Dynamic Modelling of Material Flows and Sustainable Resource Use: Case Studies in Regional Metabolism and Space Life Support Systems

Sustainable resource use is one of the most important environmental issues of our times. It is closely related to discussions on the 'peaking' of various natural resources serving as energy sources, agricultural nutrients, or metals indispensable in high-technology applications. Although the peaking theory remains controversial, it is commonly recognized that a more sustainable use of resources would alleviate negative environmental impacts related to resource use. In this thesis, sustainable resource use is analysed from a practical standpoint, through several different case studies. Four of these case studies relate to resource metabolism in the Canton of Geneva in Switzerland: the aim was to model the evolution of chosen resource stocks and flows in the coming decades. The studied resources were copper (a bulk metal), phosphorus (a vital agricultural nutrient), and wood (a renewable resource). In addition, the case of lithium (a critical metal) was analysed briefly in a qualitative manner and in an electric mobility perspective. In addition to the Geneva case studies, this thesis includes a case study on the sustainability of space life support systems. Space life support systems are systems whose aim is to provide the crew of a spacecraft with the necessary metabolic consumables over the course of a mission. Sustainability was again analysed from a resource use perspective. In this case study, the functioning of two different types of life support systems, ARES and BIORAT, were evaluated and compared; these systems represent, respectively, physico-chemical and biological life support systems. Space life support systems could in fact be used as a kind of 'laboratory of sustainability' given that they represent closed and relatively simple systems compared to complex and open terrestrial systems such as the Canton of Geneva. The chosen analysis method used in the Geneva case studies was dynamic material flow analysis: dynamic material flow models were constructed for the resources copper, phosphorus, and wood. Besides a baseline scenario, various alternative scenarios (notably involving increased recycling) were also examined. In the case of space life support systems, the methodology of material flow analysis was also employed, but as the data available on the dynamic behaviour of the systems was insufficient, only static simulations could be performed. The results of the case studies in the Canton of Geneva show the following: were resource use to follow population growth, resource consumption would be multiplied by nearly 1.2 by 2030 and by 1.5 by 2080. A complete transition to electric mobility would be expected to only slightly (+5%) increase the copper consumption per capita while the lithium demand in cars would increase 350 fold. For example, phosphorus imports could be decreased by recycling sewage sludge or human urine; however, the health and environmental impacts of these options have yet to be studied. Increasing the wood production in the Canton would not significantly decrease the dependence on wood imports as the Canton's production represents only 5% of total consumption. In the comparison of space life support systems ARES and BIORAT, BIORAT outperforms ARES in resource use but not in energy use. However, as the systems are dimensioned very differently, it remains questionable whether they can be compared outright. In conclusion, the use of dynamic material flow analysis can provide useful information for policy makers and strategic decision-making; however, uncertainty in reference data greatly influences the precision of the results. Space life support systems constitute an extreme case of resource-using systems; nevertheless, it is not clear how their example could be of immediate use to terrestrial systems.

Operator organizational direct support and general support maintenance manual including basic issue items list and repair parts list : small arms targets and target material.

"NAVPERS 15217."

Operator, organizational, direct support and general support maintenance manual, including basic issue items list and repair parts list : small arms targets and target material.

"Department of the Navy publication NAVPERS 15217."

Direct support and general support maintenance repair parts and special tools lists (including depot maintenance repair parts and special tools lists) : truck, cargo, 8 ton, 4x4, M520 w/winch NSN 2320-00-873-5422, truck, cargo, 8 ton, 4x4, M520 w/o winch NSN 2320-00-191-1310, truck, cargo, 8 ton, 4x4, M877 w/winch, w/material handling crane NSN 2320-01-010-4956 ....

"October 1985."

Direct support and general support maintenance repair parts and special tools lists (including depot maintenance repair parts and special tools lists) : truck, cargo, 8 ton, 4x4, M520 w/winch NSN 2320-00-873-5422, truck, cargo, 8 ton, 4x4, M520 w/o winch NSN 2320-00-191-1310, truck, cargo, 8 ton, 4x4, M877 w/winch, w/material handling crane NSN 2320-01-010-4956 ....

Includes index.

Direct support and general support maintenance repair parts and special tools lists : distributor, liquid bituminous material, tankless type, trailer mtd., 4 to 24 ft. spraybar, 375 GPM pump, gasoline driven, NSN 3895-00-767-0247, Seaman-Gunnison model MTD.

Includes index.

Direct support and general support maintenance repair parts and special tools lists : drier-mixer, bituminous-concrete material, wheel mounted, GED, 2-wheel, pneumatic tires, 30 to 10 ton per hour NSN 3895-00-832-6230.

Includes indexes.

Direct support and general support maintenance repair parts and special tools lists (including depot maintenance repair parts and special tools lists) : mixer, bituminous material, non-self loading, DED, NSN 3895-00-933-0577, Barber-Greene model KA60, component of mixing plant, asphalt 100-150 ton per hour, NSN 3895-00-936-8613.

Includes index.

Direct support and general support maintenance manual : paving machine, bituminous material; gasoline engine driven; crawler mounted; 8-to 10-feet wide, (Barber-Greene model SA-35), FSN 3895-057-8715.

"December 1974."

Operator, organizational, direct support, general support, and depot maintenance manual : drier-mixer, bituminous-concrete material, wheel mounted, GED, 2 wheel, pneumatic tires, 3 to 10 ton per hr, McConnaughay model HTD-A-67, FSN 3895-832-6230.

Includes index.

Operator, organizational, direct support, general support, and depot maintenance manual : mixer, bituminous material, non-self-loading, diesel engine driven (Barber-Greene model KA-60) FSN 3895-933-0577 with elevator, bucket type ... components of mixing plant, asphalt ....

"April 1968."

Unit, direct support, and general support maintenance repair parts and special tools lists ... : paving machine, bituminous material, gasoline engine driven, crawler mounted, 8 to 12 feet wide, NSN 3895-057-8715, Barber-Greene model SA-35.

"January 1992."

Unit, direct support, and general support maintenance repair parts and special tools lists : drier-mixer, bituminous, concrete material, wheel mounted, GED, 2-wheel, pneumatic tires, 3 to 10 tons per hour (NSN 3895-00-832-6230).

"June 1992."

An assessment of web-based textbook supplementary material to support student learning

There is an increasing trend by publishers to provide supplementary learning materials with text books in order to improve the learning experience and thus ultimately improve text book sales. This study will aim to establish the use of these materials and their relevance to students in terms of supporting student learning. The materials include multiple choice test banks, animated demonstrations, simulations, quizzes and electronic versions of the text. The study will focus on the extensive library of web-based learning materials available on the ‘WileyPlus’ web platform which accompanies the textbook ‘Operations Management’, 2nd edition authored by A. Greasley and published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Use of the web to provide learning support for a large metabolism and nutrition class

To support student learning in a large Metabolism and Nutrition class, we have introduced a web-based package, using a commercially available program, WebCT. The package was developed at a minimal cost and with limited resources. In addition to downloadable (PDF) versions of lecture Powerpoint presentations, tutorial outlines and a practical class exercise, web-based self-directed learning exercises were included to reinforce and extend lecture material in an active learning environment. The web-site also contained a variety of formative and summative assessment tasks that examined both factual recall and higher order thinking Detailed course information, timetables and a bulletin board were also readily accessible. Student usage of the site was generally high, but varied widely between individual students. Students who achieved a high overall score for the course completed on average three times as many formative assessment items and achieved a higher score for all tests than students who did poorly. Student feedback about the site was very positive with the majority of students reporting that the course material and assessment items that were available were useful to their learning. Administration of the course was also facilitated. (C) 2001 IUBMB. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.