Economic and Environmental Optimization of Ornamental Stone Block Cutting with a 3D Algorithm

This thesis focuses on finding the optimum block cutting dimensions in terms of the environmental and economic factors by using a 3D algorithm for a limestone quarry in Foggia, Italy. The environmental concerns of quarrying operations are mainly: energy consumption, material waste, and pollution. The main economic concerns are the block recovery, the selling prices, and the production costs. Fractures adversely affect the block recovery ratio. With a fracture model, block production can be optimized. In this research, the waste volume produced by quarrying was minimised to increase the recovery ratio and ensure economic benefits. SlabCutOpt is a software developed at DICAM–University of Bologna for block cutting optimization which tests different cutting angles on the x-y-z planes to offer up alternative cutting methods. The program tests several block sizes and outputs the optimal result for each entry. By using SlabCutOpt, ten different block dimensions were analysed, the results indicated the maximum number of non-intersecting blocks for each dimension. After analysing the outputs, the block named number 1 with the dimensions ‘1mx1mx1m’ had the highest recovery ratio as 43% and the total Relative Money Value (RMV) with a value of 22829. Dimension number 1, also had the lowest waste volume, with a value of 3953.25 m3, for the total bench. For cutting the total bench volume of 6932.25m3, the diamond wire cutter had the lowest dust emission values for the block with the dimension ‘2mx2mx2m’, with a value of 24m3. When compared with the Eco-Label standards, block dimensions having surface area values lower than 15m2, were found to fit the natural resource waste criteria of the label, as the threshold required 25% of minimum recovery [1]. Due to the relativity of production costs, together with the Eco-Label threshold, the research recommends the selection of the blocks with a surface area value between 6m2 and 14m2.

Nanocomposites based on poly(caprolactone)-chitosan electrospun nanofibers and metallic oxide nanoparticles. Their potential use to adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants

Pollution of water bodies is one of the most common environmental problems today. Organic pollutants are one of the main drawbacks in this natural resource, among which the following stand out long-lived dyes, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. This research aims at obtaining nanocomposites based on polycaprolactone-chitosan (PCL-CS) electrospun nanofibers (NFs) containing TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) for the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, using Rhodamine B as a model. The fabricated hybrid materials were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, DSC, SEM, TEM, tensile properties, and the contact angle of water drops. The photoactivity of the NFs was investigated using a batch-type system by following UV-Vis absorbance and fluorescence of rhodamine B (RhB). For this purpose, TiO2NPs were successfully ex-situ incorporated into the polymer matrix promoting good mechanical properties and higher hydrophilicity of the material. The results showed that CS in the NFs increased the absorption and degradation of RhB by the TiO2NPs. CS attracted the pollutant molecules to the active sites vicinity of TiO2NPs, favoring initial adsorption and degradation. In other words, a bait-hook-and-destroy effect was evidenced. It also was demonstrated that the sensitization of TiO2 by organic dyes (e.g., perylene derivative) considerably improves the photocatalytic activity under visible radiation, allowing the use of low amounts of TiO2. (≈0.05 g/1 g of fiber). Hence, the current study is expected to contribute with an environmentally friendly green alternative solution.

Essential natural science. Teacher's resource pack.

Recurso para el profesor que enseña ciencias naturales a través del inglés, en el primer curso de la enseñanza secundaria obligatoria (ESO). Temas tales como: la atmósfera de la Tierra; los átomos y elementos; el universo y los vertebrados, se presentan de manera clara y fácil de entender con un lenguaje que permite a los estudiantes a comprender los puntos clave. Además, hace hincapié en la autonomía del aprendizaje y ayuda a los alumnos a analizar y razonar a través de investigaciones sencillas. Incluye CD con presentaciones de PowerPoint, páginas web, audio y hojas de actividades.

Natural hazards : GCSE physical geography resource pack.

Es un recurso que cumple con los requisitos para la preparación del General Certificate Secondaty Education (GCSE) en geografía. Está dividido en ocho temas cada uno de los cuales tiene las siguientes características: notas para ayudar al profesor en la explicación y definición de conceptos clave dentro de casa sub-tema, en el repaso de las lecciones en clase, en el desarrollo de habilidades específicas en cada tema y en proporcionarle hojas de ejercicios para evaluar el resultado del aprendizaje de los alumnos, o para estimar la comprensión de éstos antes de pasar a otro tema.

Natural disaster accounting bias and its equivalence across genetic resource stocks

Two sources of bias arise in conventional loss predictions in the wake of natural disasters. One source of bias stems from neglect of accounting for animal genetic resource loss. A second source of bias stems from failure to identify, in addition to the direct effects of such loss, the indirect effects arising from implications impacting animal-human interactions. We argue that, in some contexts, the magnitude of bias imputed by neglecting animal genetic resource stocks is substantial. We show, in addition, and contrary to popular belief, that the biases attributable to losses in distinct genetic resource stocks are very likely to be the same. We derive the formal equivalence across the distinct resource stocks by deriving an envelope result in a model that forms the mainstay of enquiry in subsistence farming and we validate the theory, empirically, in a World-Society-for-the-Protection-of-Animals application

Sustainability in the Upper Colorado River Basin: A Struggle Between Water Resource Use and Remnants of the Natural Ecosystem

This study evaluated whether development of the Colorado River system has exceeded sustainability by comparing the trends in water use in the Colorado River. Two sustainable areas were identified in the upper basin and one in the lower-- the mainstream Colorado River, Green and Yampa rivers, and the Little Colorado River. These areas are also high priority recovery areas for four endangered fishes and protected by critical habitat provisions of the ESA. Unfortunately, the endangered fishes are declining because of habitat destruction and non-native species. If increasing water demand causes the fishes to go extinct the few sustainable areas will be lost. It will take careful management of the endangered fishes and water users to ensure these areas are maintained.

Minot, North Dakota; Oroville-Tonasket, Washington; and San Luis Valley Project, Colorado--water resource legislation : hearing before the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundredth Congress, first session, on S. 641 ... S. 649 ... S. 1549 ... August 5, 1987.

Shipping list no.: 88-43-P.

Entrance fees and resource protection for units of the national park system : hearing before the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Reserved Water, and Resource Conservation of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-ninth Congress, second session, on S. 2130 ... S. 2204 ... June 12, 1986.

Mode of access: Internet.

Various authorizations to units of the national park system and an addition to the wild and scenic river system : hearing before the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Reserved Water, and Resource Conservation of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-ninth Congress, second session ....

Shipping list no.: 86-432-P (pt. 2).

Miscellaneous conveyances, transfers, and boundary modifications pertaining to public lands : hearing before the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Reserved Water, and Resource Conservation of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-ninth Congress, first session on S. 304, S. 829, S. 360, S. 1530, S. 446, S. 1625, S. 565, S. 1690, S. 567.

"March 4, 1986"--Pt. 2.

Outer continental shelf natural gas and oil resource management comprehensive program, 1992-1997 : draft environmental impact statement /

"MMS 91-0044."

Report on a review of the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program and the Solid Waste Alternatives Program (SWAP) administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2015

Report on a review of the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program and the Solid Waste Alternatives Program (SWAP) administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2015