Assessing the value of pastoral farming in the Alps using choice experiments: evidence for public policies and management

Alpine livestock farms consist of pastures, buildings, people and animals, and are a key element for the economy in the Alps. Pastures and huts are often owned by the local municipalities, who lease them to private tenants. However, this activity is often no longer profitable, and thus pastures and huts remain unused and abandoned. This research provides an economic estimate of pastoral farming using the choice experiment (CE) method, also assessing the willingness to pay (WTP) for pastoral farming functions. The study examines different scenarios of upland farm management in order to provide recommendations for public owners on how to better manage these assets. The case study is located in an alpine area in northern Italy. Our results show a higher WTP for the attributes related to the traditional Alpine agricultural economy, with an emphasis on grazing. Several policy implications regarding agricultural renewal and support for mountain livelihoods are highlighted in the conclusions.     

Internal short circuit and accelerated rate calorimetry tests of lithium-ion cells: Considerations for methane-air intrinsic safety and explosion proof/flameproof protection methods

Researchers with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studied the potential for lithium-ion cell thermal runaway from an internal short circuit in equipment for use in underground coal mines. In this third phase of the study, researchers compared plastic wedge crush-induced internal short circuit tests of selected lithium-ion cells within methane (CH₄)-air mixtures with accelerated rate calorimetry tests of similar cells. Plastic wedge crush test results with metal oxide lithium-ion cells extracted from intrinsically safe evaluated equipment were mixed, with one cell model igniting the chamber atmosphere while another cell model did not. The two cells models exhibited different internal short circuit behaviors. A lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) cell model was tolerant to crush-induced internal short circuits within CH₄-air, tested under manufacturer recommended charging conditions. Accelerating rate calorimetry tests with similar cells within a nitrogen purged 353-mL chamber produced ignitions that exceeded explosion proof and flameproof enclosure minimum internal pressure design criteria. Ignition pressures within a 20-L chamber with 6.5% CH₄-air were relatively low, with much larger head space volume and less adiabatic test conditions. The literature indicates that sizeable lithium thionyl chloride (LiSOCl₂) primary (non rechargeable) cell ignitions can be especially violent and toxic. Because ignition of an explosive atmosphere is expected within explosion proof or flameproof enclosures, there is a need to consider the potential for an internal explosive atmosphere ignition in combination with a lithium or lithium-ion battery thermal runaway process, and the resulting effects on the enclosure.     

Is this trail too crowded? A choice experiment to evaluate tradeoffs and preferences of park visitors in Garibaldi Park,British Columbia

Large crowds in parks can be a problem for park managers and visitors. However, perceptions of crowding are difficult to measure due to coping mechanisms deployed by park visitors. Furthermore, perceptions of crowding should not be measured in isolation, but rather as part of a suite of conditions that comprise the visitors’ outdoor experience. We used a dichotomous choice experiment with visual images and eight attributes to estimate park users’ utilities associated with their visitor experience in Garibaldi Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. Our visual method allowed us to control for background view and compare user preferences on hiking trails with preferences at final destinations. We find that utilities are more sensitive to crowding at viewpoints than to other aspects of the outdoor experience. Thus, visitor satisfaction and crowding perceptions are more likely to be defined by where visitors have these encounters rather than the total number of encounters.     

常州市环境空气质量功能区划调整研究

以尊重自然、顺应自然为原则,立足常州大气环境质量分布特征及污染源排放规律,以自然保护区、风景名胜区和其他需要特殊保护的区域为基线,综合气象环境均一性分析、大气环境敏感区域识别的结果进行优化,再与城市总规"四区划定"进行协调性分析后最终确定环境空气质量功能区划调整方案。     

磷矿采空区风险管理体系探讨

磷矿采空区灾害会带来严重的风险问题.采空区风险管理体系的研究有利于风险的控制.本文在论述了磷矿采空区的危害及后果的基础上,概述了磷矿采空区风险的构成并进行了计算,同时指出磷矿采空区风险管理系统的实施关键是进行风险分析、风险评价和风险控制,以对当前存在的风险及时进行处理,减少灾害的发生,从而将损失降到最低.     

乌鲁木齐铁路地区锅炉除尘现状分析

通过对１９９５￣１９９７年采暖期乌鲁木齐铁路地区７０台锅炉的烟尘监测,对铁路地区的锅炉除尘现状有了一定的了解,并对该区现有锅炉和除尘器的运行状况进行了分析。     

干旱荒漠区人工绿洲土壤盐碱化风险综合评估与演变分析

为明晰干旱荒漠区人工绿洲水盐时空分异特征与盐碱化风险空间格局演变过程,以甘肃省景电灌区为研究区,以2002,2010及2018年为研究代表年,基于多级模糊理论从地质气候驱动、水土环境驱动和自然-人类驱动3个驱动过程构建土壤盐碱化风险评估体系,集成云发生器原理、黄金分割率法、组合赋权法以及排队理论构建土壤盐碱化空间风险综...     

浙江省沿海地区农村房屋抗风情况调研

对浙江省沿海地区的农村房屋抗风情况进行了调研,总结了被破坏房屋的主要结构特点。在对现有房屋的统计中发现相对不富裕地区高达60%以上的房屋属于抗风能力差和较差的,而一些比较富裕且受过台风袭击有过惨痛教训地区的房屋抗风能力差和较差的仅在20%以下。进一步研究发现抗风能力较好的房屋大都是建造年代不久,多为混凝土现浇板屋盖,上部多为框架或砖混结构,而抗风能力较差和差的大都为建造年代已久,多为小青瓦屋面,上部结构多为砖木结构或构造措施较差的砖混结构。同时对当地村民传统的"砖头压瓦"防护措施进行理论验算,得出当风速超过台风界限风速时,屋面上的砖头将会飞起,该措施应该避免。     

受限空间煤尘爆炸毒害气体传播伤害研究

为减少煤矿煤尘爆炸后毒气对人的危害,为煤矿防爆、抑爆和安全评价,以及事故应急救援等提供理论依据,研究了煤尘爆炸后毒气的传播伤害规律。基于质量守恒定律与空气动力学理论,建立煤尘爆炸后风流作用下的毒害气体在受限空间内的数学传播模型,得到巷道内毒气传播的弥散系数,计算出沿爆炸传播方向毒气浓度随距离变化的关系,划分伤害三区并推导出相应的伤害范围计算公式。研究表明:毒气传播的峰值点随风流方向移动,其峰值点浓度逐渐变小。     

江苏沿海地区化工事故时空变化分析与对策研究

统计汇总了2006—2009年江苏沿海地区发生的化工事故,分析事故发生的时间趋势、空间分布、事故原因、死亡人数以及类型等特点。结果表明:事故发生频次稳定,增长趋势不明显。71%的事故发生于园区内,29%的事故发生在分散企业。连云港事故主要发生于沿海化工区密集带,盐城事故主要分布于沿海化工区域,少数发生在内陆地区,南通事故发生地点较为分散。总体来看,江苏沿海地区化工事故具有数量多,影响广,造成的环境经济损失较大的特点。