Study of Fatigue Life and Filler Interaction of Paper Sludge Filled Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR) and Maleated Natural Rubber (MNR) Composites

An investigation on the effect of epoxidation and maleated natural rubber (MNR) on fatigue and rubber-filler interaction properties of paper sludge filled natural rubber composites was elucidated. Paper sludge loading was varied from 0 to 40 phr and conventional vulcanisation system was used while compounding was carried out on a laboratory sized two roll mill. Two different types of natural rubber, SMR L and ENR 50 having 0 and 50 mole% of epoxidation were used in order to investigate the effect of epoxidation on the composites. Results indicate that, at a fixed filler loading, ENR 50 vulcanizates exhibit higher fatigue life than SMR L vulcanizates especially at filler loading below 20 phr which might be associated with better rubber-filler interaction. In the case of composites with the addition of maleated natural rubber (MNR), a higher fatigue life was observed due to presence of physical and/or chemical linkages, which increases the interfacial adhesion. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of fatigue fracture surfaces and rubber-filler interaction study supported the observed result on fatigue life.     

Effect of Recycling on Material Properties of Glass-filled Polyethylene Terephthalate

Recycled plastics are considered low performance materials because their properties are expected to decrease drastically with recycling. The objective of this study was to characterize a 15 wt.% glass filled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET-15GF) using six recycle generations and four recycle ratios. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elastic modulus, and percent elongation to failure of the PET composite were determined for various recycle generations and recycle ratios. Results show that the mechanical properties of rPET-15GF decrease slightly per recycle generation. In contrast, thermal properties of rPET-15GF were not at all affected by the recycling process. This data demonstrates that recycled glass filled PET can be used effectively to fabricate components without significantly affecting their mechanical performance.     

Characterization and recycling of polymeric components present in cell phones

The cell phone market is developing at a rapid speed. Today there are more than 1.6 billion consumers in the world, and the lifetime of a cell phone is less than 2 years. As a consequence, there is an increase in the waste associated to this product, and many alternatives to the disposal of the cell phones are being studied, such as recycling which shows to be the most important. It is crucial to know what materials constitute the cell phone in order to carry out recycling and determine environmental and economical issues. This work presents an evaluation of the cell phone components, characterizing the raw materials and some properties of the recycled materials.     

Pilot‐scale evaluation using bioaugmentation to enhance PCE dissolution at dover AFB national test site

An Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) forum was recently held that focused on six case studies in which bioremediation of dense nonaqueous‐phase liquids (DNAPLs) was performed; the objective was to demonstrate that there is credible evidence for bioremediation as a viable environmental remediation technology. The first two case studies from the forum have been previously published; this third case study involves a pilot‐scale demonstration that investigated the effects of biological activity on enhancing dissolution of an emplaced tetrachloroethene (PCE) DNAPL source. It used a controlled‐release test cell with PCE as the primary DNAPL in a porous media groundwater system. Both laboratory tests and a field‐scale pilot test demonstrated that bioaugmentation can stimulate complete dechlorination to a nontoxic end product and that the mass flux from a source zone increases when biological dehalorespiration activity is enhanced through nutrient (electron donor) addition and bioaugmentation. All project goals were met. Important achievements include demonstrating the ability to degrade a PCE DNAPL source to ethene and obtaining significant information on the impacts to the microbial populations and corresponding isotope enrichments during biodegradation of a source area. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Emotional intelligence and individual performance: evidence of direct and moderated effects

We examined the direct and moderated effects of an ability‐based measure of emotional intelligence (MSCEIT© V2.0) on individual performance in a sample of business undergraduates. Controlling for general mental ability and personality, emotional intelligence explained unique incremental variance in performance ratings on only one of two measures of interpersonal effectiveness (public speaking effectiveness). However, the interaction of emotional intelligence with conscientiousness explained unique incremental variance both in public speaking and group behavior effectiveness, as well as academic performance (cumulative GPA). We conclude that the effects of emotional intelligence on performance are more indirect than direct in nature. Individuals must not only have emotional intelligence, but also must be motivated to use it. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

四川青衣江上游若壁小沟泥石流及其防治对策

若壁小沟为四川青衣江上游左岸的一级支沟,该沟处于深切割高山峡谷区,地形坡度陡,构造发育,岩石破碎,加之较为丰富的降雨,使该沟具备泥石流暴发的条件。该沟如果暴发泥石流,将对某电站拟建厂房产生威胁。该沟泥石流具有成灾快、危害严重、松散固体物质以坡面崩塌补给为主、活动频率中等等特征。通过野外考察和取样分析,该沟泥石流的性质和类型为中频率—中~大规模—低~高粘度泥石质泥石流。分析预测了该沟泥石流在强烈地震条件下、近期出现不同频率暴雨情况下及人类活动影响下的发展趋势。在此基础上,提出了该沟泥石流减灾工程规划方案。     

EEG bioeffects on cochlear deaf from cellular phones

Objectives This paper aims to provide evidence of an inductive electromagnetic bioeffect on the human brain, which is independent from sound waves and produced by mobile phones, in proximal field, through correlating the EEG data obtained from electrodes placed on both normal and cochlear deaf individuals. Methods Two groups of subjects are placed under controlled electromagnetic conditions inside a Faraday chamber, 12 healthy and another 12 suffering from cochlear deafness). Each is sitting on a chair, fitted with additional support, and holding a cellular phone 2 cm away form the right auricular, in order to avoid a thermal effect as much as possible. All of them, relaxed and with their eyes closed, are EEG recorded in a basal state with their mobile phones off. Then, each of them is again recorded under the same conditions but with the mobile on and listening to the same conversation. In order to assess the observed EEG changes, a statistical analysis by means of the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) was carried out. Results For both, healthy and cochlear deaf, assimilation or integration of the mobile phone signal by some electrodes is to be found. This is due to the increase of amplitudes for alpha and theta waves, whereas the signal is not integrated in other electrodes. By correlating the spectra of frequencies of corresponding EEG records for the same brain areas, we have not observed significative differences for both groups. Conclusions A possible electromagnetic direct inductive, non-thermal, bioeffect on the human brain is observed. This effect is produced by the use of mobile phones and it bears no relation to the sound waves.     

Nature conservation efforts set for specially protected areas of Turkey

Environmental pollution and degradation of ecosystems considerably affect the natural resources. The Turkish Government is aware of the importance of the preservation of natural ecology and thereby the environmental conservation of many species in their natural habitat. This paper provides critical assessments of the problems and possible solutions in the identification, implementation and management of the Specially Protected Areas (SPAs) system by giving basic information about stakeholders and their responsibilities that currently offer nature conservation in Turkey. The goals of the article are to analyze how the SPAs interface with the local people, especially the villagers who have dwelt there before SPA designation and how people-SPA conflicts resolved; to show how effective the SPA conservation objectives have been; to outline the significance of informing and empowering people in nature conservation for the protected area management and to show the importance of planning at all levels during protection of the natural, archeological and cultural values of the SPAs.     

Conservation or Preservation? A Qualitative Study of the Conceptual Foundations of Natural Resource Management

Few disputes in the annals of US environmentalism enjoy the pedigree of the conservation-preservation debate. Yet, although many scholars have written extensively on the meaning and history of conservation and preservation in American environmental thought and practice, the resonance of these concepts outside the academic literature has not been sufficiently examined. Given the significance of the ideals of conservation and preservation in the justification of environmental policy and management, however, we believe that a more detailed analysis of the real-world use and understanding of these ideas is needed. In this paper, we describe the results of a qualitative, semantic study of the concepts of conservation and preservation undertaken in the context of the Chattahoochee National Forest (CNF), located in northern Georgia (USA). Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with scientists and north Georgia residents either interested or involved in the future management of the forest. Respondents were asked to define conservation and preservation in their own words and to indicate which approach they felt was more appropriate for the management of the CNF. Qualitative content analysis was used to elicit a set of recurring themes for each foundational concept. Taken together, these themes help to flesh out the meaning of conservation and preservation for citizens and scientists today, and illustrate the evolving nature of two of the more significant and venerable ideas animating US environmental policy and management.