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Environmental Requirements (environmental + requirement)
Selected AbstractsEnvironmental supply chain management, ISO 14001 and RoHS.CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 6 2008How are small companies in the electronics sector managing? Abstract This study explores the use of environmental management systems for initiating and controlling environmental improvements in the context of supply chain cooperation. It examines how environmental requirements are reaching smaller companies in the electronics supply chain, especially in the light of recent legal changes such as enforcement of the RoHS Directive. It is based on qualitative interviews with environmental and purchasing managers of 21 small and medium-sized companies. The results point out a lack of significant drivers for these companies to implement proactive measures when dealing with environmental issues, owing to limited customer pressure. RoHS and legal compliance are the only environmental customer criteria to be met, while ISO 14001 works as an optional supplier selection criterion. In consequence, companies are not focusing on environmental work within their supply chains, and the potential of influencing the environmental profile of suppliers by shaping their ISO 14001 is not used. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Inter-organizational use of EMSs in supply chain management: some experiences from Poland and SwedenCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2008Dagmara Nawrocka Abstract The paper investigates the possibility of using environmental management systems (EMSs) as a tool for the environmental management of supply chains. Based on interviews with environmental managers of selected companies, the paper highlights the importance of taking a long-term perspective in terms of both the cooperation with suppliers and developing the supply chain perspective for EMSs. The role of cultural influence from foreign partner companies in building the proactive environmental focus and stimulating the spread of EMSs is underlined here. In addition, the paper looks at the development, use and control of supply chain environmental requirements and their possible integration into the buyer's and supplier's EMSs. Finally, important shortcomings of EMSs, such as the lack of enforcement forbearance and the credibility of ISO 14001 certification, are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] The introduction of environmental requirements for trucks and construction vehicles used in road maintenance contracts in SwedenCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2005Charlotta Faith-Ell Abstract This paper examines the development and implementation of environmental requirements for trucks and construction vehicles in Swedish road maintenance contracts. The process in which the road administration involved relevant organizations in the development of a model for emission-based payment for the vehicles was analysed in a participatory study. Intentions behind the requirements were investigated using interviews and questionnaires. The results point to the importance of actively involving, informing and training all relevant parties. Transparency towards sub-contractors and the public is needed to justify the requirements. The payment model, based on environmental performance, is also suggested for use in other types of requirement in road maintenance contracts. To make green procurement an effective policy instrument, the model needs further development, e.g. systematic information, training of clients and contractors, and follow-up of the requirements. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Phytogeographical evidence for post-glacial dispersal limitation of European beech forest speciesECOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2009Wolfgang Willner The post-glacial migration of European beech Fagus sylvatica has been addressed by many studies using either genetic or fossil data or a combination of both. In contrast to this, only little is known about the migration history of beech forest understorey species. In a review of phytosociological literature, we identified 110 plant species which are closely associated with beech forest. We divided the distribution range of European beech forests into 40 geographical regions, and the presence or absence of each species was recorded for each region. We compared overall species numbers per region and numbers of narrow-range species (species present in <10 regions). A multiple regression model was used to test for the explanatory value of three potential diversity controls: range in elevation, soil type diversity, and distance to the nearest potential refuge area. A hierarchical cluster analysis of the narrow-range species was performed. The frequency of range sizes shows a U-shaped distribution, with 42 species occurring in <10 regions. The highest number of beech forest species is found in the southern Alps and adjacent regions, and species numbers decrease with increasing distance from these regions. With only narrow-range species taken into consideration, secondary maxima are found in Spain, the southern Apennines, the Carpathians, and Greece. Distance to the nearest potential refuge area is the strongest predictor of beech forest species richness, while altitudinal range and soil type diversity had little or no predictive value. The clusters of narrow-range species are in good concordance with the glacial refuge areas of beech and other temperate tree species as estimated in recent studies. These findings support the hypothesis that the distribution of many beech forest species is limited by post-glacial dispersal rather than by their environmental requirements. [source] Swarmer cell differentiation in Proteus mirabilisENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 8 2005Philip N. Rather Summary Under the appropriate environmental conditions, the Gram-negative bacterium Proteus mirabilis undergoes a remarkable differentiation to form a distinct cell type called a swarmer cell. The swarmer cell is characterized by a 20- to 40-fold increase in both cell length and the number of flagella per cell. Environmental conditions required for swarmer cell differentiation include: surface contact, inhibition of flagellar rotation, a sufficient cell density and cell-to-cell signalling. The differentiated swarmer cell is then able to carry out a highly ordered population migration termed swarming. Genetic analysis of the swarming process has revealed that a large variety of distinct loci are required for this differentiation including: genes involved in regulation, lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan synthesis, cell division, ATP production, putrescine biosynthesis, proteolysis and cell shape determination. The process of swarming is important medically because the expression of virulence genes and the ability to invade cells are coupled to the differentiated swarmer cell. In this review, the genetic and environmental requirements for swarmer cell differentiation will be outlined. In addition, the role, of, the, differentiated, swarmer, cell, in, virulence and its possible role in biofilm formation will be discussed. [source] The RoHS and WEEE directives: An update on environmental requirements affecting the electrical and electronic products sectorENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2007Robin Wright First page of article [source] The captive breeding and educational display of the Medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis (Linnaeus 1758) at Bristol Zoo GardensINTERNATIONAL ZOO YEARBOOK, Issue 1 2007W. SPENCER This paper provides information on the culture of the Medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis, including housing and environmental requirements, husbandry protocols and captive breeding. The conservation status of the Medicinal leech and issues surrounding its preservation, and also uses for this species in medicine and as an educational-display subject, are discussed. This species has been maintained at Bristol Zoo Gardens, UK, from May 1996 to the present and has been bred successfully since 2001. The Medicinal leeches that are used in both the husbandry trials and educational display at Bristol Zoo Gardens originated from Turkish stock and were obtained from Biopharm UK Ltd, Dyfed, UK. [source] Addressing the unanswered questions in global water policy: a methodology framework,IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 1 2003Charlotte de Fraiture Demande et fourniture de l'eau et de la nourriture au niveau globale 1995,2025; modélisation globale; politique globale sur l'eau; projections 2025 Abstract Are the available water resources sufficient to produce food for the growing world population while at the same time meet increasing municipal, industrial and environmental requirements? Projections for the year 2025, presented by different research groups at the second World Water Forum in The Hague, show an increase in global agricultural water use ranging from 4 to 17%. Estimates for the growth of total withdrawals, including domestic and industrial sectors, vary from 22 to 32%. This range is the result of differences in model structure and assumptions. Although these analyses were instrumental in raising awareness concerning the extent of present and future water scarcity problems, they raise many questions, which remain largely unanswered. The questions relate to the impact of water- and food-related policies on global and regional water scarcity, food production, environment and livelihoods through the year 2025. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) embarked on a joint modeling exercise to address these questions. This paper lays out the issues and discusses the methodology. During the 18th ICID Congress in July 2002 at Montreal, preliminary results will be presented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. RÉSUMÉ Est-ce que les ressources en eau disponible sont suffisantes pour produire la nourriture pour une population mondiale qui s'accroît, et satisfaire en même temps les besoins municipaux, industriels et environnementaux? Les projections faites pour l'an 2025 par différents groupes de chercheurs lors du 2ème Forum Mondial de l'Eau à la Haye montrent une augmentation de 4 à 17% dans l'utilisation globale de l'eau agricole. Les estimations pour l'augmentation des prélèvements, y compris les secteurs domestiques et industriels, varient de 22 à 32%. Cette portée est le résultat des différences dans la structure des modèles. Quoique ces analyses permettent de sensibiliser le peuple sur les problèmes actuels et futurs de la disponibilité de l'eau, elles soulèvent de nombreuses questions qui restent non-résolues en bonne part. Ces questions concernent l'impact aux niveaux régionau et globau des politiques sur l'eau et la nourriture, la production alimentaire, l'environnement et les moyens d'existence et sources de revenu vers l'an 2025. L'Institut International de Recherche sur la Politique Alimentaire (IFPRI) et l'Institut International de Gestion d'Eau (IWMI) préparent conjointement un modèle pour traiter toutes ces questions non-résolues. Le rapport en question identifie toutes ces questions et discute la méthodologie. Au 18ème Congrès de Montréal en juillet 2002, les résultats préliminaires seront présentés. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The influence of spatial errors in species occurrence data used in distribution modelsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Catherine H Graham Summary 1Species distribution modelling is used increasingly in both applied and theoretical research to predict how species are distributed and to understand attributes of species' environmental requirements. In species distribution modelling, various statistical methods are used that combine species occurrence data with environmental spatial data layers to predict the suitability of any site for that species. While the number of data sharing initiatives involving species' occurrences in the scientific community has increased dramatically over the past few years, various data quality and methodological concerns related to using these data for species distribution modelling have not been addressed adequately. 2We evaluated how uncertainty in georeferences and associated locational error in occurrences influence species distribution modelling using two treatments: (1) a control treatment where models were calibrated with original, accurate data and (2) an error treatment where data were first degraded spatially to simulate locational error. To incorporate error into the coordinates, we moved each coordinate with a random number drawn from the normal distribution with a mean of zero and a standard deviation of 5 km. We evaluated the influence of error on the performance of 10 commonly used distributional modelling techniques applied to 40 species in four distinct geographical regions. 3Locational error in occurrences reduced model performance in three of these regions; relatively accurate predictions of species distributions were possible for most species, even with degraded occurrences. Two species distribution modelling techniques, boosted regression trees and maximum entropy, were the best performing models in the face of locational errors. The results obtained with boosted regression trees were only slightly degraded by errors in location, and the results obtained with the maximum entropy approach were not affected by such errors. 4Synthesis and applications. To use the vast array of occurrence data that exists currently for research and management relating to the geographical ranges of species, modellers need to know the influence of locational error on model quality and whether some modelling techniques are particularly robust to error. We show that certain modelling techniques are particularly robust to a moderate level of locational error and that useful predictions of species distributions can be made even when occurrence data include some error. [source] EFFECTS OF INCREASED DELTA EXPORTS ON SACRAMENTO VALLEY'S ECONOMY AND WATER MANAGEMENT,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 6 2003Stacy K. Tanaka ABSTRACT: Exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are an important source of water for Central Valley and Southern California users. The purpose of this paper is to estimate and analyze the effects increased exports to south of Delta users would have on the Sacramento Valley economy and water management if water were managed and reallocated for purely economic benefits, as if there were an ideal Sacramento Valley water market. Current Delta exports of 6,190 thousand acre-feet per year were increased incrementally to maximum export pumping plant capacities. Initial increases in Delta exports did not increase regional water scarcity, but decreased surplus Delta flows. Further export increases raised agricultural scarcity. Urban users suffer increased scarcity only for exports exceeding 10,393 taf/yr. Expanding exports raises the economic value of expanding key facilities (such as Engle bright Lake and South Folsom Canal) and the opportunity costs of environmental requirements. The study illustrates the physical and economic capacity of the Sacramento Valley to further increase exports of water to drier parts of the state, even within significant environmental flow restrictions. More generally, the results illustrate the physical capacity for greater economic benefits and flexibility in water management within environmental constraints, given institutional capability to reoperate or reallocate water resources, as implied by water markets. [source] Morphology of the immature stages and notes on biology of Philonthus nigrita (Gravenhorst, 1806) (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) a stenotopic species inhabiting Sphagnum peatbogsMITTEILUNGEN AUS DEM MUSEUM FUER NATURKUNDE IN BERLIN-DEUTSCHE ENTOMOLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT, Issue 1 2008Bernard Staniec Abstract The larvae (L1,3) of Philonthus nigrita (Gravenhorst, 1806) is described for the first time, with the illustrations of their structural features provided. The poorly known morphology of egg and pupa are supplemented by the new data. Morphological differences between the first (L1) and next (L2 and L3) larval instars covers: the chaetotaxy of head, profemur, protibia, tarsungulus, abdominal tergites, sternites and urogomphi; the structure of antenna, maxillae and urogomphi; the microstructure of the abdominal tergites, proportions, body colour and habitus. Diagnostic characters of egg and larva of Ph. nigrita species are listed. Some data on its distribution, environmental requirements and biology in the laboratory conditions are also provided. The combination of characters that distinguishes the larva (L3) of Ph. nigrita from the some other known larvae of the Central European Philonthus and Bisnius is presented. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] A description of the developmental stages of Acylophorus wagenschieberi Kiesenwetter, 1850 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), with comments on its biology, egg parasite and distribution in PolandyMITTEILUNGEN AUS DEM MUSEUM FUER NATURKUNDE IN BERLIN-DEUTSCHE ENTOMOLOGISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT, Issue 1 2005Bernard Staniec Abstract The egg, three larval instars and pupa of Acylophorus wagenschieberi Kiesenwetter are described for the first time, with the illustrations of structural features provided. Adult habitus and figures for penis are given. Differences in the morphological structure of its larval instars (L1,3) cover: the number and structure of setae on protibia, the number of setae on tarsungulus, the number of setae on pygopod, the structure of urogomphi, the body color and the measurements of size. Diagnostic characters of immature stages are listed. Modifications of the keys to known eggs, larvae and pupae of the European Staphylininae species are proposed. Some data on its distribution, environmental requirements and biology with the schema of life cycle in the field are also provided. It is stenotopic and one of the rarest-occurring Staphylininae species in its whole distribution range, in Poland known from 13 localities (11 recorded by the author). It occurs exclusively on high- and transitional moors, preferring the ecotone zones between water bodies and the surrounding peatbogs. One of the main factors limiting its occurrences and abundance is the high and stable water level. A. wagenschieberi is a monovoltine species with the summer larvae and wintering imago. Considering its environmental preferences and biology this rove beetle may be of essential importance as a good environmental state indicator. Trimorus fulvimanus Kiefer (Scelionidae, Proctotrupoidea, Hymenoptera) has been recorded as an egg parasite of A. wagenschieberi. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Reactive doping of PAni,CSA and its use in microwave absorbing materialsPOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 1 2009R. S. Biscaro Abstract Conductive coatings have been studied for static dissipation and as microwave absorbing materials. The doping process of polyaniline (PAni), which makes it conductive, is an important stage that determines the coating performance. For this purpose, polyaniline was doped by reactive processing in a torque rheometer using different molar ratios between PAni and acid (PAni:CSA) at three different temperatures (80, 90, and 100°C). Aqueous solution doping was also used in the ratio of 1:2 of PAni/CSA, with the aim to investigate the influence of different methods of PAni doping on its characteristics and, consequently, on the performance of coatings. Thermal analyses of the processed materials showed that PAni doped by both routes, reactive and solution processing, showed similar behaviors. X-ray diffraction analyses showed a semicrystalline structure for the PAni,CSA doped by reactive processing using high CSA concentrations and temperature. It was also observed that the doping process affects the dispersion of the components into the conductive coatings. Microwave absorption measurements (8,12,GHz) of PU-doped PAni blends showed the dependence of the doping type, the PAni,CSA concentration, and the mixing conditions of the components on the coating performance; it was found up to 99% of attenuation of the incident radiation for some composites in a narrow frequency range. The microwave absorption efficiency of the coating samples prepared by using the reactive doping process indicates the advantage of this methodology over solution doping. Moreover, the reactive process addresses the environmental requirements. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Small business responsibility in developing countries: a threat or an opportunity?BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 1 2005Ralph Luken Many developing country small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that are exporters see themselves facing a dilemma. They do not know how to respond to the rising social and environmental requirements of global buyers and supply chains and fear that were they to do so they would lose their competitive edge. However, they are aware that if they do not meet these requirements, they will not be able to access new foreign markets and may lose the contracts they already have. To investigate whether practical methods exist for resolving this dilemma, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) carried out a one year project with 22 SMEs in four Asian countries. The results suggest that well targeted, enterprise-specific efforts to meet corporate social responsibility (CSR) requirements can make a positive contribution to both short-term profitability and longer-term competitiveness. The ,business case' for CSR appears strongest in the environmental area, but measures in that area can act as a ,starter motor' for tackling more systemic ,social' problems. Furthermore, tackling social issues at the workplace can feed back positively to improve the sustainability of the environmental improvement measures. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] |