Using fuzzy set theory to address the uncertainty of susceptibility to drought

This paper presents the technical aspects of a new methodology for assessing the susceptibility of society to drought. The methodology consists of a combination of inference modelling and fuzzy logic applications. Four steps are followed: (1) model input variables are selected—these variables reflect the main factors influencing susceptibility in a social group, population or region, (2) fuzzification—the uncertainties of the input variables are made explicit by representing them as ‘fuzzy membership functions’, (3) inference modelling—the input variables are used to construct a model made up of linguistic rules, and (4) defuzzification—results from the model in linguistic form are translated into numerical form, also through the use of fuzzy membership functions. The disadvantages and advantages of this methodology became apparent when it was applied to the assessment of susceptibility from three disciplinary perspectives: Disadvantages include the difficulty in validating results and the subjectivity involved with specifying fuzzy membership functions and the rules of the inference model. Advantages of the methodology are its transparency, because all model assumptions have to be made explicit in the form of inference rules; its flexibility, in that informal and expert knowledge can be incorporated through ‘fuzzy membership functions’ and through the rules in the inference model; and its versatility, since numerical data can be converted to linguistic statements and vice versa through the procedures of ‘fuzzification’ and ‘defuzzification’.     

Combined influence of food level and inoculation density on competition between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anuraeopsis fissa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus patulus</Emphasis> or <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus macracanthus</Emphasis> (Rotifera: Brachionidae)

We tested separately the effect of two taxonomically related rotifers (B. patulus and B. macracanthus) on the population dynamics of another species (A. fissa) at low (0.5 ×10 ⁶) and high food levels (1.5 × 10⁶ cells/ml of Chlorella vulgaris) using different inoculation densities (0–100%). We also quantified the impact of A. fissa on the two brachionid species. Regardless of the presence of the competing species, an increase in the availability of food led to increase in the abundances of the three rotifers. The population growth of B. patulus, B. macracanthus, or A. fissa was affected negatively when cultured together with another species. An increase in the initial density of any one of the competing species became advantageous to maintain a certain population size. At a low algal food level, B. patulus was able to suppress A. fissa more strongly than B. macracanthus. On the other hand, at a high food level, B. macracanthus suppressed the population of A. fissa more strongly than B. patulus. Peak population densities for A. fissa varied from about 150 to 1000 ind./ml, depending on food density and the presence of competitors. The rate of population increase (r) of A. fissa, B. patulus, and B. macracanthus increased with an increase in food availability but decreased with increasing initial density of the competitor. Both Brachionus spp. experienced negative growth rates in the presence of A. fissa, especially at a high initial density of the latter. Published in Russian in Ekologiya, 2007, Vol. 38, No. 5, pp. 381–390. The article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Assessment of the natural-cultural resources in Çanakkale for nature-based tourism

While the world is going into different tourism expectations, the tourism understanding in Turkey is defined as tourism in the sea-sand-sun triangle. However, it is possible to contribute to the income and local development of the indigenous people by developing nature-based tourism. Besides, with the sustainable use and preservation of the natural-cultural assets, the damage of the traditional tourism industry on the natural and cultural environment could be reduced. In this study, it is aimed to bring up the nature-based tourism concept in Çanakkale by evaluating the nature-based tourism industry in the general of Turkey and assessing the natural-cultural resources that Çanakkale comprehends. The most important areas that have a nature-based tourism potential in Çanakkale and the tourism activities that are most suitable for these areas have been determined.     

Ambient air monitoring of PCDD/Fs and co-PCBs in Gyeonggi-do, Korea

We started the monitoring for PCDD/Fs in ambient air and soil in August 2001, and co-PCBs in January 2002. Decreasing of PCDD/Fs and co-PCBs levels in ambient air were observed. The higher PCDD/Fs levels were found in winter and lower in autumn. We found that the industrial incinerators influenced the PCDD/Fs levels in ambient air. In the 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs concentration profiles, the three major congeners occupied 67% of the total mass. In case of co-PCBs, PCB#118, #105 and #77 were observed as the main congeners. Five cluster groups discriminated by ratio of four components, O(8)CDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H(7)CDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H(7)CDF and O(8)CDF, were obtained from HCA (hierarchical cluster analysis).     

中小企业化学品职业危害预防控制指南

为了帮助中小企业控制预防控制化学品职业危害,本文详细介绍了国际劳工组织所推行的中小企业化学品职业危害控制指南,包括化学职业卫生管理的主要内容和基本步骤,关键点危险区的确定方法,改进化学品职业危害管理、实施化学品管理的良好规范、制定化学品管理行动计划和编制全面的化学品清单等方法,以达到系统提高化学品管理水平和持续改进的目标和要求.     

Fenton法氧化处理水中土霉素的研究

为了评价Fenton法预处理抗生素生产废水中残留的高浓度土霉素的可行性,对Fenton试剂(Fe2 -H2O2)法催化氧化降解水溶液中的土霉素进行了研究.探讨了H2O2与Fe2 投加比例、投加量以及起始pH值对降解效果的影响,同时考察了土霉素废水中大量共存的草酸根离子对氧化过程的影响.结果表明,当H2O2与Fe2 按照5:1的比例投加时降解效率最高,最佳初始pH值在3.0-4.0之间.在最佳投加比例下,H2O2投加量为0.9 mmol/L,100 mg/L的土霉素可在10 min内得到完全降解.最佳反应条件下经过处理后土霉素水溶液TOC的去除率达40%左右,可生化性(BOD5/COD)也得到明显的改善.水中共存的草酸根离子对氧化效率具有明显的影响,但通过增加亚铁离子的量可以消除草酸的影响.     

长江河口近岸水体自然净化作用及其初步评价

按照水体的净化机理，结合长江口和上海滨岸带近岸水体的物理、化学和生物等因素的实际特征，对近岸水体的自然净化作用进行了阐述和分析。并在历史资料和实测资料基础上，就近岸水体的自然净化作用进行了评价。评价结果表明，因长江河口近岸水体存在较强的自然净化作用机制，近岸水体体的自然净化能力较强，环境容量较大，但由于污染物输入量的不断增加，部分岸段近岸水体的环境质量有逐渐下降的趋势；近岸水体的自然净化作用具有明显的季节性变化，长江口南岸水域洪水季节水体的自然净化作用比估水季节强，而杭州湾北岸水域的自然净化作用表现为相反的变化趋势，因此建议在近岸污水排放过程中应考虑近岸水体的净化能力，遵循水体的自然净化作用规律。     

湖北省雨涝灾害的风险评估与区划

随着我国灾害科学研究的不断深入及经济建设的日益发展，从风险角度分析灾害已成为灾害分析的一种新视角，它有助于决策者进行灾害管理和制定减灾策略时有针对性地选择最优技术政策，防患于末然。雨涝灾害是湖北省最严重的气象灾害之一，据统计，湖北省平均每年受雨涝危害的农田面积为80．62万hm^2，成灾面积为47．07万hm^2，特别是20世纪80年代以来湖北省工农业生产重地江汉平原和鄂东雨涝事件明显增多，严重威胁和制约着我省国民经济持续稳定发展。依据自然灾害风险分析原理，在分析湖北省雨涝灾害孕灾环境、致灾因子、承灾体密度和经济发展水平及承灾体的抗灾能力的基础上，综合评价了湖北省雨涝灾害风险程度的地域差异，以能综合体现风险程度的风险指数作为指标，将湖北省雨涝灾害分为极重度、重度、中度和轻度四个风险区，并提出了相应的对策措施，为有关部门灾害管理和减灾决策制定提供了参考依据。     

Metabolic response under different salinity and temperature conditions for glass eel Anguilla japonica

Diadromous fish often enter freshwater directly from seawater via fish ladders or channels built in estuarine dams. The oxygen consumption rates (OCR) of glass eel, Anguilla japonica, were determined using an automatic intermittent flow respirometer under various salinity and temperature regimes to physiologically explain this direct movement. The endogenous rhythm of the OCR in wild glass eels, freshly collected from estuaries, was nearly synchronous with the tidal pattern at the estuarine collection site. When the salinity was changed from 20 psu (12°C) at a constant temperature to that of freshwater, the OCR of the glass eels decreased by 21.6±7.0% (mean ± SD) (P<0.05), showing a dampened rhythm for about 48 h. After this period of impediment, the glass eels resumed normal metabolic activity. Direct migration from seawater to freshwater under constant temperature would result in a severe physiological stress for these glass eels for about two days. When the glass eels were exposed to a cyclic change in water temperature of 2°C 26 h⁻¹, as they encounter in estuaries, and then were introduced to freshwater abruptly, the OCR rhythm corresponded to the cyclic changes in water temperature after exposure to freshwater. Under these conditions, the mean OCR of the glass eels had a small difference before and after exposure to freshwater. These data explained how glass eels can directly move from sea water into the freshwater without any apparent metabolic stress in the estuaries showing cyclic change in water temperature (Δt=2°C).