Effects of substituting energy with capital on China's aggregated energy and environmental efficiency

Substituting energy with capital (SEC) in economic productions has become a common practice both for business owners and policy-makers to improve their energy and environmental efficiency. However, seldom previous studies on energy efficiency and/or environmental performance evaluation took this role into account. This paper aims to shed some light on the effects of SEC on China's aggregated energy and environmental efficiency (AEEE) within a parametric stochastic frontier analysis framework. Moreover, influencing factors of regional efficiency score are also discussed using a pooled regression model. The results indicate that SEC poses significant effects on improving China's AEEE, and this impact appears obvious regional variation that regions with lower efficiency scores hold more extensive potential to improve their AEEE by means of SEC. Furthermore, upgrading industrial structure and decreasing the proportion of coal in energy consumption make great sense to improve China's AEEE.     

Triacylglycerols and their fatty acid composition in edible Mediterranean molluscs and crustacean

The triacylglycerol (TAG) composition of edible Mediterranean molluscs (Eledone moschata, Sepia officinalis, Todarodes sagittatus) and crustacean (Penaeus kerathurus) was studied using a combination of preparative RP–HPLC and GC/MS. In S. officinalis and T. sagittatus mantle TAG, the main fatty acids were C16:0 and C18:0 while in E. moschata they were C18:1ω-9, C16:0, C20:5ω-3 and C22:6ω-3. In P. kerathurus muscle and cephalothorax TAG, the main fatty acids were C16:0, C18:0, C18:1ω-9, C20:4ω-6, C20:5ω-3, C22:6ω-3 and C16:0, C18:1ω-9, C20:4ω-6, C20:5ω-3, C22:6ω-3, respectively.     

基于视觉感知的镶嵌图像质量评价方法

传统的图像质量评价方法难以较好地评价镶嵌效果。该文针对仅通过频率活动性(SFA)对镶嵌效果中拼缝光滑度进行评价获取较优效果图时存在的问题,依据视觉感知特性的对比敏感性,提出以结构对比度(SCD)感知因子评价镶嵌效果图的灰度和谐性,结合SFA和SCD感知因子构造了一个镶嵌图像综合评价模型,可以对镶嵌图像效果进行更符合主观视觉感知特性的评价。试验验证了该模型的有效性。     

基于SFA和GLCM的影像特征提取方法

针对遥感影像中同类样本差异性较大的缺点,提出一种基于SFA和灰度共生矩阵(GLCM)的遥感影像特征提取方法。对原始图像进行SFA变换,利用SFA的生物视觉特性消除图像中的同类差异性,对变换得到的图像进行GLCM计算,获得基于SFA和GLCM的新型特征。实验结果证明,SFA预处理能降低遥感影像的同类差异性,提高特征的可区分性,其效果优于传统的GLCM特征提取方法。     

Ultra‐Smooth,Chemically Functional Silica Surfaces for Surface Interaction Measurements and Optical/Interferometry‐Based Techniques

The study of interfacial phenomena is central to a range of chemical, physical, optical, and electromagnetic systems such as surface imaging, polymer interactions, friction/wear, and ion‐transport in batteries. Studying intermolecular forces and processes of interfaces at the sub‐nano scale has proven difficult due to limitations in surface preparation methods. Here, we describe a method for fabricating reflective, deformable composite layers that expose an ultra‐smooth silica (SiO₂) surface (RMS roughness < 0.4 nm) with interferometric applications. The robust design allows for cleaning and reusing the same surfaces for over a week of continuous experimentation without degradation. The electric double‐layer forces measured using the composite surfaces are within 10% of the theoretically predicted values. We also demonstrate that standard chemisorption and physisorption procedures on silica can be applied to chemically modify the surfaces; as a demonstration of this, the composite surfaces are successfully modified with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) to study their hydrophobic interactions in water using a surface force apparatus (SFA). These composite surfaces provide a basis for the preparation of a variety of new surfaces, and should be particularly beneficial for the SFA and colloidal probe methods that employ optical/interferometric and electrochemical techniques, enabling characterization of previously unattainable surface and interfacial phenomena.

     

Seasonal changes and muscle type effect on the nutritional quality of intramuscular fat in Mirandesa-PDO veal

The influence of slaughter season and muscle type on the detailed fatty acid composition, including conjugated linoleic acid isomers, and contents of total cholesterol and lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamins (α-tocopherol and β-carotene) in Mirandesa-PDO veal was assessed. Mirandesa purebred calves (n = 29) were raised in a traditional production semi-extensive system, slaughtered in late spring (June) or early autumn (October) and the longissimus lumborum and semitendinosus muscles were sampled for analysis. Although the lipid composition of PDO veal was only slightly affected by the slaughter season, it was markedly changed by the muscle type. However, PDO veal had values of pasture-fed cattle for lipid grass intake indicators, in both seasons and muscles. From a human health standpoint, intramuscular fat in Mirandesa-PDO veal has a high nutritional value throughout the year, with favorable ratios of n− 6/n− 3 and contents of n− 3 PUFA and α-tocopherol, as a result of the beneficial effects of grass feeding.     

Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue and muscle from Jersey steers was affected by finishing diet and tissue location

To determine the impacts of finishing diet and tissue type and location on fatty acid composition and palatability of Jersey beef, twenty steers were assigned to a factorial treatment design with initial weight (Light vs. Heavy) and finishing diet (70 vs. 85% concentrate) as treatments. Ribeye steaks were collected for sensory evaluation. Muscle, seam and subcutaneous (s.c.) fat from steaks, kidney fat (KF) and omental fat (OMF) were collected for fatty acid analysis. Initial weight and finishing diet had little impact on beef palatability. The 85% concentrate decreased polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in muscle and increased trans fatty acids in all tissues (P < 0.05). The monounsaturated:saturated fatty acid ratio (MUFA:SFA) was highest in s.c. fat, intermediate in muscle and seam fat, and lowest in KF and OMF. The PUFA:SFA was highest in muscle, intermediate in s.c. and seam fat, and lowest in KF and OMF. Fatty acid composition differed greatly among tissues and the lower concentrate diet increased omega-3 and PUFA percentages in muscle.     

Diet and plasma evaluation of the main isomers of conjugated linoleic acid and trans-fatty acids in a population sample from Mediterranean north-east Spain

The aim of the present study was to describe the dietary pattern of a representative sample of 516 adult participants (203 men and 313 women) from Catalonia, a Spanish Mediterranean region, to assess their current dietary and plasma levels of trans C18:1, the major trans-fatty acid (TFA), and cis-9, trans-11 CLA, and trans-10, cis-12 CLA, the two major conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers, and to evaluate their correlation with several cardiovascular disease risk factors. The population was a random sample derived from the Catalan Nutrition Survey. Plasma levels of the CLA isomers were determined in a subsample of 100 volunteers. The Catalan diet seemed to maintain some traits of the ‘traditional’ Mediterranean diet, although other components were lost. The dietary intakes of saturated fatty acids (SFA), TFA, cis-9, trans-11 CLA, and trans-10, cis-12 CLA were 12.3%, 0.84% (2.0 g/d), 0.030% (71.5 mg/d), and 0.0015% (3.4 mg/d) of the energy intake, respectively. Trans C18:1 accounted for 0.19% of the total plasma fatty acids, while the sum of cis-9, trans-11and trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomers represented about 0.09% of the plasma fatty acids. Trans C18:1 isomers correlated significantly with the intake of French fries and pastries, while cis-9, trans-11 CLA significantly correlated with the intake of dairy products and ruminant meat. None of the cardiovascular disease risk factors were found to be associated with the plasma levels of TFA or CLA. The results of this study suggest that monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) are the main dietary fat source in the Catalan population, due to their regular olive oil consumption. Moreover, plasma levels of the main TFA and CLA suggest that the Catalan diet is not at present strongly influenced by the occidental dietary patterns. However, a reduction of the intake of SFA in the Catalan population should be recommended.     

Anthropogenic phosphorus flow analysis of Hefei City, China

The substance flow analysis (SFA) method was employed to examine phosphorus flow and its connection to water pollution in the city of Hefei, China, in 2008. As human activity is the driving force of phosphorus flux from the environment to the economy, the study provides a conceptual framework for analyzing an anthropogenic phosphorus cycle that includes four stages: extraction, fabrication and manufacturing, use, and waste management. Estimates of phosphorus flow were based on existing data as well as field research, expert advice, local accounting systems, and literature. The total phosphorus input into Hefei in 2008 reached 7810 tons, mainly as phosphate ore, chemical fertilizer, pesticides, crops and animal products. Approximately 33% of the total phosphorus input left the area, and nearly 20% of that amount was discharged as waste to surface water. Effluent containing excessive fertilizer from farming operations plays an important role in phosphorus overloads onto surface water; the other major emission source is sewage discharge. We also provide suggestions for reducing phosphorus emissions, for example reducing fertilizer use, recycling farming residues, and changing human consumption patterns.     

A Neuro-fuzzy-stochastic frontier analysis approach for long-term natural gas consumption forecasting and behavior analysis: The cases of Bahrain,Saudi Arabia,Syria, and UAE

This paper presents an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system-stochastic frontier analysis (ANFIS-SFA) approach for long-term natural gas (NG) consumption prediction and analysis of the behavior of NG consumption. The proposed models consist of input variables of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and population (POP). Six distinct models based on different inputs are defined. All of trained ANFIS are then compared with respect to mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). To meet the best performance of the intelligent based approaches, data are pre-processed (scaled) and finally the outputs are post-processed (returned to its original scale). To show the applicability and superiority of the integrated ANFIS-SFA approach, gas consumption in four Middle Eastern countries i.e. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and United Arab Emirates is forecasted and analyzed based on the data of the time period 1980–2007. With the aid of autoregressive model, GDP and population are projected for the period 2008–2015. These projected data are used as the input of ANFIS model to predict the gas consumption in the selected countries for 2008–2015. SFA is then used to examine the behavior of gas consumption in the past and also to make insights for the forthcoming years. The ANFIS-SFA approach is capable of dealing with complexity, uncertainty, and randomness as well as several other unique features discussed in this paper.