Indicator framework for sustainable production planning and controlling

Production facilities serve to transform raw materials into products, usually with the goal of achieving a designated output, in terms of quantity and quality, with the minimum of cost and labour. With the aid of production planning and controlling (PPC) systems, raw material inputs, and labour can be planned to achieve a determined output of products. In general, the role of environmental and social aspects is neglected in production planning processes. Because of the growing pressure from politics and customers, sustainable production of products is becoming more important. One possibility for supporting sustainable manufacturing is, to integrate sustainable aspects in the production planning process. This paper presents input and output information for current PPC systems and discusses the need for additional information necessary for sustainable PPC. For this approach, a text review of cooperate social responsibility (CSR) reporting indicators provided by the GRI was performed. Based on the text review, an input-output model has been developed for conventional and another one for sustainable PPC systems. Through the comparison of the two input-output models, challenges and requirements for sustainable PPC systems have been defined as a basis for future work and analyses.     

Dry and heat stress affects H2S production of Salmonella on selective plating media

The pH of Salmonella pre-enrichment media can become acidic (pH 4.0–5.0) when feeds/ingredients are incubated for 24?h. Salmonella in feed that have been stressed by heat and desiccation exhibit different pH tolerances than non-stressed cultures. Acidic conditions can result in cell injury/death and affect biochemical pathways. In this study, eight serotypes of Salmonella were grown in sterile meat and bone meal that was subjected to desiccation and heat stress. Cultures of non-stressed and stressed isolates were subsequently exposed to acidic pH from 4.0 to 7.0 in 0.5?pH increments (3 replicates/pH increment) in citrate buffer. At 6 and 24?h, serial dilutions were plated in duplicate on XLT-4 (xylose lysine tergitol-4) agar. Four serotypes showed an impaired ability to decarboxylate lysine on XLT-4. This inability to decarboxylate lysine was dependent on isolate, stress status, and incubation time. When the isolates’ ability to decarboxylate lysine was examined using biochemical tests, cultures were found to be able to decarboxylate lysine with the exception of S. Infantis. This suggests that XLT-4 contains a biochemical stressor(s) which affects the rate of decarboxylation by these Salmonella. These results suggest that acidic conditions may influence the detection and confirmation of Salmonella in feed.     

Potential of microalgae as biopesticides to contribute to sustainable agriculture and environmental development

The loss of yields from agricultural production due to the presence of pests has been treated over the years with synthetic pesticides, but the use of these substances negatively affects the environment and presents health risks for consumers and animals. The development of agroecological systems using biopesticides represents a safe alternative that contributes to the reduction of agrochemical use and sustainable agriculture. Microalgae are able to biosynthesize a number of metabolites with potential biopesticidal action and can be considered potential biological agents for the control of harmful organisms to soils and plants. The present work aims to provide a critical perspective on the consequences of using synthetic pesticides, offering as an alternative the biopesticides obtained from microalgal biomass, which can be used together with the implementation of environmentally friendly agricultural systems.     

The Outcome of Northern Fur Seal Harvesting: The Results of Calibration of Mathematical Models Based on Observation Data (the Example of Tyulenii Island Population)

Tendencies in the dynamics of harvested northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) population on the Tyulenii Island have been analyzed in detail. The results show that retardation of reproduction (decrease in the numbers of pups) and decline in the survival of young females (up to 3 years of age) by the late 1980s resulted in a reduction of the total number of females and a significant increase in the proportion of older females. This tendency changed during the later observation period (after 1988–1989) due to increase in the survival of young females: the female population has gradually recovered, with the proportion of young females increasing at the expense of old females (aged over 10 years). The age composition of males has also changed: the proportion of young animals has decreased, while that of large mature males (bulls) has increased. Moreover, the number of bulls continues to increase and has already exceeded the level that formerly provided for the well-being of the population. This, a paradoxical situation has arisen: the numbers of females and bulls are increasing, whereas pup production remains at a low level.

     

Temporal and Spatial Variations of Phytoplankton Community Structure in Lake Erhai,a Chinese Plateau Lake,with Reference to Environmental Factors

Russian Journal of Ecology - Temporal and spatial variations of phytoplankton community in Lake Erhai were investigated from May 2010 to April 2011. A total of 124 species belonging to 8 phyla and...     

Monitoring of water quality inflow and outflow of a farm in Italian Padana plain for rice cultivation: a case study of two years

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Rice cultivation requires a large use of pesticides and nutrients to control weed proliferation and improve production. The water quality of four...     

Auxinic herbicides induce oxidative stress on Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Pisces: Poeciliidae)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Pesticides might increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dicamba (DIC) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) are auxinic...     

用膨润土处理油田污水的研究进展

介绍了膨润土的基本特性及其存油田污水处理中的研究情况。天然膨润土经改性后,可吸附去除油田污水中的油、烃类衍生物、注聚残留聚合物及表面活性剂;负载金属氧化物的改性膨润土可对光催化氧化产生协同效应,提高光催化氧化油田污水中有机物的能力;在高压下将膨润土制成薄膜,对油田污水中的无机离了有一定的截留去除作用。     

厌氧-好氧生物反应器填埋工艺特性研究

基于生物反应器填埋技术,研究1种填埋场地循环操作的厌氧-好氧生物反应器填埋工艺,设计了该工艺模拟装置并研究了其运行工艺特性.厌氧阶段主要通过渗滤液回灌控制反应器工艺条件,主要试验结果为,pH值,R1在 6周后可上升至6.7～7.8,R2在17周内一直低于6.8;渗滤液COD浓度,R1在13周时下降至10?617 mg/L,R2在5周后上升至60?000 mg/L后长期趋于稳定;填埋气累计产量,R1在8周达到44%,R2几乎不产气.衡量稳定化可以分别采用渗滤液pH、COD浓度及BOD₅/COD的减少率、填埋气的累计产率等指标来判断,并据此转换为好氧填埋运行.好氧阶段主要是通过强制通风来减少恶臭和水分,主要试验结果为,通风19d氨气浓度降为1.16 mg/m³,通风23d后恶臭浓度降为19;通风14d后含水率降为26%.完成此阶段的工艺指标值可依据矿化垃圾开采的最终用途确定.对主要试验数据进行了数值模拟.厌氧-好氧填埋过程的微生物演替经RISA分析,有4个优势菌群,一些兼性菌群在厌氧-好氧阶段起着重要的承前启后作用.     

硫酸铵气溶胶对甲苯-NOx-空气体系光化学反应的影响

利用大气模拟烟雾箱,研究了硫酸铵气溶胶对甲苯-NOx-空气体系光化学反应的影响.结果表明,硫酸铵作为气溶胶种子,其存在可以加快反应过程中颗粒物(particle matter,PM)的生成速度,并提高甲苯的气溶胶产率.在高浓度的硫酸铵气溶胶种子条件下,其初始浓度对反应过程中NOx、NO和O3的浓度变化没有明显的影响,但对二次有机气溶胶(secondary organic aemsol,SOA)的生成有显著影响.在硫酸铵气溶胶种子浓度小于160 μg·m-3时,SOA的产率随初始气溶胶种子浓度的增大而增大,从最小7.2%到最大11.7%,其增幅超过60%.