Heavy duty vehicles: Impact on the environment and the path to green operation

The increase in the number of heavy duty vehicles (HDV) is inherently accompanied by increase in congestion, pollutant emissions and energy use as well as infrastructure overuse, all of which have broad societal implications. In addition to affecting the environment, contributing markedly to global warming, significant implications for the health of many residents living along traffic corridors as well as increases in the cost of infrastructure maintenance are logical consequences. In this interdisciplinary work a holistic approach is presented for the assessment of the combined effects of HDV employing pollutant emissions, noise and dynamic load of vehicles as criteria. Results show that vehicles that are environmentally friendly due to their pollutant emissions are not necessarily environmentally friendly when their noise emissions are considered. Each relevant parameter has to be assessed individually. Using a proposed model, the parameters are combined to obtain a holistic impression of the vehicles’ total environmental footprint. This information can be used by policy makers to introduce a bonus/malus system that would encourage vehicles with a total low environmental footprint using the “polluter/user pays” principle.     

Are mammal olfactory signals hiding right under our noses?

Chemical communication via olfactory semiochemicals plays a central role in the social behaviour and reproduction of mammals, but even after four decades of research, only a few mammal semiochemicals have been chemically characterized. Expectations that mammal chemical signals are coded by quantitative relationships among multiple components have persisted since the earliest studies of mammal semiochemistry, and continue to direct research strategies. Nonetheless, the chemistry of mammal excretions and secretions and the characteristics of those semiochemicals that have been identified show that mammal semiochemicals are as likely to be single compounds as to be mixtures, and are as likely to be coded by the presence and absence of chemical compounds as by their quantities. There is very scant support for the view that mammal semiochemicals code signals as specific ratios between components, and no evidence that they depend on a Gestalt or a chemical image. Of 31 semiochemicals whose chemical composition is known, 15 have a single component and 16 are coded by presence/absence, one may depend on a ratio between two compounds and none of them are chemical images. The expectation that mammal chemical signals have multiple components underpins the use of multivariate statistical analyses of chromatographic data, but the ways in which multivariate statistics are commonly used to search for active mixtures leads to single messenger compounds and signals that are sent by the presence and absence of compounds being overlooked. Research on mammal semiochemicals needs to accommodate the possibility that simple qualitative differences are no less likely than complex quantitative differences to encode chemical signals.     

Friction stir welding: Process,automation, and control

This article provides an introduction to the basic principles of friction stir welding (FSW) as well as a survey of the latest research and applications in the field. The basic principles covered include terminology, material flow, joint configurations, tool design, materials, and defects. Material flow is discussed from both an experimental and a modeling perspective. Process variants are discussed as well, which include self-reacting (SR-FSW), stationary shoulder, friction stir processing (FSP), friction stir spot welding (FSSW), assisted FSW, and pulsed FSW. Multiple aspects of robotic friction stir welding are covered, including sensing, control, and joint tracking. Methods of evaluating weld quality are surveyed as well. The latest applications are discussed, with an emphasis on recent advances in aerospace, automotive, and ship building. Finally, the direction of future research and potential applications are examined.     

污染河流生态修复研究现状与进展

随着工农业的迅速发展,大量的生活生产污水排入河流,造成河流严重污染.污染河流的治理已引起人们的广泛关注,生态修复作为一种比较新颖的河道冶理方法,有很好的应用前景.目前主要的生态修复方法有:(1)物理方法:底泥疏浚、机械除藻;(2)化学方法:化学除藻、絮凝沉淀;(3)生物-生态技术:河道曝气、土地处理技术、生态疏浚、生态...     

县域生态功能区划研究——以桐柏县为例

结合桐柏县的实例，对县域生态功能区划分的原则和方法进行初步探讨。综合利用3S技术对县域生态敏感性和生态服务功能重要性的分析和评价，提出桐柏县生态服务功能区划的初步方案。将桐柏县划分为生态支持区，产品供给区，生态调节区。简要分析了各功能区在桐柏县经济可持续发展中的地位和作用，指出各区协调发展的方向和途征。     

中国沙区周边山地降水资源及其对绿洲的贡献

我国从东北到西北长约4500km的大部分沙区为山地所环绕,山地阻挡了水汽的输入,大部分降水在山地迎风坡降落,而沙漠中年降水量只有200～300mm,西北沙漠中心地带年降水量只有几十毫米甚至十几毫米。但山地截留的降水又源源不断地输入沙漠而形成片片绿洲。山地成为绿洲主要的水源供给地。水是绿洲的命脉,无水即无农业,而山地可称得上是绿洲的“命根”了。从山地到绿洲之间有一个植被稀少的荒漠地带,成为山地到绿洲之间的缓冲带。从宏观、整体、综合的角度,将山地、沙漠(戈壁)、绿洲看成一个庞大的生态系统,它们是相互依存、相互关联、又相互制约的。必须从宏观的角度,处理好它们之间的关系,才能使这个庞大的生态系统趋向稳定和巩固,走向良性循环,使绿洲农业得以持续发展。     

废纸造纸行业的清洁生产措施与实践

在废纸造纸行业的发展及污染现状的基础上 ,提出实施清洁生产是废纸造纸行业治理污染 ,实现可持续发展的有效途径 ,分析总结了实现节能、降耗、减污、增效的行业清洁生产典型方案 ,并以山东省某板纸厂实施清洁生产的实践情况为例 ,论述了废纸造纸行业中存在的清洁生产机会及潜力。     

Life-cycle analysis of emissions from fuel ethanol and blends in Australian heavy and light vehicles

Because carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of a renewable fuel are not anthropogenic greenhouse gases, there are significant greenhouse gas benefits in using ethanol that is derived from sugar or wheat, especially from waste feedstock. However, if the ethanol is used as an additive (as in diesohol or petrohol) then some of these greenhouse gas benefits are lost because ethanol is less efficient as a fuel.The vapour pressure of petrohol is higher than that of either petrol or ethanol, so that it is unclear whether there are, or are not, air quality benefits associated with the use of ethanol.A measurement program that surveys a significant proportion of E10 alternative fuel vehicles should be undertaken, along with a parallel program to test the emission variations that result from the changes in the petrol. The performance of overseas models in relation to the Australian situation is unknown, and a combined modelling and measurement program is needed to determine its validity.     

Chemie und Biochemie des Humuskörpers unserer Böden

Progress in the chemistry and biochemistry of soil humic substances and their routes of formation has developed sufficiently to allow a coherent review of its various general aspects. Actual adsorption phenomena as well as the classical functions (such as nutrient supply, ion exchange, structure stabilization, and N-reservoir) of organic matter are outlined briefly and in a general sense. More specifically, the role and fate of nitrogen during the degradation, cryptic turnover, and the synthesis of ultimate, stable humic compounds are stressed. Based on recent results of analytic- and model-synthetic experiments, essential traits of humification (such as polymerization, condensation, and nucleophilic addition) are reviewed.     

丝状真菌生物过滤塔对挥发性有机物的去除性能

生物过滤塔工艺是控制挥发性有机物(VOCs)污染的一种重要工艺。其中,丝状真菌由于所产生的菌丝体易捕捉气相中的疏水性污染物,同时又具备耐受低pH值和适应干燥环境等特性,而日益成为VOCs生物过滤技术中新的研究热点。文章在对丝状真菌生物过滤塔的降解机理和特点进行分析的基础上,针对目前在生物过滤塔技术中研究较多的几种典型丝状真菌,较详细介绍了该类真菌生物过滤塔对VOCs的去除性能,并对该技术在VOCs控制方面的研究与应用中存在的问题和发展方向进行了分析和展望。     

基于改进DEA模型的城市生态福利绩效评价研究——以我国35个大中城市为例

论文首先基于数据包络分析（DEA）方法构建城市生态福利绩效的评价指标体系,以我国35个大中城市（省级和副省级城市）为例,采用2013年的截面数据,选取考虑松弛变量的Super-SBM模型测算城市生态福利绩效水平,并在此基础上运用Tobit模型回归分析其影响因素。研究表明：1）我国35个大中城市2013年的整体生态福利绩效水平不高,且城市间差距较大,青岛、海口等沿海旅游城市的生态福利绩效水平明显处于领先地位,然而经济发达的长三角地区包括上海、南京、杭州等城市均排名靠后;2）从区域层面上看,呈现出“东部最高、中部次之、西部最低”的态势;3）经济产出贡献率和产业结构与生态福利绩效呈负相关,城市紧凑度和绿化与生态福利绩效呈显著正相关。最后根据实证分析结果提出针对性政策建议。     

硅铁电炉烟气除尘系统的设计要点

针对硅铁电炉烟气除尘系统设计中的有关技术问题进行了探讨，提出了工程设计中应该考虑的各种因素及其有关设计参数的选取，以供工程设计者参考。     

Functional and systems aspects of the sustainable product and service development approach for industry

The Sustainable Product and/or Service Development (SPSD) approach is a pragmatic industry support encompassing a range of strategies aimed at maximising environmental and social performance in all types of “offerings” whether they are “products”, “services” or Product Service Systems (PSS). Implementation of the approach was tested in industry and conclusions reached on the effectiveness of the strategies included in terms of developing an offering with improved sustainability performance as well as practical use as an industry approach. Two strategies incorporated are functional and systems thinking, as these are seen as key for increasing the environmental benefits of offerings. This paper summarises the SPSD approach, general industry testing results, describes how and why functional and systems strategies are incorporated in it and industry testing results relating to their use. This provides valuable information on how functional and systems related considerations can be practically and effectively included in sustainable offering development.     

Ecoprofit-Styria-prepare Thirteen pollution prevention case studies in the Styrian industry

The paper focuses upon the organization of a federal state-funded pollution prevention project in the Styrian industry. The project includes 13 companies from the textile, pulp and paper, machine building, wood working and printed circuit board manufacturing industries, covering most of the sectors and sizes in the Styrian industry. It started in January 1994 and will last for one year. It will demonstrate the possibilities of pollution prevention and the need for further research work. This project will make use of the methods and tools that were refined in the Austrian Prepare project. As a first step, a systematic balance of all the inputs and outputs of a company is made, after which the weak points and inefficiencies of material and energy use are identified and the options for improvements, both economical and ecological, are defined. Consequently, modifications in products and production lead to a situation with less waste and emissions. The preliminary lessons from these projects are presented: as a rule, the utilities (consumption of process materials and water, cleaning, energy, preparatory and finishing steps) are treated as black boxes and usually represent a considerable optimization potential. In these areas especially there is usually a lack of information and coordination as well as a need for a systematic and comprehensive approach. Leadership in the company and creative consultants are needed for starting lasting successful pollution prevention projects.     

Ozone-forming potential of organic emissions from alternative-fueled vehicles

Ozone-forming potentials of emissions from various alternative-fueled vehicles and gasoline-fueled vehicles have been evaluated using currently available data on the composition of organic emissions from such vehicles. Ozone-forming potentials are computed using three different methods: (1) a relative reactivity method; (2) an incremental reactivity method; and (3) a direct method using a photochemical trajectory model and detailed organic composition data for vehicular emissions. The three different methods give consistent results when the compositions of non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) emissions are similar. In those cases, the simplified relative reactivity or incremental reactivity methods are useful. However, when the compositions of NMHC emissions are not similar, a method which considers the detailed speciated organic emissions data, such as the direct method, is needed. More reliable, statistically significant data for organic composition of emissions from alternative-fueled vehicles as well as gasoline-fueled vehicles are needed to improve the estimates of ozone-forming potentials.     

贵阳城市环境功能定位研究

环境功能定位是城市环境总体规划的重要组成内容和出发点,同时也是城市维持环境功能、环境形态和环境安全的基础。文章以第二批城市环境总体规划试点城市之一的贵阳市为案例,结合城市环境功能定位的经验方法,从大系统和长周期角度出发,分析了长江流域和长江经济带对贵阳市的环境功能需求,梳理了贵阳市环境问题演变和与工业化、城镇化发展历程之间的相互关系,对比分析了贵阳市在西南地区主要城市中的环境比较优势,最终得出贵阳市的4大环境功能定位。最后分析了贵阳市发挥4大环境功能存在的问题和挑战,并且提出了相应的对策建议。     

华南某污水再生利用工程方案

介绍了华南某市污水再生利用工程的工程背景、回用对象及规模,论述了在特定建设条件下对河道生态补水和市政杂用分别采用不同的处理工艺和处理指标的可行性,并对其工艺流程、工艺参数、主要构筑物和设备选型进行了设计。     

Review of post-combustion carbon dioxide capture technologies using activated carbon

Carbon dioxide(CO_2) is the largest anthropogenic greenhouse gas(GHG) on the planet contributing to the global warming. Currently, there are three capture technologies of trapping CO_2 from the flue gas and they are pre-combustion, post-combustion and oxy-fuel combustion. Among these, the post-combustion is widely popular as it can be retrofitted for a short to medium term without encountering any significant technology risks or changes.Activated carbon is widely used as a universal separation medium with series of advantages compared to the first generation capture processes based on amine-based scrubbing which are inherently energy intensive. The goal of this review is to elucidate the three CO_2 capture technologies with a focus on the use of activated carbon(AC) as an adsorbent for post-combustion anthropogenic CO_2 flue gas capture prior to emission to atmosphere. Furthermore, this coherent review summarizes the recent ongoing research on the preparation of activated carbon from various sources to provide a profound understanding on the current progress to highlight the challenges of the CO_2 mitigation efforts along with the mathematical modeling of CO_2 capture. AC is widely seen as a universal adsorbent due to its unique properties such as high surface area and porous texture. Other applications of AC in the removal of contaminants from flue gas, heavy metal and organic compounds, as a catalyst and catalyst support and in the electronics and electroplating industry are also discussed in this study.     

Voluntary approaches in protection of forests in Austria

Voluntary contributions to biodiversity conservation efforts in private forests of Austria have a long tradition which dates back to the 19th century. The most important remnants of undisturbed forests of the Alps today owe their existence to these voluntary initiatives by forest owners. In this earlier period the protection of forest areas by decree or biodiversity conservation initiatives on public owned forests, did not play such a prominent role. But as well as national parks, Natura 2000 areas and other programmes based on protection by decree, significant new voluntary approaches have emerged recently. The Austrian Forest Reserves Programme started in 1995, as a specific approach to voluntary participation in biodiversity conservation by private landowners is discussed in detail. This programme is based on the concept of nature conservation by contracts under private law, agreed between the forest owners and the Republic of Austria. The main characteristics of the programme are presented and experiences gained during the establishment and the maintenance of the network are discussed. Other voluntary initiatives, such as an Austrian network of gene conservation forests, as well as an initiative of a forest owner’s association, are also presented and discussed.     

Agricultural landscape change and stability in northeast Thailand: historical patch-level analysis

The temporal nature of agricultural landscape change, where both intra- and inter-annual processes and changes are often at work, renders traditional methods of landscape change assessment not completely effective. Additionally, seasonal and longer-term shifting patterns of cultivation can sometimes appear as permanent landscape change when in fact they actually are simply a local change in spatial arrangement. To address these complexities, this work tests an approach that is longitudinal in character and based upon assessing the structure of landscape change as well as the landuse/landcover (LULC) change. Set in rural northeast Thailand, patch dynamics are examined through use of LULC change trajectories built from an image time series and temporal patterns built from pattern metrics. The given unit of observation is the pixel, and its “life history” is constituted by the values derived from the images of a satellite time series, which are then reconstituted at the patch level for better ecological interpretation. The hypothesis that underpins this approach is that the nature of the trajectory is associated with the function of the land in that patch and in the neighborhood of surrounding patches. Hence, different trajectories of LULC spatial arrangement may suggest, for example, differences in the stability or dynamics of LULC over time and space, which are further suggestive of land sustainability or resilience, or conversely land conversion or dynamism. The study area for this research is a marginalized, agrarian environment in northeast Thailand, a region that has undergone deforestation of upland forests for the cultivation of commercial field crops, intensification of lowland rice for subsistence as well as local and regional sales and global export, and LULC scenarios altering the savanna landscape that serves as the background matrix. The analysis here characterizes the relative stability and temporal dynamics of LULC at the patch level. Pattern metrics calculated at the patch level are assessed as the spatial organization of landscape units that represent: (1) transitional areas of LULC dynamics occurring as peripheral expansion, (2) LULC change from forest to agriculture through deforestation, or (3) agriculture to forest through secondary plant succession, with savanna serving as a transitional matrix. In short, this paper proposes and tests a method for assessing the temporal persistence of LULC through pattern metrics. The method contributes a technique for analyzing the landscape ecology of sites as a function of their stability/dynamics within a scale-explicit context, and contributes to the growing body of work on relating scale, pattern, and process.