Strong international demand for natural rubber is driving expansion of industrial-scale and smallholder monoculture plantations, with >2 million ha established during the last decade. Mainland Southeast Asia and Southwest China represent the epicenter of rapid rubber expansion; here we review impacts on forest ecosystems and biodiversity. We estimate that 4.3–8.5 million ha of additional rubber...

The plains of Sumatra and Kalimantan were sparsely populated at the turn of the 19th century (less than 4 inhabitants/km2), and the local population relied mainly on shifting cultivation of upland rice. The introduction of rubber by Dutch private Estates in the 1910's triggered a radical change in the landscape but no fundamental change in farming practices, at least at the beginning, with the ...

Most dentists are educated in rubber dam use in dental school, but there is often disparity between what is taught for various restorative procedures and what is practiced in the private sector. It is a common, although undocumented, belief that few practicing dentists routinely use rubber dam isolation. This study repeated a survey conducted in 1985 evaluating U.S. general dentists' attitudes ...

BACKGROUND This survey study aimed at investigating the frequency of rubber dam use during root canal treatment, identifying influencing factors for not using it by Saudi general dental practitioners (GDPs) and endodontists. It also aimed at identifying measures that increase rubber dam usage. METHODS After obtaining an ethical approval, two pilot studies were conducted on staff members at Ta...

In power transmission lines, it is necessary to isolate the inherent voltage parts from each other and zero potential. An insulator defined as having a high degree of electrical insulation between conductors brackets. Insulators also allow for mechanical conductivity conductor ground. The presence broken can alter stress distribution. this paper, effect cracking (chattering) on electric field i...

Existing plant types of rubber tree after planting and available tapping tree were investigated, and there were about 28 rubber plantations with different tapping years of 8 varieties “CATAS7-33-97”, “CATAS8-79”, “CATAS7-20-59”, “PR107”, “RRIM600”, “GT1”, “INA873”, “93-114” in South China. The results showed that there were six kinds of existing plant types of rubber tree after planting of rubb...

We previously reported that the dispersed rubber microparticles in ethylene-propylenediene monomer (EPDM)/polypropylene (PP) thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are actually agglomerates of rubber nanoparticles. In this study, based on this new understanding of the microstructure of TPV, we further revealed the microstructure-properties relationship of EPDM/PP TPV during dynamic vulcanization, es...

around 80% of the population relies on agriculture, rice being the staple food. topography urges farmers to cultivate upland rice. the chinese interest in rubber latex has stimulated farmers to grow rubber, although the technical knowledge regarding tree management and latex processing is poor. a study was conducted in an area in luang prabang province to examine the suitability of upland rice ...