Keeping PV projects alive : Financial sustainability of PV implementation in Swaziland

During the past 10 years, more than 700 Solar Home Systems (SHS) have been implemented in Swaziland, Southern Arfica through an innovative project initiated by the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN). In this article Petra Lasschuit, Chris Westra and Gwen van Roekel, from the ECN describe how the project has provided valuable lessons regarding financial sustainability, the core ingredient of successful PV implementation programmes.     

Effect of illite and birnessite on thallium retention and bioavailability in contaminated soils

The influence of illite and birnessite (δ-MnO(2)) amendments on the retention and bioavailability of Tl in contaminated soils was investigated. The efficiency of both phases was evaluated using Tl uptake by white mustard (Sinapis alba L.), sequential extraction and sorption experiments. The obtained data demonstrate that the application of birnessite can effectively transform Tl from the labile (easily mobilizable) fraction to its reducible form, thus lowering Tl bioavailability in soil and subsequent accumulation by plants. The Mn oxide added to the soils reduced substantially Tl uptake; Tl levels in the plants decreased by up to 50%, compared to the non-amended soil. The effect of illite on the immobilization and uptake of Tl was less pronounced, and in the carbonate-rich Leptosol has not been proved at all, suggesting the importance of bulk soil mineralogy and nature of the soil sorption complex on the behavior of this amendment. Therefore, the general applicability of illite for Tl stabilization in soils seems to be limited and strongly dependent on soil composition. In contrast, the use of birnessite like soil additive might be an efficient and environment-friendly solution for soil systems contaminated with Tl.     

Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods: Working towards global scientific consensus and harmonization – Recommendations for improved prevention and control

An international group of experts from the food industry, academia, and governments met in Amsterdam in May 2009 to discuss approaches for controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in anticipation of an agreement by Member States on the Codex Guidelines for the pathogen in foods. The workshop was organised by Ewen Todd (Michigan State University) in cooperation with the European Federation of Food Science and Technology and the Global Harmonization Initiative. The group felt there is a need for a risk-based policy with input from all the stakeholders at local and national levels. An important part of the background is to review the critical factors for control, including the unique growth, survival and virulence characteristics of the pathogen; identifying specific populations at risk; and defining what RTE foods are. They also saw the need for L. monocytogenes food-source attribution through review of outbreak data, implementation of case–control studies, expert elicitations, microbial source tracking, and development of risk assessment models. They also indicated that surveillance of both listeriosis and the gastrointestinal non-invasive form of illness caused by the pathogen are important for public health agencies to establish or enhance; this would require coordination of laboratories through better communication and reporting for the analysis of clinical cases, foods and environmental sources. These laboratories should be also accredited, with some being reference laboratories at national or regional levels. There was consensus agreement on the microbiological criteria as specified in the Codex Guidelines, but it was recognized there were challenges for industry to meet these and government agencies to assess compliance, requiring a robust testing regime for both food and food-contact surfaces at all stages in the production system, as well as for environmental monitoring. Other issues are the development, validation, and acceptance of quantitative methods sufficient to detect the pathogen in food at levels <100 CFU g^?1; determining the food’s ability to support the growth of the pathogen or not through challenge studies, and risk assessment models, appropriate labelling of RTE foods, and a standardized approach to tracing and tracking of products throughout the food chain. There is also a need for food worker education and training, and consumer awareness and responsibility. Message mapping is one approach to instill the essential food safety messages regarding listeriosis and the safety of RTE foods for both employees and the public.     

Localization of carbon nanotubes in polyamide 6 blends with non-reactive and reactive rubber

Blending of two immiscible polymer matrices can be an effective way to combine favourable properties of both blend partners. The additional incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in such thermoplastic blends may further enhance the blend properties and especially generate electrical conductivity.     

Dynamic‐mechanical analysis of MWNTs‐filled PC/ABS blends

In a systematic manner, the roles of MWNTs as filler and styrene acrylonitrile copolymer‐graft‐maleic anhydride (SAN‐MA) as compatibilizer, individually and together, on dynamic‐mechanical behavior of polycarbonate (PC)‐rich/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymer (ABS) blend were studied. The investigations were performed using small‐scale mixing in a one‐step procedure with a fixed MWNTs content of 0.75 wt% and a blend composition of PC/ABS = 70/30 w/w. PC/SAN blends and nanocomposites as simpler model system for PC/ABS were also studied to reveal the role of the rubbery polybutadiene (PB) fraction. It is found that the tendency of MWNTs to localize within the PC component in compatibilized PC/ABS was lower than in compatibilized PC/SAN blends. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed the dual role of SAN‐MA as blend compatibilizer and also promoter of MWNTs migration towards PC, where SAN‐MA to MWNTs weight ratio varied between 1 and 4. At the compatibilizer/MWNTs weight ratio of 1, MWNTs localized in PC component of the blends whereas increasing the compatibilizer/MWNTs ratio to 4 led to migration of MWNTs toward SAN or ABS component. In DMA studies, loss modulus normalization of the nanocomposites revealed the coexistence of mobilized and immobilized regions within the nanocomposite structure, as a result of MWNTs and compatibilizer loading. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2696–2706, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Stereoisomere Aromastoffe

Zusammenfassung 5-Alkyl-substituierte-Lactone finden sich als aromarelevante Substanzen in tierischen Fetten, aber auch in einigen Früchten. Vor kurzem gelang die erste direkte gaschromatographische Stereodifferenzierung einiger-Lactone an der chiralen Phase Oktakis(3-O-butyryl-2,6-di-O-pentyl)--cyclodextrin [4]. Es wird nun die Enantiomerentrennung der-Lactone bis zu den langkettigen Verbindungen-Trideca-(-C₁₃-)- und-Tetradeca-(-C₁₄-)-lacton aufgezeigt. Über optisch reine Referenzsubstanzen konnte die Elutionsfolge S(I), R(II) der drei wichtigsten aromarelevanten Vertreter dieser-Lactonklasse bestimmt werden. Die Enantiomerenverteilung der C₈-, C₁₀-, C₁₂--Lactone im Wasserdampfdestillat verschiedener Milchprodukte (Milch, Sahne, Butter), in Margarine sowie im Kokosnußfleisch wurde exemplarisch mit Hilfe der HRGC, auch unter Einsatz der multidimensionalen Gaschromatographie (MDGC), untersucht. Es zeigten sich charakteristische, substratspezifische Enantiomerenverteilungen. Die Verteilungsmuster der untersuchten Spiegelbildisomeren aus Kokosnüssen unterschieden sich wesentlich von denen der Milchprodukte.

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Stereoisomeric flavour compoundsXLVII. Direct chirospecific HRGC-analysis of natural -lactones

Summary 5-Alkylated-lactones are well known flavour compounds in animal fats and also some special kinds of fruit. Recently, the first direct stereo-differentiation of chiral-lactones was reported using Oktakis(3-O-butyryl-2,6-di-O-pentyl)--cyclodextrin as the chiral stationary phase [4]. The enantiomeric separation of-lactones up to the long-chain compounds-trideca-(-C_13–) and-tetradeca-(-C_14–)-lactone is demonstrated. By means of optically pure references, the order of elution S(I), R(II) was determined for the important flavour compounds-octa-,-deca-, and-dodecalactone. Analysis of the steam distillate of some dairy products (milk, cream, butter), of margarine and of coconut has been carried out, in order to yield the enantiomeric distribution of C₈-, C₁₀- and C₁₂--lactones by HRGC and multidimensional gas chromatography. Characteristic and product-specific ratios of-lactone enantiomers are detected. The pattern of enantiomeric composition of-octa-,-deca-,-dodecalactone in coconuts differs completely from that found in the dairy products.

     

Exploring the impact of the 2008 global food crisis on food security among vulnerable households in rural South Africa

Recurring food crises endanger the livelihoods of millions of households in developing countries around the globe. Owing to the importance of this issue, we explored recent changes in food security between the years 2004 and 2010 in a rural district in Northeastern South Africa. Our study window spans the time of the 2008 global food crisis and allows the investigation of its impacts on rural South African populations. Grounded in the sustainable livelihood framework, we examined differences in food security trajectories among vulnerable sub populations. A unique panel data set of 8,147 households, provided by the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Agincourt HDSS), allowed us to employ a longitudinal multilevel modeling approach to estimate adjusted growth curves for the differential changes in food security across time. We observed an overall improvement in food security that leveled off after 2008, most likely resulting from the global food crisis. In addition, we discovered significant differences in food security trajectories for various sub populations. For example, female-headed households and those living in areas with better access to natural resources differentially improved their food security situation, compared to male-headed households and those households with lower levels of natural resource access. However, former Mozambican refugees witnessed a decline in food security. Therefore, poverty alleviation programs for the Agincourt region should work to improve the food security of vulnerable households, such as former Mozambican refugees.     

Modification of Polydimethylsiloxane Coatings by H2 RF Plasma,Xe2* Excimer VUV Radiation,and Low‐Energy Electron Beams

The crosslinking of thin liquid PDMS layers by three different technically relevant processes, H₂ radio‐frequency plasma treatment, Xe₂* excimer VUV irradiation, and low‐energy electron beam processing is investigated. The modifications to the layers due to the processing are monitored by means of RAIRS. Plasma processing of liquid PDMS leads to a direct conversion to a SiO_x‐like material of the topmost layers, whereas a gradual transition from PDMS to the same product is observed upon VUV irradiation. Electron exposure does not induce oxidation. The initiating steps of the conversion induced by the interaction with VUV photons, low‐energy electrons, or their combined effect with ions and H atoms in the plasma are discussed. The latter creates a high density of damage sites.