Advanced Materials Research Vols. 361-363

Abstract: Using ecological footprint and decomposition analysis models, energy ecological footprint (EEF) from 2000 to 2008 in Bohai Rim Region was calculated. The EEF change and the impact factors were also analysed. The results showed that the EEF increased continuously from 2000 to 2008. The total values of EEF increased to 4.578×10⁸ hm² in 2008 from 2.159×10⁸ hm² in 2000, and the values per capita increased to 1.946 hm² from 0.974 hm². These contributed 50-60 percent of regional total ecological pressure. In all contribution factors, GDP growth was highest, energy structure and population size were inferior, and energy strength was lowest. Though the energy strength was decreased continuously, this was not enough to counteract the ecological impact derived from immoderate energy structure and consumption level. This led to energy ecological footprint in Bohai Rim Region increasing continuously.

Abstract: Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins modified by montmorillonite(MMT) were prepared for coating materials of controlled-release fertilizers. The influences of MMT on the mechanical properties and fertilizer-permeation performance of UF resin were studied. The mechanical properties of modified UF resins are enhanced by the addition of MMT. The shear strength of modified UF resin with 3% MMT increases by nearly 20% and reaches the maximum. The urea permeation rate of modified UF resin membranes decreases with the increasing of membrane thickness and increases with the increasing of MMT content.

Abstract: The deactivation and destabilization of copper sulfide when exposed to an oxidizing environment has led to the economical concerns as this sulfidic material can be easily destroyed by a series of oxidation processes. A promising and effective remediation technique in limiting the contact between covellite (CuS) and oxygen has been developed using a simple, hassle-free, non-corrosive, and eco-friendly pre-treatment of nitrogen approach. This remediation technique is remarkably effective as various techniques such as powder XRD, EDX, elemental mapping, and TGA-MS analyses have confirmed that covellite prepared with the pre-treatment of nitrogen does not oxidize to any mixed phase compound. Meanwhile, the study also shows that covellite stored without the pre-treatment of nitrogen has transformed to a mixed phase of pentahydrate copper sulfate and covellite. Hence, this method can be practically exercised not only on covellite, but possibly on other metal sulfides which are prone to be attacked by oxygen and water molecules in oxidizing environment.

Abstract: We analyze how entrepreneurial firms match product innovation mode with optimal financing under the different states of technological ability and bootstraps by applying principal-agent theory. According to some assumptions that bank finance takes the form of debt whereas venture capital finance resembles private equity, a basic incentive model with two state and sub-state variables is established. The analysis shows that entrepreneur prefers to radical innovation on the circumstance of high technological ability while entrepreneur would prefer to carry out incremental innovation with medium technological capability. The optimal financing is up to cash flow distribution of product innovation pattern and firm’s bootstraps. Venture capital finance is optimal only when cash flow distribution is highly risky and positively skewed .Or vice versa, bank finance is optimistic.

Abstract: Although agriculture has traditionally been primarily the concern of the world, it now plays an increasingly important role in how we meet challenges—international food security, environmental protection, climate change, energy supply, economic sustainability, and human health. With population growth and environmental deterioration, the attention about food security and sustainable agriculture is on the increase, and the status of ecological agriculture comes into prominence. Perennial grain crops would address many agricultural problems as well as substantial ecological and economic benefits, which can provide multiple ecosystem services essential for sustainable production more effectively than production systems based on annual crops, such as protecting against soil erosion, conserving water and nutrients, storing more carbon below ground, and building better pest tolerance. This paper presents some of advantages of perennial grain crops as a new option for the food security and ecoagriculture, as well as prospects the significant utilization of perennial crop on sustainability of agriculture and environment in the future.

Abstract: The complex social-ecological systems network is an integrative platform of ecology, economy, management and complex networks which providing a new perspective on the comprehensive management of ecological and socio economical processes. Through research of the structures, functions and processes, one four-dimensional conceptual model of the complex social-ecological system for sustainable development was set up. The complex social-ecological systems comprise of natural subsystem, social subsystem, economic subsystem and integrative decision subsystem. The complex social-ecological systems network was defined as one six-element tuple which denotes the comprehensive spatial structure with different kinds of nodes of ecosystem, social system and economic system. The complex social-ecological systems network has some important characteristics including hierarchies, power-low, vulnerabilities, resilience, dynamics, co-evolution of flow and structure, et al. At last, based on the Multimedia Environment Pollutant Assessment System (MEPAS) of US EPA, the relationship between POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) exposure and lifetime fatal cancer risk was studied, and comprehensive risk network of the Taihu basin water pollution and human body health was established.

Abstract: This study models the thermal stresses and load stresses of Xia-Feng expressway asphalt overly on an existing PCC pavement by using finite element method. The sensitiveness of different influence factors on thermal stresses and load stresses are discussed. Research results show that asphalt overlay deflection and load stresses increase with the decreasing of weakening of subgrade strength index λ_k and when a soft interlayer with low level of spring stiffness is adopted, the thermal stress of asphalt overlay is quite small compared with load stresses.

Abstract: This paper analyzes and evaluates the status and long-term trend of regional economic sustainability of Chuzhou in China. This study, based on the triangle model and the definition of economic sustainable development, evaluates the interrelationship among regional economic development, resource-energy consumption, environmental pollution, and ecological performance. The sustainable and comprehensive utilization situation in the study region from 1985 to 2005 is examined. This study has a practical value for the settlement of problems in current regional economic development and in the methodological significance of regional economic sustainability and comprehensive utilization.

Abstract: Feature specifications are important composite parts in the new generation of geometrical product specifications and verification (GPS). According to the theories of specification model of shaft parts, this paper presents a method to generation of specification model of concentricity. Firstly, the mathematical model of concentricity is established in terms of nominal geometrical features of product for the parts the functional requirement are satisfied. Secondly, the simulation points of the model are generated by using the methods of axial stratification and circumferential multi-angles. The concentricity specification model could be generated after these operations of association and collection. Finally, an example is applied to illustrate the new method. The experiment results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Abstract: A fast method for the separation and determination of the food additive propyl gallate has been established by using capillary electrophoresis. The effects of several factors such as the applied potential and detection running buffer were investigated in order to obtain the optimum conditions, and the assay results were satisfactory. The limit of detection for the analyte was 10-6 mol/L. This approach has remarkable advantages with respect to other methodologies involving separations and electrochemical detection including minimal sample consumption, higher analysis speed and lower cost. In order to demonstrate the capabilitiy of the method, the determination of additive in a commercial food sample is also presented.