Effect of Fe-chelating complexes on a novel M2FC performance with ferric chloride and ferricyanide catholytes

As an effort to better utilize the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology, we previously proposed an innovative MFC system named M2FC consisting of ferric-based MFC part and ferrous-based fuel cell (FC) part. In this reactor, ferric ion, the catholyte in the MFC part, was efficiently regenerated by the FC part with the generation of additional electricity. When both units were operated separately, the ferric-based MFC part produced approximately 1360 mW m⁻² of power density with FeCl₃ as catholyte and Fe-citrate as anolyte. The ferrous-based FC part with FeCl₃ as catholyte and Fe-EDTA as anolyte displayed the highest power density (1500 mW m⁻²), while that with ferricyanide as catholyte and Fe-noligand as anolyte had the lowest power density (380 mW m⁻²). The types of catholytes and chelating complexes as anolyte were found to play important roles in the reduction of ferric ions and oxidation of ferrous ion. Linear sweep voltammetry results supported that the cathode electrolytes were electrically active and these agreed well with the M2FC reactor performance. These results clearly showed that ligands played critical role in the efficiency and rate for recycling iron ion and thus the M2FC performance.     

从“土法改进”谈救灾帐篷居住环境的改善——以汶川8.0级地震救灾为例

帐篷在救灾过程中发挥着巨大作用,但内部热湿环境比较恶劣,空温、内表面均温都超出了人体所能适应的范围,严重影响灾区群众的身心健康。汶川8.0级地震的灾区群众利用一些土方法如搭遮阳网等对帐篷进行了改进。通过对门窗封闭和门窗开启情况下改进的帐篷与普通帐篷室内温度、相对湿度、内表面均温的对比,发现采取一些简单的改进方法能取得意想不到的效果,可以有效的降低帐篷内部温度和内表面均温,从而降低帐篷内的当量有效温度,改善帐篷内居住环境。从而得到很大启示,提出了一些在帐篷使用过程中的改善措施以及结构改进的方向。     

Corporate social responsibility in the mining industry: Perspectives from stakeholder groups in Argentina

Since the liberalisation of its investment regime in the 1990s, Argentina has seen a rise in foreign direct investment into large-scale exploration and exploitation of mineral resources. However, many social groups (local communities, grassroots movement and the church) often strongly oppose new mining projects on the grounds of environmental, ethical and economic concerns. In a situation marked by widespread conflict, mining companies continue operating and develop Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives which are often promoted as a means of contributing to the sustainability and development of the nation. The paper develops a framework to highlight how the principles of stakeholder theory could be used as conceptual and practical guidance for conflict-resolution oriented CSR policies. The framework is further used to analyse two case studies of conflictive mining projects in Argentina. The paper explores how key stakeholders perceive contribution of CSR to welfare and the socio-economic development of mining communities and sustainable development of the nation. It demonstrates that institutional and social stakeholder networks often strongly oppose the idea of voluntary self-regulation implied by CSR in situations characterised by weak governance. Even though the CSR of companies could be improved in areas of corporate communication, transparency, stakeholder engagement and dialogue, it is not seen as a panacea for the social conflicts in the sector.     

“Horizontal” and “vertical” diffusion: The cumulative influence of Impact and Benefit Agreements (IBAs) on mining policy-production in New Caledonia

The scale, duration and intensity of conflicts over mineral resources vary greatly. However, they always involve, in varying proportions, the triad stakeholder model—corporation, state, community—each element of which is internally heterogeneous. Increasingly, new players are entering the scene: international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), environmental grassroots groups, indigenous transnational networks, international aid and development agencies. Nevertheless, conflicts and arrangements around access to and control over mineral resources can take the apparent form of dyadic relationships between companies and local communities, resulting in negotiated company-community agreements, often called “Impact and Benefit Agreements” (IBAs). In our analysis, local agreements on mineral resource governance are seen as building blocks in the production of mining policy “from below”, even though they seem at first sight to exclude the state. This paper argues that these agreements, and the negotiations surrounding them, inform debates around mining through both “horizontal diffusion” (influence on other localities facing similar situations) and “vertical diffusion” (influence on policy design and implementation at upper political and administrative levels). This diffusion may occur in a “positive” sense, effecting further change in line with the intent of the original agreement, or in a “negative” one, actually making substantive change less likely, whether at a community or policy level. We build this argument through two case studies from New Caledonia, in the south-west Pacific, where mining has long been a key issue, especially in the current context of “negotiated decolonization” launched by the 1998 Nouméa Accord.     

CSR in metallurgy sector in Greece: A content analysis

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become one of the most widespread business topics among the academic community. Various issues like environmental pollution, economic crisis, corruption, poverty are of major importance these days and besides governments and policy makers responsibility it is obvious that corporations are also part of these problems. In Europe the last 15 years, governments, NGOs, small and large enterprises are making an effort to establish in their business CSR strategies so as to become more competitive and innovative in the global market. The research presents the way 8 Greek companies from the metallurgy sector publish CSR activities and which dimensions of CSR are more common among Greek companies. The companies were selected according to a study of ICAP Group about CSR and Leading Employers in Greece. The findings reveal how Greek companies during the economic crisis make their effort to be more active especially on environmental issues, human resources, health and safety and contribution to local communities. The results of their efforts are controversial as far as their CSR strategy concerns.     

苏丹M盆地原油地球化学特征与母质的沉积环境探讨

通过对苏丹M盆地萨加隆起带的原油地球化学特征分析 ,探讨了生成原油的烃源岩的母质的沉积环境。该带原油主要有两种类型 ,一种是正常原油 ,另一种是生物降解油。原油的地球化学特征表明 :正常原油具有较高的饱和烃含量 ,生物降解原油饱和烃含量低 ,非烃含量高 ;碳同位素表明为典型的湖相Ⅰ Ⅱ有机质生成的原油 ;原油饱和烃具有较低的异戊二稀烃 ,Pr/Ph一般在 1.5左右 ,表现为弱的姥鲛烷优势 ,具有较完整的重排甾烷和新藿烷系列 ,γ蜡烷含量较低 ;重排甾烷含量高 ,C2 7、C2 8、C2 9甾烷呈“V”字型分布 ,具有较丰富的4 甲基甾烷。原油地球化学指标显示主要的烃源岩为弱氧化—弱还原、淡水—微咸水的沉积环境 ,有机质为水生生物和细菌改造的陆源有机质的混合输入 ,为一种以生油为主生气较少的母质类型。     

Chemical forms of cobalt and nickel extracted by M1,M3 and CaCl_2-DTPA

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Informing global environmental policy‐making: A plea for new methods of assessment and synthesis

Practice and research in assessment of global environmental change are dominated by two conventional assessment methods, formal models and expert panels. Models construct a representation of biophysical and socioM48U67830/xxlarge8208.gif" alt="dash" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">economic components of a policy issue, to project future trends or consequences of interventions. Panels articulate consensus views of policyM48U67830/xxlarge8208.gif" alt="dash" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">relevant knowledge through deliberations among selected experts. These methods make valuable contributions, but are weak in addressing certain kinds of knowledge needs that are typical of globalM48U67830/xxlarge8208.gif" alt="dash" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">change issues. To address these needs, a set of novel assessment methods is proposed that combine elements of representation and deliberation. These methods, of which policy exercises, simulationM48U67830/xxlarge8208.gif" alt="dash" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">gaming, and scenario exercises are examples, involve human participants in structured relevant decision and task settings. Relative to models and panels, these methods can more readily incorporate diverse perspectives, can integrate across broader collections of knowledge domains, and can both encourage creative insights and innovations, and provide tests of their relevance and practicality. Risks of bias, and of overM48U67830/xxlarge8208.gif" alt="dash" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">confident generalization from unique experiences, are effectively mitigated by critical debriefings, and appear no more severe than corresponding risks in conventional assessment methods, or in policyM48U67830/xxlarge8208.gif" alt="dash" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">makersM48U67830/xxlarge8217.gif" alt="rsquo" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0"> generalizations from historical experience. While serious development and implementation challenges remain, early experience suggests that these methods can offer useful ideas and insights for policyM48U67830/xxlarge8208.gif" alt="dash" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">making that are not available through other means.     

Amniotic fluid microvillar enzyme activities in the early detection of fetal abnormalities

Measurement of the microvillar enzymes, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP), aminopeptidase M (APM) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), in amniotic fluid supernatant has been proposed as a method for the early prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. The activities of these enzymes in a series of other fetal abnormalities have now been examined. GGTP activities were below the 5th percentile in 28 out of 54 cases of trisomy 21 and 9 of 14 cases of trisomy 18, while APM values were below this cut-off in 26 of 54 cases of trisomy 21 and 8 of 14 cases of trisomy 18. Abnormal ALP isoenzyme ratios were found in 6 of 54 cases of trisomy 21 and 4 of 14 cases of trisomy 18. If prenatal cytogenetic studies are routinely carried out on amniotic fluid cells, the occasional confounding effect of abnormal microvillar enzymes associated with fetal trisomies rather than with cystic fibrosis should be avoided.     

上海市在用车I／M计划管理体系的探讨

在用机动车监测与维修制度（I／M计划）是减少机动车污染排放的最主要措施。借鉴美国I／M计划取得的经验，提出上海市在用车I／M 计划管理体系，建立上海市I／M 计划管理中心和监测 中心。