Mining and social development: Refocusing community investment using multi-criteria decision analysis

This paper addresses the question: How can mining companies assess social investment projects so that projects create value for the company and communities in which they operate? Mining companies are still wrestling with the limits of their responsibility in relation to social development even though they accept the business case for community investment at a general level. Fully aware of the practical hazards involved in taking an active role in facilitating local development, companies increasingly avoid methods that are overly paternalistic or assume the functions of the national or local governments. Gaining senior management's commitment to long-term social projects, which are characterised by uncertainty and complexity, is made easier if projects are shown to benefit the site's strategic goals. Case study research on large global mining companies, including interviews with social investment decision makers, has assisted in developing a Social Investment Decision Analysis Tool (SIDAT), a decision model for evaluating social projects. Multi-criteria decision analysis techniques integrating business planning processes with social impact assessment have proved useful in assisting mining companies think beyond seeking reputational benefits, to how they can meet their business goals and contribute to sustainable development.     

Natural resource abundance in Nigeria: From dependence to development

There are several strategies open to an economy in its attempt to attain sustainable economic development depending on its historical background and resource endowment. One of such is the resource-led strategy. Nigeria is superabundantly rich in crude oil and has reaped billions of petrodollars. However, the country seems to be facing the problem of successfully translating this huge oil wealth into sustainable development. This paper employs the vector error-correction methodology in examining the long-run impact of the huge oil wealth accruing to Nigeria on its economic development. Indicators such as per capita GDP (PGDP), household consumption, infrastructural development (electricity), and agricultural and manufacturing output growth rates are examined. The results suggest a significant positive long-run impact of per capita oil revenue on per capita household consumption and electricity generation, while a negative relationship is established for GDP, agriculture and manufacturing. Even for those variables with negative relationship at current period, there exist positive relationships at subsequent lags. Thus, oil revenue, if properly managed and invested, could be effectively used to induce oil-led development in Nigeria provided the current inhibitions of corruption, lack of transparency, accountability and fairness in its use and distribution are removed.     

环境监测信息网络建设思路的探讨

介绍了环境监测信息网络的组成、作用于流通范围,提出了环境监测信息的构架、环境数据库的设计原则、环境监测应用软件的开发思路,以及环境监测信息网络的管理与维护措施。     

火灾高温下CFRP加固钢筋混凝土梁温度场分析

综合国外CFRP加固混凝土结构抗火试验相关研究,总结了CFRP的高温热工性能参数。用ANSYS软件对火灾高温下不同情况(无防火保护层和有防火保护层)和不同工况(防火涂料涂抹形式)下CFRP加固后的钢筋混凝土梁进行了温度场数值模拟研究。结果表明,防火涂料厚40 mm时,梁耐火极限可达2.5小时以上,且底面和两侧面全面涂抹防火涂料的防火效果最好。本文研究有助于进一步深入认识CFRP加固钢筋混凝土结构在高温下的力学性能和耐火极限,且对CFRP加固后的结构防火设计具有一定的指导意义。     

结构分析中模拟与仿真技术研究

由于像洪水、水灾、地震这样一类自然灾害的原型重复试验几乎是不可能的,因此计算机仿真技术在这一领域的应用具有重要的意义。本文探索了土木工程中模拟与仿真的概念、特征及实现途径,阐述了关于仿真智能化、可视化的技术细节及仿真的基本思路;结合面向对象程序设计（OOP）概念,提出了结构分析程序设计的原则及标准。在此基础上,编写了基于Windows的结构有限元分析软件SmartSEA.     

DPX快速萃取程序升温大体积进样GC/MS法测定水中19种多溴联苯化合物

建立DPX快速吸附萃取、程序升温(PTV)大体积进样与气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)联用,SIM模式同时测定水中19种多溴联苯(PBBs)单体的方法。该方法在PBBs质量浓度1~50μg/L范围内线性良好,19种PBBs单体检出限为0.147~0.230μg/L,相对标准偏差为6.61%~10.5%,加标回收率为61.5%~82.6%。     

基于轮廓似然函数的PM_(10)极值浓度分析

以R软件为分析工具,选择GEV(generalized extreme value distribution)模型拟合四川省泸州市2003～2007年期间PM10每月最高日平均浓度数据,采用极大似然法估计模型的3个参数即位置参数、尺度参数、形状参数,利用所得的参数估计值计算得出某一标准值(如GB3095—1996)的重现期;进一步利用参数估计值计算轮廓似然函数,估计某一段固定时间间隔的PM10浓度的重现值以及其置信区间。结果表明,GEV模型能很好地拟合泸州市PM10数据,利用轮廓似然函数估计的不同时间间隔的重现值准确度高,统计结果可以为环境主管部门发布污染状况预警信息提供参考。     

北京市“十三五”大气污染物排放总量控制基本思路探讨

随着各项环保措施的深入实施,北京市大气环境质量进一步改善的难度逐渐加大。对北京市"十二五"时期的大气污染物排放总量控制工作进行了经验总结,并分析了"十三五"时期大气污染物的排放形势和减排压力。在此基础上,从6个方面提出了北京市"十三五"期间大气污染物排放总量控制的基本思路。     

The conversion of chicken manure to biooil by fast pyrolysis I. Analyses of chicken manure,biooils and char by 13C and 1H NMR and FTIR spectrophotometry

Fast pyrolysis of chicken manure produced two biooils (Fractions I and II) and a residual char. All four materials were analyzed by chemical methods, ¹³C and 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry (¹³C and 1H NMR), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrosphotometry (FTIR). The char showed the highest C content and the highest aromaticity. Of the two biooils Fraction II was higher in C, yield and calorific value but lower in N than Fraction I. The S and ash content of the two biooil fractions were low. The Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinning (CP-MAS) ¹³C NMR spectrum of the initial chicken manure showed it to be rich in cellulose, which was a major component of sawdust used as bedding material. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of the two biooils indicated that Fraction I was less aromatic than Fraction II. Among the aromatics in the two biooils, we were able to tentatively identify N-heterocyclics like indoles, pyridines, and pyrazines. FTIR spectra were generally in agreement with the NMR data. FTIR spectra of both biooils showed the presence of both primary and secondary amides and primary amines as well as N-heterocyclics such as pyridines, quinolines, and pyrimidines. The FTIR spectrum of the char resembled that of the initial chicken manure except that the concentration of carbohydrates was lower.     

Impact of different public E&P policies on natural gas reserves and production in Pakistan

Low wellhead domestic gas prices over the past few years have led to the beginning of a shortage in natural gas reserves and production in Pakistan. Gas demand steadily rises in all sectors for being an economical fuel as compare to substitutes. In the view of foregoing consumption trend, the demand for gas is expected to grow with a higher pace during the 2010s. On the contrary, indigenous gas reserves are running out and cannot keep up with the demand. This paper examines the extent of upstream activities in different petroleum policy regimes. The wellhead price for indigenous gas is compared with the prices of alternatives (for example, gas import prices). In order to put the problem in perspective, the relationship between wellhead gas price and cumulative gas reserves in Pakistan are analyzed and we find that the looming gas shortage can be ameliorated in the short-run and eliminated in the long-run through incentivized wellhead price. To put it briefly, the idea is mooted to first take advantage of huge domestic reserves to ensure competitive consumer prices for gas. The findings are applicable to several other economies with under-developed natural resources.