SUSTAINABILITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL: MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND MUNICIPAL TAX INCENTIVE MODEL

The implementation of sustainable development may seem a simple concept when written on paper. However to carry-out long term actions put forward by the Agenda 21 (AG21) at the local level represents one of the main challenges as municipal governments in general do not have the capacity to effectively implement the process. Regional environmental assessment (REA) has shown to be effective in supporting decision-making not only to correct environmental problems due to past unsustainable social-economic developments but also help local governments to implement sustainable actions. However this requires long-term investments of AG21 plans and projects. The allocation of regular and consistent financial resources is one of the main ingredients for the sustainable development process. But traditional plans and projects financed by national and/or international funds may not be sustainable in the long-term because they become dependent on external funding. Research demonstrate that innovative economic instruments such as ecotaxes represent a feasible alternative to sponsor local sustainability because taxes are collected permanently by the government and could be invested in continuous actions. Ecotaxes experiences have provided important reference to structure a municipal incentive model (MIM) to sponsor AG21’s environmental plans and projects on a long-term (permanent) basis. However sustainable development cannot be solely through economic investments. A comprehensive municipal environmental management scheme (MEMS) has been established to support the incentive model. The scheme seeks not only to improve local institutional framework but also incentive continuous participation of local stakeholders at all levels of society. Participatory events and the provision of incentives (educational and financial) are key to motivate society to protect the environment and support actively the sustainable development process as emphasised in the RIO-92 Conference.     

可靠性强化试验技术在某型伺服作动器研制中的适用性探索

目的探索可靠性强化试验技术在典型机电液一体化产品伺服作动器研制过程中的适用性。方法以某型伺服作动器为研究对象,从故障激发的角度对可靠性强化试验技术的应用进行可行性分析,在响应调查和应力分析的基础上,结合产品的工作特点设计适用于该类伺服作动器的可靠性强化试验方案,包含低温步进应力试验、高温步进应力试验、快速温度循环试验10个循环、振动步进应力试验(包含气锤式三轴向六自由度超高斯随机振动方式及电磁振动台随机振动方式)及综合环境应力试验5个循环,并依此进行试验。结果在快速温度循环试验及综合环境应力试验过程中,均有效地激发出了产品的漏油故障,与相似产品外场暴露的漏油故障模式相吻合。结论可靠性强化试验技术可有效地应用于典型机电液一体化产品伺服作动器的研制过程,设计的可靠性强化试验方案可有效地激发外场出现频率较高的故障,可作为该类产品研制的试验手段之一。     

GJB 150A淋雨试验强化试验程序数值模拟和试验装置设计研究

目的 研究GJB 150.8A—2009《军用装备实验室环境试验方法第8部分:淋雨试验》中强化试验程序的工程实现方法.方法 在标准解读的基础上,以强化试验程序用喷嘴为对象,建立数值模型,分析喷嘴在强化试验程序过程中的流场分布,并基于分析结果给出强化试验程序试验装置设计的思路和方法.结果 在喷嘴内,压力变化剧烈,极短距离内由276 kPa迅速降至101 kPa.水流经过喷嘴经历了激烈的加速过程,从距离喷嘴出口0.01～0.4 m,水流速度从251 m/s迅速降至17.8 m/s,到远场趋于稳定.结论 分析结果对指导强化试验程序的试验装置的设计和试验实施具有重要参考意义.     

陶瓷废水处理原理及常用固液分离方法比较

本文就陶瓷废水的产生来源及废水处理原理进行了分析，对佛山市该行业废水处理常用的固液分离方式进行了处理效果及技术经济比较，指出将常用于给水处理工艺的水力循环澄清池应用在陶瓷废水处理工艺中，与其它分离方法相比，不仅占地面积小，效率高，而且易于操作和控制，可实现废水的全部回用，并建议对这种高悬浮物、高浊度水的混凝反应过程进行自动控制以提高水处理的稳定性。     

工业蒸汽锅炉高效燃烧支持系统综合应用研究分析

呼和浩特市为防治城市空气污染，近年来拆除了大量的分散小锅炉，实行集中供热。但必须保留下来的中型锅炉仍以煤炭为燃料，燃煤排污依然是城市环境的主要污染源。本文针对这一问题，立项研究，分析指出通过锅炉高效燃烧支持系统的综合应用，达到提高锅炉燃烧效率，节能降耗、减少排污的目的。     

利用粉煤灰制备高纯超细氧化铝粉体的研究

利用粉煤灰为原料制备高纯超细氧化铝粉体。给出了采用硅酸二钙晶相转变自粉化、高效分散剂———碳化法从粉煤灰中制备氧化铝方法的工艺路线 ,确定了从粉煤灰制备高纯超细氧化铝粉体的最佳工艺条件 ,为粉煤灰的高价值利用开辟了一条新途径     

ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS AND POLLUTION EFFECTS IN AN OZARK CAVE STREAM1

ABSTRACT: Subterranean ecosystems harbor globally rare fauna and important water resources, but ecological processes are poorly understood and are threatened by anthropogenic stresses. Ecosystem analyses were conducted from 1997 to 2000 in Cave Springs Cave, Arkansas, situated in a region of intensive land use, to determine the degree of habitat degradation and viability of endangered fauna. Organic matter budgeting quantified energy flux and documented the dominant input as dissolved organic matter and not gray bat guano (Myotis grisescens). Carbon/nitrogen stable isotope analyses described a trophic web of Ozark cavefish (Amblyopsis rosae) that primarily consumed cave isopods (Caecidotea stiladactyla), which in turn appeared to consume benthic matter originating from a complex mixture of soil, leaf litter, and anthropogenic wastes. Septic leachate, sewage sludge, and cow manure were suspected to augment the food web and were implicated in environmental degradation. Water, sediment, and animal tissue analyses detected excess nutrients, fecal bacteria, and toxic concentrations of metals. Community assemblage may have been altered: sensitive species‐grotto salamanders (Typhlotriton spelaeus) and stygobro‐mid amphipods—were not detected, while more resilient isopods flourished. Reduction of septic and agricultural waste inputs may be necessary to restore ecosystem dynamics in this cave ecosystem to its former undisturbed condition.     

INTEGRATING SERVICE‐LEARNING INTO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES1

ABSTRACT: The objective of this article is to open a dialogue on integrating service‐learning into community based watershed management programs and to discuss opportunities and challenges that a service‐learning program presents to universities and communities. The article presents the concept and definition of service‐learning, and arguments concerning why institutions of higher education and university faculty and students should be involved with community based watershed management programs. The article describes a case study for developing a service‐learning program for watershed management at Virginia Tech and discusses lessons learned from the case study. The paper concluded that to make a service‐learning program sustainable, there should be a long term plan, regular and effective communication with the stakeholders, and some incentives for faculty and students for long term commitment to the community based watershed management programs.     

GROUND WATER NITRATE REDUCTION IN GIANT CANE AND FOREST RIPARIAN BUFFER ZONES1

ABSTRACT: Ground water contamination by excess nitrate leaching in row‐crop fields is an important issue in intensive agricultural areas of the United States and abroad. Giant cane and forest riparian buffer zones were monitored to determine each cover type's ability to reduce ground water nitrate concentrations. Ground water was sampled at varying distances from the field edge to determine an effective width for maximum nitrate attenuation. Ground water samples were analyzed for nitrate concentrations as well as chloride concentrations, which were used as a conservative ion to assess dilution or concentration effects within the riparian zone. Significant nitrate reductions occurred in both the cane and the forest riparian buffer zones within the first 3.3 m, a relatively narrow width. In this first 3.3 m, the cane and forest buffer reduced ground water nitrate levels by 90 percent and 61 percent, respectively. Approximately 40 percent of the observed 99 percent nitrate reduction over the 10 m cane buffer could be attributed to dilution by upwelling ground water. Neither ground water dilution nor concentration was observed in the forest buffer. The ground water nitrate attenuation capabilities of the cane and forest riparian zones were not statistically different. During the spring, both plant assimilation and denitrification were probably important nitrate loss mechanisms, while in the summer nitrate was more likely lost via denitrification since the water table dropped below the rooting zone.     

NITROGEN AND ORGANIC MATTER LOSSES IN NO‐TILL CORN CROPPING SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT: Intensive cropping systems based on mechanical movement of soil have induced land degradation in most agricultural areas due to soil erosion and soil fertility losses. Thus, farmers have been increasing fertilization rates to maintain an economically competitive crop yield. This practice has resulted in water quality degradation and lake eutrophication in many agricultural watersheds. Research was conducted in the Patzcuaro watershed in central Mexico to develop appropriate technology that prevents nonpoint source pollution from fertilizers. Organic matter (OM) and nitrogen (N) losses in runoff and nitrate (NO₃‐N) percolation in Andisols with corn under conventional till (CT) and no‐till (NT) treatments using variable percentages of crop residue as soil cover were investigated for steep‐slope agriculture. USLE type runoff plots were used to collect water runoff, while suction tubes with porous caps at 30, 60, and 90 cm depth were used to sample soil water solutes for NO₃‐N analyses. Results indicated a significant reduction of N and OM losses in runoff as residue cover increased in the NT treatments. Inorganic N in runoff was 25 kg/ha for NT without residue cover (NT‐0) and 6 kg/ha for the NT with 100 percent residue cover (NT‐100). Organic matter losses in runoff were 157 and 24 kg/ha for the NT‐0 and NT‐100 treatments, respectively. Nitrate‐N percolation was evident in CT and NT with 100 percent residue cover (NT‐100). However, NT‐100 had higher NO₃‐N concentration at the root zone, suggesting the possibility of reducing fertilization rates with the use of NT treatments.