Thermal and Rheological Properties of Commercial-Grade Poly(Lactic Acid)s

Poly(lactic acid) is the subject of considerable commercial development by a variety of organizations around the world. In this work, the thermal and rheological properties of two commercial-grade poly(lactic acid)s (PLAs) are investigated. A comparison of the commercial samples to a series of well-defined linear and star architecture PLAs provides considerable insight into their flow properties. Such insights are valuable in deciding processing strategies for these newly emerging, commercially significant, biodegradable plastics. Both a branched and linear grade of PLA are investigated. The crystallization kinetics of the branched polymer are inferred to be faster than the linear analog. Longer relaxation times in the terminal region for the branched material compared to the linear material manifests itself as a higher zero shear rate viscosity. However, the branched material shear thins more strongly, resulting in a lower value of viscosity at high shear rates. Comparison of the linear viscoelastic spectra of the branched material with the spectra for star PLAs suggests that the branched architecture is characterized by a span molecular weight of approximately 63,000 g/mol. The present study conclusively demonstrates that a wide spectrum of flow properties are available through simple architectural modification of PLA, thus allowing the utilization of this important degradable thermoplastic in a variety of processing operations.     

供气条件对小球藻固定二氧化碳的影响

对三种不同的供气条件下,小球藻对CO2的固定速率进行了研究,结果表明,用鼓泡系统供气时,在CO2浓度渐增的条件下比固定CO2浓度条件下小球藻对CO2固定速率高,用旁路中空纤维组件吸收供气系统供气时,CO2的传递率高于鼓泡供气系统;这两种供气系统中小球藻的生长模式和CO2的固定率相似。     

Mining and sustainable development: considerations for minerals supply

Sustainable development involves meeting the needs of human societies while maintaining viable biological and physical Earth systems. The needs include minerals: metals, fuels, industrial and construction materials. There will continue to be considerable demand for virgin mineral resources, even if levels of recycling and efficiency of use are optimal, and rates of population growth and globalisation decrease significantly. This article aims to stimulate debate on strategic issues for minerals supply. While the world has considerable stocks of mineral resources overall, international considerations of the environmental and social aspects of sustainable development are beginning to result in limitations on where mining will be conducted and what types of deposits will be mined. Current and emerging trends favour large mines in parts of the world where mining can be conducted within acceptable limits of environmental and social impact. Finding new deposits that meet such criteria will be all the more challenging given a disturbing global decline in the rate of discovery of major economic resources over the last decade, and the decreasing land area available for exploration and mining.
To attract responsible exploration and mining, governments of mining nations will need to provide: regional-scale geo-scientific datasets as required to attract and guide future generations of exploration; resource access through multiple and sequential land use regimes, and frameworks for dealing with indigenous peoples' issues; and arrangements for consideration of mining proposals and regulation of mines that ensure responsible management of environmental and social issues.
The minerals industry will need to continue to pursue advances in technologies for exploration, mining, processing, waste management and rehabilitation, and in public reporting of environmental and social performance.     

Antimony uptake by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> (L.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> (L.) from nutrient solution

We investigated the extent of Sb uptake by maize (Zea mays) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) from nutrient solutions containing concentrations from 3 to 24 mg/L of potassium antimonate, with the aim of determining the potential of Sb to enter the food chain. The maximum shoot Sb concentrations in Z. mays and H. annuus were 41 mg/kg and 77 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. There was no significant difference in Sb uptake between species. The average bioaccumulation coefficients (the plant/solution concentration quotients) were 1.02 and 1.93 for Z. mays and H. annuus, respectively. Phosphate addition did not affect plant growth or Sb uptake. Antimony uptake by both Z. mays and H. annuus is unlikely to pose a health risk to animals and humans.     

Public perceptions of design options for new nuclear plants in the UK

An important consideration for any new nuclear build programme is an understanding of the public's viewpoint, as in many countries this can influence the direction of future energy markets. This paper presents a first attempt at understanding public views on the design of new nuclear plants. A survey of 1304 adults in the UK was carried out using a questionnaire developed in this research. The study suggests that the general public are willing and able to express preferences for design aspects of nuclear power plants and that meaningful information can be obtained to inform designers. Responses indicate that public preferences are consistent with current design practice for nuclear power plants. Further analysis reveals that public preferences related to plant design are not influenced strongly by their existing attitudes. Our findings contribute to the literature on the governance of energy supply technologies and the involvement of the public in the innovation process. We argue that involving the public in the design of nuclear power plants is an important aspect of a more transparent, participatory approach intended to improve trust in the governance of future energy supply options.     

生物质环保能源产业链发展探讨

简述了生物质概念及生物质利用技术的概况,介绍了生物质(竹、木剩余物)气、炭、液、油四联产生物质能源利用产业链的发展思路,对生物质利用的市场应用及发展进行了分析预测。     

Generation of Ensemble Streamflow Forecasts Using an Enhanced Version of the Snowmelt Runoff Model1

Harshburger, Brian J., Von P. Walden, Karen S. Humes, Brandon C. Moore, Troy R. Blandford, and Albert Rango, 2012. Generation of Ensemble Streamflow Forecasts Using an Enhanced Version of the Snowmelt Runoff Model. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(4): 643‐655. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.00642.x Abstract: As water demand increases in the western United States, so does the need for accurate streamflow forecasts. We describe a method for generating ensemble streamflow forecasts (1‐15 days) using an enhanced version of the snowmelt runoff model (SRM). Forecasts are produced for three snowmelt‐dominated basins in Idaho. Model inputs are derived from meteorological forecasts, snow cover imagery, and surface observations from Snowpack Telemetry stations. The model performed well at lead times up to 7 days, but has significant predictability out to 15 days. The timing of peak flow and the streamflow volume are captured well by the model, but the peak‐flow value is typically low. The model performance was assessed by computing the coefficient of determination (R²), percentage of volume difference (Dv%), and a skill score that quantifies the usefulness of the forecasts relative to climatology. The average R² value for the mean ensemble is >0.8 for all three basins for lead times up to seven days. The Dv% is fairly unbiased (within ±10%) out to seven days in two of the basins, but the model underpredicts Dv% in the third. The average skill scores for all basins are >0.6 for lead times up to seven days, indicating that the ensemble model outperforms climatology. These results validate the usefulness of the ensemble forecasting approach for basins of this type, suggesting that the ensemble version of SRM might be applied successfully to other basins in the Intermountain West.     

The adoption of green business practices among small US Midwestern manufacturing enterprises

Manufacturers around the world green their businesses for a variety of reasons, including competitiveness, social responsibility, and external stakeholder pressure. However, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are thought to lag behind larger ones in the adoption of green business practices. This paper explores the motivations for US Midwestern SMEs adopting a variety of green business practices, using a survey of 59 SMEs in the tool and die manufacturing industry. The majority of firms appear to be internally motivated to implement green practices – driven primarily by cost and competitiveness concerns, more than by social responsibility concerns. External coercive pressure from government or customers does not appear to be a significant motivation for these SMEs. However, informal pressure through government incentives and support programs, as well as mimetic pressure through peer learning via industry associations, appear to be more effective in helping these SMEs to further ‘go green.’     

基于场理论的沪苏浙皖地区旅游空间差异研究

区域旅游供给场是一种重要的旅游场类型,场叠加、场结构与场核的作用效应是区域旅游供给场研究的核心内容。在对区域旅游供给场相关概念进行定义与空间解析的基础上,以游客密度作为旅游场强变量,运用GIS技术对由沪苏浙皖这一区域的空间差异进行了模拟和分析,研究结果表明:(1)随着旅游业的发展,区域旅游场的场域分异更为显著,但游客密度的集中程度在下降;(2)区域旅游场内存在较明显的"三阶梯"等级结构特征,且在考察末期,第一阶梯和第二阶梯场域范围不断扩大,尤以第二阶梯的扩大最为明显;(3)由场核向外围随着距离的增加,旅游场强呈现出显著的衰减特征,各次级场域的场核间也存在明显的场强波动地带;(4)区域旅游场极化、扩散作用并存,上海这一区域型场核在极化作用的同时在东西方向上对区域旅游场的扩散作用明显,但其扩散作用强度仍有待提高。     

投资激励视角下农产品供应链治理结构优化

本研究针对"公司+农户"型供应链面临的双边投资意愿不足的现实困境,论文尝试在不对称纳什谈判博弈和Stacklberg博弈的框架下,分析"公司+合作社+农户"型农产品供应链提升双边投资意愿的理论依据,从而为农产品供应链的治理结构优化提出政策建议。数理模型分析显示:1与"公司+农户"型供应链相比,"公司+合作社+农户"型供应链中的农户种植投资和公司销售投资的意愿均能得到提升。2"公司+合作社+农户"型供应链的农户利润水平与合作社谈判力正相关;当合作社具有相对较强的谈判力时,即使合作社规定的资本留存率较高,农户利润水平依然能够高于"公司+农户"型供应链。3当合作社谈判力在某一特定范围内时,公司与农户利润水平均能实现Pareto改进。4当考虑到公司和农户进行长期合作时,"公司+合作社+农户"型供应链中确保农户履约的保证金阈值显著低于"公司+农户"型供应链。最后,利用数值仿真分析了合作社谈判能力、资本留存率等因素对公司与农户利润水平的影响以及农户保证金阈值的变化。论文研究结果表明,由于农户和公司在"公司+合作社+农户"型供应链中的地位更为平等,合作社能够形成对于公司的制衡力量,这大大降低了农户进行种植投资后可能面临的"敲竹杠"风险,农户的种植投资意愿得到提升。当农户加大种植投资后,合格农产品产量将会提高,这反过来又会激励公司提升销售投资意愿来获得更多的利润。因此,我国未来农业产业化经营模式的制度创新必须以农民专业合作社的壮大为基础,大力发展"公司+合作社+农户"型供应链,这不仅有助于更好地保障农产品质量安全;也有助于让农户平等参与现代化进程,共同分享现代化成果。