Rooftop Gardening: Estimation of Income from a Score of Socio-Ecological Variables

Aims: To study the relationship of total income was incurred from the rooftop gardening with various socio economic and behavioural aspects and elicit the future opportunity for this innovative method in this global warming situation where the world is facing the increasing crisis of availability of the land resources, support sustainability, contamination of ground water, food accessibility, and economic sustainability. Study Design: The locale was selected by purposive sampling technique and the respondents following rooftop gardening had been interacted and was selected by the snowball sampling method. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out during 2017 and 2018. The place, Janai Road of Srirampur, Khanakul-I and Khanakul-II block of Hooghly district, Budge Budge-II, Bishnupur-I and Bishnupur-II of South 24 Parganas and various areas in Kolkata were selected for the study. Methodology: In this present study 50 respondents following rooftop gardens have been interacted and are selected by the snowball sampling method. A semi-structured schedule has been administered to generate women information regarding family composition, the rationale for opting rooftop gardening, the ecological views on roof gardening, and the cost opportunity analysis. The gathered data had been put into multivariate analysis (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V20.0 (SPSS) of IBM was used for analyzing the Coefficient of Correlation, Stepwise Regression and Path Analysis). Results: Education (X2), rooftop area (X4), diversity of plants (X6), labour charges (X8), organic manure (X11), fertilizer (X13) variables have been found to exert strong and determining contribution to total income. Respondents revealed that it had provided a certain amount of income in addition to the conventional farming income. Conclusion: The study had revealed that Rooftop gardening is not only eco-friendly horticulture but also a successful enterprise, having all the three critical echelons viz. economy, ecology, and equity as well.

Humidity Controlling Material Development from Diatomite, Waste Glass and Cockle Shell Powder: An Experimental Study

Abstract@#Introduction: Innovative ways of balancing indoor relative humidity without compensate for the optimal working environment is crucial as excessive dampness is a risk factor for health symptoms among people and deteriorate building performance. This study examines the potential of fabricating humidity controlling material by sintering a mixture of diatomite, waste glass and cockle shell powder. Moisture sorption isotherms, moisture buffer values, pore structure, surface morphology and flexural strength of the final products were determined. Methods: Mixture of diatomite, powdered waste glass and cockle shell powder is mixed at different ratio, pressed and sintered at 1100°C for 20 minutes. The final products were examined using nitrogen gas adsorption-desorption and scanning electron microscopy for mesoporous and morphology properties. The moisture adsorption-desorption performances of the samples were tested using desiccator method while the flexural strength is tested using universal testing machine. Results: The sintered products have specific surface area from 5.744 m2/g to 14.765 m2/g and have pore size from 39.5-67.7 nm. The best product, manufactured by mixing 60% diatomite, 30% waste glass and 10% cockle shell powder, showed a good moisture buffer value (MBV: 1.3 g/m2 %RH) and flexural strength of 8.23 ± 1.8 MPa satisfy the standard of those commercial porous ceramics. Conclusion: Usage of waste glass and cockle shell powder in development of humidity control material helped in the waste reduction. The humidity control material produced can regulate indoor humidity without additional energy consumption. The superior products show excellent characteristics and highly promising for various construction applications.

Bioethanol from Microalgal Biomass: A Promising Approach in Biorefinery

Abstract The development of new technologies which increase the production of biofuel without directly compete with food production is required. Microalgal biomass has recently been in the highlight. The role of this biomass is here discussed within the concept of biorefinery and industrial sustainability of bioethanol production. The process of cultivation in order to accumulate around 50% of carbohydrates in the biomass (dry weight) and the importance of water and nutrient recycling are reviewed. Saccharification of biomass using enzymes or acids and alternative processes such as hydrothermal liquefaction and flash hydrolysis are addressed. Since the main monosaccharide in microalgal biomass is glucose, high rates of hydrolysis and fermentation were, generally, achieved (more than 80% of the efficiency as a sum of these two processes). Anaerobic digestion to treat vinasse and the recycling of CO2 from the ethanolic fermentation and biogas could increase the process sustainability. Alternative techniques for the concentration of bioethanol from fermentation broth and for the optimization of fuel transportation are mentioned. Finally, the advantage of using microalgae rather than other sources is estimated with reference to the production rate, even though the cultivation costs are still high.

Analysis of global ecology of Panax notoginseng in suitability and quality / 药学学报

In this study, the Geographic Information System for Global Medicinal Plants (GMPGIS) was used to assess the global production and ecological adaptation of Panax notoginseng. Based on climate factors and soil types of P.notoginseng from 326 sampling sites, which cover both traditional and current major producing regions, as well as on the results of the ecological similarity computing analysis, we obtained the maximum ecological similarity areas for P.notoginseng worldwide. The results indicated that China was the most suitable ecological and cultivated area globally for P.notoginseng, accounting for more than 70% of the total cultivated area in the world. The United States, Brazil, Portugal, and other 22 countries also had a small amount of potential suitable producing area. China has eight potential suitable producing provinces, including Yunnan, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, etc. The prediction is consistent with the new district of P.notoginseng reported in recent years, which verifies the accuracy of the prediction of GMPGIS. We conducted a literature analysis on resource regeneration and quality ecology on P.notoginseng, and summarized the cultivation, wild tending models, and effects of environmental factors on the quality of P. notoginseng. The results provide scientific basis for selection of P.notoginseng, as well as the introduction, cultivation, and production of P. notoginseng worldwide.

Caracterização do reciclador da ONG RRV em Londrina-Paraná / Characteristics of the worker involved with the waste recycle in the NGO RRV in Londrina-Paraná

INTRODUÇÃO: Existem poucas informações a respeito das condições de trabalho do reciclador e dos efeitos do exercício dessa atividade. OBJETIVO: Investigar o ambiente de trabalho, a postura e o perfil dos recicladores da Associação Reciclar Reciclando a Vida (RRV) da cidade de Londrina, Paraná, Brasil. METODOLOGIA: A pesquisa qualiquantitativa foi realizada com 18 recicladores por meio de uma entrevista com um formulário de dados (gerais/ocupacionais) e um check list, buscando uma visão ergonômica do ambiente de trabalho. RESULTADOS: O grupo de trabalhadores estudado exerce a atividade de recicladores há 3[0,8-8] anos. Em relação às doenças sistêmicas, 22 por cento relataram hipertensão arterial e cardiopatias e 39 por cento cefaleia. A presença de dor em MMSS aumentou (p = 0,04) e houve uma tendência de aumento de dor em MMI e cervical (p = 0,08) com o exercício da atividade de reciclador. Em relação ao ambiente de trabalho, foram constatados condições adversas à salubridade humana, além de odor desagradável, sendo que nenhum dos recicladores faz uso de equipamentos de segurança do tipo Equipamento de Proteção Individual (EPIs). Entre as posturas adotadas na execução de suas atividades, grande parte dos recicladores permanece em pé e carrega peso a maior parte de sua jornada de trabalho. CONCLUSÃO: A atividade do reciclador está ligada ao ambiente e a posturas inadequadas de trabalho. O perfil do trabalhador envolvido nessa atividade é o de mulheres com baixos índices de escolaridade e de remuneração.

INTRODUCTION: There are little information regarding the work conditions of the worker involved with the waste recycle and the effects of such activity. AIM: To investigate the work environment, the posture and the profile of the workers involved with the waste recycle of the non-governmental organization Associação Reciclar Reciclando a Vida (RRV) in Londrina, Brazil. METHODS: The quali-quantitative research was performed with 18 workers involved with the waste recycle by interviewing them, using a questionnaire including general information and data related to the work activity and by using a check list related to the work environment. RESULTS: The study group has been involved with the activity of waste recycle for 3[0,8-8] years. Regarding the systemic diseases, 22 percent reported high blood pressure and heart diseases and 39 percent headache. The incidence of pain in the upper limbs increased after working with the waste recycle (p = 0,04) and there was also a tendency of increase of pain in the lower limbs and in the neck (p = 0.08) increased after working with the waste recycle. Regarding the work environment, insalubrious conditions were identified, there was an unpleasant smell and none of the workers used safety equipment. Regarding the postures adopted during the activities, many workers remain standing and carry weight most of the time. CONCLUSION: The activity of the worker involved with the waste recycle is related to the inadequate work environment and postures adopted during the activity. The profile of the worker involved in this activity is mainly women with low educational degree and income.

Improved sanitary landfill design using recirculation of anaerobically treated leachates: generation of advanced design criteria

In Latin America, the most accepted disposal systems for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) are landfills, which nowadays have low rates of stabilization. The objective of this study was to develop design criteria for sanitary landfills which lead to a reduction in the stabilization times of MSW, based on experiment results obtain from a pre-pilot scale operation of two sanitary landfills (0.5 Ton), one with recirculation of leachates treated in an anaerobic digester and the other with recirculation of untreated leachates. This was complemented by another pilot scale sanitary landfill (1440 Ton) with recirculation of leaches treated in an anaerobic filter, and additionally by a computer simulation of leachate generation through the water balance of a theoretical cell of MSW (850 Ton), in which the initial humidity of the MSW and the type of final cover were evaluated. The results obtained on the pre-pilot scale indicate that recirculation of anaerobically treated leachates, when compared to the recirculation of untreated leachates, increased the rate of MSW stabilization, projecting a stabilization time reduction of 72 percent. In the pilot sanitary landfill an increase in the settling rate of around 200 percent was observed when operating with the recirculation of anaerobically treated leachates as opposed to operation without recirculation. The water balance carried out on the theoretical cell of MSW demonstrated the importance to leachate generation of both the initial landfill water saturation and the type of final barrier. From these results it may be stated that it is important for landfill design to maintain waste humidity close to its field capacity along with an adequate leachate application rate.

Autocuidado en recicladores-recuperadores informales de Medellín, Colombia, 2005 / Self-care in individuals who recycle garbage (recyclers) of Medellín, Colombia, 2005

OBJETIVO: comprender las concepciones, actitudes y prácticas sobre autocuidado en los recicladores informales de Medellín. METODOLOGÍA: se realizó un estudio cualitativo desde la perspectiva de los recuperadores no agremiados de Medellín en el 2005. Se aplicaron 52 entrevistas, con previo consentimiento informado, observación no participante y diario de campo. RESULTADOS: el autocuidado se concibe como la protección del cuerpo con el fin de evitar la ocurrencia de enfermedad; incluye aspectos de higiene, dieta, consulta médica, uso del tiempo libre y utilización de instrumentos de protección personal, como guantes, tapabocas, cachucha, tapaoídos y otros. DISCUSIÓ: la prevención de la enfermedad trasciende el plano biológico y se posiciona en una dimensión social para la persona, en que lo más importante son las consecuencias que puede generar para sí misma, su grupo de trabajo y su familia. Los recuperadores poseen saberes sobre la prevención y las prácticas que promueven la salud y el bienestar, pero estas últimas no son aplicadas porque disminuyen su rendimiento, no las consideran necesarias, no depende de ellos ejecutarlas o carecen de los recursos económicos. Las prácticas de autocuidado del recuperador se sustentan más por la primacía de la historia del grupo que por el saber científico.

OBJECTIVE: to understand the conceptions, attitudes and practices about self-care among informal recyclers in Medellín. METHODOLOGY: a qualitative study from the perspective of recyclers not belonging to any guild in Medellín in 2005 was developed. A total amount of 52 interviews with previous informed consent were applied, plus non-participant observation and field diary. RESULTS: self-care is understood as the constant protection of the body in order to avoid the occurrence of diseases. It includes aspects of hygiene, diet, medical consultation, proper use of leisure time and utilization of instruments for personal protection, such as gloves, face masks, caps, and ear plugs among other devices. DISCUSSION: disease prevention goes beyond biological aspects and becomes part of a social dimension for people in which the most important features are the consequences for themselves, their labor team and their families. Recyclers have knowledge on prevention and practices that promote health and well-being, but the latter are not applied because they diminish their job performance, or they do not consider them to be necessary, do not feel like executing them nor they lack the economic resources to assume them. Autocare practices of recyclers are mainly supported by the primacy of the team history than by the scientific knowledge concerning it.

Reúso de água em indústria de reciclagem de plástico tipo PEAD / Water reuse on HDPE plastics recycling pack industry

A discussão acerca da viabilidade técnica, econômica e ambiental do reúso da água em processos industriais tem sido uma preocupação constante. Neste trabalho propõe-se uma alternativa simplificada para o tratamento de efluentes com vistas ao seu reúso em uma indústria de reciclagem de plásticos. A água, no presente caso, é componente fundamental para o processo, já que participa como elemento de remoção de detritos e impurezas que contaminam a matriz da matéria-prima utilizada, proveniente, principalmente, de aterros sanitários e lixões. As embalagens plásticas recicladas pela indústria em questão são, em sua grande maioria, de uso doméstico e, em menor escala, frascos contaminados com óleos lubrificantes. Os resultados demonstraram a viabilidade do tratamento através de processo físico-químico por coagulação, floculação, decantação e filtração em manta geotêxtil, com o uso do hidroxicloreto de alumínio (PAC) como coagulante, soda cáustica (50 por cento) como alcalinizante e polieletrólito como auxiliar de floculação e desidratação do lodo, bem como a exequibilidade do reúso dos efluentes em circuito fechado.

The discussion about technical, economical and environmental feasibility of water reuse in industrial process has been a constant concern. This paper purposes a simplified choice for waste water treatment seeking reuse in a plastic recycle industry. The water, in this case, is a prime component because it is the main element for the debris and impurities removal that contaminates the matrix of plastic raw material, which comes, mostly, from landfill and waste disposals. The recycled plastic packages, from the company that had been used for this research, come mostly from domestic use and, in a minor scale, the plastic package contaminated by lubricant oil. The final results show feasible for the treatment through physical-chemical process by coagulation, flocculation, decantation and filtration on geotextile, with the use of aluminum hidroxichloride (PAC) as coagulant, sodium hydroxide as alkaliner, polyelectrolyte as auxiliary on flocculation and slush dehydration, as well as the workability of the effluents reuse under a closed circuit proved itself the technical, economical and environmental feasibility.

An Improved Compost Using Cotton Waste and Fermented Sawdust Substrate for Cultivation of Oyster Mushroom

A composting technique was assessed to enhance efficiency in oyster mushroom substrate. Poplar sawdusts and by-product of winter mushroom added by 10% of rice bran were composted outdoors at 20degrees C to 28degrees C for 12 days. The duration of fermentation was shortened 3 days in fermented sawdust plot. The yield obtained from waste cotton substrate with fermented poplar sawdust was 742 g, whereas the yield from control 663 g. In addition, the substrate with by-product of winter mushroom was the most effective to composting. It was useful to apply the fermented sawdust and by-product to waste cotton for compost and sporophore production of oyster mushroom.

Effects of recycling on the mechanical properties and the surface topography of Nickel-Titanium alloy wires / 대한치과교정학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of mechanical properties, surface topography and frictional force of various nickel titanium wires after recycling. Three types of nickel-titanium wires and one type of stainless steel wire were divided to three groups: as-received condition(TO:control group), treated in artificial saliva for four weeks(T1) and autoclaved after being treated in artificial saliva(T2). Some changes were observed for the selected mechanical properties in tensile test, surface topography by means of SEM and 3D profilogram, and frictional coefficient, The findings suggest that 1. Nickel-titanium wires demonstrated no statistically significant differences in maximum tensile strength, elongation rate and modulus of elasticity, but stainless steel wire demonstrated statistically significant differences in maximum tensile strength, elongation rate and modulus of elasticity between the groups(p<0.05). 2. NiTi, Optimalloy, Stainless Steel wires demonstrated increased pitting and corrosion in SEM finding. 3. Recycled NiTi, Optimalloy and stainless steel wires demonstrated significantly greater surface roughness(Ra and Rq) through 3D profilogram when compared with the control wires(p<0.05), but Sentalloy didn't demonstrate significant difference. 4. Recycled NiTi, Optimalloy and stainless steel wires demonstrated significantly greater maximum frictional coefficient when compared with the control wires(P<0.05), but Sentalloy didn't demonstrate significant difference. The changes of surface roughness and frictional coefficient in NiTi and Optimalloy had no clinical implication. Consequently recycled nickel- titanium wires demonstrated no clinical problem in tensile properties, surface topography and frictional coefficient.