Influence of Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of Cassava Starch Foams

The utilization of renewable resources in packaging can provide solutions to ecological problems such as waste quantity. Agricultural resources are alternative raw materials, among which there is starch, a natural polysaccharide that can be used to form resistant foam under wet and warm conditions. The starch foam is obtained by thermo pressing process where cassava starch, water and additives are processed to form a rigid structure by swelling, gelatinization and network formation. Natural fibers can be used to improve the mechanical properties of starch foams. In this project was investigated the influence of the addition of fibers in the levels of 1, 2 and 3% of cassava (short fiber) and 1, 2 and 3% of wheat fiber (powered fiber) in the starch dough. The foams were characterized by physical methods of strength, flexibility, density and by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The increase in fibers quantity has resulted in foams with higher density and less flexibility, whatever the fiber type. Most fibers quantity did not improve the foam strength. Foam made with 1% of cassava fiber showed higher compression strength; by increasing the percentage quantity there was a decrease on the compression resistance. Foam made with wheat fiber presented a lower result in 2%. The fiber type had no statistical significance in strength, flexibility and density foam. Only the fiber quantity was significant. The results showed that both fibers presented limited dimensions to improve the reinforcement of the starch foams up to 1%.     

Injection Molded Wheat Straw and Corn Stem Filled Polypropylene Composites

Environmentally friendly composite materials can be prepared using wood fibers and/or various types of agro-derived fibers as reinforcements. In this study, agro-residues such as wheat straw and corn stem filled polypropylene were prepared and their suitability was investigated as a reinforcing filler in thermoplastics and as an alternative to the wood flour filled plastics. Effect of compounding techniques, compatibilizer and fungal treatment of agro-residues on the mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated. It was found that high shear compounding of wheat straw fibers exhibited similar properties to that produced by the milled wheat straw. This may be due to the extensive fiber breakage occurred during the high shear compounding that results in a similar aspect ratio to that of milled straw. Compatibilizer is needed for improving the strength properties of the agro-residue filled PP composites. Fungal treatment of milled wheat straw did not show much improvement in the strength properties of the composites. Comparison of mechanical properties of the agro-residue filled PP with that of the wood flour and the old newsprint filled PP showed the suitability of the agro-residues as alternative filler for thermoplastics.     

梁子湖自然保护区土地利用/土地覆盖动态变化研究

基于梁子湖自然保护区1987年和2004年Landsat-TM影像遥感数据，在Erdas Imagine 8．5图像处理软件的支持下，结合野外实地考察，获得了土地利用现状图，通过对数据的统计分析，研究了保护区近20年来土地利用／土地覆盖的动态变化。研究表明：耕地和水域是保护区内的主要土地利用类型；近20年来，耕地、园地、林地、草地的面积都有减少，其中耕地面积减少了2320．816hm^2，减少比例达到11．78％，是面积减少最多的土地利用类型；居民点、交通、水域用地有所增加，其中池塘面积变化最大，增幅达到213．4％，是面积增加最多的土地利用类型，居民点用地增加了551．18hm^2，增幅达到59．07％，是增长幅度较大的土地利用类型。变化的原因主要是经济的发展、人口数量的增长和旅游业的发展。     

塔克什肯口岸土壤放射核素含量调查研究

利用高分辨半导体能谱分析方法分析了新疆塔克什肯口岸土壤天然放射性核素铀238、镭226、钍232、钾40和人工放射性核素铯137的含量,共选取8个采样点16个土壤样品及4个煤炭及废旧金属样点。结果表明:进口货物道路各采样点其铀238、钾40及铯137均比非进口货物道路各点高,镭226、钍232含量则相反,而煤炭和废金属的各样品的铀238、镭226、钍232、钾40都高于进出口道路和非进口道路,Cs137则相反,表明进口煤炭和非金属对天然放射性核素产生了较大影响,而对人工放射性核素影响较小。和新疆及全国背景值比,进口道路和非进口道路土壤中各放射性核素含量均未超过天然本底值范围,进口煤炭和废金属虽然各放射性核素含量则略高于背景值,表明试验点没有受到放射性污染,对当地居民和进出境人员不会产生辐射伤害。     

季节性冰蓄冷技术在空调系统中的应用研究

介绍季节性天然冰蓄冷技术的研究与发展现状,对一种季节性天然冰蓄冷技术进行技术可行性探讨.季节性天然冰蓄冷技术用于建筑空调既有节能和环保方面的优势,也存在技术实施的制约因素.通过典型建筑冷量平衡计算表明,在部分寒冷及夏热冬冷地区,季节性天然冰蓄冷技术具有较好的发展前景.图2,表1,参18.     

Effect of ultrasound irradiation and Ni-loading on properties and performance of CeO2-doped Ni/clinoptilolite nanocatalyst used in polluted air treatment

In this research nanocatalysts containing 5, 10 and 15 wt.% of Ni, dispersed by sonication over CeO₂–clinoptilolite composite support were compared toward total oxidation of toluene. Their catalytic performance at different temperatures between 150 and 350 °C was studied based on the oxidative destruction of toluene. The results indicated that the activity of Ni/CeO₂–clinoptilolite nanocatalyst for toluene oxidation increased from 33 to 44% at 250 °C by employing sonochemical method in synthesis of catalyst. Meanwhile, the catalytic activity was also improved when Ni content was increased from 5 to 10 and 15 wt.%. With the aid of several characterization techniques like XRD, FESEM, PSD, EDX, BET and FTIR, the correlation between nanocatalyst structure and its activity was addressed. It is indicated that sonochemical method can lift the catalytic activity due to the better dispersion of catalyst active components and also higher surface area. Among sonicated samples, 15 wt.% Ni nanocatalyst showed the highest toluene oxidation due to the better dispersion of catalyst active components and hence to more effective catalytic sites.     

A hybrid machine learning model for predicting crater width formed by explosions of natural gas pipelines

Despite the existence of industry models for estimating the crater width formed by the explosion of natural gas pipelines, their applicability is still limited since the complex formation mechanisms. In this work, a novel hybrid model was developed to predict crater width formed by explosions of natural gas pipelines, using artificial neural networks (ANN) as the fundamental predictor. Based on the historical accident records, the proposed hybrid model was trained by the pipeline parameter, the operating condition, the installation parameter, and the crater width. A novel nature-inspired optimization algorithm, i.e., the Lévy-Weighted Quantum particle swarm optimization (LWQPSO) algorithm, was proposed to optimize the ANN model's parameters. Three machine learning models were developed for comparative reasons to predict the crater width. The use of precision and error analysis indicators assesses prediction performance. The results show that the proposed hybrid model (LWQPSO-ANN) has high prediction accuracy and stability, which outperforms QPSO-ANN-based benchmark hybrid models and the model without an optimizer (Support Vector Machine, SVM). The parameter sensitivities of the proposed algorithm, including the maximum number of iterations, population size and contraction-expansion coefficient, were determined. The proposed hybrid model is expected to support the quantitative risk assessment (QRA), Right-of-Way (ROW) definition and the inherently safer design of the underground parallel pipelines.     

潮白河密云水库流域自然景观的分级和评价

应用卫星遥感技术对潮白河密云水库流域的自然景观进行了自然度分级,并利用景观自然度指数、景观退化程度指数和景观重建程度指数对自然景观进行了评价。结果是研究区景观中度退化,重建程度中等,呈半自然状态。区内景观状态的优劣顺序为:兴隆、怀柔、密云、延庆、滦平、丰宁、崇礼、赤城、沽源。      

Conservation and management-oriented ecological research in the coastal zone of Baja California, Mexico

This paper presents the main results of two studies of contrasting natural and man-induced conditions along the Pacific coast of Baja California (Mexico), based on the assumption that ecological insight can be obtained from man-induced modifications insofar as relevant activities are explicitly addressed as parts of the systems under study. The study is concerned with a fragmented coastal succulent-sage scrub and showed that several patches of different size and age may harbor as many species as non-fragmented areas, and that 83% of the original species assemblage persisted in the fragments, in which the invasion by opportunistic exotic species may not progress beyond certain limits. The study of dune-backed and urban-backed beaches showed a significantly greater abundance of the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) at the dune-backed beach, where a much more active back-shore feeding of adult birds and the only evidences of breeding occurred. Both studies refer to landscape features of regional concern and its results may be used in conservation management. The results on fragmented coastal succulentsage scrub may encourage alternative urban designs that keep patches of the original landscape, thus meeting existing requirements of low density urban development for most of the coastal succulent-sage scrub area. The evidence presented on the negative effects of dune destruction on the abundance, feeding and reproductive performance of a threatened bird species has a bearing on the topic of biodiversity management. It may also contribute to the conservation of the coastal dunes system.     

Possible Input of Nitrogen of Visitors’ Origin on a Protected Peatland

The Ozegahara peatland, in the Nikko-Oze National Park in Japan, is ecologically significant because of its oligotrophic environment; it is one of the most strictly preserved areas in the country. The isotope ratio of nitrogen (¹⁵N/¹⁴N) and carbon (¹³C/¹²C) and C/N ratio of peat moss (Sphagnum spp.) and sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) in the peatland were analyzed. The correlation of the isotope ratio with some parameters (sundew population density, number of trapped insects, water level, bog myrtle coverage, and visitor density) was investigated. The nitrogen isotope ratio of sundew showed the most significant covariation with visitor density, where sundew from lunch areas or along busy walkways showed a higher nitrogen isotope ratio. The nitrogen isotope ratio of peat moss covaried, not only with route traffic frequency but also with water level, bog myrtle coverage, and number of trapped insects by sundew, indicating that factors other than the visitor level influence the local nitrogen cycle. This study suggests that the nitrogen imported into the peatland by visitors is a principal factor to be monitored for the maintenance of the natural environment.