Problems associated with ecological assessment of packaging

Current trends in the development of the world packaging market and the place of ecological tendencies in them suggest the need to analyse the present status of studies on the ecological assessment of packaging materials and packaging. The aim of this study is to present some aspects of ecological assessment of packaging. The methods and criteria of ecological assessment of packaging, including Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and ecological classification of packaging proposed by COBRO (Polish Packaging Research and Development Centre) in Warsaw were used. The considerations presented in the paper related to the general assumptions of ecological assessment of packaging materials and packaging point to the complexity of the problem and, at the same time, to the immediate interest and importance of studies in this field, particularly in terms of implementing a specific environmental protection policy.     

Estimation of regional physical imports and exports of EW-MFA in China using monetary input-output tables

Given the statistical gaps in material flow among provinces in China, a method was introduced to estimate regional physical imports and exports (RPIE), which includes international and interregional imports/exports. This method uses provincial monetary inputoutput tables (MIOT) and international trade statistics. A coefficient matrix representing correlations between monetary value and physical mass for years 2000–2009 was obtained based on a detailed commodity classification and 22 material production sectors in MIOT. With the coefficient matrix as reference, RPIE was measured. Pilot calculation of both regional physical trade balance and domestic material consumption, as well as a brief analysis of these methods, were conducted using 2002 data.     

Developing a new alternative risk assessment framework in the work sites by including a stochastic and a deterministic process: A case study for the Greek Public Electric Power Provider

An individual method cannot achieve the optimum risk-assessment result in the worksites, and future perspectives should focus on the parallel application of a deterministic approach with a stochastic approach. In particular, the risk analysis and assessment techniques of the deterministic (DET) approach are classified into three main categories: (a) the qualitative, (b) the quantitative, and (c) the hybrid techniques (qualitative-quantitative, semi-quantitative). Furthermore, the stochastic (STO) approach includes the classic statistical approach (CSA) and the accident forecasting modeling (AFM). The objective of this paper is triple: (a) the presentation and classification of the main risk analysis and risk assessment methods and techniques of the deterministic approach and the stochastic approach as well, (b) the development and presentation of a new alternative risk assessment framework (called as STODET) including a stochastic and a deterministic process, and (c) the application of STODET in the Greek Public Power Corporation (PPC) by using occupational accidents that have been recorded, during the 17-year period of 1993-2009. In particular, the STODET application proves that required actions (or suppressive measures) are essential and must be taken in a medium-term period (1 working year) for abolishing the hazard sources.     

Estimating separation distance loss probability between aircraft in uncontrolled airspace in simulation

In this article, collision probability between aircraft in uncontrolled airspace is estimated. For that purpose, a large database of aircraft trajectories in the vicinity of Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole airfield (France) is considered and maps of probability collision from simulated aircraft are then estimated. Since the collision between aircraft is a rare event, we applied an importance splitting estimation technique rather than crude Monte Carlo simulations to reduce the variance of the probability estimation. In this study, we demonstrate the high local variability of collision probability in uncontrolled airspace and conclude on the difficulty to set general probability requirements.     

论环境管理会计

如何利用环境财务会计信息为企业内部管理层进行经营决策、投资决策服务是环境管理会计的研究内容。目前,国内有关环境管理会计的研究还很欠缺。从环境成本的核算与管理,环境投资决策分析及环境业绩评价3方面对环境管理会计的核心内容进行了探讨。     

昆仑山口西地震激发的地球环型振荡

利用中国数字地震台网(CDSN)改造后的7个台站3天的VHE、VHN波形资料,采用功率谱密度估计方法,在没有对资料进行去固体潮处理的情况下,提取了2001-11-14昆仑山口西地震激发的0T2～0T40地球环型自由振荡,并与地球初步参考模型(PREM)的理论自由振荡周期进行对比,发现环型振荡振型周期与PREM预测的环型自由振荡周期符合得很好。频率与PREM模型略微不一致的环型振荡振型可以解释为地球介质的横向不均匀性和各向异性所致。因此地球自由振荡信息可用于揭示地球的三维不均匀结构信息或各向异性信息,并可能对区分地幔对流模式(全地幔对流或上地幔对流)有所帮助。     

Waste gasification vs. conventional Waste-to-Energy: a comparative evaluation of two commercial technologies

A number of waste gasification technologies are currently proposed as an alternative to conventional Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants. Assessing their potential is made difficult by the scarce operating experience and the fragmentary data available. After defining a conceptual framework to classify and assess waste gasification technologies, this paper compares two of the proposed technologies with conventional WtE plants. Performances are evaluated by proprietary software developed at Politecnico di Milano and compared on the basis of a coherent set of assumptions. Since the two gasification technologies are configured as “two-step oxidation” processes, their energy performances are very similar to those of conventional plants. The potential benefits that may justify their adoption relate to material recovery and operation/emission control: recovery of metals in non-oxidized form; collection of ashes in inert, vitrified form; combustion control; lower generation of some pollutants.     

TROPICAL EUTROPHIC LAKE MODELING AND PARAMETER DISCRIMINATION1

ABSTRACT: Water quality data collected between 1978 and 1981 in a highly lake in Northern Venezuela, Lake Valencia, were analyzed to detect spatial and temporal trends. Based on the results of the analyses, an appropriate nutrient-algae dynamics model was formulated. Because many parameters, such as the algae concentration were constant over time, and the model is time dependent, the model had to be calibrated with the use of a large and structured trial-and-error calibration process. Through the calibration process, the most sensitive parameters of the model were identified, and are in order of importance: the chlorophyll-to-nitrogen ratio for algae, the algae settling velocity, the phosphorus release rate from the sediments, the chlorophyll-to-phosphorus ratio for algae, and the exchange coefficient in the upper layer of the lake. Model simulations showed that a reduction in the nitrogen load to the lake as well as a reduction in the phosphorus load will decrease the algae population. These model simulations had a high degree of uncertainty associated with them, making additional sampling directed towards the measurement of the sensitive parameters desirable.     

中国的地震灾害损失预测

估计某个地区未来将会遭到多大的地震灾害损失.对于减轻地震灾害是十分重要的科学问题.因力地震预防和救灾的基础是对未来地震灾害的定量估计.地震灾害主要由两方面因素决定.一方面是未来地震动强烈程度的估计(地震危险性分析).另一方面是各个地震动等级对社会、经济、人口等所造成的损害程度估计(地震易损性分析). 本文介绍了以上两方面研究工作的进展,以及国家地震局“未来地震灾害损失预测研究组”试编的中国未来50年地震灾害损失预测图及其应用.讨论了在灾害预测方面所遇到的科学问题.     

海水法烟气脱硫排水水质的估算和分析

对烟气海水法脱硫的排水水质进行了定量估算,并讨论了工艺排水对附近海域水质的影响.