Prospects for Reconciling the Conflict between Economic Growth and Biodiversity Conservation with Technological Progress

Abstract: The conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation is understood in portions of academia and sometimes acknowledged in political circles. Nevertheless, there is not a unified response. In political and policy circles, the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) is posited to solve the conflict between economic growth and environmental protection. In academia, however, the EKC has been deemed fallacious in macroeconomic scenarios and largely irrelevant to biodiversity. A more compelling response to the conflict is that it may be resolved with technological progress. Herein I review the conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation in the absence of technological progress, explore the prospects for technological progress to reconcile that conflict, and provide linguistic suggestions for describing the relationships among economic growth, technological progress, and biodiversity conservation. The conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation is based on the first two laws of thermodynamics and principles of ecology such as trophic levels and competitive exclusion. In this biophysical context, the human economy grows at the competitive exclusion of nonhuman species in the aggregate. Reconciling the conflict via technological progress has not occurred and is infeasible because of the tight linkage between technological progress and economic growth at current levels of technology. Surplus production in existing economic sectors is required for conducting the research and development necessary for bringing new technologies to market. Technological regimes also reflect macroeconomic goals, and if the goal is economic growth, reconciliatory technologies are less likely to be developed. As the economy grows, the loss of biodiversity may be partly mitigated with end‐use innovation that increases technical efficiency, but this type of technological progress requires policies that are unlikely if the conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation (and other aspects of environmental protection) is not acknowledged.     

重金属超积累植物的研究进展

植物修复技术是治理土壤重金属污染的重要手段之一。在倡导绿色技术的今天，人们更看到了它的巨大潜力，而超积累植物则是该技术的关键。文章就超积累植物的概念、特征，修复机制，产后处置技术和开发现状作了详尽的叙述，并对今后超积累植物研究存在的问题和发展方向作了有益的探讨。     

水安全及城市水安全研究进展与趋势

归纳和总结国内外水安全及城市水安全相关研究实践及其所用的评价指标体系,并对几种常用模型与方法的应用情况及其各自的特点进行分析,针对目前水安全及城市水安全研究中存在的主要问题,指出水安全及城市水安全进一步研究的方向:从自然、生态环境、社会经济、人文4个基本方向,以系统性、持续性、动态性和层次性4个特征为基础,分析水安全及城市水安全的概念与内涵;根据研究区域特征及其主要水安全问题建立评价指标体系;以研究者对各个模型的理解程度及驾驭能力为准则选用或改造现有模型与方法;针对加强城市应急水源地建设、突发性水安全事件应急预案、湿润地区水安全等问题开展研究。     

Environmental evaluation for workplace violence in healthcare and social services

PROBLEM: Federal policy recommends environmental strategies as part of a comprehensive workplace violence program in healthcare and social services. The purpose of this project was to contribute specific, evidence-based guidance to the healthcare and social services employer communities regarding the use of environmental design to prevent violence. METHOD: A retrospective record review was conducted of environmental evaluations that were performed by an architect in two Participatory Action Research (PAR) projects for workplace violence prevention in 2000 and, in the second project in 2005. Ten facility environmental evaluation reports along with staff focus group reports from these facilities were analyzed to categorize environmental risk factors for Type II workplace violence. RESULTS: Findings were grouped according to their impact on access control, the ability to observe patients (natural surveillance), patient and worker safety (territoriality), and activity support. DISCUSSION: The environmental assessment findings reveal design and security issues that, if corrected, would improve safety and security of staff, patients, and visitors and reduce fear and unpredictability. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Healthcare and social assistance employers can improve the effectiveness of violence prevention efforts by including an environmental assessment with complementary hazard controls.     

Long‐Term Dynamics of a Fragmented Rainforest Mammal Assemblage

Abstract: Habitat fragmentation is a severe threat to tropical biotas, but its long‐term effects are poorly understood. We evaluated longer‐term changes in the abundance of larger (>1 kg) mammals in fragmented and intact rainforest and in riparian “corridors” in tropical Queensland, with data from 190 spotlighting surveys conducted in 1986–1987 and 2006–2007. In 1986–1987 when most fragments were already 20–50 years old, mammal assemblages differed markedly between fragmented and intact forest. Most vulnerable were lemuroid ringtail possums (Hemibelideus lemuroides), followed by Lumholtz's tree‐kangaroos (Dendrolagus lumholtzi) and Herbert River ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus herbertensis). Further changes were evident 20 years later. Mammal species richness fell significantly in fragments, and the abundances of 4 species, coppery brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula johnstoni), green ringtail possums (Pseudochirops archeri), red‐legged pademelons (Thylogale stigmatica), and tree‐kangaroos, declined significantly. The most surprising finding was that the lemuroid ringtail, a strict rainforest specialist, apparently recolonized one fragment, despite a 99.98% decrease in abundance in fragments and corridors. A combination of factors, including long‐term fragmentation effects, shifts in the surrounding matrix vegetation, and recurring cyclone disturbances, appear to underlie these dynamic changes in mammal assemblages.     

连续型空间故障树中因素重要度分布的定义与认知

为了解工作环境条件因素对系统故障概率的影响的特征,同时丰富连续型空间故障树(CSFT)的理论框架,提出因素重要度分布的概念。因素重要度分布从经典故障树的概率重要度发展而来,目的是研究系统所处环境因素变化导致系统可靠性变化的程度。给出元件和系统的因素重要度分布概念、公式及所需基础数据,并分析因素重要度分布的正负分布特点。使用该概念研究元件X1和系统T的因素t重要度分布和因素c重要度分布。结果表明:在不同环境中,对于因素t或c变化影响元件或系统的故障概率变化程度是不同的。因素重要度分布有效地表达了t和c对元件或系统的故障概率影响特征。     

低温低浊高色水源水处理的进展研究

针对低温低浊高色水源水质特征,对近年低温絮凝剂、低温强化混凝技术、低温膜集成技术研发与应用现状进行了综合论述.通过对低温混凝剂的絮凝机理与效果、各技术低温保持水质达标的应对策略的深入剖析,预测低温低浊高色水处理的发展趋势.研究表明,开发低温专用的高效低耗、质优价廉、无毒无二次污染的载体絮凝水处理剂,探索在不增加甚至减少工程造价条件下对低温期及平常期水处理均有效的工艺,是低温低浊高色水源水处理的关键.     

农作物秸秆综合利用的研究进展综述

通过对农作物秸秆的研究现状、处理方法及综合应用情况进行综述,归纳出了目前农作物秸秆综合利用领域、主要处理方法及需要突破的关键技术.明确了突破农作物秸秆外表面物质结构实现完全降解和完成内部纤维素、半纤维素等高分子化合物降解转化是综合利用农作物秸秆研究的重点和难点.同时指出了解决农作物秸秆综合利用的技术层面、法律层面和人文认知理念等方面的发展趋势,为高效利用农作物秸秆及开展关键技术攻关提供参考.     

浙江省排污权有偿使用价格的实例研究

以浙江省各地市排污权有偿使用价格为基础进行研究,介绍了浙江省排污权初始价格计算方法和浙江省各试点地区相关情况,进行了影响排污权有偿使用价格的相关性分析,提出影响排污权有偿使用价格的回归分析,文中运用实证分析,就排污权有偿使用价格与影响其价格的各个因子分别进行了单因素的相关性分析和多因素的线性回归分析,得出回归模型,认为污染治理成本大小对价格有着显著的影响,污染治理法是现阶段理想的初始排污权定价方法.     

进出口工业化学品风险管理与风险评估进展

我国是世界化学品生产和贸易的大国。大量化学品的生产和进出口贸易给我国化学品风险管理和风险评估带来了巨大挑战。在借鉴发达国家和经济组织对化学品风险管理经验和评估技术的基础上,我国在近年来也逐步开展了化学品的管理和控制,以应对当前日益突出的化学品环境安全和健康安全事故。本文从我国化学品管理与国外化学品风险管理之间的对比出发,在梳理化学品管理政策发展的过程中,重点就我国环境保护部门对有毒和进口化学品、新化学物质和废弃危险化学品以及质检部门对进出口工业化学品的管理和控制措施,以及化学品的评估技术进行了综述。通过与发达国家就化学品风险管理与评估技术的对比,指出我国目前化学品管理和评估的不足与欠缺,并提出一些可行的应对措施与办法,为完善我国化学品风险管理和评估提供一定的参考。