A composite indicator for measuring the environmental performance of water,wastewater, and solid waste utilities

The aim of this paper is to measure and benchmark the environmental performance of Portuguese utilities jointly active in the three sectors of water supply, wastewater collection and solid waste management. To do so, we suggest the use of a traditional (optimistic) directional distance Benefit of the Doubt index. We complement the analysis by considering also the pessimistic version of the proposed BoD and by implementing a robust and conditional approach. The obtained results show that there is space for improvement in the pressure balance of these utilities, especially for small and very large units, mostly operating in urban areas.     

Household electricity demand in Latin America and the Caribbean: A meta-analysis of price elasticity

Studying the price elasticity of demand is essential when considering rate policies in the electricity sector. This research aims to perform a meta-analysis and a meta-regression of the price elasticity of electricity demand for the residential sector in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Results show that the true value of the short-term price elasticity is between −0.197 and −0.468 and, for the long-term, is between −0.252 and −0.331. Findings differ substantially when studies are classified by their quality in econometric procedures. The long-term price elasticity seems to be lower than estimates found for other regions.     

土层参数对支盘桩承载性状影响的有限元分析

通过改变挤扩支盘桩周围不同土层的性质,用有限元方法分析了土层弹性模量对桩承载力及荷载传递过程的影响程度,研究了支盘桩桩身轴力和桩侧摩阻力沿桩长的变化规律。结果表明,支盘桩的承力盘处于不同土层中对桩承载力和荷载传递过程的影响程度不同,其中桩端土层的承载力对桩承载力影响最大,对最上层土的影响最小。     

西部农村水资源开发中BOT方式的政策分析

以节约高效开发我国水资源为目的,通过分析以特许权方式进行水资源开发的可行性及应采取的对策和政策,得出用BOT方式建设中小水利水电是我国经济建设尤其是农村经济建设,带动农村经济发展和西部大开发的有力支撑之一的结论。     

双层皮玻璃幕墙的气候适应性设计策略研究——以夏热冬冷地区大型建筑工程为例

本论文基于不同条件下(如朝向、遮阳、通风、能耗、淋水、蓄热和气流循环等)各种实验的对比研究,探讨了双层皮玻璃幕墙对室内热环境以及能耗的影响。进而结合双层皮玻璃幕墙的技术特点,尝试总结其技术规则和气候适应性设计策略。本研究不仅为生态建筑的实现提供了可操作的技术支撑,而且为建筑设计的逻辑表达提供了最大的可能性。     

居住建筑外围护结构节能65%研究初探

本文从建筑外墙保温体系、屋顶地面保温体系、门窗体系、遮阳体系4个方面论述了我国北方寒冷地区居住建筑外围护结构节能与保温的技术要点,特别强调了对我国居住建筑新标准中外围护结构节能65%的理解与认识,从技术角度阐述了居住建筑节能的重要性与可行性。     

表面织构形状对牙轮钻头轴承摩擦学性能影响的实验研究

牙轮钻头滑动轴承作为钻头破岩过程中传递载荷的关键部件,在低速重载的钻井过程中易发生黏着磨损失效。为改善牙轮钻头滑动轴承的耐磨性能,利用纳秒激光雕刻技术,在牙轮钻头滑动轴承轴颈表面加工了面积比为10%、深度为20μm的圆形、矩形、三角形及复合织构;基于赫兹相似理论,设计近似模拟钻头轴承工况的环-块配对副单元实验方案,并在UMT摩擦试验机上开展织构形状对钻头滑动轴承摩擦副摩擦因数、磨损量、温升变化和微观形貌影响规律的实验研究。结果表明:仿生织构的形状及布置方式对减摩和耐磨效果影响极大,其中圆形、矩形织构的减摩和耐磨性能最优,其次为三角形织构,而复合织构反而增大了摩擦因数及磨损量;单一织构对试件磨损量及温升的影响不大,而复合织构在增加摩擦的同时温度有明显升高,不利于井下高温环境下延长牙轮钻头寿命。     

Systematics study through scanning electron microscopy; a tool for the authentication of herbal drug Mentha suaveolens Ehrh

In all over the world, herbal drugs are usually adulterated with similar species or varieties due to incorrect identification. Most of herbal products devoid purity and quality, therefore an attempt was carried out to identify plant species and authenticate its herbal drug products from Mentha suaveolens. Microscopy tools provide an excellent platform to identify plants at species level. In this study, microscopic and pharmacokinetic parameters of M. suaveolens were observed. Plant species were collected from high diverse areas of Northern Pakistan. Macro and micro‐morphology including palynology and anatomical features were analyzed to study M. suaveolens. Species characteristics were studied, while implementing microscopic techniques for the delimitation and identification of the species. Traditionally Mentha species are used to cure several diseases that is, digestive disorders, respiratory disorders. Micromorphology (stem, leaves, flowers structure, length etc.), palynology (shape, size of pollen etc.), and anatomical characters (types of stomata, epidermal cell shape, and trichomes) were studied. Micromorphology and anatomical characters were of great interest and significance to discuss the taxonomy of the species. Taxonomic characters were studied to characterize and authenticate the species. The aim of the present study is to observe in detail the taxonomic identification of the species in term of morphology, palynology, and foliar epidermal anatomy for the correct identification along with their medicinal uses in the area.     

Palynological investigation of some selected species of family Fabaceae from Pakistan,using light and scanning electron microscopy techniques

Pollen morphology of 11 species of family Fabaceae that is, Trifolium alexandrinum, Trifolium resupinatum, Arachis hypogaea, Lathyrus aphaca, Medicago lupulina, Vicia sativa, Lathyrus odoratus, Pongamia pinnata, Melilotus indicus, Medicago polymorpha, Medicago sativa from Pakistan has been investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen were generally tricolporate, radially symmetrical, isopolar, elliptic in equatorial view and triangular in polar view under LM. Results showed that pollens were per‐prolate (T. alexandrinum), prolate (T. resupinatum, V. sativa, L. odoratus, Melilotus indicus, M. polymorpha, M. sativa) and sub‐prolate (A. hypogaea, L. aphaca, M. lupulina, P. pinnata). The larger polar/equatorial (P/E) ratio was found in T. alexandrinum (2.26 μm) and the smallest was found in M. lupulina (1.21 μm). The exine of T. resupinatum was 3.00 μm in thickness while others posses smaller exine thickness. The larger pore diameter was found in P. pinnata (16.01 μm) while others have smaller. The length of colpi was larger in Arachis hypogaea (32.24) while others posses smaller. Eight types of surface ornamentation (Psilate, faintly rugulate). Perforate and rugulate to verrucate have been observed under SEM. The pollens were europalynous type. Pollen morphology proved to be useful for the specific delimitation and serve as a tool for the identification and classification of taxa at specific and generic levels and can also be used as a key for the taxonomic features. Diversity in exine sculpture is helpful indicative characters for the isolation of closely related species. Hence, it is clear that both qualitative and quantitative characters of pollen can be useful for differentiating between taxa at specific level.     

Leaf and stem micromorphology of Byrsonima sericea DC. by light and scanning electron microscopy

Micromorphological studies were carried out using multiple microscopic techniques on the leaves and stem bark of Byrsonima sericea DC. (Malpighiaceae), a species popularly known as “murici” and used medicinally, in order to identify both qualitative and quantitative features of leaf and stem anatomy and histochemistry as differential parameters to support both the quality control of its ethnodrugs and the taxonomy of the genus. The study was conducted using traditional techniques of plant anatomy, histochemical tests, and the stomatal index (SI). Byrsonima sericea has hypostomatic leaves, anomocytic stomata, and its epidermal walls are anticlinal and straight on the adaxial and curved on the abaxial faces. T‐shaped trichomes were observed mainly on the abaxial surface. The leaf epidermis showed waxes syntopism on both surfaces, with the occurrence of different crystalloid forms on a single phylloplane. The mesophyll is dorsiventral, with 3‐4 collateral vascular bundles. Phenolic compounds, starch, and proteins were identified in the petiole and stem. The SI was 14.5 ± 0.53% (p < .05), but did not showed significant variations. A set of characters were found to be distinctive for the studied species, however, constituting parameters that could be used to separate B. sericea from other species of the genus.