Properties of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Chitosan Nanocomposite Films Reinforced with Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Amorphous Lignocellulose Nanofibers

The objective of this study was to investigate the properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan nanocomposite films reinforced with different concentration of amorphous LCNFs. The properties analyzed were morphological, physical, chemical, thermal, biological, and mechanical characteristics. Oil palm empty fruit bunch LCNFs obtained from multi-mechanical stages were more dominated by amorphous region than crystalline part. Varied film thickness, swelling degree, and transparency of PVA/chitosan nanocomposite films reinforced with amorphous part were produced. Aggregated LCNFs, which reinforced PVA/chitosan polymer blends, resulted in irregular, rough, and uneven external surfaces as well as protrusions. Based on XRD analysis, there were two or three imperative peaks that indicated the presence of crystalline states. The increase in LCNFs concentration above 0.5% to PVA/chitosan polymer blends led to the decrease in crystallinity index of the films. A noticeable alteration of FTIR spectra, which included wavenumber and intensity, was obviously observed along with the inclusion of amorphous LCNFs. That indicated that a good miscibility between amorphous LCNFs and PVA/chitosan polymer blend generated chemical interaction of those polymers during physical blending. Reinforcement of PVA/chitosan polymer blends with amorphous LCNFs influenced the changes of T_g (glass transition temperature), T_m (melting point temperature), and T_max (maximum degradation temperature). Three thermal phases of PVA/chitosan/LCNFs nanocomposite films were also observed, including absorbed moisture evaporation, PVA and chitosan polymer backbone structural degradation and LCNFs pyrolysis, and by-products degradation of these polymers. The addition of LCNFs 0.5% had the highest tensile strength and the addition of LCNFs above 0.5% decreased the strength. The incorporation of OPEFB LCNFs did not show anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties of the films. The addition of amorphous LCNFs 0.5% into PVA/chitosan polymer blends resulted in regular and smooth external surfaces, enhanced tensile strength, increased crystallinity index, and enhanced thermal stability of the films.     

One Hundred Questions of Importance to the Conservation of Global Biological Diversity

Abstract:  We identified 100 scientific questions that, if answered, would have the greatest impact on conservation practice and policy. Representatives from 21 international organizations, regional sections and working groups of the Society for Conservation Biology, and 12 academics, from all continents except Antarctica, compiled 2291 questions of relevance to conservation of biological diversity worldwide. The questions were gathered from 761 individuals through workshops, email requests, and discussions. Voting by email to short-list questions, followed by a 2-day workshop, was used to derive the final list of 100 questions. Most of the final questions were derived through a process of modification and combination as the workshop progressed. The questions are divided into 12 sections: ecosystem functions and services, climate change, technological change, protected areas, ecosystem management and restoration, terrestrial ecosystems, marine ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems, species management, organizational systems and processes, societal context and change, and impacts of conservation interventions. We anticipate that these questions will help identify new directions for researchers and assist funders in directing funds.     

基于无人机平台的甲烷监测技术及其在油气行业的应用

对甲烷排放的精准监测是油气行业实现温室气体减排与管控的基础和前提。无人机具有灵活、可操作性强、覆盖范围广、运行成本低等特点,以无人机为飞行平台的甲烷监测技术在油气行业区域甲烷排放监测领域具有巨大的应用潜力。详细阐述了基于无人机平台的甲烷监测技术的优势,梳理了不同的无人机类型,并根据其飞行性能及载荷能力进行了比对,归纳了无人机有效载荷类型、特点及应用场景,总结了国内外无人机甲烷监测技术在油气行业的应用,旨在为基于无人机平台的甲烷监测技术在我国油气行业的应用提供理论和技术参考。     

Quantitative structure-retention relationship for retention behavior of organic pollutants in textile wastewaters and landfill leachate in LC-APCI-MS

Introduction  

A quantitative structure-retention relation (QSRR) study was conducted on the retention times of organic pollutants in textile wastewaters and landfill leachate which was obtained by liquid chromatography-reversed phase-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry.     

Participatory assessment of the sustainability of livelihoods in the agroecosystem of Abesard,Iran

In order to improve the livelihoods of communities and make them more sustainable, study of the vulnerability of livelihoods seems necessary. In this paper, participatory vulnerability analysis was used within a sustainable rural livelihoods framework to assess the sustainability of livelihoods in the agroecosystem of Abesard, Iran. In addition, this paper explored vulnerability contexts that affect livelihood assets. Findings revealed that land use change, climate variability, market fluctuations and higher mechanisation were the main reasons of vulnerability. To overcome these problems and to adapt to changes, households have followed livelihood strategies such as agricultural intensification, livelihood diversification, and agricultural biodiversity. The government has also provided some services such as extension programmes, fertilizers, and subsidies to compensate for asset limitations. Overall, implementation of the following development policies are recommended: (1) support of agricultural production by government institutions; (2) moving towards the development of sustainable agricultural practises that integrate a variety of methods in a sustainable manner; (3) development of agricultural intensification in a sustainable way that compensates for any inadequacy of assets; and (4) providing adult vocational training programmes for both men and women related to on-farm and off-farm activities. In the end, results highlighted the need for more emphasis on overcoming the challenges of sustainable agriculture using a participatory approach in assessment of the vulnerability of community livelihoods.     

城市道路绿化带不同植物叶片附尘对大气污染的磁学响应

对上海市金沙江路两侧绿化带内24个常绿植物叶片样品进行了磁性与重金属测试,以探讨城市道路绿化带不同植物叶片附尘对大气污染的磁学响应.结果表明,χ、SIRM值分别在（4～59）×10-8m3.kg-1和（496～6 114）×10-6Am2.kg-1之间变化,S-300 mT在89%～98%之间变动.所有植物样品中χARM/χ〈4,χARM/SIRM〈30×10-5mA-1.磁性参数表明,植物叶片附尘以亚铁磁性矿物为主,磁性矿物颗粒以假单畴（PSD）-多畴（MD）为主.重金属元素Zn、Cu、Pb含量与反映亚铁磁性矿物含量的χ、SIRM、χARM呈显著正相关,可以将磁性参数SIRM作为叶片重金属元素的替代指标.推荐在上海地区广泛种植的广玉兰作为道路植物污染的指示植物。     

Seasonal changes of CO(2), CH(4) and N(2)O fluxes in relation to land-use change in tropical peatlands located in coastal area of South Kalimantan

Tropical peatland could be a source of greenhouse gases emission because it contains large amounts of soil carbon and nitrogen. However these emissions are strongly influenced by soil moisture conditions. Tropical climate is characterized typically by wet and dry seasons. Seasonal changes in the emission of carbon dioxide (CO(2)), methane (CH(4)) and nitrous oxide (N(2)O) were investigated over a year at three sites (secondary forest, paddy field and upland field) in the tropical peatland in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. The amount of these gases emitted from the fields varied widely according to the seasonal pattern of precipitation, especially methane emission rates were positively correlated with precipitation. Converting from secondary forest peatland to paddy field tended to increase annual emissions of CO(2) and CH(4) to the atmosphere (from 1.2 to 1.5 kg CO(2)-C m(-2)y(-1) and from 1.2 to 1.9 g CH(4)-C m(-2)y(-1)), while changing land-use from secondary forest to upland tended to decrease these gases emissions (from 1.2 to 1.0 kg CO(2)-C m(-2)y(-1) and from 1.2 to 0.6 g CH(4)-C m(-2)y(-1)), but no clear trend was observed for N(2)O which kept negative value as annual rates at three sites.     

Natural radionuclides distribution and environmental impacts of ferruginous sand-siltstone (raw material) and their manufactured Ahmer oxide used as wall paints

Commercially known Ahmer oxide paints are prepared from raw material mainly composed of red iron oxides (hematite) and iron oxyhydroxides. The raw material used in manufacturing of Ahmer oxide comes from some localities in southwest Sinai such as Abu Thor, Allouga, and El lehian. The adsorption of uranium and other radioelements on iron oxides could make the raw material (red iron oxides) and their products environmentally hazardous. The studied samples were subjected to radiometric analysis using NaI (Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. The average activity concentration of U, Th, Ra, and K are 108.7, 458.8, 88.8, and 627.5?Bq?kg^?1, respectively in raw material and 136.4, 14.6, 58.3, and 95.9?Bq?kg^?1 in Ahmer oxide. High values of activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K were recorded in Allouga and El lehian raw material. High radioactivities of Allouga and El lehian raw material are mainly attributed to the presence of torbernite, zircon, and monazite, in addition to adsorbed elemental uranium in Ahmer oxide. absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent, radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), external hazard index (H_ex), and internal hazard index (H_in), as well as representative gamma index (Iγ) were determined from the activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K. Some of the studied samples do not satisfy the universal standards.     

Safeguarding the Pantanal Wetlands: Threats and Conservation Initiatives

Abstract:  The Pantanal, one of the largest wetlands on the planet, comprises 140,000 km² of lowland floodplain of the upper Rio Paraguai basin that drains the Cerrado of central Brazil. The diverse mosaics of habitats resulting from the varied soil types and inundation regimes are responsible for an extraordinarily rich terrestrial and aquatic biota, exemplified by the bird richest wetland in the world—463 birds have been recorded there—and the largest known populations of several threatened mammals, such as Pampas deer ( Ozotoceros bezoarticus ), marsh deer ( Blastocerus dichotomus ), giant otter ( Pteronura brasiliensis ), and jaguar ( Panthera onca ). Until recently, deforestation of the adjoining Brazilian central plateau was considered the major threat to this area, but now deforestation is a critical problem within the floodplain itself. More than 40% of the forest and savanna habitats have been altered for cattle ranching through the introduction of exotic grasses. And there are other threats that lead to large-scale disruption of ecological processes, severely affecting biodiversity. Although the Pantanal wetland is a Biosphere Reserve and is considered a Wetland of International Importance, only 2.5% of the upper Paraguai River basin is formally protected. To date, protected areas have been created opportunistically and as such, although of undoubted value, protect only a fraction of the Pantanal's wildlife and habitats. Among the conservation initiatives in the area, the private sector is increasingly participating in the establishment of private reserves. The prospects are far from optimistic, however, and the major challenge is to find alternative socioeconomic models that allow for conservation and economic uses of the land in association with the development of specific environmental legislation that reflects the unique characteristics of the region.