Det ”alternativa livet” kan ses som en motrörelse till urbanisering, ökad konsumtion och ett allt snabbare tempo i samhället. Detta är en kvalitativ studie med syftet att undersöka det alternativa livet. Sex informanter intervjuades om deras upplevelser och uppfattningar av det alternativa livet. Intervjuerna transkriberades och analyserades utifrån en induktiv tematisk metod. Gemensamt för alla informanter är att de vill leva enkelt utifrån grundläggande behov, leva nära naturen, reducera saker livet som de upplever mindre viktiga, anta utmaningar och få mer tid över för sådant de upplever meningsfullt. Genom reduktion upplever infomanterna en större livskvalité och närvaro i nuet. Kombinationen av individuella faktorer och en vilja att leva mer miljömässigt hållbart kan ses som de stora orsakerna till varför de intervjuade väljer att leva alternativt. Resultaten har tolkats utifrån behovsmässig teori, existentiell psykologi och Antonovskys Känsla av Sammanhang. / The “alternative life” can be described as a counter movement to the urban society, increased consummation and a stressful lifestyle. The aim of this qualitative study is to examine the alternative life on the countryside. Six informants were interviewed about their experiences and views about the alternative life. The data is transcribed and analyzed with an inductive, thematic approach. The informants want to live with more simplicity, intimate with their basic needs, live close to nature, reducing less important things in life, challenging themselves and having more time for things they find meaningful. The informants experience more quality in life and presence in the moment through reduction. The main reasons for the informants to live an “alternative life” are the combination of individual factors and a desire to live more environmentally friendly. The results have been analyzed from behavioral theory, existential psychology and Antovskys “Sense of Coherence”.

This study has created a GIS model and comprehensive analysis of environmentally sensitive areas in Delaware County, Indiana. Values were assigned to environmentally sensitive areas for four categories, including woodlands, wetlands, floodplains, and threatened and endangered species. There was an inverse relationship between the size of an area and the environmental sensitivity of the area. These areas occupy twenty-three percent of the total county area. The distribution of these areas is almost equal throughout the county; however, a large portion is located along the banks of the White River and other water bodies. Forty two soil types were identified within environmentally sensitive areas. Poorly drained soils are slightly more represented in the environmentally sensitive areas, and somewhat poorly drained soils are under-represented compared with soils in other drainage classes. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Thesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Thesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

In manufacturing, cutting fluids promote machining performance by removing heat, lubricating the cutting zone, flushing away chips, and preventing in process corrosion. To synthetize conventional metalworking fluids (MWFs), aside from choosing from a selection of base oils, an array of additives are also typically added. In traditional cutting fluid applications, the cost of waste fluid treatment is enormous. Moreover, the treatment is not always effective and disposal may lead to unexpected environmental contamination. The bacteria and chemical elements in the waste liquids may also introduce health and safety concerns. For the milling process at the micro-scale, i.e., micro-milling, traditional flood cooling may not be suitable. Since the cutting zone between the tool flank and workpiece is in the order of micrometers, the liquid surface tension of flood coolant would impede effective cooling and lubrication of the cutting fluid especially at a high spindle speed for tools. So for micro-milling, some researchers have tried to use minimum quantity lubrication method to apply cutting fluids. Other semi-dry methods like atomization method based on an ultrasonic atomizer have also been tested. However, even though these systems are able to decrease the amount of cutting fluids, the atomization of conventional cutting fluids with harmful surfactants (especially water miscible MWFs) and additives inside would still pose problems related to health hazard and contamination. Thus, new systems and/or green cutting fluids that eliminate the use of undesired surfactants or additives need to be developed. In this thesis, efforts to solve these problems for micro-milling operations are presented. Firstly, canola oil is selected and used to be emulsified in distilled water through ultrasonic atomization without any surfactant. Then, the emulsified water and oil solution is applied as cutting fluid in micro-milling, and the cutting performance results are compared to those with dry machining and traditional cutting fluid – 5% TRIM aqueous solution. The experimental results show that smaller chip thickness, and burr amount are observed with canola oil-in-water emulsion compared to conventional MWF. Reduction of almost 30% in cutting forces has also been achieved. Secondly, development of a new atomization-based cutting fluid system is introduced. Both cooling and lubricating capabilities of the cutting fluids are achieved using air-mixed water and oil mists, requiring no surfactants. Experiments are then conducted to evaluate the new system and the air-mixed jet of independently atomized water and oil sprays and compared to results with water only, oil only, and conventional cutting fluid (5% TRIM) conditions. The results reveal the mixture of water and oil leads to best performance in cooling and lubrication during micro-milling. The new system is proved to be effective in cooling and lubricating the cutting zone for both Al6061 and steel 1018. This atomization system is considered as a novel application method to apply totally green cutting fluids. Finally, a novel environmentally friendly additive was added to conventional cutting fluids. In this thesis, lignin powder obtained from wood is considered as one kind of these “green” additives. It is firstly tried to be dissolved in 5% TRIM aqueous solutions in 8 different concentrations through injection and atomization methods. Then, those lignin containing cutting fluids are used to run micro-milling experiments and compared with 5% TRIM. Nine MWFs are all nebulized by a nebulizer to cool and lubricate the workpiece. The results show that the concentration of 0.015% lignin leads to the least cutting forces, tool wear and burrs. The obtained solution (f) with 0.15% lignin inside causes cutting forces that are just 50% in value of those with 5% TRIM. Considering lignin’s anti-oxidative characteristic and its performance in improving machining processes, it is a promising additive in MWFs. / Graduate / 0346 / 0548 / yanqiaoz@uvic.ca

Environmentally - appropriate architectural works are considered by certain critics as relatively oriented without any theoretical basis other than a technicist perspective. Furthermore, this technicist approach, which puts emphasis on the application of scientific rationality, is supposed as being challenged through an arcadian agenda, which claims the return to pre-industrial values through the revival of the vernacular. In the thesis, it is argued that contrary to the assumptions that the green architecture is highly relativistic depending on the ideological standpoints, it is founded upon a holistic philosophy established on the studies pursued by post-war ecological scientists who followed systems approach. It is claimed that the aforementioned duality between the technicist and the arcadian approaches finds its expression in the contemporary green architecture depending on the philosophical framework provided by the systems approach. Systems sciences deal with the ways in which elements of a certain whole come together to make up an organization. Its main principle is that a particular element can only be studied with regard to the totality of which it belongs. Ecologists who endow a systems perspective study on the assembly rules through which living and nonliving members of biological systems are organized into groups. In this thesis, it is put forward that the philosophical outlook and methodology that came along with the systems thinking offers a basis for green architecture. It is provided a historical-analytical survey of the emergence of the systems approach in the architectural discipline since the 60s. It is argued that the 60s appropriation of the systems approach in architecture is still influential in the contemporary green architecture / that today&amp / #8217 / s architects utilize the theories and methods put forward throughout this process of appropriation in their works, alongside the scientific terminology developed by the systems ecologists.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1982. / Bibliography: leaves 184-198. / Microfiche. / xi, 198 leaves, bound ill., maps 29 cm

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2010. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on April 27, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Environmental Health)-Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 1 v. : ill. ; 30 cm / South Durban is in the province of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa and is home to two international petro-chemical refineries, a paper mill, sewage works, an international airport, a chemical tank farm with approximately 970 tanks, a number of landfill sites, an airport, various processing and manufacturing industries which are all in close proximity to residential and recreational areas. This area is known as the South Durban Industrial Basin (SDIB). Serious concerns have arisen about the potential health impacts that could arise from ambient air pollution from these industries. Learners and staff at the Settlers Primary School situated in Merebank, a suburb in the SDIB, perceived themselves to be at risk for air pollutant related health effects owing to the schools’ geographic location. The aims of this study was a) to determine the prevalence of asthma among learners from Grades 3 and 6 and staff at Settlers Primary School and b) To investigate whether outdoor air pollutant concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3), total reduced sulphur (TRS), carbon monoxide (CO) and respirable particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) were associated with increased signs and symptoms of asthma in the study population.

O cromo hexavalente – Cr(VI) – presente nos efluentes das indústrias galvânicas, entre outras, é tóxico para maioria dos micro-organismos e potencialmente danoso para a saúde humana. No presente trabalho se estuda a redução de Cr(VI) pelos processos fotoquímicos com álcoois e fotocatálise heterogênea, primeiramente em um reator batelada, com objetivo de obter o melhor processo para aplicação industrial. Na sequência, foram realizados experimentos com efluente industrial, contendo Cr(VI), proveniente de uma indústria galvânica. Após, foram projetados e construídos dois reatores contínuos, o reator em forma de espiral e o reator tubular (radiação artificial e luz solar), com intuito de viabilizar a aplicação industrial do melhor processo de redução de Cr(VI). As reações de redução fotocatalítica de Cr(VI), sob radiação UV, alcançaram reduções totais de Cr(VI) de 66,5% e 56,7% para os catalisadores TiO2 e ZnO, respectivamente, indicando que o catalisador TiO2 foi mais eficiente que o catalisador ZnO. As reações de redução fotoquímica de Cr(VI) com etanol apresentaram altos valores de redução total de Cr(VI), sendo que as reações sob radiação UV (96,1%) foram mais eficientes que as reações sob radiação visível (48,1%). Na redução fotocatalítica de Cr(VI) com TiO2, na presença de etanol, sob radiação UV, foi observada uma redução de Cr(VI) de 92,9% maior do que a redução obtida nas reações fotocatalíticas com TiO2 sob radiação UV (66,5%), evidenciando o efeito sinérgico entre a oxidação do etanol e a redução do Cr(VI). Quando usados com efluente industrial, estes processos mostraram-se eficientes e obtiveram altos valores de redução total de Cr(VI), possibilitando o uso destes tratamentos para remoção de Cr(VI) presente em efluentes de indústrias galvânicas. Entretanto, dentre estes processos estudados, o mais indicado para aplicação industrial foi a fotoquímica com etanol sob radiação UV, pois dispensa o uso de processos de separação do catalisador e apresenta menores custos com reagentes, sendo o etanol de baixo custo, não tóxico e de fácil aquisição. O reator contínuo espiral, projetado e construído, mostrou-se mais eficiente do que o reator batelada, apresentando uma eficiência fotônica de 2,5% comparada a 1,4% para o reator batelada. Ainda, este reator mostrou-se eficiente quando usado com efluente industrial, apresentando uma redução total de Cr(VI) de 51,8%, em 6 horas de reação, sendo sua configuração considerada suscetível para um scale-up. Assim, um reator tubular (radiação artificial e luz solar) foi projetado e construído em escala semi-piloto. Este reator apresentou uma remediação de Cr(VI), presente no efluente industrial, de 86,7% em 6 horas de reação sob luz solar e mostrou uma eficiência fotônica maior do que o reator contínuo espiral. Ainda, o reator tubular apresentou eficiência fotônica similar quando usado com lâmpadas (5,6%) ou luz solar (5,5%), porém as reações sob luz solar mostraram uma maior redução total de Cr(VI) quando comparadas com as reações sob radiação artificial. Assim, o reator tubular, projetado e construído, mostrou-se eficiente quando aplicado para o tratamento de efluente industrial contendo Cr(VI), pelo processo de redução fotoquímica. Além disso, o uso do reator tubular solar minimiza a quantidade de energia elétrica necessária para a reação, reduzindo não somente os custos do processo, como também se tornando uma tecnologia ambientalmente sustentável. / Hexavalent chromium – Cr(VI) – present in wastewater discharge of galvanic industries is toxic to most microorganisms and potentially harmful to human health. In this work were studied Cr(VI) reduction by heterogeneous photocatalysis and photochemistry with alcohols processes, firstly in a batch reactor, in order to obtain the best process for industrial application. Subsequently, experiments were conducted using real wastewater from an electroplating plant. In order to feasible the industrial application of best Cr(VI) reduction process were designed and built two continuous reactors, the spiral shaped reactor and the tubular reactor (artificial radiation and sunlight). The photocatalytic reduction reaction of Cr(VI) under UV radiation achieved total Cr(VI) reduction of 66.5% and 56.7% for TiO2 and ZnO catalysts, respectively, indicating that the TiO2 catalyst was more efficient than ZnO catalyst. The photochemical reduction reaction of Cr(VI) with ethanol presented high values of total Cr(VI) reduction, and the reactions under UV radiation (96.10%) were more efficient than the reactions under visible radiation (48.1%). In the photocatalytic reduction reaction of Cr(VI) with TiO2 in the presence of ethanol under UV radiation was observed a Cr(VI) reduction of 92.9% greater than the reduction obtained in the photocatalytic reactions with TiO2 under UV radiation (66.5%), demonstrating the synergistic effect between ethanol oxidation and Cr(VI) reduction. When used with real wastewater these processes proved to be efficient and showed high values of total Cr(VI) reduction, enabling the use of these treatments for removal of Cr(VI) present in wastewater discharge of galvanic industries. However, among these processes studied, the most suitable for industrial application appears to be photochemistry with ethanol under UV radiation, because it does not require catalyst separation processes and presents lower reagent costs, since ethanol is inexpensive, non-toxic and easy to purchase. The spiral shaped reactor, which was designed and built, showed more efficient than the batch reactor, presenting a photonic efficiency of 2.5% compared to 1.4% for the batch reactor. Additionally, this reactor was effective when applied to real wastewater, presenting a total Cr(VI) reduction of 51.8% in 6 hours of reaction, and its configuration is suitable for scale up. Thus, a tubular reactor (artificial radiation and sunlight) was designed and built in semi-pilot scale. This reactor presented a Cr(VI) remediation of 86.7% in 6 hours of reaction under sunlight and showed a photonic efficiency higher than spiral shaped reactor. Additionally, the tubular reactor presented similar photonic efficiency when used with either lamps (5.6%) or sunlight (5.5%), however the reactions under sunlight showed a greater total Cr(VI) reduction when compared to the reactions under artificial radiation. Therefore, the tubular reactor, which was designed and built, proved to be efficient when applied to treatment of real wastewater containing Cr(VI) by photochemical reduction process. Furthermore, the use of a solar tubular reactor minimizes the amount of electricity required for the reaction, which not only reduces process costs, but also makes the technology more environmentally sustainable.