49 research outputs found
Integration of Bamboo Forestry into Carbon Markets
No full textINBAR (International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation) Working Paper. This policy brief provides an introduction to how bamboo forestry projects can be integrated into carbon markets.Environmental Technology and Desig
The role of self-healing coatings on soft polymer fibers
No full textThesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2015.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (page 32).Mussel byssal threads exhibit unique self-healing mechanical properties. This study designed a synthetic system modeled after the byssal thread structure in order to isolate the origins of their unique self-healing mechanical properties. PDMS fibers were coated with metal-coordination bonds crosslinked PEG gels and their mechanical properties were tested with uniaxial tension tests. The synthetic system achieved a similar behavior to that of the natural mussel fibers, showing that a thin stiff coating on a soft polymer fiber can have a dramatic effect on its mechanical behavior. The coated fibers were much stiffer at small strains than the uncoated PDMS. The linear elastic region was followed by a distinct yield stress, which indicated the coating beginning to fracture. At high strains, when the coating had failed catastrophically, the PDMS behavior dominated. The coatings were healed though hydration in a humid environment and were then able to recover their stiffness similar to mussel byssal threads.by Inbar Yamin.S.B
Carbon sequestration and carbon emissions reduction through bamboo forests and products
No full textClimate Design and Sustainabilit
Bamboo product commercialization in the European Union. An analysis of bottlenecks and opportunities
No full textDesign for Sustainabilit
Larval diet affects mosquito development and permissiveness to Plasmodium infection
No full textThe larval stages of malaria vector mosquitoes
develop in water pools, feeding mostly on
microorganisms and environmental detritus. Richness in the nutrient supply to larvae influences the
development and metabolism of larvae and adults. Here, we investigated the effects of larval diet on
the development, microbiota content and permissiveness to
Plasmodium
of
Anopheles coluzzii
. We
tested three fish diets often used to rear mosquitoes
in the laboratory, including two pelleted diets,
Dr. Clarke’s Pool Pellets
and
Nishikoi Fish Pellets
, and one flaked diet,
Tetramin Fish-Flakes.
Larvae
grow and develop faster and produce bigger adults when feeding on both types of pellets compared
with flakes. This correlates with a higher microbio
ta load in pellet-fed larv
ae, in agreement with the
known positive effect of the microbiota on mosq
uito development. Larval diet also significantly
influences the prevalence and intensity of
Plasmodium berghei
infection in adults, whereby
Nishikoi
Fish Pellets
-fed larvae develop into adults that are highly permissive to parasites and survive longer
after infection
.
This correlates with a lower amount of
Enterobacteriaceae
in the midgut microbiota.
Together, our results shed light on the influenc
e of larval feeding on mosquito development,
microbiota and vector competence
; they also provide useful data for mosquito rearing
Para além dos pontos cegos: uma análise contextual das práticas LGBTQ+fóbicas no contexto escolar
No full textThe following article presents some reflections on the relationship between the school system and LGBTQ+phobic violence practices in schools, using as a basis for reflection the author\u27s experience as a primary school teacher, as well as thoughts articulated from debates and speeches within and outside the LGBTQ+ movement.O artigo a seguir traz algumas reflexões a respeito das relações entre o sistema escolar e as práticas de violência LGBTQ+fóbica na escola, usando como base para reflexão a experiência da autora como docente do ensino básico bem como pensamentos articulados a partir de debates e falas dentro da militância LGBTQ+ e fora dela
Bamboo in the Circular Economy: The potential of bamboo in a zero-waste, low-carbon future
No full textIn short, bamboo offers an available, scaleable circular solution to current, linear models of production and consumption. This report should provide policy makers, donors and business investors with a greater understanding of bamboo’s huge potential in the circular economy.Environmental Technology and Desig
The Big Poo Review: A ZOE Health Study Deep Dive into the UK’s Bowel Habits
No full textBackground: Bowel habits remain under-studied despite their associations with chronic diseases and their impact on quality of life. We aimed to elucidate the pattern of bowel habits in the UK and investigate gender differences and dietary associations. Methods: A UK population-based survey, “The Big Poo Review,” involving 142,765 participants, was conducted in the ZOE Health Study (LRS/DP-20/21-25809). Respondents completed a 37-item bowel habit questionnaire. Diarrhoea was defined as evacuation >3 times/day or passing Bristol Stool scale (BSS) type 6 or 7 > 25% and constipation was defined as evacuation <3 times/wk or passing BSS type 1 or 2 > 25%. Participants (n = 26,703) who completed a food frequency questionnaire within 5 months of the study were included in the subgroup dietary analysis. Results: Participants were predominantly female (77%) with a mean age of 57.8 years (IQR: 50–67). The most frequently reported bowel pattern was a single daily bowel movement (54%) after breakfast (60%) and BSS type 4 (40%). The mean defecation frequency was 1.7 times/day (SD 0.9), but 0.4% of participants defecated <1 time/wk and 1.4% defecated >4 times/day. Constipation was reported in 21.0% (women 23.3%, men 13.0%; p < 0.001) and diarrhoea in 15.3% (men 17.5%, women 14.7%; p < 0.001). Those with diarrhoea or constipation consumed significantly fewer legumes, nuts, and seeds (12 g and 7 g/day less, respectively), fruits (14 g and 18 g/day less, respectively), and vegetables (14 g and 30 g/day less, respectively) than those without (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). Dairy intake was different between all three groups (constipation 276 g/day; diarrhoea 256 g/day; regular stools 267 g/day; p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Discussion: This survey is the largest study of UK bowel habits to date, highlighting gender and dietary differences in habits. The high prevalence of constipation and diarrhoea underscores the need for focused public health efforts and potential nutrition interventions
Elizabeth Bowen: Impressionism and Characterization
No full text[missing pages 34-45]Elizabeth Bowen's merit as a writer lies in her style. She depicts people and places and British upper middle class life impressionistically. The impressionistic quality of her characterization and description is the central concern of this thesis. Bowen's use of the subject of love and marriage as a theme is explored and is approached by dividing the broad topic into certain more specific themes. The author's use of death as an impressionistic tool, her description of environment, and the uniqueness of her language, provide additional topics for investigation. Although the small body of criticism on Elizabeth Bowen deals extensively with her treatment of character and her descriptive style, nothing to my knowledge has been said about how her impressionistic technique relies on a sense of isolation. The way characters, author, and reader function in isolation from each other is a consideration that underlies this dissertation's examination of Bowen's fiction.Master of Arts (MA
The Environmental Impact of Industrial Bamboo Products: Life-cycle Assessment and Carbon Sequestration
No full textThis report gives a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint analysis on a selection of industrial bamboo products. The LCA is made for cradle-to-gate, plus the end-of-life stages of the bamboo products. For end-of-life it is assumed that 90% of the bamboo products are incinerated in an electrical power plant, and 10% will end-up in landfill, which is considered to be a realistic scenario for the Netherlands (NEN 8006) and Western Europe. In addition to the standard LCA (ISO 14040 and 14044), the sequestration (capture and storage) of CO2 has been taken into account. The report provides a comprehensive explanation how such a calculation on carbon sequestration must be made within the general logic of the LCA methodology (and the general logic in science), since there is a lot of confusion regarding this issue. This LCA has been performed for the specific production chain of industrial bamboo products of the company MOSO International BV following best practice and can therefore not be perceived as being typical for the production chain of other industrial bamboo material manufacturers. The overall result of the calculations is that, if production parameters are optimised, industrial bamboo products can have a negative carbon footprint over their full life cycle (from cradle till grave), i.e. the credits through carbon sequestration and energy production in the end-of-life phase in an electrical power plant outweigh the emissions caused by production and transport.Design EngineeringIndustrial Design Engineerin
