Methodology to translate policy assessment problems into scenarios: the example of the SEAMLESS integrated framework

Scenario-based approaches in environmental and policy assessment studies are increasingly applied within integrated assessment and modelling frameworks. The SEAMLESS project develops such an integrated framework (SEAMLESS-IF) aiming to assess, ex-ante, impacts of alternative agro-environmental policies on the sustainability of agricultural systems. A particular challenge in this context is the consistent translation of a wide range of policy questions into scenarios that a modelling framework can assess. The present work defines a methodology for scenario-development in integrated policy assessment with specific emphasis on SEAMLESS-IF. After a general overview on scenario concepts for integrated policy assessment the adopted scenario concept and its development procedure is presented. They allow building integrated scenarios capturing the range of drivers of the assessed agricultural system in a consistent way across temporal and spatial scales. Then focus is on the particular procedures to translate the policy assessment questions into scenario parameters and to implement these parameters into SEAMLESS-IF. Two examples targeted at European and regional level combining integrated assessments of policy changes and technological innovations are considered to illustrate the SEAMLESS scenario concept. We conclude that the proposed methodology to translate policy assessment problems into scenarios effectively supports integrated assessment in SEAMLESS-IF or even in other modelling frameworks.     

Statistical optimization of adsorption processes for removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol by activated carbon derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches

The adsorption capacity of activated carbon produced from oil palm empty fruit bunches through removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol from aqueous solution was carried out in the laboratory. The activated carbon was produced by thermal activation of activation time with 30 min at 800℃. The adsorption process conditions were determined with the statistical optimization followed by central composite design. A developed polynomial model for operating conditions of adsorption process indicated that the optimum conditions for maximum adsorption of phenolic compound were： agitation rate of 100 r/min, contact time of 8 h, initial adsorbate concentration of 250 mg/L and pH 4. Adsorption isotherms were conducted to evaluate biosorption process. Langmuir isotherm was more favorable （R^2=0.93） for removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol by the activated carbon rather than Freundlich isotherm （R^2=0.88）.     

Concentration of heavy metals in water and chub, Leuciscus cephalus (Linn.) from the river Yildiz, Turkey

The concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Fe and Zn) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the river water and the edible muscle tissues of chub, Leuciscus cephalus, from river Yildiz, Turkey, and in the waste water The following results were found in the water of the river Yildiz: Cu 0.03-0.53, Fe 0.91-1.96 and Zn, 053-1.49 microgl(-1), in the waste water Cu 0.20-0.52, Fe 1.22-2.29 and Zn 0.92-1.46 microgl(-1) and in the edible muscle of chub: Cu 1.00-3.79, Fe 7.21-17.04 and Zn 4.12-18.33 microg g(-1) wet weight respectively. Among the heavy metals studied Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Mn were not detected in the river water, waste water and chub samples. Heavy metal contents in these samples were evaluated and the highest concentrations of Cu, Fe and Zn were found in the muscle tissue. The levels of the heavy metals were detected in decreasing order as iron> zinc> copper. All the samples contained comparatively lower amounts of metals as suggested by international and national regulatory bodies. Thus, we recommend periodic monitoring of these metals in the fish consumed by local people.     

Problems caused by land-misuse; the sample of Erzurum

In especially urban areas and their proximity, environmental pollution has reached a level which threatens both people and public health. Although environmental problems in Turkey have been studied for many cities, including Erzurum, no study is present combining all the environmental matters of the city with short definitions of problems it faces, therefore, this study attempts to reveal the definition of the scope and problem of pollution and land use problems in Erzurum and use of studies from developing cities elsewhere in the world for comparison of methods and solutions.     

Assessment of trophic status of the northeastern Mediterranean coastal waters: eutrophication classification tools revisited

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The Eastern Mediterranean and its Cilician Basin offshore waters have oligotrophic features with low nutrient concentrations, low primary production,...     

Composting of wastewater treatment sludge with different bulking agents

The main objectives of this study were to investigate the compostability of wastewater treatment sludge (WTS) containing different bulking agents (BAs) and to determine the most efficient BA. Four different compost trials consisting of mixtures of wheat straw (WS), plane leaf (PL), corncob (CC) and sunflower stalk (SS) with WTS were performed in laboratory reactors. In all experiments, a mixture of 60% WTS and 40% BA (wet basis) was used. The temperature, dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and C/N ratio were monitored during the composting process. Evaluation of the operational parameters showed that the highest organic matter degradation (i.e. 37.6%), loss of dry matter (i.e. 29.6%) and temperature (i.e. 64 °C) were achieved for the WTS-CC mixtures. Results also showed that the WTS-SS mixture was also successful in terms of these operational parameters. Use of bulking agents for the treatment of wastewater treatment sludge in composting process is an important issue with regards to process efficiency, economy and disposal of agricultural waste. Corncob and sunflower stalk that were previously not used for the composting of WTS from food industry were shown to be highly successful BA materials in this study.

Implications: The compostability of wastewater treatment sludge from the food industry with different bulking agents was studied. Wheat straw, plane leaf, corncob, and sunflower stalk were used as bulking agents. The required microbial stabilization and degree of mineralization were achieved with corncobs and sunflower stalks.     

Role of information in collective action in dynamic disaster environments

This study explores the major issues facing collective response operations after destructive earthquakes. The small-n case study design employs qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate the decision-making process in a context of seismic risk to exemplify how public managers can utilise information and communication systems to ensure collaborative actions in managing an extreme event. Fifty-eight semi-structured interviews with 39 key decision-makers and researchers and content analyses of daily reports from Cumhuriyet comprise the main data sources. The study compares and contrasts the Turkish disaster management system following the Marmara and Duzce earthquakes of 1999. It addresses whether the use of information and communication technologies significantly affected its performance. The study's findings reveal that difficulties in accessing and exchanging timely and accurate disaster-relevant information inhibited coordination during the Marmara response while increased communication functions improved coordination and search-and-rescue activities during the Duzce response.     

Usage of non-timber forest products by women in forest villages of Trabzon, Turkey

Women are responsible for procuring the food for their family in many places in the world. The usage of the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) reaches to the beginning of the humanity NTFPs are used for food and medicine especially in the developing countries as a whole. In this research, totally 611 questionnaires were conducted with women participants by polling face to face in 68 forest villages in the research area. The main reason for studying with women is that; the gathering activities are usually done by women in that area and they also knew the used parts and how to use the NTFPs. Results showed that about 14.4% of the women in the research area are gathering the plants for food (17 species and 2-8 kg annually) and 9.2% of the women are gathering the plants for medicinal purposes (16 species and 1-4 kg annually). These plants are usually used for additional medicinal treatments. 4 species are used for livestock treatment and 2 species in the hand weaving.     

Thermal Stabilization of Recycled PET Through Chain Extension and Blending with PBT

This study investigates the effect of using a multifunctional epoxide chain extender (Joncryl^® ADR 4468) on the thermal stabilization and rheological properties of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) and its blends with polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The R-PET samples were prepared without and with chain extender (CE) contents of 0.4 wt% and 0.8 wt%. R-PET/PBT blends with weight ratios of 75w/25w, 50w/50w and 25w/75w were also prepared without and with a given CE content of 0.2 wt%. The thermal stability of the melt blended samples was analyzed through small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) rheological experiments. The structure of the samples was evaluated using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. While the dynamic rheological properties of R-PET were improved with the addition of Joncryl and by blending with PBT, during the SAOS rheological experiments, the complex viscosity of R-PET further increased due to the concurrent polycondensation of R-PET and the resumption of Joncryl reaction with R-PET molecules. These reactions during the rheological experiments were further expedited with increasing the testing temperature. On the other hand, in R-PET/PBT blends, the reactivity of Joncryl was more noticeable in blends with higher R-PET contents due to the higher available internal reactive sites of much shorter R-PET molecules. It was observed that the addition of only 0.2 wt% Joncryl to the blends of R-PET/PBT (75w/25w) dramatically improves the thermal stability and dynamic rheological properties of R-PET and most likely its processability.