Thermodynamic Analysis of Ceramics Production in Sassuolo (Italy) from a Sustainability Viewpoint

We present a thermodynamic analysis of the sustainable use of resources in the province of Modena, focusing the attention on the district of Sassuolo. The methodology that is used is the emergy evaluation. The analysis shows that the Sassuolo district represents the peak of non-sustainability of the whole area, with a huge consumption of non-renewable primary resources, both imported and local. The role of the ceramic tile industry is relevant in the consumption of energy and materials. Different types of factories for ceramics production are compared, representing a good sample of different methods of production. Emergy analysis shows which of these has higher levels of sustainability with respect to the others. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal self-sustainability of biochar production by pyrolysis

The pyrolysis of several agricultural and biofuel production residues (grape residues, sugarcane residues, dried distiller's grain, palm oil residues, apple pomace and forestry residue) has been carried out in a pilot bubbling fluidized bed pyrolyzer operating under a range of temperature from 300 to 600 °C and two vapor residence times (2 and 5 s), with the aim of determining their pyrolysis behavior including products yields and heat balance. The composition of the product gases was determined, from which their heating value was calculated. The liquid bio-oil was recovered with cyclonic condensers. The thermal sustainability of the pyrolysis process was estimated by considering the energy contribution of the product gases and of the liquid bio-oil in relation to the pyrolysis heat requirements. The most promising biomass feedstocks for the sustainable production of biochar were indentified. Furthermore, this study presented the char yield in relation to the excess heat that could be obtained by combusting the gas and bio-oil coproducts of biochar production, as functions of pyrolysis temperature and vapor residence time.     

A novel educational approach: train the trainers

ABSTRACT

In a novel approach using blended learning techniques members of the CHERNE network have organized novel courses. This report covers a course in Radiochemistry and Medical Dosimetry. Homework assignments on the global sustainability tools laid the foundation of simulation work on cyclotron targetry and radiochemical laboratory courses. A role play game on Medical Dosimetry concluded the one week of instructions. For the next course, the first year students prepare an instruction scheme for another batch of students and will give that instruction themselves.     

Quantitative models for sustainable supply chain management: Developments and directions

Sustainability, the consideration of environmental factors and social aspects, in supply chain management (SCM) has become a highly relevant topic for researchers and practitioners. The application of operations research methods and related models, i.e. formal modeling, for closed-loop SCM and reverse logistics has been effectively reviewed in previously published research. This situation is in contrast to the understanding and review of mathematical models that focus on environmental or social factors in forward supply chains (SC), which has seen less investigation. To evaluate developments and directions of this research area, this paper provides a content analysis of 134 carefully identified papers on quantitative, formal models that address sustainability aspects in the forward SC. It was found that a preponderance of the publications and models appeared in a limited set of six journals, and most were analytically based with a focus on multiple criteria decision making. The tools most often used comprise the analytical hierarchy process or its close relative, the analytical network process, as well as life cycle analysis. Conclusions are drawn showing that numerous possibilities and insights can be gained from expanding the types of tools and factors considered in formal modeling efforts.     

城市轨道交通项目可持续性评价

为了定量评价城市轨道交通项目的可持续性,建立了评价模型。分析了可持续性的概念,建立了指标体系,研究了计算各子系统发展水平的模糊识别评价法和可持续性发展度、协调度、持续度的计算方法,依据某项目可行性研究报告进行了案例分析。项目的发展度由0.465增长为0.825,发展状况良好;整体协调度平均值为0.513,处于不协调状态;持续度先是由0.022逐渐增长至0.044,随后稳定在0.043左右,发展趋势比较稳定。结果表明,所建立的指标体系内涵准确,评价方法可操作性强,评价模型科学合理。     

科技期刊编辑人员如何树立市场意识

随着当前中国科技期刊改革进入关键时期,面对增长方式转变和数字化浪潮冲击等发展环境,该文主要以分析《空间碎片研究与应用》刊物的办刊情况为基础,提出科技期刊鳊辑人员应通过了解所出版产品服务的读者市场、竞争状况以及不同产品间的关系,密切关注所出版产品的市场反应,了解和掌握所出版产品的优劣势,通过办刊理念形成、建立品牌意识,最终树立按市场需求变化谋划产品出版,按市场规律谋求产品发展的市场意识,从而获得产品的长期可持续发展。     

海域使用权客体研究

海域使用权的客体符合传统民法上物的基本特征,也具备一定的特殊性。在性质上,海域使用权的客体为集合物,而非单一物。根据科学发展观所包含的科学发展与保护利用相结合原则,作为海域使用权客体的海域范围,应不仅局限于《海域使用管理法》第2条的界定,而应从外向度界定和内向度界定上适当扩张,从而更好地维护国家主权和实现海域的使用价值。