Developing social impact assessment guidelines in a pre-existing policy context

Few jurisdictions have translated internationally agreed social impact assessment (SIA) principles into statutory provisions. Governments and regulatory bodies tend to provide developers with high-level frameworks, or require that social impacts be ‘considered’, without specifying how this is to be done. In Australia, this lack of clarity leaves all parties uncertain about requirements for SIA. The New South Wales (NSW) Government’s 2017 release of the SIA guideline for State-significant mining, petroleum and extractive industry development represents an attempt to clarify requirements and provide guidance. In this paper, we describe the process of bringing this guideline to fruition from the perspective of being directly involved in its development, and highlight the challenges involved in integrating leading-practice principles into the state’s pre-existing policy framework. While the guideline represents a significant advance in policy-based SIA guidance, some aspects leave room for improvement. The real test of the guideline’s impact will lie in its influence on SIA practice in NSW, and ultimately in social outcomes for communities affected by resources projects.     

Mechanical sludge disintegration for the production of carbon source for biological nutrient removal

The primary driver for a successful biological nutrient removal is the availability of suitable carbon source, mainly in the form of volatile fatty acids (VFA). Several methods have been examined to increase the amount of VFAs in wastewater. This study investigates the mechanism of mechanical disintegration of thickened surplus activated sludge by a deflaker technology for the production of organic matter. This equipment was able to increase the soluble carbon in terms of VFA and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) with the maximum concentration to be around 850 and 6530 mgl(-1), for VFA and SCOD, respectively. The particle size was reduced from 65.5 to 9.3 microm after 15 min of disintegration with the simultaneous release of proteins (1550 mgl(-1)) and carbohydrates (307 mgl(-1)) indicating floc disruption and breakage. High performance size exclusion chromatography investigated the disintegrated sludge and confirmed that the deflaker was able to destroy the flocs releasing polymeric substances that are typically found outside of cells. When long disintegration times were applied (>or=10 min or >or=9000 kJkg(-1)TS of specific energy) smaller molecular size materials were released to the liquid phase, which are considered to be found inside the cells indicating cell lysis.     

‘Resistance was futile!’ Cycling’s discourses of resistance to UK automobile modernism 1950–1970

This paper investigates the place of utility cycling (cycling as a means of transport rather than as a sport or leisure activity) under urban modernism in the UK. In many western contexts the dominant feature of urban modernism was its emphasis on accommodating private vehicles to the neglect of other forms of mobility. The result was the production of a ‘car-system’ with significant change to urban and rural environments. This paper assesses resistance to what we term ‘automobile modernism’ during the high watermark of its planning and implementation (1950–1970), using the UK Cyclists’ Touring Club (now known as Cycling UK) archive. We make three contributions. First, and primarily, we highlight how cycling advocacy contested automobile modernism’s claim that cycling was ‘outmoded’. In so doing we note significant continuity in policy debates and political advocacy regarding cycling’s place in the road environment around issues such as segregation from motor vehicles. Contemporary attempts to promote cycling, as well as a wider urban sustainability agenda, are heavily influenced by this history. Second, we highlight a commonality between cycling and other resistance to automobile modernism in terms of rural and urban landscape impacts. Third, we highlight how the CTC ‘professionalized’ its advocacy to resist automobile modernism.     

Reflexive learning in adaptive management: A case study of environmental water management in the Murray Darling Basin,Australia

Adaptive management is a structured approach for people who must act despite uncertainty and complexity about what they are managing and the impacts of their actions. It is learning‐by‐doing through deliberate cycles of experimentation, review, and synthesis. However, understanding the processes of learning and how they relate to achieving resource management goals is in its infancy. Reflexive learning—a process of identifying and critically examining assumptions, values, and actions that frame knowledge—is critical to the effectiveness of adaptive management. It involves adaptive feedbacks between stakeholders as they examine assumptions, values, and actions. Adaptive management has been applied to environmental flows because it offers a system for making decisions about tradeoffs. In the Murray Darling Basin (MDB), Australia, adaptive management is applied as a cycle of plan, do, monitor, and learn, facilitated by short‐ and long‐term learning among stakeholders. An alternative conceptualization of adaptive management as an integration of single‐, double‐, and triple‐loop learning across multiple levels of governance is presented. This is applied to environmental flows in the MDB to map adaptive feedbacks of reflexive learning. At the lowest level of governance (Water Resource Planning Area), goals are assessed as Thresholds of Potential Concern related to flow‐ecology responses, which are reviewed every 3–6 years. At the second level of governance (Basin‐States), Water Management Targets are the key goals; reviewed and reframed every 6–10 years. The highest level of governance (the MDB) is concerned with policy targets, with review and reframing over 8–15 years. Feedbacks that generate reflexive learning are complex and require commitment to move through the modes of single‐, double‐, and triple‐loop learning. Effective adaptive management of environmental water requires practitioners to situate themselves within a matrix of information flow across modes of learning, levels of governance, and components of a social‐ecological system, where reflexive learning drives the achievement of management goals.     

Directed inorganic modification of bi-component polymer fibers by selective vapor reaction and atomic layer deposition

Nanocomposite organic/inorganic materials with spatially-controlled composition can be formed using vapor-phase atomic layer deposition (ALD) on bi-component polymer fibers. The ALD process promotes selective precursor infusion into the inner core of a core/shell polymer fiber, yielding nanoparticles encapsulated within the core. Likewise, choosing alternate precursors or reaction conditions yield particles or films on the outer polymer shell. In-situ infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy show that infusion yields selective dispersion of aluminum oxide in different polymer regions, forming fine nanoparticle dispersions or films. Selective inclusion of metal oxide materials during atomic layer deposition on polymers can create unique organic/inorganic composite structures for many advanced uses.     

Feeding an enhanced diet to Holstein heifers during the preweaning period alters steroid receptor expression and increases cellular proliferation

Preweaning diet and estradiol treatment alters mammary development. Our objectives were to study the effects of diet and estradiol on proliferation of mammary epithelial cells and expression of estrogen receptor α (ESR1) and progesterone receptors (PGR) in these cells. Thirty-six Holstein heifer calves were raised on (1) a control milk replacer fed at 0.44 kg of powder/head per day, dry matter (DM) basis (restricted, R; 20.9% crude protein, 19.8% fat, DM basis), or (2) an enhanced milk replacer fed at 1.08 kg of powder/head per day, DM basis (Enhanced, EH; 28.9% crude protein, 26.2% fat, DM basis). Milk replacer was fed for 8 wk. At weaning, a subset (n = 6/diet) of calves were euthanized and had tissue harvested. Remaining calves received estradiol implants (E₂) or placebo and were euthanized at wk 10 to harvest tissue. Treatments were (1) R, (2) R + E₂ (R-E2), (3) EH, and (4) EH + E₂ (EH-E2). One day before euthanasia calves were given bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU; 5 mg/kg of body weight). At euthanization, mammary parenchyma was removed and fixed. Tissue sections from zone 1 (cisternal), 2 (medial), and 3 (distal) within the mammary gland were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and antibodies to measure expression of ESR1, PGR, and incorporation of BrdU. At wk 8, R-fed calves had more PGR-expressing cells in distal parenchyma; however, PGR expression intensity was greater in EH-fed calves. The proportion of cells expressing ESR1 was not affected by diet, but expression intensity (receptors per positive cell) was greater in EH-fed calves across all zones (62–81%). Overall, the percent BrdU-positive epithelial cells was 2 and 0.5 fold greater for EH-fed calves in zone 2 and 3. The proportion of labeled cells was greater in terminal ductal units than in subtending ducts, and treatment effects were more evident in terminal ductal units. At wk 10, calves treated with estradiol had 3.9-fold greater PGR expression intensity. The intensity and percent of cells expressing ESR1 was lowest in estradiol-treated calves. Overall, estradiol-treated calves had the greatest number of proliferating epithelial cells. Moreover, in zone 3, EH-E2 calves had a higher percentage of proliferating cells than in all other treatments. Results indicate both diet and estradiol administration alter proliferation rates of the mammary epithelium and that changes in expression of ESR1 and PGR are involved in enhanced mammary development. The data support our hypothesis that enhanced preweaning feeding increases the mammary tissue responsiveness to mammogenic stimulation.     

A Fuel Economy Study in Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Lubricants

Internal combustion engines′ fuel economy is an important role for engine designers,engine manufacturers over the past 30 years,especially passenger car motor oils.In heavy duty diesel engine,over the past 20 years,fuel economy has in some cases been sacrificed for exhaust gas emission optimizations.Now,Heavy Duty Automotive and the related industries have strong interest in fuel economy and the lubricants.It is driven by competitive market forces as well as government mandates and new emission regulations.Japan was the first country in the world to establish and implement heavy duty trucks and buses fuel economy standards.Other countries also have followed either by establishing direct fuel economy standards or greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions standards which are directly tied to fuel economy.This paper is discussing that heavy duty diesel engine lubricants can contribute on fuel economy.The contribution of various aspects of engine oil formulations on fuel economy will be discussed such as lubricant viscosity grade,lubricant additives and friction modifiers.In this paper,the evaluation discussions are based on fuel economy measurements in some bench tests,standardized laboratory engine tests and field tests.     

PVDF/CB composites prepared by novel solvent casting method for low voltage PTC temperature regulation applications

A novel solvent casting preparation technique utilizing three variants of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to achieve a thermal cut off and a self regulation effect at a low applied voltage is reported in this study. The positive temperature coefficient (PTC) composites were prepared by dissolving PVDF in 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent, blending with Vulcan® XC72 carbon black (CB) filler, crosslinking with vinyl trimethoxysilane (VTMOS) and quenching in water. All composites displayed a highly macrovoidal structure that promoted a PTC effect when subjected to a thermal expansion effect via an electrical current. Subsequently the current was cut off and self regulation behavior was exhibited. Kynar® 761A PVDF resulted in the strongest PTC effect, and displayed temperature regulation at around 100°C which may be attributed to the highly semi crystalline nature and the larger molecular weight of this polymer in comparison with the other PVDF composites studied. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Short communication: Intestinal digestibility of amino acids in fluid- and particle-associated rumen bacteria determined using a precision-fed cecectomized rooster bioassay

Microbial protein represents the majority of metabolizable protein absorbed by ruminant animals. Enhanced understanding of the AA digestibility of rumen microbes will improve estimates of metabolizable protein. The objective of this experiment was to determine the digestibility of AA in fluid- (FAB) and particle-associated bacteria (PAB) using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster bioassay. Bacteria were isolated from 4 ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein cows by differential centrifugation, including particle suspension in 0.1% Tween-80 for increased removal of PAB from ruminal digesta. Samples of FAB and PAB were fed to 9 cecectomized roosters to determine standardized digestibility of AA. Total AA digestibility was 76.8 and 75.5% for FAB and PAB, respectively, but did not differ. Differences existed in AA digestibilities within bacterial type when compared with the mean essential AA digestibility value. Compared with previous literature estimates of AA digestibility in microbes (mean = 76%; range = 57–87%) and relative to National Research Council estimates of total AA from rumen bacteria (80%), the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay is an acceptable in vivo model to determine AA digestibility of rumen bacteria.