Predictive Model of Avian Electrocution Risk on Overhead Power Lines

Electrocution on overhead power structures negatively affects avian populations in diverse ecosystems worldwide, contributes to the endangerment of raptor populations in Europe and Africa, and is a major driver of legal action against electric utilities in North America. We investigated factors associated with avian electrocutions so poles that are likely to electrocute a bird can be identified and retrofitted prior to causing avian mortality. We used historical data from southern California to identify patterns of avian electrocution by voltage, month, and year to identify species most often killed by electrocution in our study area and to develop a predictive model that compared poles where an avian electrocution was known to have occurred (electrocution poles) with poles where no known electrocution occurred (comparison poles). We chose variables that could be quantified by personnel with little training in ornithology or electric systems. Electrocutions were more common at distribution voltages (≤33 kV) and during breeding seasons and were more commonly reported after a retrofitting program began. Red‐tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) (n = 265) and American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) (n = 258) were the most commonly electrocuted species. In the predictive model, 4 of 14 candidate variables were required to distinguish electrocution poles from comparison poles: number of jumpers (short wires connecting energized equipment), number of primary conductors, presence of grounding, and presence of unforested unpaved areas as the dominant nearby land cover. When tested against a sample of poles not used to build the model, our model distributed poles relatively normally across electrocution‐risk values and identified the average risk as higher for electrocution poles relative to comparison poles. Our model can be used to reduce avian electrocutions through proactive identification and targeting of high‐risk poles for retrofitting. Modelo Predictivo del Riesgo de Electrocución de Aves en Líneas Eléctricas Elevadas     

Fate in soil of 14C-sulfadiazine residues contained in the manure of young pigs treated with a veterinary antibiotic

The fate of ¹⁴C-labeled sulfadiazine (¹⁴C-SDZ) residues was studied in time-course experiments for 218 days of incubation using two soils (A_p horizon of loamy sand, orthic luvisol; A_p horizon of silt loam, cambisol) amended with fresh and aged (6 months) ¹⁴C-manure [40 g kg^?1 of soil; 6.36 mg of sulfadiazine (SDZ) equivalents per kg of soil], which was derived from two shoats treated with ¹⁴C-SDZ. Mineralization of ¹⁴C-SDZ residues was below 2% after 218 days depending little on soil type. Portions of extractable ¹⁴C (ethanol-water, 9:1, v/v) decreased with time to 4–13% after 218 days of incubation with fresh and aged ¹⁴C-manure and both soils. Non-extractable residues were the main route of the fate of the ¹⁴C-SDZ residues (above 90% of total recovered ¹⁴C after 218 days). These residues were high immediately after amendment depending on soil type and aging of the ¹⁴C-manure, and were stable and not remobilized throughout 218 days of incubation. Bioavailable portions (extraction using CaCl₂ solution) also decreased with increasing incubation period (5–7% after 218 days). Due to thin-layer chromatography (TLC), 500 μg of ¹⁴C-SDZ per kg soil were found in the ethanol-water extracts immediately after amendment with fresh ¹⁴C-manure, and about 50 μg kg^?1 after 218 days. Bioavailable ¹⁴C-SDZ portions present in the CaCl₂ extracts were about 350 μg kg^?1 with amendment. Higher concentrations were initially detected with aged ¹⁴C-manure (ethanol-water extracts: 1,920 μg kg^?1; CaCl₂ extracts: 1,020 μg kg^?1), probably due to release of ¹⁴C-SDZ from bound forms during storage. Consistent results were obtained by extraction of the ¹⁴C-manure-soil samples with ethyl acetate; portions of N-acetylated SDZ were additionally determined. All soluble ¹⁴C-SDZ residues contained in ¹⁴C-manure contributed to the formation of non-extractable residues; a tendency for persistence or accumulation was not observed. SDZ's non-extractable soil residues were associated with the soluble HCl, fulvic acids and humic acids fractions, and the insoluble humin fraction. The majority of the non-extractable residues appeared to be due to stable covalent binding to soil organic matter.     

近50年鄱阳湖五大流域降水变化特征研究

基于鄱阳湖流域在江西省内部分对应的79县市气象站1960～2006年逐日降水观测资料，采用线性回归的方法分别研究五大流域的年降水量、降水日数、暴雨日数等3要素的变化趋势，并用Mann法进行了变化趋势的显著性检验，用距平与均方差之比达到15和20作为气候异常检验指标，对各流域的各时间序列进行了异常检验，采用了Mann Kendall法对各时间序列进行突变检测。结果表明：（1）各流域的年降水量变化趋势基本一致，年降水量与年暴雨日数密切相关；饶河流域强降水事件较多，降水强度大，赣江中游流域降水时间分布相对较均匀，强降水事件较少；（2）各流域年降水量、暴雨日数总体呈波动上升趋势，20世纪90年代以来暴雨日数异常偏多的概率最大；（3）年降水日数以20世纪80年代中期为界，之前呈波动上升趋势，之后呈波动下降趋势，2002年至今各流域降雨日数明显偏少；（4）各流域的年降水量、降水日数、暴雨日数均未出现趋势性的突变；（5）近50年来鄱阳湖流域降水时间分布不均的情况加剧，旱涝灾害风险增加。     

A methodology for assessing urban sustainability: Aalborg commitments baseline review for Riga, Latvia

Both the Aalborg Commitments and the guidance on integrated urban environmental management and sustainable urban transport plans proposed by the EU Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment foresee a baseline review as the first step in developing integrated urban management plans and systems. A baseline review of urban sustainability undertaken in Riga reveals significant discrepencies between the sustainability criteria of the Aalborg Commitments and the: responsibilities and competencies of the municipal government and administration as defined by statutes; policy goals and measures defined in municipal planning documents; policy goals and measures defined in the Riga Development Plan. To better orient the mandate of the municipality towards sustainable development, municipal statutes should be supplemented to more fully reflect the issues defined by the Aalborg Commitments and should include sustainability as a goal. In order to strengthen the implementation of sustainable development specific policy goals, measures and targets should be formulated for all the Aalborg Commitments issues when revising existing municipal planning documents or developing a municipal sustainable development management plan. An analysis of the European Common Indicators and the State of the Environment in Riga 2001 indicators indicates that they can only partially fulfill a monitoring function for the implementation of the Aalborg Commitments. This highlights a need to better coordinate sustainable development initiatives at the European level. The methodology used for the baseline review in Riga is useful for assessing the status of urban sustainability when preparing integrated urban management plans or systems, but requires testing elsewhere. Readers should send their comments on this paper to BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

可持续发展导向的环境规划研究

在论述可持续发展与环境规划之间关系的基础上，指出环境规划的指导思想是环境与经济、社会的可持续发展。针对可持续发展的实质，提出了环境承载力变化趋势是衡量可持续发展的依据，从而为区域可持续发展提供了量化的依据。并以长春技术开发区环境规划为例进行了案例分析，验证结果合理、可行。     

多卡金矿生态环境治理规划研究

针对多卡金矿开采中的生态环境问题,在对多卡金矿及自然环境、生态环境现状调查基础上,研究制定了多卡金矿生态环境治理规划,以实现生态系统健康,生态格局安全。     

创建环境保护总体规划在大连社会经济发展中的战略地位及实施思路

以建设资源节约型、环境友好型社会和生态宜居城市为总体目标,以全面贯彻落实科学发展观,促进经济增长方式转变和优化城市布局为主线,以建立良好的生态环境为核心,坚持环境保护与经济增长并重、与经济发展同步,全力推进生态文明建设,构建持续协调发展的生态经济体系、自然宜居的生态环境体系、责权明晰的生态环境执法和保障体系,建立了《大连市环境保护总体规划(2008—2020)》. 该规划的指标体系是以《生态市建设指标》、《大连市城市总体规划》和《大连市生态环境保护“十一五”规划》中的相关指标为基础,通过污染物排放量预测、环境容量分析、资源承载力分析,比较分析了发达国家主要城市的环境质量目标,综合考虑了环境质量标准而设定. 采用数值模拟,系统分析,动态分析,生态足迹,虚拟水计算,决策分析,SWOT分析和3S等技术方法,在大气与海域环境容量、生态功能分区、环境发展战略、生态承载力等方面大量理论研究的基础上,提出了包括大气环境规划、水环境规划、声环境规划、固体废物处置规划、核与辐射污染控制规划、工业布局与结构调整规划、自然生态系统规划、农村环境保护规划、环境风险防范以及环境管理能力建设规划等10个方面的规划. 《规划》通过全域谋划、统筹规划,有步骤、分阶段地解决制约经济发展和群众关注的环境问题,有效协调生态保护区和经济开发区的关系,最终实现“社会-经济-资源-环境”的可持续发展.      

基于文本故障视角的通信保障应急预案有效性评估研究

应急通信预案作为应急通信保障的行动纲领,其文本有效性将直接影响预案有效性,进而影响到整个应急救援行动的有效性。针对预案文本有效性问题,从文本故障视角出发,基于故障树分析法构建通信保障应急预案有效性评估模型;采用语句成分分析法和伪代码转换法对预案进行故障形式诊断,结合标准故障树,计算预案的有效性并给出具体评估步骤;最终,通过4个样本预案对模型进行实例分析,结果表明:该模型能够提高预案文本故障的识别效率,对预案的编制或修订具有参考意义。     

Abating whey organic load through ethanol and lactic acid production by kefir

Abstract

The extent to which selected ethanol and lactic acid production bioprocesses contribute to whey waste abatement was examined. Alcoholic fermentation of whey was carried out by kefir cells immobilized on grape stalks, delignified cellulosic materials, or brewer's spent grains. Lactic acid fermentation was also performed by free kefir cells with or without addition of brewer's spent grains as promoting material. Since whey fermentation rate is affected by the lactose uptake rate, ¹⁴C-labeled lactose was used to study the fermentation ability of kefir. The highest reductions in biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand of whey, about 68% and 52%, respectively, were achieved by lactic acid fermentation in 6 h at 37 °C and pH 5.5, in the presence of 120 g brewer's spent grains. Additionally, at the same conditions, the highest ¹⁴C-labeled lactose uptake rate by kefir and consequently the highest alcoholic fermentation rate were also recorded. However, greater reductions in biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand of whey are required prior to final disposal.     

大型铁路客运站大客流预警及应对方案设计 ——以北京西站为例

铁路客运站作为旅客集散地,出入站客流量会因为节假日、大规模列车晚点或停运等突发事件出现大规模聚集。当车站出现高密度客流时,若未能及时采取有效的应对措施,极易出现踩踏等事故。为应对车站大客流情况,首先制定了黄、橙、红三级预警机制。其中黄、橙预警用于应对车站高密度客流情况,而红色等级预警则用于应对短时间内车站需迅速疏散客流的紧急情形和大量客流长时间无法乘车离开的情形。最后重点研究了基于不同等级预警的应对方案。所提出的大型客运站大客流预警与应对方案实际应用于北京西站,经过多次春运和暑运检测,起到了良好的效果。