Paths to sustainable plastic waste recycling

No abstract available

Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) relating to avian influenza in urban and rural areas of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies have revealed that visiting poultry markets and direct contact with sick or dead poultry are significant risk factors for H5N1 infection, the practices of which could possibly be influenced by people's knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) associated with avian influenza (AI). To determine the KAPs associated with AI among the Chinese general population, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used standardized, structured questionnaires distributed in both an urban area (Shenzhen, Guangdong Province; n = 1,826) and a rural area (Xiuning, Anhui Province; n = 2,572) using the probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling technique.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Approximately three-quarters of participants in both groups requested more information about AI. The preferred source of information for both groups was television. Almost three-quarters of all participants were aware of AI as an infectious disease; the urban group was more aware that it could be transmitted through poultry, that it could be prevented, and was more familiar with the relationship between AI and human infection. The villagers in Xiuning were more concerned than Shenzhen residents about human AI viral infection. Regarding preventative measures, a higher percentage of the urban group used soap for hand washing whereas the rural group preferred water only. Almost half of the participants in both groups had continued to eat poultry after being informed about the disease.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study shows a high degree of awareness of human AI in both urban and rural populations, and could provide scientific support to assist the Chinese government in developing strategies and health-education campaigns to prevent AI infection among the general population.</p

Particle size of corn stover on microwave assisted pyrolysis

Washington State UniversityLei, Hanwu and Shoujie, Ren (2010, March 26). Particle size of corn stover on microwave assisted pyrolysis, Poster presented at the Washington State University Academic Showcase, Pullman, WA

Hydrothermal Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass and Kinetics

The study focus was an examination of the hydrothermal pretreatment method applied to the lignocellulosic substrate, represented by the prairie cord grass, and comparison between different conditions based on the yield of glucose after enzymatic hydrolysis. The treatment did not involve any chemicals usage. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed in order to examine the amount of glucose which was released from pretreated materials. The most efficient pretreatment conditions were at high temperature and relatively short reaction time (210°C and 10 min), after which the lignocellulose structure was the most available for enzymes actions which resulted in a pretreatment conversion rate of 97%. Temperature had a significant influence on glucose release during the hydrolysis, which was confirmed by the Michaelis-Menten and kinetic models. Kinetic models were used to fit the inhibitors and their conversion rates were related to temperature

Hydrothermal Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Prairie Cord Grass

The focus of this study was examination of the hydrothermal pretreatment method applied to the lignocellulosic substrate for bioethanol production, represented by prairie cord grass, and comparison between different conditions, based on the yield of glucose after enzymatic hydrolysis. The treatment did not involve any chemicals usage. Hydrothermal pretreatment was conducted in the Parr high-pressure reactor, in the presence of water. After the pretreatment, material was analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for products and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for biomass structure changes. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed to examine the amount of glucose that was released from pretreated materials. Results were compared based on the conversion rates of glucose and other sugars, as well as the generation of byproducts. Final results suggested that the most efficient pretreatment conditions involved high temperatures (210 °C) and relatively short reaction times (10 min), after which the lignocellulose structure seems to be the most available for enzymes actions. The pretreatment conversion rate in this case reached a level of 97%

Optimization of modified clean fractionation of prairie cordgrass

In this study, modified clean fractionation process was optimized for prairie cordgrass, with usage of alternative organic constituent –ethyl acetate. Other constituents of the solvent mixture included ethanol and water. Clean fractionation solvent was used in different proportions of the constituents. Process efficiency was determined by lignin recovery, solvent composition, as well as time and temperature applied to each sequential process. and overall pretreatment were calculated. Glucose yield during enzymatic hydrolysis Optimal conditions (125°C, 37 min, with the solvent composition of ester:ethanol:water = 32.5:22.5:45) yielded a 20% lignin recovery, 38% glucose yield during enzymatic hydrolysis and 26% xylose recovery in aqueous fraction

Multi-Objective Optimization Study of Regenerative Braking Control Strategy for Range-Extended Electric Vehicle

Currently, the researches on the regenerative braking system (RBS) of the range-extended electric vehicle (R-EEV) are inadequate, especially on the comparison and analysis of the multi-objective optimization (MOO) problem. Actually, the results of the MOO problem should be mutually independent and balanced. With the aim of guaranteeing comprehensive regenerative braking performance (CRBP), a revised regenerative braking control strategy (RRBCS) is introduced, and a method of the MOO algorithm for RRBCS is proposed to balance the braking performance (BP), regenerative braking loss efficiency (RBLE), and battery capacity loss rate (BCLR). Firstly, the models of the main components related to the RBS of the R-EEV for the calculation of optimization objectives are built in MATLAB/Simulink and AVL/Cruise. The BP, RBLE, and BCLR are selected as the optimization objectives. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is applied in RRBCS to solve the MOO problem, and a group of the non-inferior Pareto solution sets are obtained. The simulation results show a clear conflict that three optimization objectives cannot be optimal at the same time. Then, we evaluate the performance of the proposed method by taking the individual with the optimal CRBP as the final optimal solution. The comparation among BP, RBLE, BCLR, and CRBP before and after optimization are analyzed and discussed. The results illustrate that characteristic parameters of RRBCS is crucial to optimization objectives. After parameters optimization, regenerative braking torque works early to increase braking energy recovery on low tire-road adhesion condition, and to reduce the battery capacity loss rate at the expense of small braking energy recovery on the medium tire-road adhesion condition. In addition, the results of the sensitivity analysis show that after parameter optimization, RRBCS is proved to perform better road adaptability regarding the distribution of solutions. These results thoroughly validate the proposed approach for multi-objective optimization of RRBCS and have a strong directive to optimize the control strategy parameters of RBS

Optimization of Combined Clean Fractionation and Hydrothermal Treatment of Prairie Cord Grass

A clean sequential process including clean fractionation and hydrothermal post-treatment was developed to fractionate and pretreat prairie cord grass (PCG) prior to ethanol fermentation. An optimized clean fractionation was applied to extract lignin; then, the remaining material was subjected to a hydrothermal treatment process to enhance cellulose digestibility. The main purpose of the hydrothermal post-treatment was to improve digestibility of delignified cellulose and reduce harshness of the clean fractionation process. Optimization was performed for solvent compositions as well as time and temperatures applied to each sequential process. The glucose yield was 89% from enzymatic hydrolysis and 92% from combined fractionation and hydrothermal treatments of PCG