concerns about its possible use for sex selection. The aim of this review is to summarise the results of surveys describing lay attitudes towards sex selection for non-medical reasons to help address or inform such concerns. A search of electronic databases and key journals was supplemented by an Internet search and citation-tracking. Twenty-one quantitative studies were identified. Most were conducted in the US, with five recent studies in the UK and Germany. Most studies found that, overall, people were not in favour of sex selection. However, this varied from 94 to 18%. People may hold more negative attitudes when the method of sex selection is specified, particularly if this involves termination of pregnancy (TOP). Attitudes towards the general availability of sex selection are less negative than those towards personal use. Attitudes were consistently negative in German surveys. Little is known of such attitudes outside the US, the UK and Germany, and how such attitudes may change as new sex selection technologies become available. Studies of use of early non-invasive fetal sexing for sex selection for non-medical reasons are needed to assess the extent to which concerns about usage are justified and to assist in debates on how these might be most appropriately addressed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

区域水战略方案选优的动态组合评价模型研究

水安全危机是人类进入新世纪以来在生存及发展方面所面临的最严重挑战之一。研究科学合理的水安全战略成为区域可持续发展的重大课题。针对区域水战略问题涉及众多因素且各因素之间动态关联的特点，提出了基于水战略方案优选的兼容度极大化动态组合评价模型（CMM—DCEM），并将其成功地应用于我国广东省北江下游及其三角洲地区水安全战略方案优选评价。评价结果及模型基于不确定性的敏感性分析结果证明：CMM—DCEM实现了主、客观赋权方法以及单一评价模型的融合，使用实码加速遗传算法求解目标函数，克服了传统的组合评价方法计算繁琐的不足，评价过程更加科学合理。     

Comparison of models of simazine transport and fate in the subsurface environment in a citrus farm

Contamination of groundwater by agrochemicals is now widely recognized as an extremely important environmental problem. Modern agricultural practices involve the combined use of irrigation with the application of large amounts of agrochemicals to maximize crop yield. Due to flood irrigation and natural runoff, agricultural activities might generate soil, surface water and groundwater contamination problems and leaching of pesticides. Modeling of the transport and fate of pesticides, such as simazine, may help understand the long-term potential risk to the subsurface environment. This paper illustrates a comparative study via the use of three different pesticide transport simulation models and the applicability of those models in determining the groundwater vulnerability to pesticides contamination in a citrus orchard located at the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV). The three models used in the study are the pesticide root zone model-3 (PRZM-3), the pesticide analytical model (PESTAN) and integrated pesticide transport modeling (IPTM). The concentration values obtained from all three models are in agreement, and they show a decreasing trend from the surface through the vadose zone. The problem is how to use this information and, specifically, how to combine the testimony of a number of experts into a single useful judgment. With the aid of the fuzzy multiattribute decision making method, PRZM-3 is deemed as the most promising one for such precision farming applications.     

密切值法在污染源治理方案优选中的应用

本文采用密切值法进行污染源多个治理方案的优化决策研究，并通过实例分析获得了与实际状况相符合的优化结果。     

高温嗜粪菌的选育和猪粪发酵研究

筛选得到了８株嗜高温（５５℃）嗜粪细菌，均具有较强的发酵猪粪能力。加入所选育菌株进行的猪粪高温（５５℃）固体好氧发酵实验发明，２４ｈ内可将猪粪发酵成无臭味、深褐色的稳定和无害化产物，常温下长时间放置也不会产生腐败和臭味。此发酵产物的氮试验法结果显示，猪粪已发酵至表观成熟和稳定化，可作为进一步制取优质有机复合肥料的良好前体物。     

2-chlorophenol oxidation kinetic by photo-ssisted Fenton process

IntroductionTheo chlorophenolisaverytoxicandpoorlybiodegradablepollutant,whichisusedasanintermediateinthemanufactureofhigherchlorophenolandphenolresinsandforextractingsulphurandnitrogencompoundsfromcoals.Itisalsousedinorganicsynthesis(dyesandpesticide) .Oxidationofo chlorophenolwastewaterincatalyticwetairoxidationisofpracticalinterestsinceawastewatercontainingo chlorophenolover 2 0 0ppmmaynotbetreatedeffectivelybydirectbiologicalmethods.Advancedoxidationprocesses(AOPs)havebeensuccessfullyuse…     

赋权相关分析与环境设施优化选择

在环境质量评价及环境设施优化选择过程中，客观地设计分析模型，并合理地选择权系数是问题的关键和难点。如果处理不当，将会得出与客观实际完全相反的结果。从而影响决策的准确性，造成不应有的损失。本文以灰色系统理论和层次分析法为基础，提出利用二步层次分析法确定权系数的多指标相关分析方法，并将其应用于烟气处理设施的综合性能评价之中。实例分析表明，该方法具有赋权合理、计算简便、一致性程度高、受决策者主观臆断影响小，评价结果可靠等特点。因此，该方法用于环境设施优化选择过程是可行的。     

测空气中SO2时的主要影响因素

目前测定空气中SO2主要采用甲醛吸收-副玫瑰苯胺分光光度法。该法操作比较严格，测试结果的准确度受诸多因素的影响。因此文中对这些影响因素进行了探讨，主要为试剂质量、显色温度和显色时间、溶液加入顺序、比色皿、空气采样器流量、采样温度、导气管的吸附等因素对测定结果的影响进行了探讨。     

袋式除尘器在立窑烟气除尘中的应用

对立窑烟尘排放特点与立窑除尘工艺中的问题及对策进行了讨论。分析了立窑烟尘排放特征,对几种常见的立窑除尘的设备和工艺进行了比较,指出袋式除尘器可成功地用于立窑烟气除尘。并且从滤料选择、清灰方式、烟温控制、灰斗的气密性等方面详细地完善了袋式除尘器在立窑烟气除尘中的应用。