Tim O'Brine - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Tim O'Brine
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Dec 1, 2010
There is considerable concern about the hazards that plastic debris presents to wildlife. Use of ... more There is considerable concern about the hazards that plastic debris presents to wildlife. Use of polymers that degrade more quickly than conventional plastics presents a possible solution to this problem. Here we investigate breakdown of two oxo-biodegradable plastics, compostable plastic and standard polyethylene in the marine environment. Tensile strength of all materials decreased during exposure, but at different rates. Compostable plastic disappeared from our test rig between 16 and 24 weeks whereas approximately 98% of the other plastics remained after 40 weeks. Some plastics require UV light to degrade. Transmittance of UV through oxo-biodegradable and standard polyethylene decreased as a consequence of fouling such that these materials received 90% less UV light after 40 weeks. Our data indicate that compostable plastics may degrade relatively quickly compared to oxo-biodegradable and conventional plastics. While degradable polymers offer waste management solutions, there are limitations to their effectiveness in reducing hazards associated with plastic debris.
Smartphones seem ubiquitous nowadays with people as never before being so connected. However, the... more Smartphones seem ubiquitous nowadays with people as never before being so connected. However, they can also temporarily sever user’s attention from their surroundings, experiences, and contexts; ironically alienating them from the real world. I argue that mobile phone addiction impacts learners emotionally, physically, and psychologically and therefore should be considered as a barrier to learning. Changing to a technological pedagogy may overcome this barrier with teaching focusing on the appropriate use of electronic devices mimicking industry-specific tasks, developing a professional attitude to mobile phone use, and increasing learners' ICT skills, beyond merely social media.
Smartphones seem ubiquitous nowadays with people as never before being so connected. However, the... more Smartphones seem ubiquitous nowadays with people as never before being so connected. However, they can also temporarily sever user’s attention from their surroundings, experiences, and contexts; ironically alienating them from the real world. I argue that mobile phone addiction impacts learners emotionally, physically, and psychologically and therefore should be considered as a barrier to learning. Changing to a technological pedagogy may overcome this barrier with teaching focusing on the appropriate use of electronic devices mimicking industry-specific tasks, developing a professional attitude to mobile phone use, and increasing learners' ICT skills, beyond merely social media.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010
There is considerable concern about the hazards that plastic debris presents to wildlife. Use of ... more There is considerable concern about the hazards that plastic debris presents to wildlife. Use of polymers that degrade more quickly than conventional plastics presents a possible solution to this problem. Here we investigate breakdown of two oxo-biodegradable plastics, compostable plastic and standard polyethylene in the marine environment. Tensile strength of all materials decreased during exposure, but at different rates. Compostable plastic disappeared from our test rig between 16 and 24 weeks whereas approximately 98% of the other plastics remained after 40 weeks. Some plastics require UV light to degrade. Transmittance of UV through oxo-biodegradable and standard polyethylene decreased as a consequence of fouling such that these materials received 90% less UV light after 40 weeks. Our data indicate that compostable plastics may degrade relatively quickly compared to oxo-biodegradable and conventional plastics. While degradable polymers offer waste management solutions, there are limitations to their effectiveness in reducing hazards associated with plastic debris.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Dec 1, 2010
There is considerable concern about the hazards that plastic debris presents to wildlife. Use of ... more There is considerable concern about the hazards that plastic debris presents to wildlife. Use of polymers that degrade more quickly than conventional plastics presents a possible solution to this problem. Here we investigate breakdown of two oxo-biodegradable plastics, compostable plastic and standard polyethylene in the marine environment. Tensile strength of all materials decreased during exposure, but at different rates. Compostable plastic disappeared from our test rig between 16 and 24 weeks whereas approximately 98% of the other plastics remained after 40 weeks. Some plastics require UV light to degrade. Transmittance of UV through oxo-biodegradable and standard polyethylene decreased as a consequence of fouling such that these materials received 90% less UV light after 40 weeks. Our data indicate that compostable plastics may degrade relatively quickly compared to oxo-biodegradable and conventional plastics. While degradable polymers offer waste management solutions, there are limitations to their effectiveness in reducing hazards associated with plastic debris.
Smartphones seem ubiquitous nowadays with people as never before being so connected. However, the... more Smartphones seem ubiquitous nowadays with people as never before being so connected. However, they can also temporarily sever user’s attention from their surroundings, experiences, and contexts; ironically alienating them from the real world. I argue that mobile phone addiction impacts learners emotionally, physically, and psychologically and therefore should be considered as a barrier to learning. Changing to a technological pedagogy may overcome this barrier with teaching focusing on the appropriate use of electronic devices mimicking industry-specific tasks, developing a professional attitude to mobile phone use, and increasing learners' ICT skills, beyond merely social media.
Smartphones seem ubiquitous nowadays with people as never before being so connected. However, the... more Smartphones seem ubiquitous nowadays with people as never before being so connected. However, they can also temporarily sever user’s attention from their surroundings, experiences, and contexts; ironically alienating them from the real world. I argue that mobile phone addiction impacts learners emotionally, physically, and psychologically and therefore should be considered as a barrier to learning. Changing to a technological pedagogy may overcome this barrier with teaching focusing on the appropriate use of electronic devices mimicking industry-specific tasks, developing a professional attitude to mobile phone use, and increasing learners' ICT skills, beyond merely social media.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2010
There is considerable concern about the hazards that plastic debris presents to wildlife. Use of ... more There is considerable concern about the hazards that plastic debris presents to wildlife. Use of polymers that degrade more quickly than conventional plastics presents a possible solution to this problem. Here we investigate breakdown of two oxo-biodegradable plastics, compostable plastic and standard polyethylene in the marine environment. Tensile strength of all materials decreased during exposure, but at different rates. Compostable plastic disappeared from our test rig between 16 and 24 weeks whereas approximately 98% of the other plastics remained after 40 weeks. Some plastics require UV light to degrade. Transmittance of UV through oxo-biodegradable and standard polyethylene decreased as a consequence of fouling such that these materials received 90% less UV light after 40 weeks. Our data indicate that compostable plastics may degrade relatively quickly compared to oxo-biodegradable and conventional plastics. While degradable polymers offer waste management solutions, there are limitations to their effectiveness in reducing hazards associated with plastic debris.