A study on the dilemmas of resource utilization and tourism in Africa

This paper explores, explains and discusses issues around the dilemma between local conservation of natural resources (often, endangered species and habitats) and tourism needs in Africa. Often and in constitutional terms, local people have a right to exploit and use resources endowed in their local area. However, tourists often are interested in viewing the vegetation and animal resources undisturbed. Inevitably, there is an undeclared animosity of values and interests between local communities and tourists and state agencies. As a result, the dilemma is thus of governance. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the governance dilemma of resource utilization and tourism in Africa in a bid to create an informed stewardship framework for sustainability. This is achieved by way of case studies and narratives from Africa. As such, this paper will be a review literature on how different communities perceive tourism and derive livelihoods from their immediate environment. It also explains how the external factors influence local needs and interests. A more sustainable and operational framework that reduces friction among stakeholders is suggested.     

Economic feasibility of autonomous hybrid wind–diesel power systems for residential loads in hot regions: a step to mitigate the implications of fossil fuel depletion

Today, energy occupies a pivotal position around which all socio-economic activities revolve. No energy means no life, and supply of energy in a cheap, plentiful, long-sustainable and environmentally safe form is a boon for everyone. In the light of rising cost of oil and fears of its exhaustion coupled with increased pollution, the governments worldwide are deliberating and making huge strides to promote renewable energy sources such as wind. Integration of wind machines with the diesel plants is pursued widely to reduce dependence on fossil-fuel-produced energy and to reduce the release of carbon gases that cause global climate change. The literature indicates that commercial/residential buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consume an estimated 10–40% of the total electric energy generated. The aim of this study is to analyse wind-speed data of Dhahran (East-Coast, KSA) to assess the economic feasibility of utilising autonomous hybrid wind–diesel power systems to meet the electrical load of 100 typical residential buildings (with annual electrical energy demand of 3512 MWh). The monthly average wind speeds range from 3.3 to 5.6 m/s. The hybrid systems simulated consist of different combinations of 600 kW commercial wind machines supplemented with diesel generators. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's hybrid optimisation model for electric renewables software was employed to perform the techno-economic analysis.

The simulation results indicate that for a hybrid system comprising 600 kW wind capacity together with a 1.0 MW diesel system (two 500 kW units), the wind penetration (at 50 m hub-height, with 0% annual capacity shortage) is 26%. The cost of generating energy (COE, $/kWh) from this hybrid wind–diesel system was found to be 0.070 $/kWh (assuming diesel fuel price of 0.1 $/l). The study exhibits that for a given hybrid configuration, the number of operational hours of diesel generator sets (gensets) decreases with an increase in the wind-farm capacity. Concurrently, emphasis has also been placed on wind penetration, un-met load, effect of hub-height on energy production and COE, excess electricity generation, percentage fuel savings and reduction in carbon emissions (relative to diesel-only situation) of different hybrid systems, cost breakdown of wind–diesel systems, COE of different hybrid systems, etc.     

基于CNN_LSTM模型的复杂支路故障电弧检测*

在低压交流配电系统中,当多支路并联的复杂系统的某1支路中出现串联电弧故障时,识别难度大幅提升。为了预防此类情况引发的电气火灾,提出1种卷积神经网络(CNN)与长短时记忆网络(LSTM)结合的串联故障电弧检测方法。首先,搭建实验平台用以采集不同负载在不同支路下发生故障时和正常工作时的干路电流数据;然后,构建CNN_LSTM模型并做出相应改进,将电流数据直接输入到模型中,由模型自主提取波形特征并进行分类。研究结果表明:该方法可以快速、准确地识别出电弧故障,准确率达99.04%以上,且能够较为准确地检测出是哪类负载所在的支路发生电弧故障,准确率达97.90%,可为复杂支路下的电弧故障识别研究提供参考。     

The territorial dimension of environmental sustainability in Italy along the urban–rural continuum

Single territories contribute in different ways to the transition towards a more environmentally sustainable development (SD), according to their structural features. This study returns a multi-dimensional picture of the territorial divides of environmental sustainability across Italy, analysing how it correlates with rurality, with a focus on the urban–rural continuum. Italy represents an interesting case study because of its peculiar territorial urban–rural structure. We first assess the environmental sustainability targets across Italian NUTS 3 regions and their capital cities using two composite sustainability indexes, by referring to both standard values (i.e. conforming to legislation) and optimum values (i.e. desired values). Then, we investigate the relationship between environmental sustainability and rurality. Results suggest that a positive link between the two exists, being stronger at city level. Among major policy implications, the environmental dimensions of territorial cohesion should be integrated more strongly in key European policies to reach a more balanced SD.     

In vitro toxic effects of heavy metals on fungal growth and phosphate-solubilising abilities of isolates obtained from Phragmites australis rhizosphere

In this research, we evaluated the toxic effect of metal ions on mycelial growth and phosphate-solubilising activity of soil-borne micromycetes isolated from the Phragmites australis rhizosphere using Pikovskaya-agar plates supplemented with four metal concentrations. The diameter growth rate (DGR) decreased as the metal concentration rise for all tested fungi. Trichoderma atroviride had the fastest growth rate (1.48?cm²?day^?1) and was the least susceptible to Al³⁺, Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ with a median effective concentration (MEC₅₀) of 12.19, 0.48, 4.51, 11.44 and 50.05?mM, respectively. Aspergillus japonicus was the most tolerant to Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺, with MEC₅₀ values of 3.36, 1.095 and 2.34?mM, respectively. Penicillium italicum was the most tolerant to Cr6⁺ (MEC₅₀?=?0.677?mM). The ability to solubilise phosphate remained, despite the decrease in the DGR, and P. italicum and Penicillium dipodomyicola had the highest Phosphate Solubilisation Indexes (PSIs) at 1.97 and 2.12, respectively. In particular, P. italicum recorded the highest PSI of all the studied isolates at 0.62?mM Cr³⁺ (PSI?=?4.74). A. japonicus and T. atroviride were the most tolerant isolates to all tested metals, which suggests that these isolates are promising candidates for further study with regard to mycoremediation and biofertilisation of metal-polluted soils.     

Adsorptive removal of direct dyes by PEI-treated peanut husk biomass: Box–Behnken experimental design

This paper reports the application of Box-Behnken experimental design to illustrate the adsorption of direct dyes (Indosol Black NF and Indosol Orange RSN) using polyethyleneimine (PEI)-treated peanut husk biomass. The effect of three independent variables (initial dyes concentration, biosorbent dose and pH) was investigated during the study. Maximum biosorption capacity (141 and 98.2 mg/g) of PEI-pretreated biomass was achieved with 200 mg/L initial dye concentration and 0.05 g/50 mL biomass dose for Indosol Black NF and Indosol Orange RSN, respectively. Acidic pH was found to be favourable for maximum dyes removal. Characterisation of biosorbent was carried out through Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and point of zero charge determination. FT-IR analyses confirmed the involvement of carboxylic and carbonyl groups. The desorption study was also conducted to check out the possibility of regeneration of dyes and adsorbent and it was found that 51.58 and 76.6% of Indosol Black NF and Indosol Orange RSN, respectively, can be desorbed from the loaded biosorbent by using 1 M NaOH solution. The results indicated that PEI-treated peanut husk biomass can be used as an efficient biosorbent for the removal of Indosol Black NF and Indosol Orange RSN dyes from aqueous solutions.     

Evaluation of the performance of rural wastewater treatment plants using chemical measurements in combination with statistical techniques: a case study

The performance of a wastewater treatment plant was assessed statistically using multivariate cluster and principle component analysis. This was after measuring some physico-chemical properties in the influent, effluent, downstream, and upstream waters over a 4-month period. The cluster analysis grouped the sampling sites into three clusters: relatively non-polluted (upstream), medium polluted (downstream), and polluted (influent and effluent). The polluted water was further subdivided into very highly (influent) and highly (effluent) polluted. The grouping of influent and effluent into one cluster was due to some water quality parameters such as amount of copper, lead, and phosphates that are not efficiently removed by the plant. Using principal component analysis, samples from the same site taken over a period of 4 months were scattered, indicating inconsistencies in the performance of the plant. This was more pronounced during the rainy season, suggesting that increased water volumes from open sewers make the already poorly performing plant worse. The major loading factors found by principle component analysis were phosphate, lead, iron, zinc, copper, pH, and conductivity. Generally, the wastewater treatment system was found to be efficient in removing heavy metals and these were found in the sludge, but not anions. The mean percentage metal removal could be arranged in the following decreasing order: iron (85%)?>?zinc (57%)?>?copper (40%) and lead (38%) following the concentrations (mg?kg^?1) found in the sludge: iron (11,300)?>?zinc (820)?>?copper (180)?>?lead (20)?>?cadmium (3). Phosphate and iron concentrations in the effluent were found to be above the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) recommendations. The major cause of poor performance is the high volume of the wastewater, exceeding the capacity of the plant 10 times.     

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of cadmium(II) for preconcentration prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection in water

A dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction procedure for cadmium(II) as its 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylamino-phenol chelate is presented. Carbon tetrachloride and methanol were used as extraction and dispersive solvents, respectively. After phase separation, the preconcentrated-separated cadmium(II) is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with a microinjection technique. The factors which affected the extraction efficiency, i.e. the pH of the sample solution and the volumes of reagent and sample were investigated. The effects of some alkali, alkali earth, and transition metal ions, and of some anions on the recovery of cadmium were also studied. A preconcentration factor of 250 was obtained for a sample volume of 50?mL under optimum conditions. The method was validated by analysis of certified reference materials and applied to some water samples from Turkey.     

Cobalt speciation assay for human serum,Part II. Method validation in a study of human volunteers ingesting cobalt(II) chloride dietary supplement for 90 days

A new analytical method for determining cobalt (Co) species in human serum by size exclusion chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS) was applied to serum samples collected from 12 human volunteers who participated in a Co(II) chloride supplement study involving ingestion of 1 mg Co/day for up to 90 consecutive days. The study protocol included determination of serum total Co by acid digestion followed by ICP-MS. Co speciation assay measurements were conducted for up to 13 time points per individual spanning from one to two weeks before dosing began to two weeks after dosing ceased. The Co speciation assay showed good recovery >91% relative to total Co measurements. Undiluted serum demonstrated uniform fractions of large molecular Co defined as Co bound to albumin and other proteins >50 kDa at 96% and the residual as small molecular Co defined as free Co(II) and <1 kDa Co-complexes for individual serum Co concentrations up to 146 μg/L. There were no dose-related changes in Co distribution. Analysis of the same serum samples with tenfold dilution in 0.1 M acetic acid led to a lower fraction of large molecular Co at 87%, with the difference between diluted and undiluted measurements being 8.4%. The difference noted between undiluted and diluted large molecular Co may be attributed to Co release from albumin. Data demonstrated that large molecular Co was the predominant Co species in both undiluted and diluted human serum over a broad range of in vivo Co concentrations, reflecting high albumin–Co binding capacity. These data validate the Co speciation assay and may be employed in understanding further the toxicokinetics and dose-response relationships for Co species.     

Solid phase extraction of trace metals from environmental samples using Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone and determination by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry

A method for the solid phase extraction of trace metals, namely Co, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, from environmental and biological samples using column Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (HPPPTSC) and determination by inductively coupled spectrometry (ICP–AES) has been developed. The reagent has the capacity to form chelate complexes with the metals because of three binding sites in the reagent molecule. The optimum experimental conditions for the quantitative sorption of five metals, pH, effect of flow rate, concentration of eluent, sorption capacity and the effect of diverse ions on the preconcentration of analytes have been investigated. The sorption capacity of the resin has 83, 127, 35, 88 and 85?µmol?g^?1 for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺, respectively. The preconcentration factors for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were 100, 110, 120, 140 and 150, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by standard reference materials. The achieved results were in good agreement with certified values. The proposed method was applied for the determination of trace metals in river water and plant leaves.