Decision Making in a Human Population Living Sustainably

Abstract: The Tiwi people of northern Australia have managed natural resources continuously for 6000–8000 years. Tiwi management objectives and outcomes may reflect how they gather information about the environment. We qualitatively analyzed Tiwi documents and management techniques to examine the relation between the social and physical environment of decision makers and their decision‐making strategies. We hypothesized that principles of bounded rationality, namely, the use of efficient rules to navigate complex decision problems, explain how Tiwi managers use simple decision strategies (i.e., heuristics) to make robust decisions. Tiwi natural resource managers reduced complexity in decision making through a process that gathers incomplete and uncertain information to quickly guide decisions toward effective outcomes. They used management feedback to validate decisions through an information loop that resulted in long‐term sustainability of environmental use. We examined the Tiwi decision‐making processes relative to management of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) fisheries and contrasted their management with the state government's management of barramundi. Decisions that enhanced the status of individual people and their attainment of aspiration levels resulted in reliable resource availability for Tiwi consumers. Different decision processes adopted by the state for management of barramundi may not secure similarly sustainable outcomes.     

Comparative study of plasma lead levels in the staff of Dandy Zinc Factory of Zanjan and in normal individuals

Pollution is a global problem which affects various human population functions. Despite the decline in plasma lead (Pb) levels among the general population during the past 20 years, this metal continues to be a public health concern for individuals with past and present exposures. The objective of this study was to determine blood lead levels (BPbL) in the staff of Dandy Zinc Company and compare them to control subjects. The test group included 40 staff of Dandy Zinc Company of Zanjan, while controls were selected from general population. Five milliliters of blood and plasma was sent to Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AOEI) reference lab to measure BPbL by Flameless Atomic Absorption. BPbL in test group (16.6 + 8.18 µg dL^?1) was significantly higher than control (10.47 + 2.10 µg dL^?1). In both groups BPbL was significantly higher in smokers than non-smokers. Blood lead levels in molding workers were significantly higher than other workers. BPbL in exposed workers were directly related to duration of work and age. Data indicate Pb exposure was of significant magnitude to be a public health concern especially in zinc-and Pb-related industries.     

Concentrations of Heavy Metals in Muscle with Relation to the Growth of Two Marine Fish Species

Heavy metal concentrations in muscle and their relation to thegrowth of two marine fish species,including tonguefish( Cynoglossus arel) and mullet( Mugil cephalus),were studied. The samples were collected in Bach Dang estuary andconcentrations of heavy metals( As,Cd,Co,Mn,Cu,Zn,Pb,and V) in muscle of the fisheswere determined. The result showed that the accumulated trend of heavy metal is different between fish species. The concentration of As,Zn,Mn,V,Cu,Pb,Co and Cd in tonguefish were 73. 7 ± 30. 6,22. 82 ± 4.87,3. 44 ± 2. 13,1. 61 ± 0. 15,0. 71 ± 0. 13,0. 45 ± 0. 24,0. 03 ± 0. 02 and 0. 02 ± 0. 02 mg·g-1,respectively. Meanwhile the concentration of Zn,As,V,Mn,Cu,Pb,Co and Cd in mullet were 83. 41 ±19. 68,9. 78 ± 1. 92,1. 36 ± 0. 54,1. 29 ± 0. 51,0. 65 ± 0. 12,0. 42 ± 0. 20,0. 06 ± 0. 03 and0. 03 ± 0. 01mg·g-1,respectively. Comparison of metal levels among thesespecies indicated that the concentrations of As and Mn in tonguefish were significantly higher than those in mullet,whereas Zn levels in mullet were found to be higher than that in tonguefish. There is no significant differences of Cd,Co,Cu,Pb and V levels in muscle between two species. Significant inversed relationshipsbetween concentration levels of metals and lengths of tonguefish were found for Mn,Cu and Zn,butnot for As,Cd,Pb,and V. There were no significant relationships between the heavy metal concentrations and the length of mullet. In general,decreasesof the heavy metal concentrations corresponded to the increases of fish body lengths,particularly for As,Co,Cu,Mn and V and the exception for Cd. Terefore reduced risks were associated with consuming biggermullet fish,and increased risks of As and Cd were associated with consuming bigger tonguefish in Bach Dang river mouth.     

Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of benzene homologues in ambient air in the northeastern urban area of Beijing, China

Ambient benzene homologues were measured at a site in the northeastern urban area of Beijing, China, from August 24 to September 4, 2012 by SUMMA canister sampling followed by laboratory determination using cryogenic cold trap pre-concentration-GC-MS/FID, and their health risks were also assessed. Daily total benzene homologues ranged from 0.99 to 49.71 μg/m3with an average of 11.98 μg/m3. Benzene homologues showed higher concentrations in the morning and evening than that at noontime. Comparison with previous studies revealed a trend of decrease for ambient benzene homologues probably due to the efective emission control in Beijing in recent years. Vehicular exhaust was the main source while volatilization of paints and solvents also made substantial contributions. Health risk assessment showed that BTEX(benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene) and styrene had no appreciable adverse non-cancer health risks for the exposed population, while benzene has potential cancer risk of 1.34E-05. Available data from cities in China all implied that benzene imposes relatively higher cancer risk on the exposed populations and therefore strict control measures should be taken to further lower ambient benzene levels in China.     

爆炸荷载作用下岩石的变形与破坏研究(Ⅱ)

无论是矿山工程、隧道工程中钻孔爆破效率的提高、工程爆破领域爆破振动参数的预测,还是最近一系列高技术常规局部战争中钻地炸弹对地下坚固目标的破坏,在不考虑岩石中强爆炸引起的光子和电磁辐射等极端效应情况下,都亟待要求对岩石中爆炸引起的应力、变形及其它运动参数和破坏效应作出比较准确的评估。目前对此问题的研究尚只能达到大致的机理及景象的定性认识和描述,定量上的确定存在数量级的误差,尤其是爆炸和冲击的近区,误差更大。其原因在于岩石中爆炸产生的变形和破坏特征,不仅与作用时发生相应的物理及力学运动密切相关,而且强烈地受岩石自身构造缺陷水平及其变化的制约。本文概述了爆炸作用下岩石的动力变形与破坏研究之现状。研究中考虑了岩石的构造特点及其对基本力学性状的影响,并简述了其研究的新趋向。     

Effects on fisheries and waterbirds of raising water levels at Kerkini Reservoir,a Ramsar site in northern greece

A new, higher dam was installed at Kerkini Reservoir in 1982, causing habitat and landscape disruption. A decrease in the area of grassland and shallow water areas, the rapid disappearance of reedbeds, the appearance of beds ofNymphaea, and the disappearance of half the forest area were all observed between 1982 and 1991. With the new hydrological regime, a lacustrine system was created, with an extensive, rather deep (4–8 m), pelagic zone favorable for the development of coarse fish species throughout the year. After 1982, an increase in fishing effort and a change in the relative abundance of fish species in the catch, including the disappearance of eels and wels, were observed. The impact of the rise in the water level of breeding aquatic birds led to a general decline in species typical of marshy habitats in favor of species preferring deeper open water habitats. A decrease was recorded in bird species that feed largely on invertebrates and to a lesser extent fish (e.g., glossy ibis) and that require extensive shallow feeding areas. There was a decline in geese, whose nests were regularly flooded, and a major increase in piscivorous birds, particularly diving birds (e.g., cormorants), which prefer deeper open water and benefitted directly from the large increase in coarse fish biomass. The disappearance of birds breeding in flooded meadows (e.g., black-winged stilts) and of those restricted to reedbeds (e.g., marsh harrier) occurred from 1983. Over the same period, the changes in populations of wintering birds at Kerkini were different from those occurring in other wetlands in northern Greece. The changes recorded in the populations of wintering birds at Kerkini did not therefore result from overall regional trends but from the major habitat modifications that occurred to this wetland. As for breeding birds, strictly piscivorous species increased greatly as a result of the increased availability of fish, but also due to the appearance of many suitable night roosting sites (flooded trees) and to the great increase in the area of open water greater than 2 m deep. Today, Kerkini has become the most important breeding site in Greece for a majority of colonial waterbirds. In contrast, wintering shorebirds practically disappeared. The many changes recorded in the status of breeding and wintering birds at Kerkini can mostly be explained by the changes that occurred in the functioning of the ecosystem and in the habitat structure following the inauguration of the new hydrological regime. These changes did not all occur at the same time: some were immediate and others required a delay before they could be detected.     

抗震性能设计的发展

现行建筑抗震设计规范是以保证人的生命安全为基本目标进行抗震设防的,即在小震和中等强度地震作用下控制结构的损伤发展,而在罕遇地震作用下防止结构倒塌.然而,据此设计的建筑由地震所造成的使用功能丧失而震后恢复重建所需费用或所花费的时间可能大大超过社会和业主所能承受的限度.因此,未来建筑在多级水准设防地震下的设计需达到多级性能水准已形成共识.基于性能的抗震设计将发展形成未来抗震设计规范.综述了基于性能的抗震设计的最新发展状况,提出了它存在的问题及进一步发展的趋势.     

试论执行力文化的构建与政府行政效率的提高

首先论述了执行力文化的提出及内涵,随后说明了导致政府行政效率低下的3个原因,由此引出了在政府中倡导构建执行力文化是提高政府效率的有效手段,最后以秦皇岛市为例,说明了在政府中如何构建执行力文化的几个方面内容.     

浅谈光气及光气化生产装置安全和防护措施

研究了国内外光气及光气化生产装置光气事故特征,指出事故主要原因是人为失误、设计缺陷和设备及管道腐蚀。结合在国内最大的光气发生及光气化生产装置多年生产实践,分析了可导致光气泄漏的直接危险因素是工艺设计条件、光气滞留量以及装置设计缺陷,包括设备、管道、仪表、自控、联锁等;分析了对光气安全监测和泄漏防护不当,或没有设计二级减缓措施,导致事故一旦发生,不能快速有效监测和得到控制;认为缺乏有效的安全管理和培训机制,违章操作和违章指挥同样可导致事故的发生。上述因素可通过选择合适的工艺路线,严格装置设计条件,增加快速高效的在线监测,切实可行的减缓措施和健全有效的光气安全生产管理5个层次,对光气及光气化生产装置的安全及其防护,提出了解决的办法和可行对策。     

环境行政执法难的理性分析与实践对策

环境行政执法难是非常态法律现象。从哲学的高度对环境行政执法难进行理性分析，环境行政执法难是多因素群共创的结果。对环境行政执法难的内外因进行解构，分清主次，着重解决影响环境执法难的主因，并适当关注影响环境执法难的助因，同时基于应然立场提出解决问题的实践进路。