Determinants of the Willingness-to-Participate in an Environmental Intervention in a Beirut Neighborhood

Participatory environmental management can empower communities and enhance the sustainability of environmental interventions. However, existing power structures and inequalities along class, gender, or ethnic lines could prevent part of the community from accessing the full benefits of the intervention. An analysis of determinants of the willingness-to-participate in an environmental intervention in a Beirut neighborhood is conducted. Socioeconomic, health-risk distribution, and perception of community efficacy are used as predictors. A randomly selected sample of residents was surveyed. Respondents were asked to specify the frequency with which they were willing to be involved in an intervention to address priority environmental problems in the neighborhood. Bivariate and multivariate ordinal regression analyses were conducted. Tests of significance were based on the 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the odds ratio (OR). Males versus females (OR = 4.89, P < 0.001), respiratory patients versus nonsufferers (OR = 5.65, P < 0.001), tenants versus house owners (OR = 2.98, P < 0.01), and the less educated versus the more educated (OR = 2.42, P < 0.05) were significantly more likely to be willing to participate. The reluctance of female community members to participate might be a major hindrance to community-based environmental protection and special strategies must be devised to overcome it. On the other hand, respondents suffering from an illness perceived to be related to environmental toxins are likely to be strong participants in environmental conservation efforts. Finally, the study yielded no evidence that belief or lack of it in the efficacy of community action is a good predictor of the willingness-to-participate in such action.     

Antepartum rupture of the intertwin-dividing membrane in monochorionic diamniotic twins: a case report and review of the literature

We report a case of monochorionic diamniotic twin gestation confirmed by ultrasound visualization of the thin intertwin-dividing membrane at 32 weeks' gestation. Ultrasound at 36 weeks failed to demonstrate the thin dividing membrane. The pregnancy ended a few days later with spontaneous vaginal delivery of the first twin. The second twin was in transverse lie with no membranes that could be felt around. Severe fetal heart rate deceleration developed, prompting delivery by emergency caesarean section. Cord entanglement was noted at the time of delivery, which resulted in severe perinatal morbidity of the second twin. The antepartum rupture of the dividing membrane must have happened some time between 32 and 36 weeks. The etiology for this intrauterine disruption is unknown. A review of the literature about the antepartum rupture of the intertwin-dividing membrane is described, along with its possible causes and complications. In addition, we discuss possible causes of incorrect amnionicity determination, and thus how to minimize these pitfalls. We conclude that antepartum disruption of the intertwin-dividing membrane is more common than previously thought. Moreover, prenatal ultrasonographic visualization of a dividing membrane in a diamniotic twin pregnancy does not rule out future change in this environment to a monoamniotic one, with all its perinatal morbidity and mortality complications, which result mainly from cord entanglement. This suggests a modification in the method and frequency of the prenatal fetal well-being follow-up, as well as the time and mode of delivery. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

我国沙尘暴灾害及其研究进展与展望

我国强沙尘暴灾害的逐年加剧是气候干暖化背景下，沙化土地扩展的结果，沙土暴的频发已经成为我国北方生态环境恶化的重要标志，加强对我国沙尘暴的研究已成为当务之急。本文阐述了我国沙尘暴灾害的现状及动态演变，综合分析了沙尘暴发生发展的成因，评述了我国沙尘暴的研究历史、进展及存在的问题。     

Sustainable Management for the Eastern Mediterranean Coast of Turkey

The objective of this article is to propose a program for the integrated coastal zone management that is required to stimulate and guide sustainable development of the Mediterranean coastal zone of Turkey. Improved data collection, quality control, analysis, and data management will provide a firm basis for future scientific understanding of the East Mediterranean coast of Turkey and will support long-term management. Various innovative procedures were proposed for a promising ecosystem-based approach to manage coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean: remote data acquisition with new technologies; environmental quality monitoring program that will provide a baseline for monitoring; linking a Geographic Information System (GIS) with natural resource management decision routines in the context of operational wetlands, fisheries, tourism management system; environmental sensitivity analysis to ensure that permitted developments are environmentally sustainable; and use of natural species to restore the wetlands and coastal dunes and sustain the system processes. The proposed management scheme will benefit the scientific community in the Mediterranean and the management/planning community in Eastern Turkey.     

Temporal variations in atmospheric CO2 concentrations in Kuwait City,Kuwait with comparisons to Phoenix,Arizona, USA

Hourly atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration measurements are available from 1996 to present for a suburban site within the growing metropolitan area of Kuwait City. Analyses of this record reveal (a) an annual cycle with highest values in February and lowest values in September reflecting the growth and decay of vegetation in the Northern Hemisphere as well as fluctuations in motor traffic, (b) a weekly cycle with highest values during the weekdays and lowest values during weekends, and (c) a diurnal cycle with highest values after sunset when the local atmosphere becomes more stable following vehicular emission of CO2 throughout the day and lowest values in late afternoon following several hours of relatively unstable conditions. During the daytime, CO2 concentrations are related to wind direction, with westerly winds (coming from the desert) promoting lowest CO2 concentrations. At night, lowest CO2 levels are associated with higher wind speeds and winds from the north. The findings from the Kuwait City area, particularly when contrasted with the situation in Phoenix, further our understanding of the dynamics of CO2 levels in urban environments.     

冀西北间山盆地区景观格局变化及优化研究——以河北省怀来县为例

景观格局的改变会对区域生态系统功能产生影响,对其格局进行优化调控是维持区域生态系统功能稳定性的重要手段。研究以怀来县为例,通过解译判读1993、2003和2013年3期遥感影像,分析了研究区景观格局特征,发现研究区景观破碎化程度呈上升趋势,结合各景观类型在地形位上的分布特征和生态系统服务功能,运用最小累积阻力模型构建了生态源地、生态廊道和生态节点等景观组分,整体连通性指数（dIIC）和可能连通性指数（dPC）评价结果表明河流交汇处及水库周边等区域对景观连通性重要值最大,然后划分了景观生态维持区、景观生态恢复区、景观生态功能强化区和景观生态功能保护区,为该地区景观生态优化提供指导 借鉴。     

模拟废水中钯的微生物回收及其对亚甲基蓝的催化特性

以粪肠球菌(Enterococcus faecalis)Z5菌株(CCTCC M2012445)为菌种资源,探讨了其在外源电子供体条件下以纳米颗粒形式回收溶液中钯的可能性,研究了工业废液(IW)、废旧电路板(PCBS)和废汽车催化剂(SAC)3种模拟废水中钯的回收率,分析了废水中其它离子对钯回收率的影响.结果表明,粪肠球菌Z5菌株可以从3种模拟废水中回收钯纳米颗粒.X射线衍射和透射电镜分析表明,回收产物为10 nm左右粒径的钯纳米颗粒,主要分布于细胞周质.3种废水中钯的回收率依次为IWSACPCBS,其中吸附率依次为99.8%(6 h)、99.7%(8 h)、90.3%(12 h),还原率依次为99.9%(4 h)、99.9%(6 h)、80.4%(36 h).模拟废水中Pt(Ⅳ)、Ag(Ⅰ)、Cu(Ⅱ)、Au(Ⅲ)和Fe(Ⅱ)对钯的还原和吸附过程都存在影响.具体地,钯的还原效率受影响程度依次为Au(Ⅲ)Pt(Ⅳ)Cu(Ⅱ)Ag(Ⅰ)Fe(Ⅱ).进一步将回收所得的纳米钯掺杂四氧化三铁,可应用于非均相芬顿反应中染料亚甲基蓝降解,80 min内亚甲基蓝的降解率为96.7%,显示出良好的催化性能.     

渤海海冰作为淡水资源：脱盐机理与可利用价值

我国北部沿海地区缺水问题十分严重,但冬季在渤海及黄海北部形成较大范围的海冰。海冰因其成冰过程中盐分大量析出而盐度很低,可能成为解决这些地区缺水问题的重要淡水资源。论文根据实地观测和室内不同盐度海水的实验分析,阐述了渤海海冰盐度变化和海水成冰脱盐过程,并采用二次成冰脱盐和离心脱盐等方法,分析了海冰经进一步人工淡化的可能性,探讨了海冰作为淡水资源的可利用价值。