Can environmental sustainability be decoupled from economic growth? Empirical evidence from Eastern Europe using the common correlated effect mean group test

The European Union(EU) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD) aim to develop long-term policies for their respective member countries. Having observed increasing dangers to the environment posed by rising economic growth, they are seeking pathways to enable policy action on economic growth and environmental sustainability. Given the facts in theoretical and empirical studies, this study assessed the validity of the decoupling hypothesis by investigating asymmetricity in the relationship between environmental sustainability and economic growth in nine Eastern European countries from 1998 to 2017 using the cross-section augmented Dickey-Fuller(CADF) unit root, panel corrected standard error(PCSE), common correlated effect mean group(CCEMG), and Dumitrescu Hurlin causality approaches. Both population growth and drinking water are used as controlled variables. The outcomes establish strong cointegration among all the variables of interest. According to the results of CCEMG test, economic growth exerts short-term environmental degradation but has long-term environmental benefits in Eastern Europe;and population growth and drinking water exert a positive effect on environmental sustainability in both the short-and long-run. The results of Dumitrescu Hurlin causality test indicate that environmental sustainability is unidirectionally affected by economic growth. Based on these outcomes, we suggest the following policies:(1) the EU and OECD should implement member-targeted policies on economic growth and fossil-fuel use towards regulating industrial pollution, water use, and population control;and(2) the EU and OECD member countries should invest in environmental technologies through green research and development(R&D) to transform their dirty industrial processes and ensure productive energy use.

Genotoxicity Tests and Their Contributions in Aquatic Environmental Research

As many chemicals with genotoxic potential are emitted to surface water, genotoxicity tests are gaining importance which led to the development of several techniques to detect directly DNA damage. The relevance of detecting the genotoxic risks associated with water pollution was firstly perceived in the late 1970s. Since that time several tests have been developed for evaluating DNA alterations in aquatic animals. These tests rely on the premise that any changes to DNA may have long-lasting and profound consequences. Sister chromatid test, chromosome aberrations, comet assay, and micronucleus test are currently the most widely employed methods to detect DNA lesions in ecotoxicology. Chromosomal aberration and sister chromatid exchanges are time consuming, resource intensive and require proliferating cell population. Hence, Comet assay and Micronucleus test as cost effective and more sensitive test systems have now been introduced for assessing the genotoxicity of chemicals. This review presents a synthesis of the state of the art in the methodologies of comet assay and micronucleus test and their contributions in aquatic environmental research. The text explores the latest knowledge and thinking on these very important approaches for the assessment of environmental health, management, and conservation. The primary concern of the present review is the measurement of genotoxic potential in aquatic organisms under field and laboratory conditions, where effects of chemicals at different levels of biological organization can be examined.

Problems of Environmental Acceptance Tests on Power Transmission and Transformation Projects

Based on the experience of environmental acceptance tests for power transmission projects, the problems found in acceptance tests and the system shortcomings of acceptance test itself are analyzed. Recommendations are provided to improve the future work.

文献“Environmental Testing for Launch and Space Vehicles”点评

作者根据多年的实践经验,对该文献中重要部分进行了点评,指出:空间系统的结构设计要“严格”按照环境设计来进行考核,而环境试验的目的除了筛选工艺质量之外,更重要的是验证设计载荷是否合理。文章还分别对声、振动和冲击试验中的关键步骤和内容进行了解析和说明。

Preliminary results of environmental monitoring of the natural gas hydrate production test in the South China Sea

Natural gas hydrate (NGH)is considered as one of the new clean energy sources of the 21st century with the highest potential.The environmental issues of NGH production have attracted the close attention of scientists in various countries.From May 10 to July 9,2017,the first offshore NGH production test in the South China Sea (SCS)was conducted by the China Geological Survey.In addition,environmental security has also been effectively guaranteed via a comprehensive environmental monitoring system built during the NGH production test.The monitoring system considered sea-surface atmosphere methane and carbon dioxide concentrations,dissolved methane in the sea water column,and the seafloor physical oceanography and marine chemistry environment.The whole process was monitored via multiple means, in multiple layers,in all domains,and in real time.After the production test,an environmental investigation was promptly conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of the NGH production test. The monitoring results showed that the dissolved methane concentration in seawater and the near-seabed environment characteristics after the test were consistent with the background values,indicating that the NGH production test did not cause environmental problems such as methane leakage.

Stereoscopic Camera-Sensor Model for the Development of Highly Automated Driving Functions within a Virtual Test Environment

The need for efficient and reproducible development processes for sensor and perception systems is growing with their increased use in modern vehicles. Such processes can be achieved by using virtual test environments and virtual sensor models. In the context of this, the present paper documents the development of a sensor model for depth estimation of virtual three-dimensional scenarios. For this purpose, the geometric and algorithmic principles of stereoscopic camera systems are recreated in a virtual form. The model is implemented as a subroutine in the Epic Games Unreal Engine, which is one of the most common Game Engines. Its architecture consists of several independent procedures that enable a local depth estimation, but also a reconstruction of a whole three-dimensional scenery. In addition, a separate programme for calibrating the model is presented. In addition to the basic principles, the architecture and the implementation, this work also documents the evaluation of the model created. It is shown that the model meets specifically defined requirements for real-time capability and the accuracy of the evaluation. Thus, it is suitable for the virtual testing of common algorithms and highly automated driving functions.

Prospects for the continued development of environmentally-realistic toxicity test susing microorganisms

The focus of environmental regulations has changed significantly since the introduction of the bioassay as a standard means of assessing environmental impact. Prominent in this change is an increasing emphasis on protecting the integrity of natural ecosystems, which incorporate community- and system-level properties as well as organismal and population processes. Consequently, support for the use of multispecies testing has widened to include not only ecologists in academia but environmental scientists in the regulatory and industrial sector as well. The reason for this trend is clear: the additional environmental realism gained from tests utilizing communities of organisms allows for greater insight into the potential hazard of chemicals and other forms of human activity to natural ecosystems that cannot be obtained from single species tests alone. Many of the problems cited for multispecies testing early in their evolution as a hazard assessment tool have been refuted or overcome. In particular, the use of natural microbial communities minimizes several shortcomings typically associated with multispecies toxicity testing. This discussion includes the utility of microcosm and mesocosm tests using aquatic microbial communities as hazard assessment tools in conjunction with accumulating information on their performance in toxicity testing protocols. An increasing body of experimental evidence supports an expansion in the use of these tests for a variety of regulatory and research purposes. A shift in research focus is needed, however, to answer remaining questions and further refine standard protocols for these valuable ecotoxicological tools.

Fieldwork Test Research of the Impact on Building Physical Environment on Six Types of Atrium Space in Cold Climates

Since the research on verification to passive design strategies in sustainable building is at the initial stage,and its test method and verification conclusion are not scientific enough to validate,this paper proposes the necessity of building physical environmental monitoring to quantitative optimization of passive strategies efficiency from the perspective of architecture design and building environment. Adopting comparative research method,this research chooses six types of atrium space in cold climate in China as a prototype,focusing on building physical environmental performance difference in and between atrium and building main space. Spatial parameters of the atrium space will be divided into four factors: spatial geometry,interfacial properties,internal and external related categories. With subdividing these four factors into sub-factors,this paper makes crosscomparison among the sub-factors to clarify passive strategies effectiveness in atrium. Data comparison analysis shows that Winter atrium passive strategy in cold regions from traditional view is not obvious in practical application,and test data need to be stratified refined in atrium design in case of optimizing passive strategy from building prototype perspective.

5G technology requirements and related test environments for evaluation

To meet the considerably increase of mobile data traffic and wireless communication connections around 2020,the 5th generation(5G)mobile network will necessarily consider more frequency bands,enabling technologies and diversified key performance indicators and test environments comparing with existing network,for example Long Term Evolution.More specifically,the obvious difference between 5G and previous wireless communication system are not only included eMBB(enhance mobile broadband) usage scenario,but also introduced mMTC(massive machine type communications)and URLLC(ultra-reliable and low latency communications) usage scenarios.Hence,in order to evaluate 5G related technologies,some novel test environments will be widely discussed,as well as,certain new key performance indicators will be drawn into5 G evaluation methodology for satisfied new requirements.We will discuss characteristic of these 4 candidate test environments,such as indoor isolated environment,high speed train environment;and the definition of 15 keys performance indicator will be explained and clarified,for example,Throughput,Network Energy Efficiency,Device Connection Density and so on.Furthermore,high-level assessment method of each test environment also will be initially considered.It is notable that an initial evaluation of indoor isolated environment also can be found,which the results show that there are 3 times average cell spectral efficiency than IMT-advanced's in same test environment.

Optimization Model for Environmental Stress Screening of Electronic Components

Environmental stress screening (ESS) is a technological process to reduce the costly early field failure of electronic components. This paper builds an optimization model for ESS of electronic components to obtain the optimal ESS duration. The failure phenomena of ESS are modeled by mixed distribution, and optimal ESS duration is defined by maximizing life-cycle cost savings under the condition of meeting reliability requirement.

Realization of Reconfigurable Virtual Environments for Virtual Testing

This paper presents the design and implementation of reconfigurable virtual environments (VEs) for virtual testing. It proposes a hybrid design approach that is derived from a so-called integration and composition of the reconfiguration strategy. The designing process has thus evolved from binding virtual objects using reconfiguration rules within the context of virtual testing scenarios. Therefore reconfigurable virtual environments are established with improved flexibility and scalability, tailored to a wide range of virtual testing applications. Those virtual environments integrate virtual testing scenarios, data acquisition, databases, rule mapping and application interfaces, which yield modular testing functions and an open-ended system architecture with a set of extensible interface tools to realize data exchange within reconfigurable VEs. This enables virtual testing scenarios to be reconfigured interactively based on real time data and communication between virtual environments and real environments. A virtual testing application has been implemented using reconfigurable VEs. Keywords Virtual environment - virtual testing - reconfigurable virtual reality Wenyan Wu graduated from Dalian University of Technology, China, with BSc and MSc in 1988 and 1991 respectively. She earned her PhD degree from University of Derby, UK, in 2002. She had taught and researched in Harbin Institute of Technology, China and De Montfort University, UK. She is currently a senior lecturer in simulation and virtual reality at Staffordshire University, UK. Her research interests include computer graphics, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality system, advanced interface, modelling and simulation, distribution system.Zhengxu Zhao BSc, MSc, PhD, CEng, CITP, MBCS, full Professor in Applied Computing, Director of Virtual Reality Centre. He is also a Cheng Kong Scholar Project Professor in Virtual Reality Technology and Director of Virtual Reality Research Centre at the Southeast University, P R China. Professor Zhao’s research interests include computing graphics and VR systems, industrial process simulation, CIM and manufacturing management systems.

The Application of GGE Biplot Analysis for Evaluating Test Locations and Mega-Environment Investigation of Cotton Regional Trials

In the process to the marketing of cultivars, identification of superior test locations within multi-environment variety trial schemes is of critical relevance. It is relevant to breeding organizations as well as to governmental organizations in charge of cultivar registration. Where competition among breeding companies exists, effective and fair multi-environment variety trials are of utmost importance to motivate investment in breeding. The objective of this study was to use genotype main effect plus genotype by environment interaction（GGE） biplot analysis to evaluate test locations in terms of discrimination ability, representativeness and desirability, and to investigate the presence of multiple mega-environments in cotton production in the Yangtze River Valley（YaRV）, China. Four traits（cotton lint yield, fiber length, lint breaking tenacity, micronaire） and two composite selection indices were considered. It was found that the assumption of a single mega-environment in the YaRV for cotton production does not hold. The YaRV consists of three cotton mega-environments： a main one represented by 11 locations and two minor ones represented by two test locations each. This demands that the strategy of cotton variety registration or recommendation must be adjusted. GGE biplot analysis has also led to the identification of test location superior for cotton variety evaluation. Although test location desirable for selecting different traits varied greatly, Jinzhou, Hubei Province, China, was found to be desirable for selecting for all traits considered while Jianyang, Sichuan Province, China, was found to be desirable for none.

Coping with the environmental effects of point-source discharges

Current methods for assessing the environmental impact of point source discharges in the United States are reviewed. The emphasis of many assessments of damage from pollution is shifting from chemical or technological standards to biological standards, i.e., the protection of biological integrity in the receiving system. The importance of integrating information from chemical measurements, toxicity tests, and field surveys in impact assessment is re-emphasized. Ways in which environmental professionals can improve methods for assessing damage from pollution and its control are discussed.

A test method for evaluating the thermal environment of underground coal mine refuge alternatives

Since 2009,the Mine Safety and Health Administration(MSHA)has required mines to install refuge alternatives(RAs)in underground coal mines.One of the biggest concerns with occupied RAs is the possible severity of the resulting thermal environment.In 30 CFR 7.504,the maximum allowable apparent temperature(AT)for an occupied RA is specified as 35℃(95°F).Manufacturers must conduct heat/humidity tests to demonstrate that their RAs meet the 35℃(95°F)AT limit.For these tests,heat input devices are used to input the metabolic heat of actual miners.A wide variety of test methods,sensors,and heat input devices could be used when conducting such tests.Since 2012,the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH)has conducted over thirty 96-hour heat/humidity tests on four different RAs.This paper discusses the test equipment and procedures used during these investigations.This information is useful for RA manufacturers conducting RA heat/humidity tests,for other researchers investigating RA heat/humidity buildup,and for those who need to assess the thermal environment of any confined space where people may be trapped or are seeking refuge.

Physical characteristics of high concentrated gas hydrate reservoir in the Shenhu production test area,South China Sea

High concentrated and heterogeneous distribution of gas hydrates have been identified in the gas hydrate production test region in the Shenhu area,South China Sea.The gas hydrate-bearing sediments with high saturation locate at two ridges of submarine canyon with different thickness and saturations just above the bottom simulating reflection.The crossplots of gamma ray,acoustic impedance(P-impedance)and porosity at four sites show that the sediments can be divided into the upper and lower layers at different depths,indicating different geotechnical reservoir properties.Therefore,the depositional environments and physical properties at two ridges are analyzed and compared to show the different characteristics of hydrate reservoir.High porosity,high P-wave velocity,and coarse grain size indicate better reservoir quality and higher energy depositional environment for gas hydrate at Sites W18 and W19 than those at Sites W11 and W17.Our interpretation is that the base of canyon deposits at Sites W18 and W19 characterized by upward-coarsening units may be turbidity sand layers,thus significantly improving the reservoir quality with increasing gas hydrate saturation.The shelf and slope sliding deposits compose of the fine-grained sediments at Sites W11 and W17.The gas hydrate production test sites were conducted at the ridge of W11 and W17,mainly because of the thicker and larger area of gas hydrate-bearing reservoirs than those at Sites W18 and W19.All the results provide useful insights for assessing reservoir quality in the Shenhu area.

荒漠草原不同植物群落蒸散组分特征及其环境因子影响分析

蒸散发是生态水文过程的关键环节,掌握蒸散组分的变化特征及其影响因子,对干旱半干旱地区的可持续发展至关重要。以荒漠草原多年生植物针茅群落和一年生植物猪毛蒿群落为研究对象,利用小型蒸渗仪开展了连续3年监测,分析了蒸散组分的日、月和年变化规律,探讨了影响蒸散组分的主要环境因子。结果表明:晴天时,多年生和一年生植物群落蒸散组分呈先增加后减小的抛物线型,夜间蒸散活动较弱,累积蒸散量较低,不足全天总累积蒸散量的20%;阴天时各蒸散组分无明显峰值,且日累积量均较小,一年生和多年生植物群落的蒸散量、蒸发量和蒸腾量无显著差异;10.64 mm/d及以上降雨对蒸散和蒸发的日变化具有明显影响,随着降雨量的增多,蒸散量和蒸发量也呈增大趋势,但蒸腾量则相对较小。从月动态来看,7—9月占全年蒸散量和蒸发量的一半左右,冬春季蒸散量和蒸发量维持在全年最低水平。年蒸散量与年降雨量接近,而蒸腾量占蒸散量的比例低于10%。总体来看,多年生植物群落蒸散量较一年生植物群落多。采用Mantel检验方法分析不同时间尺度影响蒸散组分的主要气候因素,在小时尺度上太阳辐射与蒸发量和蒸腾量显著性水平较高(P<0.01),但相关性较低(r<0.2);在日尺度上,蒸散量、蒸发量和蒸腾量与降雨量的显著性(P<0.01)和相关性(r≥0.4)均最高;而月尺度上,降雨量和降雨速率与蒸散量、蒸发量的相关性较高(0.2≤r<0.4),但显著性较低(P≥0.05)。因此,蒸散组分受环境因子的影响在不同时间尺度上具有较大差异,说明蒸散组分受多种因子共同影响。

空空导弹海洋大气自然环境试验研究

针对空空导弹随航母服役需求和海洋大气自然环境适应性风险,结合相关标准和研制经验,对空空导弹海洋大气自然环境试验方案设计流程、方法及要点进行了研究。提出了一套空空导弹海洋大气自然环境试验方案,可用于指导新研型号科学有效地开展自然环境试验,为回答空空导弹海洋大气自然环境适应性指标提供了支撑。空空导弹应系统策划海洋大气自然环境试验,以尽早暴露问题,实现产品设计改进,为上舰环境适应性的提高奠定基础。同时,还应大力开展自然加速环境试验技术和动态自然环境试验技术研究工作。

新时期航天器环境工程面临的挑战与机遇

空间事业的发展对航天器环境工程提出了新挑战,同时也为该专业技术进步和领域延展提供了难得的机遇。近10年来,伴随着载人航天、深空探测等一系列重大航天工程的顺利实施,中国航天器环境工程领域在诸多方面取得了长足进步。文章回顾了中国航天器环境工程的发展历程,围绕中国空间站长期运行、深空探测新任务、低轨巨型星座建设等提出的新需求,分析了航天器环境工程将面对的挑战和必须突破的关键技术。结合具体工作内容介绍了北京卫星环境工程研究所在LEO辐射环境在轨探测与数据应用、特殊空间环境效应与防护、火星探测器特殊力热环境试验技术和航天器产品环境试验ISO标准等方面取得的最新进展。在建设航天强国的过程中,航天器环境工程必将伴随着航天器整体技术的升级实现更高水平的跃迁。

装备环境适应性研究进展及展望

首先分析了装备环境适应性的基本概念及其与装备环境工程的关系,论述了装备环境适应性研究工作内涵。其次,综述了装备环境适应性研究“六化”特征:自然环境试验站网建设全球化、装备环境适应性试验考核实战化、表征评估精细化、设计迭代化、资源积累数据化、综合管理体系化等,讨论了各方向的国内外发展现状以及研究重点、难点、不足,梳理了装备环境适应性在环境试验、环境分析等方面相关标准及其发展特点,并指出现有标准的局限性。最后,根据现阶段国家关于装备环境适应性的工作定位,展望了装备环境适应性研究领域重要发展方向。