Can Labor Out-Migration Reduce Firewood Consumption by Rural Households in Western Mountainous China

Abstract

The relationship between out-migration of labor in the Qinling mountain area and households’ firewood consumption is explored. Migration and remittances reduce households’ firewood consumption due to increases in both income and opportunity cost of firewood collection. Previous studies have been equivocal because they ignored uncertainty in household economy, which is widespread in forest areas of less developed countries. This study provides additional insight by considering vulnerability and subjective assessment of poverty generated by unstable income and an uncertain future. We provide evidence that the amount of firewood consumed depends on income and opportunity cost of firewood collection, but also on a prudent consumption strategy, due to farmers’ subjective assessment of their future possible poverty. We also find out-migration of labor can reduce per capita firewood consumption but subjective poverty also acts against reduction of firewood consumption.     

Person–organization and person–supervisor fits: Employee commitments in a Chinese context

The present study simultaneously examined people's perceptions of person–organization (PO) and person–supervisor (PS) fit and related these perceptions to employees' commitments. Three‐hundred‐and‐sixty employee–supervisor dyads from Taiwanese organizations reported about their PO fit and PS fit perceptions. In addition, supervisors reported about their perceptions of fit and guanxi with each of their employees. Results indicated that PO and PS fit perceptions both had an independent and additive relationship with organizational commitment. The link between employee PS fit perceptions and organizational commitment was mediated by commitment to the supervisor. Both employee and supervisor fit perceptions contributed to commitment to the supervisor through their influence on the quality of the leader‐member exchange (LMX). Guanxi could not explain additional variance in LMX and supervisor commitment. Implications for theory and practices regarding person–environment fit, commitment, and LMX are discussed. The study findings offered suggestions for a new Theory of Multiple Fits. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

云南粳稻核心种质杂种后代孕穗期耐冷性研究

以236份云南地方粳稻核心种质和云南主栽梗稻Oryza satica品种合系35配制的杂种F5、BC1F4、BC2F3和BC3F2为材料,在昆明自然低温平均17.8℃(冷害)条件下,对亲本及其后代进行孕穗期耐冷性研究.结果表明:①亲本耐冷性状间的相关性明显高于其杂种后代,不同世代间总体趋势为随着回交世代增加其性状间相关性减弱.在亲本及其杂种后代间耐冷指标性状穗颈长、穗下节长、每穗实粒数、每穗秕粒数与结实率均呈较高的(≥0.370)极显著(n=236,R0.01=0.181)相关.②株高、穗颈长、穗下节长等耐冷性状在亲本强弱耐冷系统群间的差异明显,表现为亲本耐冷性强的材料秆和穗较长、穗粒数较多,同一性状变异程度减小.但随着回交代数的增加,这些性状的平均值逐渐趋同于轮回亲本,差异减小.③穗颈长、穗下节长、每穗实粒数、每穗秕粒数与结实率在5个稻作区间的变化规律呈现一致性,亲本和F5的差异较大,而BC2F4、BC2F3和BC3F2的差异较小,且趋同于轮回亲本.通过连续回交,在BC3F1即可获得耐冷性状表现良好的材料.     

不同土地利用方式下土壤粒径分布的分维特征

西安市临潼区杏园、桑园和农田土壤粒径分布的体积分形维数分析结果表明:(1)杏园和农田土壤颗粒的体积分形维数与＜0.002 mm和0.002～0.05 mm颗粒含量呈极显著正相关关系,与0.05～0.1 mm、0.1～0.25 mm颗粒含量呈极显著负相关关系,与0.25～0.5 mm颗粒含量不相关.桑园土壤颗粒的体积分形维数与＜0.002 mm和0 002～0.05 mm颗粒含量呈极显著正相关关系,与0.05～0.1 mm、0.1～0.25 mm和0.25～0.5 mm颗粒含量不相关.(2)桑园和杏园土壤颗粒体积分形维数与土壤有机质含量和pH值复相关达显著水平,而农田土壤颗粒体积分形维数与土壤有机质含量和pH值复相关不显著.     

水质凯氏氮标准样品的研究

提出了水质凯氏氮标准样品的研究方法。在研究过程中，完成了样品的配制、均匀性、稳定性等工作。经过多家实验室协作定值，确定了样品的标准值及不确定度，并提供使用。     

巯基化合物在万寿菊镉解毒中的作用

采用水培实验方法研究了万寿菊体内镉积累和解毒与巯基化合物含量的关系。万寿菊植株分别在镉浓度为0、0.1、0.5、2和8 mg/L的营养液中暴露7 d,测定了根、茎、叶中镉、非蛋白巯基(NPT)、半胱氨酸(Cys)、γ-谷氨酰半胱氨酸(γ-EC)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)和植物络合素(PCs)的含量。植物根、茎、叶中镉含量都随着镉暴露浓度的增加而增加。当溶液中镉浓度较低(0.1～2 mg/L)时,茎叶中NPT、PCs、Cys和γ-EC含量随着镉浓度增加而增大;当镉浓度较高(8 mg/L)时,茎叶中PCs含量迅速降低,GSH含量大幅度增高。在根部,这些巯基化合物的含量几乎不受镉处理影响,且含量较低。以上研究结果表明:PCs在万寿菊镉的解毒机制中发挥一定的作用,暴露于高浓度的镉,GSH比PCs起着更为重要的解毒作用。     

Trends and Relationships of O3, NOx and HC in the South Coast Air Basin of California

A basin-wide air quality trend analysis for the South Coast Air Basin of California is conducted for hydrocarbons (HC), NO_x, O₃ and CO using multi-station composite daily maximum-hour average ambient concentrations for the third quarter (July, August and September) from 1968 to 1985. Emissions and air quality trends are compared for the period 1968-1984. Ambient HC and NOX trends are somewhat different from estimated emission trends of HC and NO_x, while a definite, downward trend of ambient CO is consistent with vehicular emission control measures. Basin-wide ambient HC, NO_x and O₃ appear to show downward trends for the period 1970-1985, but because of high fluctuations it is difficult to delineate trends for shorter periods. The meteorology (850 mb temperature)-adjusted O₃ shows a more consistent downward trend than does unadjusted O₃. Polynomial and multiplicative regression models for basin-wide empirical O₃-HC-NO_x relationships Indicate that the O₃ variation is explained largely by the meteorological variable (850 mb temperature) although model estimations are improved by adding HC and NO_x concentration terms.     

Stabilization and solidification of elemental mercury for safe disposal and/or long-term storage

A simple and highly effective stabilization/solidification (S/S) technology of elemental mercury using only sulfur with paraffin is introduced. First, elemental mercury is mixed with an excess of sulfur powder and heated to 60 degrees C for 30 min until elemental mercury is converted into mercuric sulfide (HgS black, metacinnabar) (Step 1). Then, metacinnabar with additional sulfur is poured into liquid paraffin (Step 2). Finally, the mixture is melted at 140 degrees C and settles to the bottom of the vessel where it cools and solidifies under the layer of liquid paraffin (Step 3). The proposed S/S method with sodium sulfide nonahydrate (Na2S x 9H2O) as an additive is also tested for comparison. The average toxicity characteristic leaching procedure test values are 6.72 microg/L (no additive) and 3.18 microg/L (with additive). Theses concentrations are well below the Universal Treatment Standard (25 microg/L). Effective diffusion coefficient evaluated from accelerated leach test and average headspace concentration of Hg vapor after 18 hr are 3.62 x 10(-15) cm2/sec, 0.55 mg/m3 (no additive) and 5.86 x 10(-13) cm2/sec, 0.25 mg/m3 (with additive).     

Municipal solid waste source-separated collection in China: A comparative analysis

A pilot program focusing on municipal solid waste (MSW) source-separated collection was launched in eight major cities throughout China in 2000. Detailed investigations were carried out and a comprehensive system was constructed to evaluate the effects of the eight-year implementation in those cities. This paper provides an overview of different methods of collection, transportation, and treatment of MSW in the eight cities; as well as making a comparative analysis of MSW source-separated collection in China. Information about the quantity and composition of MSW shows that the characteristics of MSW are similar, which are low calorific value, high moisture content and high proportion of organisms. Differences which exist among the eight cities in municipal solid waste management (MSWM) are presented in this paper. Only Beijing and Shanghai demonstrated a relatively effective result in the implementation of MSW source-separated collection. While the six remaining cities result in poor performance. Considering the current status of MSWM, source-separated collection should be a key priority. Thus, a wider range of cities should participate in this program instead of merely the eight pilot cities. It is evident that an integrated MSWM system is urgently needed. Kitchen waste and recyclables are encouraged to be separated at the source. Stakeholders involved play an important role in MSWM, thus their responsibilities should be clearly identified. Improvement in legislation, coordination mechanisms and public education are problematic issues that need to be addressed.     

拉索预应力空间网格结构的索张力计算及张拉全过程分析

实际工程中,对于拉索预应力空间网格结构的索张拉是一个需要反复调整的繁琐过程。对此,提出了一种针对多阶段多批次张拉施工全过程分析的计算方法,用以提高索张拉施工的效率。该法通过不断减小拉索实际张力与目标张力的差值来求解各索在张拉过程中应该产生的初始应变,最后只要利用计算结果并按照预定的顺序张拉,便可使所有索只经过一次张拉就能最终达到各自的目标张力值。对一个150 m跨度的拉索预应力球面巨型网格结构进行了计算,并利用计算结果,对结构的杆件内力和最大节点位移进行了张拉全过程跟踪分析。结果表明,在实际工程中采用上述方法进行计算与张拉是切实可行的,另外,在张拉过程中进行跟踪分析十分必要。