Minimizing drift and exposure from knapsack sprayers

Abstract

An improved drift shield for attaching to the lance of conventional knapsack sprayer to reduce wind induced drift and operator exposure was designed and tested. The drift shield consists of a conical wire frame covered with polythene and has an annular opening at the point of attachment to the lance which allows air to be drawn into the shield while spraying. Tests conducted with winds in the range of 1.25–5.75 m/s show that wind can increase the width of spray swath from an unshielded lance, up to 4.3 times the normal swath in no‐wind condition. Use of a conventional shield contained the swath width within 3.5 times and the improved shield restricted the swath width to 3.1 times the normal swath. Spray deposit from an unshielded lance, within the normal swath decreased to as low as 45%, due to wind effects. However, use of the conventional, and the improved shields enhanced the spray deposit to 54.2% and 68%, respectively. The improved drift shield improved the spray pattern displacement (SPD) significantly (P<0.05) compared with the conventional shield and the unshielded lance when the wind speed exceeded 1.25 m/s. The improved shield decreased the off target drift by as much as 63% compared with the unshielded spray. It also decreased the quantity of pesticide deposit on the operator's body by 41–84% and thereby reduced exposure and improved safety.     

Small cetacean bycatch as estimated from stranding schemes: The common dolphin case in the northeast Atlantic

Death in fishing gear of non-target species (called ‘bycatch’) is a major concern for marine wildlife, and mostly worrying for long-lived species like cetaceans, considering their demographic characteristics (slow population growth rates and low fecundity). In European waters, cetaceans are highly impacted by this phenomenon. Under the Common Fishery Policy, the EC 812/2004 regulation constitutes a legal frame for bycatch monitoring on 5–10% of fishing vessels >15 m. The aim of this work was to compare parameters and bycatch estimates of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) provided by observer programmes in France and UK national reports and those inferred from stranding data, through two approaches. Bycatch was estimated from stranding data, first by correcting effectives from drift conditions (using a drift prediction model) and then by estimating the probability of being buoyant. Observer programmes on fishing vessels allowed us to identify the specificity of the interaction between common dolphins and fishing gear, and provided low estimates of annual bycaught animals (around 550 animals year⁻¹). However, observer programmes are hindered by logistical and administrative constraints, and the sampling scheme seems to be poorly designed for the detection of marine mammal bycatches. The analyses of strandings by considering drift conditions highlighted areas with high levels of interactions between common dolphins and fisheries. Since 1997, the highest densities of bycaught dolphins at sea were located in the southern part of the continental shelf and slope of the Bay of Biscay. Bycatch numbers inferred from strandings suggested very high levels, ranging from 3650 dolphins year⁻¹ [2250–7000] to 4700 [3850–5750] dolphins year⁻¹, depending on methodological choices. The main advantage of stranding data is its large spatial scale, cutting across administrative boundaries. Diverging estimates between observer programmes and stranding interpretation can set very different management consequences: observer programmes suggest a sustainable situation for common dolphins, whereas estimates based on strandings highlight a very worrying and unsustainable process.     

红外探测巷道围岩地质构造的理论与应用

利用红外技术探测地质构造是预防巷道作业重大安全事故的有效途径。笔者根据红外辐射原理 ,分析了地质构造引起的岩石密度变化和巷道围岩辐射功率之间的相关性 ,提出了红外探测巷道地质构造的理论、方法及适用条件。应用结果表明 :红外探测技术不仅可简便、直观地分析和预测采掘巷道围岩地质的变化趋势 ,而且可用于巷道围岩瓦斯涌出异常地段的原因探测 ,指导安全防范措施的有效实施     

Predicting commercial fishing vessel disasters through a novel application of the theory of man-made disasters

Introduction: Vessel disasters (e.g., sinkings, capsizings) are a leading contributor to fatalities in the U.S. commercial fishing industry. Primary prevention strategies are needed to reduce the occurrence of vessel disasters, which can only be done by developing an understanding of their causes and risk factors. If less serious vessel casualties (e.g., loss of propulsion, fire, flooding) are predictors of future disasters, then reducing vessel casualties should in turn reduce vessel disasters and the accompanying loss of life. Method: This case-control study examined the association between vessel casualties and disasters using fishing vessels in Alaska during 2010–2015. Results: The findings show that vessels that experienced casualties within a preceding 10-year period were at increased odds of disaster. Other significant predictors included safety decal status and hull material. Practical Applications: The results of this analysis emphasize the importance of implementing vessel-specific preventive maintenance plans. At an industry level, specific prevention policies should be developed focusing on high-risk fleets to identify and correct a wide range of safety deficits before they have catastrophic and fatal consequences.     

Effects of an Experimental Enrichment of Instream Habitat Heterogeneity on the Stream Bed Morphology and Chironomid Community of a Straightened Section in a Sandy Lowland Stream

A straightened stream stretch with poor habitat heterogeneity was divided into a “control” section with a low amount of submerged woody debris and an experimentally “wood-enriched” downstream section to study the effect of enhanced habitat diversity on the benthic invertebrate community. The downstream section was enriched by fixing 25 wood packages constructed from 9–10 branches on the stream bottom. Succession processes occurring in the two stream sections were compared by chironomid exuviae drift from July to November 2000 and from April to August 2001. During the first sampling period, more drifting chironomid exuviae (medians of control vs. wood-enriched: 446 vs. 331, no significant difference) and total number of taxa (44 vs. 36, Wilcoxon signed-rank test P = 0.019) were recorded for the control section. Although species compositions of both stream sections were highly similar (Sørensen index: 0.83) the diversity in the wood-enriched section was distinctly lower compared to the control section (Shannon–Weaver index: 1.19 vs. 1.50). During the second sampling period, exuviae numbers remained higher in the control section (median: 326 vs. 166), but total numbers of taxa were nearly equal (51 vs. 49), as well as species diversity (Shannon–Weaver index: 1.67 vs. 1.64). The lower chironomid diversity observed during the first sampling period coincided with a gradual but significant change of the streambed morphology in the wood-enriched section. There, the initially more U-shaped profile (V/U = 0.81 ± 0.37) had turned into a pronounced V shape (V/U = 1.14 ± 0.21), whereas the control section retained its unaltered U shape (V/U = 0.62–0.75). This small-scale study on experimental of woody debris in sandy lowland streams showed that the negative impact of increased hydraulic disturbance of the existing streambed more than outweighed any positive impact resulting from the increase in woody debris.     

空气自动化监测系统质量控制图的改进

阐述了使用空气自动化监测系统质量控制图时存在的问题,给出了质控图绘制的改进方法.实例证明,改进的质控图可以根据仪器漂移情况确定仪器的校准周期;确定调节限时,根据仪器间的差异,降低仪器的调节限,可使测定结果准确可靠.     

Assessment of the effects of a port expansion on algae appearance in a costal bay through mathematical modelling. Application to San Lorenzo Bay (North Spain)

In the last years several episodes of algae appearance affecting bathing areas have been observed in San Lorenzo Bay (north of Spain). The analysis of the collected algae revealed that they might come from near intertidal or shallow subtidal zones due to eutrophication processes or through drift algae movement by the action of marine currents. In the vicinity of this area, the expansion of the Port of Gijón (now under construction) supposes a significant modification of the coastal geometry. The magnitude of such an expansion could cause changes in the patterns of currents in the bay, with the consequent alteration of the observed algal appearance phenomena. A mathematical modelling study to evaluate the risk of generation of eutrophication processes in the San Lorenzo Bay area and the transport of drift algae from near sea bed areas was developed. This study required the use of different hydrodynamic models in order to characterize the currents caused by tides, winds and waves. The eutrophication processes in the bay were analyzed with a depth-averaged two-dimensional eutrophication model which deals with eight water quality variables. Calibration of model parameters with the observed data from a field survey was performed. A reasonable agreement with the field measurements was achieved. Model results showed that the maximum phytoplankton concentrations were below eutrophic conditions. Although, the port expansion has led to an increment of phytoplankton concentrations, chlorophyll a levels were not representative of eutrophic conditions. To analyse the transport of drift algae, a methodology based on the utilization of a two-dimensional model which solves the depth-averaged advection-diffusion equation considering seaweed as a conservative tracer was developed and applied. Numerical modelling allowed the identification of the coastal areas that seems to be the source of the seaweed found on the beach. It was also proven that port expansion does not significantly affect drift algae transport in the area.     

商用V/W/Ti系脱硝催化剂表面SO3生成的反应机理

基于燃煤烟气SO₃生成与排放给电厂运行及大气环境带来的严重影响,研究了一种在役典型商用蜂窝型V/W/Ti系脱硝催化剂表面的SO₃生成反应动力学及反应机理.结果表明,反应温度与SO₂浓度是影响催化剂表面SO₃生成的关键因素.在SO₂浓度为400×10^-6时,当反应温度从300℃升至360℃,SO₂-SO₃转化率从0.2%提高至0.65%,温度达到400℃后,催化剂表面V₂O₅活性增加更为显著,SO₂-SO₃转化率从0.65%增2.3%,SO₃生成反应的表观速率常数增加近3倍.SO₃在催化剂表面的生成路径为：SO₂与V⁵⁺-OH反应生成中间产物VOSO₄与HSO₄^-,随后进一步反应生成SO₃.SO₂主要通过其在催化剂表面的吸附、转化过程影响SO₃的生成,其本征动力学反应级数为0.52.O₂的本征动力学反应级数为0,SO₃生成反应可以在无O₂条件下进行,O₂存在会促进反应进行,但不会改变反应路径.     

Estimated nationwide effects of pesticide spray drift on terrestrial habitats in the Netherlands

This study estimated the potential effects of pesticide drift on terrestrial ecosystems outside target areas, for the Dutch situation. A series of field trials was conducted to estimate the effects of drift on different species groups at different distances from a treated plot for different categories of pesticide: herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Measurements of the pesticide drift deposition resulting from standard agricultural practice were used to model deposition outside the treated area. These data were then combined with national statistics on cropland and pesticide use to assess the ecological effects of pesticide drift for the Netherlands as a whole. Three scenarios were considered: the recent past (1998), the present (2005) and an optimised scenario based on 'best available practice' (2010). In the recent past the impact of herbicide drift on sensitive life stages non-target vascular plants is estimated to have exceeded the 50% effect level on 59% of adjacent linear landscape elements such as ditch banks and hedgerows. For the impact of insecticides and fungicides on non-target insects and fungi this 50% effect figure was 29% and 28% of linear elements, respectively. In the present situation, with (narrow) unsprayed buffer zones and other measures in place, these percentages are down to 41% for herbicides, 21% for insecticides and 14% for fungicides. In the optimised scenario, with a greater buffer width of 2.25m for potatoes (compared to 1.50m in 2005) and 1m for other crops (compared to 0.25 and 0.5m in 2005) and 'best available practice', these percentages can be cut to zero. In natural areas located within farming regions the 10% effect level can be reduced from 31% of such areas (1998) to 0% under conditions of 'best available practice'.     

An evaluation of the vegetation developed after artificially stabilizing South African coastal dunes with indigenous species

A total of 17 sites along the eastern Cape coastline, which had been established with indigenous species, were sampled to assess species composition and abundance. The areas sampled ranged from small blowout dunes of 1 ha, to extensive transverse dune fields of 134 ha; age at the time of sampling ranged from 2 to 20 yr. The total mean percentage cover and density, alpha diversity and importance values of all the species were calculated and used to describe each site. A TWINSPAN analysis grouped sites of similar localities, mainly on the basis of their species composition. A DECORANA plot revealed that axis 1 corresponded to the position of sites along the coastline rather than other factors, such as age. The variability in species composition was related more to the types of species used for stabilization, rather than the natural distribution of the indigenous dune vegetation. The species ordination showed a similar gradient, and it was possible from this analysis to determine which species were more commonly used and better suited for dune stabilization. It is concluded that successful stabilization can be achieved using indigenous species.