DRC Sustainable Future: Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Energy最新文献

{"title":"Age and architecture of the largest African Baobabs from Mayotte, France","authors":"A. Patrut, Roxana T. Patrut, L. Rákosy, K. F. von Reden","doi":"10.37281/preprints/1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37281/preprints/1","url":null,"abstract":"The volcanic Comoro Islands, located in the Indian Ocean in between mainland Africa and Madagascar, host several thousand African baobabs (Adansonia digitata). Most of them are found in Mayotte, which currently belongs to France, as an overseas department. Baobabs constitute a reliable archive for climate change and millennial specimens were recently used as proxies for paleoclimate reconstructions in southern Africa. We report the investigation of the largest two baobabs of Mayotte, the Big baobab of Musical Plage and the largest baobab of Plage N’Gouja. The Big baobab of Musical Plage exhibits a cluster structure and consists of 5 fused stems, out of which 4 are common stems and one is a false stem. The baobab of Plage N’Gouja has an open ring-shaped structure and consists of 7 partially fused stems, out of which 3 stems are large and old, while 4 are young. Several wood samples were collected from both baobabs and analyzed via radiocarbon dating. The oldest dated sample from the baobab of Musical Plage has a radiocarbon date of 275 ± 25 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated calendar age of 365 ± 15 yr. On its turn, the oldest sample from Plage N’Gouja has a radiocarbon date of 231 ± 20 BP, corresponding to a calibrated age of 265 ± 15 yr. These results indicate that the Big baobab of Musical Plage is around 420 years old, while the baobab of Plage N’Gouja has an age close to 330 years. In present, both baobabs are in a general state of deterioration with many broken or damaged branches, and the Baobab of Plage N’Gouja has several missing stems. These observations suggest that the two baobabs are in decline and, most likely, close to the end of their life cycle.","PeriodicalId":280981,"journal":{"name":"DRC Sustainable Future: Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Energy","volume":"58 1-2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114030947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk and benefits of consuming raw (unpackaged) and pasteurized (packaged) milk","authors":"S. Baral, Dhiraj Kumar Nanda","doi":"10.37281/drcsf/1.1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37281/drcsf/1.1.4","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this review is to overview important literature data on milk and its composition, methodology of quality assurance throughout its processing and preservation, and to compare risks and benefits of consuming raw (unpackaged) and pasteurized (packaged) milk. Milk contamination risks are of various types, including physical contamination (foreign components, such as manure, feed, dust, pieces of broken glass, strands of hair, wood, plastic, or metal chips), chemical impurities (antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, detergents, or heavy metal residues), and microbiological agents (germs and somatic cells). Our study addresses the quality and safety of raw and pasteurized milk consumed by humans. If one considers risks and benefits simultaneously, there are many pros and cons of consuming raw and pasteurized milk. One can conclude that pasteurized milk is more appropriate for consumption as compared to the lower quality raw milk. For manufacturing high quality pasteurized milk, one should implement good hygienic practices, proper pasteurization process, as well as pre and post pasteurization preservation.","PeriodicalId":280981,"journal":{"name":"DRC Sustainable Future: Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Energy","volume":"21 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126824087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sea Water Activated Magnesium-Air Reserve Batteries: Calculation of Specific Energy and Energy Density for Various Cell Geometries","authors":"D. Lowy, B. Mátyás","doi":"10.37281/drcsf/1.1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37281/drcsf/1.1.1","url":null,"abstract":"We address sustainable energy issues via scrutinizing magnesium-air reserve batteries. Such energy storage systems can hold their energy indefinitely, releasing it on demand, in emergency situations. Main advantage of water-activated batteries is that their electrolyte is supplied by the environment, where they get deployed, hence, only light weight electrodes and battery frames should be transported, rather than the significantly heavier aqueous electrolyte. Recent literature in the field is reviewed. One merit of this account is that recently, battery storage has become an effective way to increase share of renewables in photovoltaic energy systems utilized in farming. While the specific energy of reserve batteries can be determined unequivocally, their energy density calculation needs a clear definition of the considered battery volume. Therefore, this paper proposes a new modality of evaluating specific energy and energy density of seawater-activated metal-air reserve batteries for prismatic and cylindrical geometries, respectively.","PeriodicalId":280981,"journal":{"name":"DRC Sustainable Future: Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Energy","volume":"2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125918044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methodological aspects of dose calculations in transdermal carbon dioxide therapy: estimation of absorbed dose and confirmation of systemic distribution","authors":"","doi":"10.37281/drcsf/2.1.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37281/drcsf/2.1.3","url":null,"abstract":"Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is well characterized for medical applications. It is a chemically stable, biocompatible agent that has a long history of traditional use (in natural “mofettes”) particularly in Hungary, as a natural infallible remedy. Medical CO2 gas has been widely used in various area of medicine, mostly in surgical laparoscopy and endoscopic procedures in gastroenterology as an insufflation gas, since it is considered as an inert gas without side effects and the residuals easily absorbed in vascular tissues. On the other hand, the scope of intended use in case of transdermal or intradermal application is substantially different. Based on its primary mechanism of action carbon dioxide along with some other metabolites can cause prompt vasodilation of precapillary sphincters of blood vessels, and consequently a reduction of peripheral resistance and an increase the flow of microcirculation in tissues. Additionally, an increase in perivascular partial oxygen pressure in tissues (tcPO2) has been detected, because of a shift on the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, which resulted in an overall enhancement of oxygenation for cells. Scientific literature revealed some other aspects of physiology during transdermal CO2 gas administration, mainly in the field of microcirculation and tissue oxygenation. In this report we confirm the rate of absorption and the systemic elimination and highlight the principles of calculation for distribution and dosing utilizing the methodology of stable isotope ratio analysis. All these data may provide at least one further step supporting the use of carbon dioxide as an effective, non-invasive, convenient therapy. For the future this low-cost treatment option can be considered either (i) as a therapy with a reasonable cost-effectiveness ratio; or (ii) as an adjuvant therapy in rehabilitation with significant increase in quality of life for patients, alternatively (iii) as a prevention transdermal CO2 may provide a safe method for public access with a potential health benefit and reducing the symptoms of arterial and venous disease development.","PeriodicalId":280981,"journal":{"name":"DRC Sustainable Future: Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Energy","volume":"17 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121509255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine","authors":"T. Hollinger, T. Bose","doi":"10.37281/drcsf/2.2.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37281/drcsf/2.2.3","url":null,"abstract":"Hydrogen fuel constitutes an attainable alternative strategy, which can be implemented in the long term. This strategy can avoid the risk of commodity supply dependency (rare earths and copper) and can delay the still open decisions on e-mobility. Hydrogen internal combustion engines represent a doable and less expensive solution for using hydrogen than purchasing a new car equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell. Conventional piston engines can be switched to gas operation with relatively little change. This approach is environmentally more viable, as in a short time most vehicles can be switched to emission-free operation. Also, it can avoid the risk of commodity supply dependency (rare earths and copper) and can delay the still open decisions on e-mobility.","PeriodicalId":280981,"journal":{"name":"DRC Sustainable Future: Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Energy","volume":"82 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124697003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilization of Corn Cobs Ash as Cementitious and Binary Cementitious Materials in Concrete and Cement-based Composites: A Review","authors":"","doi":"10.37281/drcsf/2.1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37281/drcsf/2.1.4","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reviews the utilization of corn cobs ash (CCA) as pozzolanic, cementitious, and binary cementitious materials in concrete. CCA is the grey-to-brown, inorganic or heterogeneous residual material derived from the high- temperature incineration or combustion of corn cobs (CC). Despite the typical problematic nature of biomass ash, the chemical composition of CCA renders it a potential pozzolanic material. Therefore, numerous studies have critically examined the process technologies and operational conditions for CCA production and its application as a partial replacement for cement in concrete. Other studies have extensively characterized the physicochemical, morphological, microstructure, and thermal properties of CCA through various analytical techniques. Potential pozzolanic materials must meet the condition: SiO2 + Al2O3 + Fe2O3 ≥ 70%, according to ASTM C618, to which CCA complies satisfactorily. Hence, the use of CCA as a replacement for cement has been investigated over the years. Findings indicate that the partial replacement of cement with CCA decreases compressive strength, thermal conductivity, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and density of the hardened concrete at normal temperatures. Nevertheless, the thermal treatment (calcination) of CCA and extended curing enhances compressive strength owing to higher silica content and extended surface area. Besides, the partial replacement of cement with CCA enhances the insulation properties of mortar, which improves thermal comfort, costs and energy savings in buildings. Hence, the partial replacement of cement with CCA provides an environmentally friendly, low cost, and sustainable approach for valorizing CC residues whilst addressing CO2 emissions in construction.","PeriodicalId":280981,"journal":{"name":"DRC Sustainable Future: Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Energy","volume":"10 15 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124774256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Syntheses and characterization of N,N-dialkyl- carbamic acids suitable for the isotopic enrichment of 13CO2","authors":"","doi":"10.37281/drcsf/2.1.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37281/drcsf/2.1.2","url":null,"abstract":"We describe the direct syntheses of N,N–diethylcarbamic acid (DECA) and of N,N-dibutylcarbamic acid (DBCA), from CO2 and the corresponding secondary amines. After isolation in crystalline form (no previous reports were found on separated and pure DECA and DBCA), the obtained dialkylcarbamic acids were characterized by spectral methods (FT- IR and NMR). Formation and decomposition reactions of these carbamic acids may play potential role in the 13CO2 – 12CO2 isotopic enrichment and by this, in decreasing the greenhouse effect of the flue gases via absorbing CO2 in secondary amines applying mild, green technologies.","PeriodicalId":280981,"journal":{"name":"DRC Sustainable Future: Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Energy","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121785973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}