Forests are embedded in diverse forest governance, resource use, and resource user settings which are linked as components of social-ecological systems. This dissertation examines forest health at a landscape scale, governance at a community scale, and livelihoods at a household scale within a social ecological system; I develop a measure of forest health, the Bare Ground Index, derived from satellite imagery and combine this with socioeconomic data to examine relationships between forest health and forest governance and livelihoods across central India. This body of work has identified livelihood and governance approaches that provide social benefits and maintain healthy forests in central India, a landscape with globally important biodiversity and socially and historically marginalized people. This context is reflected in additional human-dominated landscapes where identifying sustainable development solutions that provide social and environmental benefits is a priority. As forests are lost, gained, and degraded around the world, satellite data has been a powerful tool in collecting estimates of forest cover change but less widely adopted to measure forest degradation, largely due to challenges in common interpretations of operational measures. In chapter 1, coauthors and I develop landscape-scale land cover and forest health datasets for central India. First, we identified land cover, including tree cover and bare ground, from Planet Labs Very High-Resolution satellite data using a Random Forest classifier, resulting in a 3-meter (m) thematic map with 83.00% overall accuracy. Second, we operationalize a measure of forest health and derived the Bare Ground Index (BGI), a normalized index that is a ratio of bare ground to tree cover at 90 m resolution. The BGI was mapped across forest (>10% tree cover). Although open areas occur naturally throughout the tropical dry forest of central India, results from field data indicated that the BGI served as a proxy for measuring the intensity of cattle presence in a landscape where grazing has changed forest composition. The BGI was developed as an indicator of forest health and now serves as a baseline to monitor future changes to a tropical dry forest landscape at an unprecedented spatial scale. In chapter 2, coauthors and I integrated the BGI with socioeconomic data from surveys to households and locally elected leaders to assess forest health and governance patterns across 238 villages at the community-scale. We experimentally selected 80 total villages as treatment and control groups and used this dataset in various statistical analyses to assess the extent of exposed bare ground within forests around villages with and without local institutions involved in making decisions about the forest. Forest had less bare ground within forest where there was a local institution compared to villages without an institution at 3 and 5 kilometers (kms), distances that households traveled from the village to graze cattle or collect Non-Timber Forest Products, firewood, and fodder. Having a local forest institution was more strongly associated with bare ground within forest at 3 and 5 kms than measures of local forest use. In villages with institutions, the authority to modify rules about forest use was relatively more important than the length of time the institution had been established for bare ground within forest. Establishing formal institutions with authority over forest management is important to promote forest cover around forest-dependent communities but it is necessary to ensure that forest governance does not worsen existing socioeconomic disparities. Bare ground within forests near and far (1 and 10 kms) villages was not different in places with and without formal local institutions and was most strongly associated with local forest uses. Both formal forest institutions and forest uses like collecting firewood for cooking or wood for construction material impact forests in central India. In my third and final chapter, coauthors and I examined firewood collection patterns and the adoption of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) using surveys from 4,994 households in central India. Firewood collection is pervasive across central India’s rural communities and mainly used for cooking or heating. We adopted an energy justice approach, which emphasizes questions about who does and does not have access to alternative cooking fuels, because historically marginalized groups comprise a significant portion of central India’s total population. It was important to integrate social justice issues in a system where resource users experience multiple disparities, such as high levels of poverty. We found that despite overall growth in LPG use, disparities in access to clean cooking fuels remained and the probability of cooking with LPG was lowest for socially and historically marginalized households (i.e., Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, and Other Backward Caste). While 90% of LPG-using households continued to use firewood, households that have owned LPG for more years spent less time collecting firewood, indicating a waning reliance on firewood over time. This study found evidence that policies targeting communities with marginalized social groups living near forests can further accelerate LPG adoption and displace firewood use. My thesis examined components of a social ecological system at landscape, community, and household scales. I integrated insights from across social and ecological disciplines to identify strategies for sustainable development in central India. First, I developed an operational measure of forest health. Following chapters identified characteristics of governance and livelihood interventions that present potential pathways towards achieving benefits for conservation and people. Environmental and development goals should be harmonized so that the central Indian landscape can continue to support biodiversity and people. My approach can be replicated across additional social ecological systems by linking a landscape-scale resource condition to community governance and household socioeconomic patterns.

The main goal of this economic paper is to analyse the importance of LPG as an alternative fuel for the vehicular transport in the Czech Republic and to simplify the decision of potential applicants about the conversion of a car engine to run on LPG. At first this text briefly describes the main kinds of alternative fuels. Then the text focuses on LPG itself that is defined and described including its application in the past and at present. The next section of this paper is concentrated on the individual decision about the conversion of his car engine to run on LPG and the main attention will be focused on the environmental, economic, technical and institutional aspects of this conversion. Then the text compares LPG and CNG because CNG could be considered to be the main competitor of LPG in the field of alternative fuels. At the conclusion the paper summarizes the discovered facts and tries to predict future use of LPG as an alternative fuel in the Czech Republic.

Despite the huge national energy resources, many Nigerians do not have access to high quality, modern energy services. For those with access, energy supply lacks reliability, especially in the case of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Hence this research considers the possibility of enhancing the household use of LPG. It analyzes the factors affecting the current demand and supply. Salient features of the LPG supply and distribution system were also discussed. On the basis of the existing situation, barriers of increasing LPG use, in particular, the problems regarding affordability, priCing, government poliCies, safety, transportation and distribution were analyzed and identified statistically using the chi-square statistical method as a tool. Finally, on the basis of the challenges identified, suggestions and recommendations were made regarding the policies through which the problems could be overcome. Furthermore, a model was developed and tested for an effective marketing strategy of LPG in Warri Nigeria. ii / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Despite the huge national energy resources, many Nigerians do not have access to high quality, modern energy services. For those with access, energy supply lacks reliability, especially in the case of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Hence this research considers the possibility of enhancing the household use of LPG. It analyzes the factors affecting the current demand and supply. Salient features of the LPG supply and distribution system were also discussed. On the basis of the existing situation, barriers of increasing LPG use, in particular, the problems regarding affordability, priCing, government poliCies, safety, transportation and distribution were analyzed and identified statistically using the chi-square statistical method as a tool. Finally, on the basis of the challenges identified, suggestions and recommendations were made regarding the policies through which the problems could be overcome. Furthermore, a model was developed and tested for an effective marketing strategy of LPG in Warri Nigeria. ii / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

我國家庭熱能的主要來源，除電力以外，最主要的兩項來源為天然氣(Natural Gas，簡稱NG)及液化石油氣(Liquid Petroleum Gas，簡稱LPG)。 該兩項能源產品，雖同屬我國家庭熱能主要來源，惟因該二產品所產生之熱值、輸送、交易方式等之不同，在管理法規上之產業分類及競爭法上之市場區隔，均將該二產品視為不同市場。 由於天然氣自生產或進口及至輸送至家戶端之相關管理規定，已甚完備，再加上天然氣事業層級及營運型態較為單純，管理方便，衍生之問題亦相對較少。而液化石油氣須經加壓分裝為桶裝瓦斯，始能供民眾使用，該產品在運送、分裝及使用上，給予外界較不安全之觀感，故被歸類為危險物品，且因該市場結構甚為複雜，廠商家數多，欲對於該產業架構完整之管理法規當甚為困難，故目前對於該市場之相關管理規範係散見於不同法規中。 故本論文將先由我國液化石油氣市場開放經過、市場界定、產銷結構與競爭情形著手，接著說明我國對於該市場開放以來之相關監督管理措施及競爭法制規範，並透過重大違法個案之介紹，瞭解競爭法主管機關之介入情形；之後藉由日本法制沿革及實務作法之研究，俾洞悉我國液化石油氣市場因結構性或制度面所引發之問題，提出監督管理機關是否應整合為單一專責機關，以及究應由監督管理機關加強管理或提供更適切之配套措施，抑或由競爭法主管機關施以更嚴峻之處罰，始能妥適規整該市場交易秩序之解決方法或執法建議。 / The major household heating resources in Taiwan, in addition to electricity, include natural gas (NG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Traditionally, the two energy products are deemed different products in law regulations and market segment as their heating values, ways of transportations, and transaction patterns are different. As the natural gas is included in the public undertakings, the management of business operation and security affairs has been unified. On the contrary, the liquefied petroleum gas is considered as high-pressure and flammable, it is categorized as a dangerous item. The responsibility of regulation system involves many authorities concerned. Therefore, it derives many problems of regulations in Taiwan. In order to resolve the problems in the liquefied petroleum gas market, we analyze and compare the regulation systems, and norms, market structure materials in Taiwan and Japan. Based on the conclusions of this article, there is a room to rethink which mechanism is more adequate for regulating the liquefied petroleum gas industry from the viewpoint of public policy and competition policy. This article suggests the liquefied petroleum gas industry should be supervised by a single administrative agency, and the agency should try an adequate and different approach to the problems in Taiwan. In the conclusion, this article also suggests that the competition authority should gain trust from stakeholders, the general public and other agencies, and to improve its independence and expertise to enhance antitrust enforcement ability.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-127).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 231-245)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In this work two differents solvents were used for extraction, carbon dioxide (CO2) in the supercritical state and pressurized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The purpose was to extract the oil from the dried avocado pulp comparing these two solvents regarding yield, the time at which the process occurs, adequacy of adjustment of the proposed model to plotted kinetic and the quality of the product obtained by the analysis of their antioxidant activity and gas chromatography analysis coupled with mass spectrometry. Two experimental designs were used, one for each solvent, having as variables the pressure and the temperature with two levels (-1 and +1), and triplicate of the central point (2² + 3 central point), with response the extraction yield of oil. The construction of the kinetic extraction profiles based on the pressure and temperature conditions of experimental design. For the extraction with supercritical CO2 pressure varied in the range of 15 to 25MPa and the temperature ranged from 313 to 353 K, while for extraction with pressurized LPG, pressure and temperature ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 MPa and 293 and 313 K, respectively. It was possible to observe a significant reduction in extraction time using LPG as a solvent, when compared with CO2, and even better extraction yield (57.95%) for LPG and (39.76%) for CO2 in their best extraction conditions experienced. With regard to modeling, it can be seen the appropriateness of the model Sovová the kinetic extraction profiles by means of the adjustment and the kinetic parameters obtained. / Neste trabalho, dois diferentes solventes foram utilizados para a extração, dióxido de carbono (CO2) no estado supercrítico e gás liquefeito de petróleo (GLP) pressurizado. A finalidade do trabalho foi extrair o óleo da polpa de abacate seca, comparando esses dois solventes com relação ao rendimento da extração, o tempo no qual o processo ocorre, a adequação do ajuste do modelo proposto às cinéticas plotadas e à qualidade do óleo obtido, sendo o último avaliado por meio da análise da atividade antioxidante e da análise em cromatografia gasosa acoplada ao espectrômetro de massas. Foram utilizados dois planejamentos experimentais, um para cada solvente, tendo como variáveis a pressão e a temperatura, com dois níveis (-1 e +1) e triplicata do ponto central (2²+3 ponto central), tendo como resposta o rendimento na extração de óleo. A construção dos perfis cinéticos de extração também foi nas condições de pressão e temperatura estabelecidas no planejamento, sendo que para a extração com CO2 supercrítico a pressão variou na faixa de 15 a 25 MPa e a temperatura variou entre 313 a 353 K. Já para a extração com GLP pressurizado, a pressão e temperatura variaram na faixa de 0,5 a 2,5 MPa e 293 e 313 K, respectivamente. Foi possível observar redução significativa no tempo de extração utilizando GLP como solvente quando comparado com CO2, e ainda um melhor rendimento na extração (57,95%) para o GLP e (39,76%) para o CO2 em suas melhores condições de extração testadas. Com relação à modelagem, pode-se observar a adequação do modelo de Sovová aos perfis cinéticos de extração, por meio do ajuste e dos parâmetros cinéticos obtidos.

Orientador: Maria Regina Wolf Maciel / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T22:53:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vasconcelos_ClaudiaJovitaGarcia_D.pdf: 8017563 bytes, checksum: dec61d2c1c5b8497e070bd8166b7a606 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: A otimização de processes em tempo real tem como objetivo o estudo de técnicas para a integração dos objetivos de controle aos interesses econômicos em aplicações industriais. Neste trabalho, o problema da otimização em tempo real foi abordado para um sistema complexo, com correntes de reciclo de massa e integração energética...Observação: O resumo, na íntegra, poderá ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital / Abstract: The goal of real-time processes optimization studies is the way to integrate control objectives and economic aspects. In this work, the real-time optimization problem was applied to a high complex system, including mass recycle streams and heat integration...Note: The complete abstract is available with the full electronic document / Doutorado / Desenvolvimento de Processos Químicos / Doutor em Engenharia Química

An energy transition can be defined as the adoption of a new primary energy system. As such, it is a structural change that implies a broad shift in technologies and behaviors in order to replace one source of energy with another. Energy transitions motivated by economic, climate, and/or health goals are taking place everywhere in the world. Air pollution, a consequence of fossil fuel-based and solid fuel-based energy use among other sources, is the largest environmental health risk accounting for 6.4 million premature deaths annually. Given the health implications of our energy systems and the social drivers of energy use, access, and burden, energy transitions have the potential to impact health outcomes and associated disparities in a context-dependent manner. The research presented in this dissertation has two objectives: 1) to evaluate the distribution of benefits from energy transitions in the United States (US) and in Ghana; 2) to identify and characterize health outcomes that are relevant to these transitions but are currently understudied. Chapters 2 and 3 are anchored in the US energy policy context. Chapter 2 focuses on the transition away from coal as the primary source of energy in the US and its implications for particulate matter pollution and preterm births. Leveraging a novel dispersion model, I assessed the association between coal PM2.5 and preterm birth rates along with effect modification by race/ethnicity. We observed a positive non-linear relationship between coal PM2.5 and preterm birth rate, which plateaued at higher levels of pollution. The findings of this study suggest that the transition away from coal may have reduced preterm birth rates in the US, but that the association was stronger among non-Hispanic White women compared to non-Hispanic Black women. In Chapter 3, I use a mixed-methods framework to evaluate the first pilot of gas-to-electric stove transition in low-income housing in the US. Through a collaboration with a community-based environmental justice group in New York City, we monitored indoor air quality in participants homes pre- and post-intervention, conducted controlled cooking tests, and carried out focus groups to characterize their experience. Post-intervention, daily NO2 concentrations were 46.3% (95% CI: -67.8%, -10.3%) lower in the intervention arm compared to the control arm. Participants were unanimously pleased with the transition, which had simultaneously improved their cooking experience and partially addressed energy insecurity concerns that plagued their building. Chapters 4 and 5 contribute to the characterization of the health implications associated with Ghana’s commitment to increase access to liquified petroleum gas (LPG) nationally. In Chapter 4, we aimed to describe the country-level incidence of severe cooking-related burns by fuel type in use and to identify effect modifiers. We conducted a nationally representative (n = 7,389) household energy use survey in all 16 regions of Ghana. The incidence rate (95% CI) of cooking-related burns per 1000 person-years among working age females was 8.3 (7.2; 12.0) per 1000 person-years, which was 8 times higher than that of working age males. Among adults, the odds of experiencing a cooking-related burn were doubled among solid fuel users compared to primary LPG users. In Chapter 5, we aimed to understand the effect of an LPG intervention on personal exposure to household air pollution in a peri-urban setting of Ghana and to characterize the distribution of benefits between male and female household members quantitatively and qualitatively. The difference-in-differences results suggested a reduction in exposure to carbon monoxide due to the intervention (-14.2%, 95% CI: -44.1%, 31.6%), which might have benefited male and female participants to the same extent. Importantly, focus group discussions suggested that the ability that LPG affords to cook “on demand” could negatively impact intra-household dynamics and expectations in a way that has not been previously documented. Taken together, our findings from two distinct socioeconomic contexts, highlight the non-uniform distribution of benefits from energy transitions, especially when benefits that are not mediated by air pollution are considered. These results contribute to the understanding that social drivers of inequities should be integrated in the design of energy policies and interventions aimed at generating equitable outcomes. Future directions include a detailed characterization of the context-dependent relative contributions of indoor and outdoor air pollution sources as well as a more systematic integration of quantitative and qualitative methods in policy evaluation.