Cradle-to-grave comparative life cycle assessment of wood and concrete-based residential buildings in Kuninkaantammi, Helsinki, Finland

The construction sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with both operational energy use and material production being the main impact factors to the footprint. The importance of embodied carbon from building materials in conversations regarding environmental sustainability is growing as energy efficiency improves. This master’s thesis analysis the climate impact of wood-based residential building compared to the conventional concrete one through a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA). The study is based on an existing residential project in Kuninkaantammi, Helsinki, Finland, where buildings with identical designs but different main structural materials were built. The One Click LCA tool is used for the cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas emissions assessment of the buildings. The main findings show that wood has a strong potential to minimize embodied fossil carbon emissions but also highlight its limitations as a standalone solution for achieving net-zero emissions in residential construction. The work also identifies LCA challenges, such as data accuracy, and underlines the methodological limitations. The results of this work contribute to the decision-making of construction materials selection, provide new data for sustainability research of wood-based products, emphasize the importance of chosen LCA methods in construction, and propose identifying areas for further research in the area of this topic

Mosquitoes can harbour yeasts of clinical significance and contribute to their environmental dissemination

There is still a lack of studies on fungal microbiota in mosquitoes, compared with the number available on bacterial microbiota. This study reports the identification of yeasts of clinical significance in laboratory mosquito species: Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. Among the yeasts isolated, they focused on the opportunistic pathogen Candida parapsilosis, since there is a need to better understand breakthrough candidaemia with resistance to the usual antifungals, which requires careful consideration in the broad-spectrum therapy, as documented in many clinical reports. C. parapsilosis occurs widely and has been isolated from diverse sources, including insects, which may contribute to its dissemination. In this study, it was isolated from the gut of An. gambiae and its presence in developmental stages and organs of different mosquito species was studied. Our results indicated that there was a stable association between C. parapsilosis and reared mosquitoes during the entire life cycle, and in adult male and female gut and gonads. A wide occurrence of C. parapsilosis was also documented in several populations of wild mosquitoes. Based on these findings, it can be said that mosquitoes might participate in the spreading of this opportunistic pathogen, not only as a carrier

Comparative analysis of strategic forest management planning of North-Western Russia and Sweden

In Sweden strategic forest management planning is traditionally conducted to optimize decisions about sustainable harvest levels while taking into consideration legislation and policy issues (Andersson, 2005). In North-Western Russia, however, 10-year strategic plan is considered as a basis of forest management in state forests, embracing all the decisions about forestry activities needed. The most important point in making strategic plans is derivation of annual allowable cut. The aim of this paper is to dissect particular aspects of forest management planning of North-Western Russia and Sweden, i.e. level structure, decision-making and drivers behind forest management decisions, thus giving the insight into differences these countries' planning procedures make. This is to be revealed by describing their planning approaches touching upon data gathering, usage of computerized support systems, technical calculations of cutting levels; and by analyzing and comparing their planning levels, processes of decision-making as well as drivers behind decisions taken in order to get a broad overview of key points influencing decision-making in forestry. In order to get an insight into forest management planning of Russia and Sweden two regions are looked at: North-Western Russia and Götaland region (Sweden) which is within operational area of Swedish State-owned forest company Sveaskog. Russian planning practice is somewhat rigid and a bit overloaded with technical calculations and it is not always convenient to compile so much information at a single level. Market mechanisms proved to be crucial for profitability of forestry in Sweden. Having laid foundations for market economy, Russia still ought to put far more emphasis on developing forest market mechanisms in order to put them into real action. In no way can Forest Management Planning Package be applicable in Russia now. Assurance of stable timber supply over time is believed to be beneficial in Russia. A striking difference between the two countries is in decision making – not only is a process of taking decisions various, but also concept of decision itself as well as role of decision-maker in planning make a great difference. Swedish decision-maker is given a wider space for taking an action

Mechanical performance of FRP-RC flexural members subjected to fire conditions

One of the main concerns that limit the widespread use of Fibre-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) bars as internal reinforcement for reinforced concrete (RC) structures is their relatively unexplored response to elevated temperatures. The behaviour of FRP reinforcement at elevated temperature as well as their post-fire behaviour can be different from conventional reinforcement and depends on the properties of the constituents of the bars. Therefore, the fire resistance of FRP-RC structures is an important issue that needs careful investigation before FRP reinforcement can be implemented in RC structures. The experimental results for full-scale FRP-RC beams subjected to specific fire action were presented and discussed in this paper. The specimens were exposed to heat in the mid-section from below (tension zone) and from the sides. As one of the main aims was to examine the influence of different reinforcement configurations, the testing was made for concrete beams reinforced with three different types of FRP bars: (i) basalt-FRP (BFRP), (ii) hybrid FRP with carbon and basalt fibres (HFRP) and (iii) nano-hybrid FRP (nHFRP), with modification of the epoxy matrix of the rebars. The present work describes the behaviour of FRP-RC beams exposed to fire conditions and simultaneous loading (50 % of their ultimate strength capacity at normal temperature) and unloaded beams were tested after the cooling phase in order to evaluate their residual resistance. Present work shows that the type of FRP bars used has a direct influence on the outcomes and the way of destruction. The maximum ductility, the longest heating time of approximately 100 minutes, was obtained for beams reinforced with BFRP bars and attained deflections were corresponded to the value of 162 mm.One of the main concerns that limit the widespread use of Fibre-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) bars as internal reinforcement for reinforced concrete (RC) structures is their relatively unexplored response to elevated temperatures. The behaviour of FRP reinforcement at elevated temperature as well as their post-fire behaviour can be different from conventional reinforcement and depends on the properties of the constituents of the bars. Therefore, the fire resistance of FRP-RC structures is an important issue that needs careful investigation before FRP reinforcement can be implemented in RC structures. The experimental results for full-scale FRP-RC beams subjected to specific fire action were presented and discussed in this paper. The specimens were exposed to heat in the mid-section from below (tension zone) and from the sides. As one of the main aims was to examine the influence of different reinforcement configurations, the testing was made for concrete beams reinforced with three different types of FRP bars: (i) basalt-FRP (BFRP), (ii) hybrid FRP with carbon and basalt fibres (HFRP) and (iii) nano-hybrid FRP (nHFRP), with modification of the epoxy matrix of the rebars. The present work describes the behaviour of FRP-RC beams exposed to fire conditions and simultaneous loading (50 % of their ultimate strength capacity at normal temperature) and unloaded beams were tested after the cooling phase in order to evaluate their residual resistance. Present work shows that the type of FRP bars used has a direct influence on the outcomes and the way of destruction. The maximum ductility, the longest heating time of approximately 100 minutes, was obtained for beams reinforced with BFRP bars and attained deflections were corresponded to the value of 162 mm

Alkali metal derivatives of an ortho-phenylene diamine

Treatment of the ortho-phenylene diamine C6H4-1,2-{N(H)Tripp}2 (1, PDAH2, Tripp = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl) with two equivalents of MR (M = Li, R = Bun; M = Na or K, R = CH2C6H5) afforded the dimetallated alkali metal ortho-phenylene diamide dianion complexes [(PDALi2)(THF)3] (2), [{(PDANa2)(THF)2}2] (3), and [{(PDAK2)(THF)3}2] (4). In contrast, treatment of 2 with two equivalents of rubidium or cesium 2-ethylhexoxide, or treatment of 1 with two equivalents of MR (M = Rb or Cs, R = CH2C6H5) did not afford the anticipated dialkali metal ortho-phenylene diamide dianion derivatives and instead formally afforded the monometallic ortho-diiminosemiquinonate radical anion species [PDAM] (M = Rb, 5; M = Cs, 6). The structure of 2 is monomeric with one lithium coordinated to the two nitrogen centres and the other lithium η4-coordinated to the diazabutadiene portion of the PDA scaffold. Similar structural cores are observed for 3 and 4, except that the larger sodium and potassium ions give dimeric structures linked by multi-hapto interactions from the PDA backbone phenyl ring to an alkali metal centre. Complex 5 was not characterised in the solid state, but the structure of 6 reveals coordination of cesium ions to both PDA amide centres and multi-hapto interactions to a PDA backbone phenyl ring in the next unit to generate a one-dimensional polymer. Complexes 2–6 have been variously characterised by X-ray crystallography, multi-nuclear NMR, FTIR, and EPR spectroscopies, and CHN microanalyses

Сутність та види юридичних гарантій, які передбачені для працівників органів внутрішніх справ

Протченко, С. М. Сутність та види юридичних гарантій, які передбачені для працівників органів внутрішніх справ / С. М. Протченко // Вісник Харківського національного університету внутрішніх справ. – 2007. – Вип. 36. – С. 407-415.Розглянуто удосконалення теоретико-правових засад гарантій, які надаються працівникам органів внутрішніх справ. Надано аналіз точок зору вчених з означених питань, з’ясовано сутність і види гарантій, які надаються працівникам органів внутрішніх справ, а також їх аналіз. Наукова новизна статті визначається тим, що у ній в новому аспекті визначено сутність та систему гарантій, які надаються працівникам органів внутрішніх справ, проаналізовано їх конкретні види. Рассмотрены совершенствования теоретико-правовых основ гарантий, предоставляемых работникам органов внутренних дел. Дан анализ точек зрения ученых по указанным вопросам, выяснено сущность и виды гарантий, предоставляемых работникам органов внутренних дел, а также их анализ. Научная новизна статьи определяется тем, что в ней в новом аспекте определена сущность и систему гарантий, предоставляемых работникам органов внутренних дел, проанализированы их конкретные виды. The improvement of the theoretical and legal bases of the guarantees provided to the employees of law-enforcement bodies is considered. An analysis of the views of scientists on these issues is provided, the nature and types of guarantees provided to the employees of law enforcement agencies and their analysis are clarified. The scientific novelty of the article is determined by the fact that it defines in a new aspect the essence and system of guarantees provided to the employees of law-enforcement bodies, analyzes their specific types

A β-diketiminate-stabilized sila-acyl chloride: systematic access to base-stabilized silicon analogues of classical carbonyl compounds

An oxidation/substitution strategy for the synthesis of silicon analogues of classical organic carbonyl compounds is reported, by making use of a novel β-diketiminate-supported sila-acyl chloride-the first example of such a compound isolated without the use of a stabilizing Lewis acid. Nucleophilic substitution at the SiIV center allows direct access to the corresponding sila-aldehyde and sila-ester. An alternative approach utilizing the reverse order of synthetic steps is thwarted by the facile rearrangement of the corresponding SiII systems featuring either H or OR substituents. As such, the isolation of (N-nacnac)Si(O)Cl represents a key step forward in enabling the synthesis of sila-carbonyl compounds by a synthetic approach ubiquitous in organic chemistry

Electronic delocalization in two and three dimensions: differential aggregation in indium ‘metalloid’ clusters

Reduction of indium boryl precursors to give two- and three-dimensional M-M bonded networks is influenced by the choice of supporting ligand. While the unprecedented nanoscale cluster [In68(boryl)12]- (with an In12@In44@In12(boryl)12 concentric structure), can be isolated from the potassium reduction of a bis(boryl)indium(III) chloride precursor, analogous reduction of the corresponding (benzamidinate)In^III Br(boryl) system gives a nearplanar (and weakly aromatic) tetranuclear [In4(boryl)4]^2- system

Synthetic, structural and reaction chemistry of N-heterocyclic germylene and stannylene compounds featuring N-boryl substituents

This study details the syntheses of N-heterocyclic germylenes and stannylenes featuring diazaborolyl groups, {(HCDippN)2B} (Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3), as both of the N-bound substituents, with a view to generating electron rich and sterically protected metal centres. The energies of their key frontier orbitals - the group 14-centred lone pair and orthogonal pπ-orbital (typically the HOMO-2 and LUMO) have been probed by DFT calculations and compared with a related acyclic analogue, revealing (in the case of the stannylenes) a correlation with the measured 119Sn chemical shifts. The reactivity of the germylene systems towards oxygen atom transfer agents has been examined, with 2 : 1 reaction stoichiometries being observed for both Me3NO and pyridine N-oxide, leading to the formation of products thought to be derived from the activation of C-H bonds by a transient first-formed germanone