A web-based screening model for climate risk to water supply systems in the northeastern United States

The aim of this study is to describe the development and application of a web-based decision support tool (ViRTUE) for performing climate risk evaluations of water supply systems. The tool is designed for small-scale water utilities in the northeastern United States that may lack the resources for detailed climate change risk investigations. Development of this tool demonstrates a relatively new approach to web application development using the Shiny framework for the R programming language to create an interactive environment for stakeholders and water managers to explore climate vulnerabilities. Using a decision-scaling framework, the tool allows the user to perform a climate stress test to evaluate the performance and vulnerability to water supply shortfalls of local reservoir systems over a wide range of potential climate change scenarios using a generic systems model. Probabilities of future climate conditions derived from climate projections then help inform utility operators of impending risk.     

Adaptation options for wheat in Europe will be limited by increased adverse weather events under climate change

Ways of increasing the production of wheat, the most widely grown cereal crop, will need to be found to meet the increasing demand caused by human population growth in the coming decades. This increase must occur despite the decrease in yield gains now being reported in some regions, increased price volatility and the expected increase in the frequency of adverse weather events that can reduce yields. However, if and how the frequency of adverse weather events will change over Europe, the most important wheat-growing area, has not yet been analysed. Here, we show that the accumulated probability of 11 adverse weather events with the potential to significantly reduce yield will increase markedly across all of Europe. We found that by the end of the century, the exposure of the key European wheat-growing areas, where most wheat production is currently concentrated, may increase more than twofold. However, if we consider the entire arable land area of Europe, a greater than threefold increase in risk was predicted. Therefore, shifting wheat production to new producing regions to reduce the risk might not be possible as the risk of adverse events beyond the key wheat-growing areas increases even more. Furthermore, we found a marked increase in wheat exposure to high temperatures, severe droughts and field inaccessibility compared with other types of adverse events. Our results also showed the limitations of some of the presently debated adaptation options and demonstrated the need for development of region-specific strategies. Other regions of the world could be affected by adverse weather events in the future in a way different from that considered here for Europe. This observation emphasizes the importance of conducting similar analyses for other major wheat regions.     

Putting yourself in someone else's shoes: The impact of a location-based,collaborative role-playing game on behaviour

The goal of this study was to probe the effectiveness of a mobile game-based learning approach in modifying behavioural outcomes and competence. The experiment was set against the background of low rates of laymen providing CPR during sudden cardiac arrests. A post-test control group design was used to contrast and evaluate the effects of the two different types of learning. Two hundred two students were randomly assigned to two conditions, a game-based variant simulating an emergency situation (experimental group), and an instruction-based approach (control group). After the intervention participants completed a questionnaire assessing self-prediction, self-efficacy, attitude, subjective norm, empathy and competence. The largest arguably significant difference between the two groups showed in self-prediction and capacity beliefs. Results further revealed a positive relationship between self-prediction and the variables attitude and self-efficacy. The type of scenario did not translate into the other concepts we assessed, though, and results were inconclusive regarding the effectiveness of the type of learning scenario and CPR knowledge. We explain the small effect size partly by the experimental procedure and the design of the game intervention, which is discussed in the course of this article.     

转角型幕墙铝板风荷载作用下内力和变形的数值模拟

阐述了转角型铝板和加劲肋构成的铝板幕墙的内力及变形计算，采用ANSYS软件，对板块由转角型铝板与5条加劲肋组成的复合结构的内力和变形进行计算，研究了加劲肋与铝板转角处由于局部铆钉松脱由刚结点变成铰接点后，其计算模型发生改变的应力及位移计算，最后介绍实际应用。     

辊磨液压系统选型及工况探讨

介绍了VRMR360.4辊磨的液压系统蓄能器的计算方法,对有杆腔蓄能器容积和无杆腔蓄能器容积进行了选型计算,通过分析不同的工况,选取合适的工作参数。     

Development of cellulose nanofibrils reinforced polyvinyl alcohol films incorporated with alizarin for intelligent food packaging

Visual pH-sensing films were fabricated using cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and alizarin. The relationships between the ratio of PVA: CNF hydrogel (2:1, 1:1, 1:2) and the physical properties and colour response efficiency of indicator films were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of films evidenced alizarin and CNF was properly incorporated by physical interaction. A new weak X-ray diffraction peak appeared at 2θ = 22.4°, which was affected by the incorporation of CNF. The increase in the CNF content induced enhancements of thermal stability, tensile strength, water contact angle and colour sensitivity of the indicator films. The colourimetric films had a higher sensitivity to discolouration when exposed to acidic vapours than alkaline vapours. The films presented a remarkable colour change varied from purple in alkaline condition to yellow in acidic condition. Therefore, this colourimetric film can be used as a volatile acid sensor for intelligent packaging.     

Framework to manage multiple goals in community-based energy sharing network in smart grid

Smart grid has opened up a new role of “prosumer” in an energy value network, transforming many conventional energy consumers into prosumers, who not only generate green energy but also share the surplus with utilities and other consumers. The concept of a goal-oriented prosumer community group (PCG) has emerged recently as an effective way to fulfill sustainable energy exchange. Such community-based energy sharing networks comprise multiple irreconcilable objectives such as demand constraints, cost constraints, and income maximization. In many cases, one goal may be achievable only at the expense of other goals. This necessitates the development of an effective framework to manage the multiple goals and reduce the gap with their achievement levels. Therefore, in this research paper, an effective framework is developed to negotiate among the multiple goals and thus to define optimal mutual goals for each PCG in a more sustainable manner using multiple-criteria goal programming techniques. Simulation results are presented to illustrate how the methods work in practical situations, where each of the objective measure is given a target value and the unwanted deviations from this set are minimized in an achievement function.     

Hydrogen production performance of a photovoltaic thermal system coupled with a proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell

As one of the cleanest energies, hydrogen has attracted much attention over the past decade. Hydrogen can be produced using water electrolysis in a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis Cell (PEMEC). In the present study, the performance of the PEMEC, powered by the Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) system, is scrutinized. It is considered that the PVT system provides the required electrical power of the PEMEC and preheats the feedwater. A comprehensive numerical model of the coupled PVT-PEMEC system is developed. The model is used to investigate the effect of various operating parameters, including solar radiation intensity, inlet feedwater temperature, and feedwater mass flow rate, on the hydrogen production and operating voltage of the PEMEC at various Exchange Current Densities (ECDs). Furthermore, the effect of integration of Phase Change Material (PCM) and Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) on the hydrogen production of the system is evaluated. According to the obtained results, the PVT-TEG-PEMEC system outperforms other systems in hydrogen production. However, integration of the PVT-PEMEC system with PCM has a negligible effect on its hydrogen production.