Long term durability is a major concern for wide-scale use of recycled aggregate materials in civil engineering construction. The purpose of this study is to provide an insight into the damaging effects of combined wet-dry cycles and repeated mechanical loading in a recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) base course material made from recycled crushed concrete aggregate and cement. A coordinated experimental program followed by a mechanistic pavement modeling and life cycle analysis was conducted as part of this research study. This laboratory investigation was divided into three phases each consisting of both wet-dry exposed specimens (WD), and control or non wet-dry exposed specimens (NWD). Phase I experiments involved monotonic loading tests under compression and flexure to evaluate the strength properties. Phase II involved testing a total of 108 cylindrical specimens in cyclic compressive loading at three different stress ratios. After each regime of cyclic loading, residual compressive strengths were determined. In addition, the load-deformation hysteresis loops and the accumulated plastic deformation were continuously monitored through all loading cycles. Phase III included a flexural fatigue test program on 39 beam specimens, and fracture testing program on 6 notched beam specimens, each one having 19-mm initial notch. Traditional SR-N curves, relating the Stress Ratio (SR) with the number of cycles to failure (N or Nf), were developed. Fatigue crack growth rate and changes in Stress Intensity Factors were obtained to determine Paris Law constants and fracture toughness. A mechanistic analysis of a typical highway pavement incorporating RAC base was performed with KENPAVE program, followed by a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) using the GaBi software. It was found that the specimens subjected to wet-dry cycles suffered significantly higher damage expressed in terms of accumulated plastic deformation, and loss of residual compressive strength, modulus, fatigue endurance limit, and design life, compared to specimens not exposed to wet-dry cycles. Although such degradation in material properties are important considerations in pavement design, a concurrent Life Cycle Analysis demonstrated that recycled aggregate concrete base course still holds promise as an alternative construction material from environmental stand point. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

A escassez de sistemas consolidados de reciclagem de veículos no Brasil e o grande volume de veículos em final de vida (VFVs) junto aos pátios do Departamento Estadual de Trânsito do Rio Grande do Sul - DETRAN/RS serviram de base para o desenvolvimento desta dissertação. Em face disso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um sistema de reciclagem de VFVs ambientalmente mais sustentável, a partir de exemplos globais de melhores práticas adotadas, atendendo à legislação vigente do país. Para tanto, a presente dissertação é composta por dois estudos fundamentados em revisões sistemáticas e em estudos de caso. Inicialmente, como resultado da primeira revisão sistemática, foi realizada a comparação de sistemas de gestão de reciclagem de veículos, identificados em 25 países. Essa comparação possibilitou ampliar o conhecimento de tecnologias e de procedimentos adotados em diferentes realidades, permitindo a proposição de oito políticas a serem adotadas em âmbito nacional, bem como três ações de melhoria ao atual sistema do DETRAN/RS. Em seguida, a segunda revisão sistemática permitiu a proposição de um sistema ambientalmente adequado para reciclagem de VFVs, que sirva de base para a futura padronização de processos de reciclagem, visando a potencial criação de centros especializados em reciclagem de veículos (CERVs). Diante do exposto, os resultados da pesquisa demonstraram que o tema da reciclagem de veículos está inserido num cenário mais amplo, necessitando da participação de todos os stakeholders envolvidos no processo, a exemplo: (i) das montadoras e fabricantes de peças, no desenvolvimento de tecnologias automotivas; (ii) dos entes federados, na criação de legislações mais rígidas e específicas, com foco na economia circular; e (iii) da sociedade na busca de produtos eco-amigáveis. Por fim, conclui-se que, associado às políticas e ações de melhoria sugeridas, a adoção do sistema ambientalmente adequado para reciclagem de VFVs proposto, poderá acelerar a criação de um ambiente favorável para o desenvolvimento e a consolidação da reciclagem no país. / The scarcity of consolidated vehicle recycling systems in Brazil and the huge amounts of endof- life vehicles (ELVs) at the Transit State Department of Rio Grande do Sul - DETRAN/RS courtyards served as the basis for the development of this Masters dissertation. Therefore, the objective of the work was to develop an environmentally more sustainable ELVs recycling system, based on global adopted best practices, without disregarding the country's current legislation. So, this dissertation is composed of two studies based on systematic reviews and on case studies. Initially, as a result of the first systematic review, a comparison of vehicle recycling management systems was carried out, identified in 25 countries. This comparison allowed the increasing of the knowledge about technologies and procedures adopted in different realities, making possible a proposal of educational policies to be adopted at national level, as well as three improvement actions for the current system of the DETRAN/RS. Subsequently, a second systematic review allowed a proposal for a suitable environmentally recycling system for the ELVs, which serves as the basis for a standardization of recycling processes, aiming the potential creation of specialized centers for such processes (CERVs). Considering this, the research results showed that the theme of product recycling is inserted in a broader scenario, requiring participation of all stakeholders involved in the process, such as: (i) the automakers and parts manufacturers, in the automotive technologies development; (ii) the federal entities, in the creation of more rigid and specific legislation, focusing on the circular economy; and (iii) the society in the search for eco-friendly products. Finally, it is concluded that, associated with the suggested policies and improvement actions, the adoption of the proposed environmentally appropriate system for the recycling of the ELVs, may accelerate the creation of a favorable way to the develop and consolidate the recycling in our country.

I takt med att textilindustrin växer och konsumtionen ökar är det viktigt att belysa problemet kring hur man ska avyttra kläder man inte längre använder. Bara i Sverige slängs det varje år 7,5 kg textilier per person i hushållssoporna. Idag finns en mängd olika alternativ på marknaden som verkar för att ta hand om detta problem, såsom att lämna textilier i klädbutik i utbyte mot en rabattcheck eller liknande ersättning. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka drivkrafterna bakom textilåtervinning i butik samt huruvida initiativ som rabatterbjudanden vid återvinning kan stimulera konsumtion snarare än verka för hållbarhet. Undersökningen baseras på tio semistrukturerade intervjuer som genomfördes på kvinnor i åldrarna 20-26. I intervjuerna framkommer deltagarnas vanor när det kommer till konsumtion och återvinning men även attityder och inställning till butikers återvinningstjänster som innehåller rabatterbjudanden. Det empiriska resultatet har kategoriserats under tre olika teman; Medvetenhet gällande miljö och återvinning, Konsumtion samt Attityder och drivkrafter bakom återvinning i butik. Utifrån dessa teman har vi analyserat vårt resultat med hjälp av tidigare forskning och litteratur inom området. Resultatet av vår studie tyder på hög miljömedvetenhet hos samtliga deltagare samt att dessa försöker agera medvetet i viss utsträckning, men inte alltid prioriterar hållbarhet och miljö. Anledningen till varför man väljer att lämna in kläder i butik är främst av bekvämlighetsskäl, ekonomiska motiv i form av rabatt samt att man upplever att butikerna besitter kunskap om hur kläderna ska hanteras när de väl samlats in. / As the textile industry grows larger and overall consumption increases, it is important to highlight the issue regarding disposal method of clothes no longer in use. In Sweden, the yearly disposal of textile in household waste amounts to 7.5 kg per capita. There are currently several different disposal options available, such as handing in apparel in-store in exchange for discounts or similar compensation. This study aims to investigate the drivers behind in-store textile recycling and whether initiatives such as discounts can stimulate further consumption rather than promote sustainability. The study is based on ten semi-structured interviews conducted on women aged 20-26. The interview show the participants' habits related to consumption and recycling, but also their attitudes and thoughts about recycling services including discounts, offered by stores. The empirical result has been categorized under four different themes; Sustainability and recycling awareness, Consumption, Attitudes and drivers behind in-store recycling and The importance of discounts. Based on these themes, we have analyzed our results using previous research and relevant literature within the approached field. The result of our study indicates high environmental awareness for all participants and that these are acting conscious to some extent, however not always prioritizing sustainability and environmental objectives. The main reasons for handing in apparel in-store are convenience, economic motives in terms of discounts and the sentiment that stores possess the knowledge of processing the apparel once they have been collected.

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are vital components of the earth�s atmosphere, trapping heat around the earth, maintaining temperatures necessary for human existence. Until the Industrial Revolution, these gases existed in a natural equilibrium with the environment. Since that time, anthropogenic activities such as fossil fuel burning and land clearing have increased the quantity of GHGs, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), in the earth�s atmosphere. Evidence indicates that global warming is occurring as a result of the additional accumulation of GHGs in the atmosphere. International response to climate change resulted in the 1997 development of the Kyoto Protocol. If the Protocol is ratified, developed countries will be legally bound to reduce their GHG emissions in accordance with negotiated emission reduction targets. At the beginning of the year 2001, the Protocol was still to be ratified. With the possibility of future GHG emission restrictions, some Australian companies have started quantifying their GHG emission levels. One such company is Visy Industries, the largest privately owned paper packaging manufacturing company in the world. Visy�s core business is the manufacture of cardboard boxes from recycled paper. As part of its future operations, a kraft pulp and paper mill is presently being built in New South Wales, Australia. The environmental decision support tool, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), was used to quantify Visy�s CO2 and CH4 emissions across the entire life cycle of the Visy paper recycling and virgin papermaking processes. Commercially defined LCA models were developed for both papermaking processes. GHG emissions estimated by each model were compared and the effect of different energy sources, technologies and manufacturing processes on CO2 and CH4 emissions were assessed. The majority of emissions in the two Visy papermaking models were due to fossil fuel derived energy sources and the decomposition of wood fibre in Solid Waste Disposal Sites (SWDSs). Results were used to propose appropriate GHG reduction strategies and business opportunities. GHG reduction strategies included increasing the use of renewable energy, reducing the volume of solid waste rejects sent to SWDS, incinerating solid waste rejects with energy recovery and sourcing steam from third party providers. Proposed GHG business opportunities included increasing the production of Greenpower from the pulp and paper mill for sale to the grid. This thesis is an example of the practical application of current GHG knowledge and LCA methodology that was undertaken in an environment where technical, political and commercial guidelines at both a national and international level were still evolving. Nevertheless, the thesis is not a critical review of LCA methodology. The LCA support tool was able to quantify CO2 and CH4 emissions across the life cycle of the Visy recycling and virgin papermaking processes. The chosen functional unit, the assumptions and exemptions made, and the placement of the system boundaries, were found to be critical to the Visy LCA results.

<p>This study is intended to increase the understanding of the impact of knowledge on recycling levels. The investigation will furthermore look for other factors in the inquiry that influence the recycling level. I’m also going to try and develop a model for what influences the recycling level according to the basis of the investigation.</p> / <p>Det är meningen att den här studien ska öka förståelsen för kunskapens påverkan på återvinningsgraden. Studien ska även undersöka studiens underlag för att se om det finns andra faktorer som påverkar återvinningsgraden. Jag ska även försöka utveckla en modell för vad som, enligt mitt underlag, påverkar återvinningsgraden.</p>

Aktivierte G-Protein-gekoppelte Rezeptoren (GPCR) werden schnell desensitisiert, internalisiert und anschließend entweder lysosomal degradiert oder zur Plasmamembran (PM) recycelt. Zur Resensitisierung der Zellen tragen neben recycelten auch neusynthetisierte Rezeptoren bei. Die Überlagerung beider Prozesse erschwert die Untersuchung des Rezeptorrecyclings. In dieser Arbeit sollte mit Hilfe des photokonvertierbaren Fluoreszenzproteins Kaede eine Technik entwickelt werden, mit der es möglich ist Recycling- von Neusyntheseprozessen zu trennen und das Recycling von GPCR mikroskopisch in Echtzeit zu beobachten. Als Modellproteine wurden der Vasopressin-1a-Rezeptor V1aR (recycelnder Rezeptor), der Vasopressin-2-Rezeptor V2R (degradierter Rezeptor) und der Corticotropin-Releasing Factor-Rezeptor Typ 1 (CRF1R) verwendet, wobei bei Letzterem untersucht werden sollte, ob er nach Stimulation zur PM zurücktransportiert wird. Da Kaede als fluoreszierendes Protein mit den GPCR fusioniert wird, wurde zunächst überprüft, ob es die Eigenschaften der Rezeptoren verändert und generell für Transportstudien geeignet ist. Eventuell könnte die bereits publizierte Tetramerisierung von Kaede seine Anwendung verhindern oder erschweren. Mittels Fluoreszenz-Korrelationsspektroskopie konnte gezeigt werden, dass Kaede nicht tetramerisiert, wenn es an ein Membranprotein fusioniert ist. Außerdem konnte in in vitro- und Zellkulturexperimenten belegt werden, dass die native und die photokonvertierte Form von Kaede gleichermaßen stabil sind. Darüber hinaus zeigten Kaede-fusionierte GPCR sowohl in Kolokalisationsstudien als auch in Agonistbindungs- und Rezeptoraktivierungsexperimenten die gleichen Eigenschaften wie CFP- bzw. die unfusionierte Rezeptoren. Lediglich die Expression der Kaede-fusionierten Rezeptoren war geringer. Parallel wurde anhand der bereits publizierten Kaede-Struktur versucht, die Tetramerisierung des Proteins durch den Austausch interagierender Aminosäuren zu unterbinden. Die eingeführten Mutationen bewirkten aber eine Fehlfaltung des Proteins und damit den Verlust der Fluoreszenz. Da zuvor gezeigt werden konnte, dass Kaede-fusionierte Membranproteine nicht tetramerisieren und nicht die Eigenschaften der fusionierten Proteine verändern, war monomerisiertes Kaede zur Untersuchung des Rezeptorrecyclings nicht notwendig. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wurde mit Hilfe von Kaede-Fusionsproteinen und mikroskopischer Testsysteme das noch unbekannte Recyclingverhalten des CRF1R untersucht. Hierfür wurden die Kaede-fusionierten Rezeptoren in eukaryotischen Zellen exprimiert und mit Agonisten internalisiert. Die internalisierten Rezeptoren wurden in Endosomen selektiv mit UV-Strahlung photokonvertiert. Anschließend wurde der Transport der photokonvertierten Form verfolgt. Sowohl beim CRF1R als auch beim V1aR wurden Signale in der PM detektiert, beim V2R hingegen nicht. Dies zeigt, dass es sich beim CRF1R um einen recycelnden Rezeptor handelt. Die als Kontrolle eingesetzten Rezeptoren verhielten sich in diesem Experiment wie erwartet: Der V1aR wurde zur PM zurücktransportiert, der V2R nicht. Diese Ergebnisse konnten mit Hilfe biochemischer und durchflusscytometrischer Experimente bestätigt werden. Die Internalisierung des CRF1R verläuft Clathrin-vermittelt in Anwesenheit von β-Arrestin. Je nach Stabilität der β Arrestin-Interaktion unterscheidet man zwei Klassen von Rezeptoren: Klasse A-Rezeptoren interagieren transient mit β Arrestin und können recyceln. Im Gegensatz dazu gehen Klasse B-Rezeptoren eine stabile Interaktion mit β Arrestin ein und werden nach Internalisierung degradiert. In mikroskopischen Untersuchungen konnte für die aktivierten CRF1R und V1aR eine Rekrutierung von β Arrestin zur PM und eine transiente Interaktion mit β Arrestin gezeigt werden (Klasse A-Rezeptoren). Für den V2R wurde dagegen eine stabile Interaktion mit β Arrestin beobachtet (Klasse B-Rezeptor). Diese Daten stützen die Ergebnisse des Kaede-basierten Recyclingversuchs und zeigen, dass der CRF1R ein recycelnder Rezeptor ist. Ferner wurde untersucht, ob der CRF1R zu den schnell oder langsam recycelnden Rezeptoren zählt. Schnell recycelnde Rezeptoren werden direkt aus frühen Endosomen, langsam recycelnde hingegen über das Trans-Golgi-Netzwerk (TGN) bzw. über Recycling-Endosomen zur PM transportiert. Als Marker für das TGN oder die Recycling-Endosomen wurde Rab11 verwendet. In Kolokalisationsstudien konnte gezeigt werden, dass der CRF1R den langsam recycelnden Rezeptoren zugeordnet werden kann. Zusammenfassend konnte in dieser Arbeit belegt werden, dass Kaede als Fusionspartner für Membranproteine genutzt werden kann um deren Transport in Echtzeit zu studieren. Damit wurde erstmals eine mikroskopische Methode etabliert, die es erlaubt recycelnde von neusynthetisierten Rezeptoren zu unterscheiden. Mit Hilfe dieser Methode war es möglich zu zeigen, dass der CRF1R ein recycelnder Rezeptor ist. / Upon ligand binding and receptor activation, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) are rapidly desensitized, internalized and subsequently degraded in lysosomes or recycled back to the plasma membrane. Resensitization of the cell is enabled by both recycling receptors and newly synthesized receptors. The overlap of recycling and synthesis processes largely complicates the study of GPCR recycling mechanisms. One aim of this thesis was to develop a new microscopic technique for real-time visualization of GPCR recycling using the photoconvertible Kaede protein allowing to differentiate newly synthesized from recycling receptors. As model proteins, the V1aR (recycling receptor), the V2R (degraded receptor) and the CRF1R were used. In the case of the CRF1R, it was unknown whether this receptor recycles to the plasma membrane following agonist-promoted internalization. The study of the CRF1R recycling behaviour was another objective of this work. As the Kaede protein is fused C-terminally to the GPCRs, an influence on the pharmacological and trafficking properties of the receptors must be excluded. The previously published tetramerization of Kaede, for example, might hinder or even prevent its usability. To assess for the applicability of Kaede, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy experiments were performed and it was demonstrated that Kaede fused to membrane proteins cannot form tetramers in contrast to the soluble form. In vitro studies and experiments in cell culture revealed that both the native and the photoconverted Kaede are equally stable. Moreover Kaede-fused GPCR displayed the same pharmacological and trafficking properties as the untagged or CFP-tagged receptors. Only the expression levels of the Kaede fusion proteins were reduced, yet this did not affect the microscopic experiments. In parallel to these experiments, the interacting amino acids of the tetrameric Kaede were substituted according to the previously published crystal structure of the protein. Unfortunately, these mutations induced protein misfolding thereby causing loss of fluorescence functions. However, since it could be shown that membrane protein-fused Kaede cannot tetramerize, the monomerized Kaede was no more essential for the microscopic study of receptor recycling. In the second part of this work, Kaede-fusions were used to study the recycling behaviour of the CRF1R and the V1aR and V2R control proteins by the novel real-time recycling assay at the laser scanning microscope. To this end, HEK 293 cells expressing the Kaede-fused receptors were treated with agonist to induce receptor internalization. Internalized receptors were selectively photoconverted in endosomes using UV-irradiation and the subcellular fate of the new fluorescence signals was studied. In the case of the CRF1R, signals of the photoconverted receptors could be detected in the plasma membrane indicating that the CRF1R belongs to the family of recycling receptors. The control receptors showed the expected results: The V1aR recycled back to the plasma membrane whereas the V2R did not. These results were confirmed with biochemical and flow cytometry measurements. The CRF1R internalizes in a clathrin-dependent way via the adaptor protein AP2, dynamin and β arrestin. Depending on the stability of the resulting receptor-β-arrestin-complex, two classes of receptors can be differentiated. Class A receptors are recycling receptors undergoing a more transient β-arrestin interaction. In contrast, class B receptors stably interact with β-arrestin and are degraded after internalization. In the case of the CRF1R and V1aR, microscopic analyzes demonstrated that β arrestin transiently interacts with the stimulated CRF1R and V1aR indicating again that these receptors are recycling GPCRs (class A receptors). The V2R, in contrast, revealed a stable interaction (class B receptor). Moreover, it was studied whether the CRF1R recycles rapidly or more slowly to the plasma membrane. Rapidly recycling receptors are recruited out of early endosomes whereas slowly recycling receptors pass the trans-golgi-network or recycling endosomes before reaching the cell surface. Rab11 colocalization studies demonstrated that the CRF1R belongs to the family of slowly recycling receptors. In conclusion, a novel microscopic technique was established allowing to study GPCR recycling in real-time and to differentiate recycling and synthesis processes. Moreover, it was shown that the CRF1R belongs to the family of recycling receptors. The Kaede technique seems to be very well suited to study membrane protein trafficking in general.

This study is intended to increase the understanding of the impact of knowledge on recycling levels. The investigation will furthermore look for other factors in the inquiry that influence the recycling level. I’m also going to try and develop a model for what influences the recycling level according to the basis of the investigation. / Det är meningen att den här studien ska öka förståelsen för kunskapens påverkan på återvinningsgraden. Studien ska även undersöka studiens underlag för att se om det finns andra faktorer som påverkar återvinningsgraden. Jag ska även försöka utveckla en modell för vad som, enligt mitt underlag, påverkar återvinningsgraden.

No description available.

A significant segment of the urban population in many low-income countries derives their living from the harvest of marketable materials from urban waste streams. The activities of so-called "scavengers" or waste pickers in many African, Asian, and Latin American cities have also come to be understood to have environmental benefits: the diversion of materials from the urban waste stream decreases the volume of wastes that need to be collected, transported and disposed of. However, due to their daily contact with garbage, these men, women, and children are usually associated with dirt, disease, and squalor. The work of the scavenger is often conceptualized as being poverty driven and undertaken as a survival strategy or coping mechanism in a harsh urban environment. In recent years, various programs and projects have been developed by nongovernmental organizations, religious institutions, community-based organizations, and local governments to address the needs of scavengers. Such intervention schemes are designed in one way or another to alter the scavengers' existing situations. This study looks at the possible linkages between the evolving understanding of scavenging and the various approaches to intervention that it engenders. This study first examines how scholars and researchers analyze waste picking issues and their suggestions for potential interventions and then relates this understanding to how institutions, citizens, non-governmental organizations, and aid agencies are addressing these issues in practice. It is found that different conceptualizations of waste picking issues have led to different intervention prescriptions, and that the prescribed interventions are motivated by environmental, economic, or humanitarian concerns. This study contends that the recommended and implemented intervention prescriptions are simply promoting market means in an attempt to achieve humanitarian ends, and, therefore, are only short-term measures that will not solve the identified waste picking issues. Data sources used in this effort include academic journals, conference papers, case studies of development programs, newspaper articles, Web sites, and field reports. Data were also obtained by contacting researchers and organizations that have studied or are currently working with waste pickers in a variety of geographical settings.

Univ., Diss.--Münster (Westfalen), 1999.