Fetal cardiac intervention—Perspectives from a single center

Fetal cardiac intervention was first proposed in the early 1990s to impact cardiac development and survival of fetuses with fetal aortic stenosis and evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Although initial attempts of fetal aortic valvuloplasty were unsuccessful and carried a high rate of morbidity and mortality, our collaborative group at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital have reinvigorated the procedure using improvements in imaging, anesthesia, balloon catheters, and surgical techniques. Two decades of experience have now allowed us to document the safety of in utero intervention and to achieve a better understanding of the impact of midgestation intervention on developing HLHS. Research into underlying genetics, predictive biomarkers, and ways to incorporate stem cell technology will hopefully allow us to further refine the procedure to most benefit children with this historically lethal disease.     

Pollution minimisation practices in the Australian mining and mineral processing industries

Research was conducted to identify some of the current pollution minimisation practices adopted in Australia's mining and mineral processing industries. Initially, 84 mining and mineral processing companies were approached for inclusion in the study, with request only made for information that was available to the company stakeholders and the wider general community. Among the responses received, BHP Billiton, BlueScope Steel, Newmont Australia Limited and AngloGold Australia provided the information requested and/or a substantial quantity of information through reports on their company website. Analysis of the data collected for these companies indicated that improvements were made, and that policies had been implemented over the previous few years. The pollution minimisation and policy practices adopted at the operations of these companies include environmental management systems, advanced pollution control technologies, environmental awareness training for employees, and requirement – from company stakeholders – for increased accountability of environmental impacts.     

A simplified matrix of environmental impacts to support an intervention program in a small-scale mining site

This paper describes a tool developed to evaluate environmental risks at a Brazilian artisanal small-scale gold mining site. The tool consists of a matrix used to determine the relevance of such risks through the classification of mining activities according to the likelihood that they may cause environmental impacts. The language and method are very simple, and thus appropriate for local stakeholders. It ensures their participation when developing a plan of action for intervention and training. When applied to a pilot site in the Brazilian Amazon, the matrix revealed the variables that pose higher environmental risks. These activities were subsequently addressed in a training program to promote better practices. As a result, the mining activities were improved by 28.8% when comparing compliance to environmental requisites before and after the training program. Specifically, the training program resulted in improved gold recovery, and reduced environmental and health impacts.     

Washington State's Master Gardener Program: 30 years of leadership in university-sponsored,volunteer-coordinated,sustainable community horticulture

The Master Gardener (MG) program, found throughout the United States and Canada, originated in Washington State to provide high-quality, research-based, educational programming to the gardening public. Washington State MGs are trained by Washington State University (WSU) faculty and other specialists in applied plant and soil sciences. After completing this intensive program, MG trainees must pass subject matter exams and then begin their volunteer activities.Today, over 4000 active WSU MG volunteers provide horticultural assistance to their communities. While MGs increase their scientific knowledge, they also develop communication, management, and leadership skills. With sufficient support from local educational institutions and government, this program can easily be adapted to any community in any country where environmental sustainability is desired.     

基于Elman神经网络的流体管道泄漏点检测定位

目的通过Elman神经网络预测对泄漏点进行过检测定位。方法基于流体压力波的负压波法及反馈型Elman神经网络方法,开展水力输运管道的泄漏定位研究。利用Flowmaster仿真软件中的水力输运模型建立长度为1100 m的一维管路系统,针对此系统开展不同管路状态参数下的数值仿真计算。结果通过小波变换技术实现了数据降噪与奇异点捕捉,完成了泄漏点位置的估算。同时,借助反馈型Elman神经网络,开展了不同泄漏工况下的网络训练和预测,利用经过训练的神经网络对所选取的5组泄漏点完成了定位预测,最大测试误差为1.83%。结论通过Elman神经网络预测得到的结果与实际泄漏位置进行对比,验证了反馈型神经网络方法在管路泄漏智能定位问题中的准确性与有效性。     

基于自适应遗传小波神经网络的水质评价建模

水环境污染过程的非确定性和非线性,使得传统的水质评价方法存在局限性。为了提高水质评价的准确性,提出了一种基于改进小波神经网络(wavelet neural network,WNN)的水质评价模型。采用自适应遗传算法(adaptive genetic algorithm,AGA)对小波神经网络的初始权值进行优化,再通过小波神经网络算法对网络进行训练,最后对训练好的网络展开测试。仿真结果表明,自适应遗传算法和小波神经网络的结合提高了网络的训练效率,该方法可以用于水质评价建模,并且评价结果具有较高的精度和准确性。     

短波通信系统阻塞干扰控制方法研究

以作战平台的通信系统为背景,分析了阻塞干扰的形成机理及其对于接收机的危害,指出了几种传统解决方法的不足,在此基础上提出了应用自适应干扰抵消技术解决阻塞干扰的方法。该方法利用矢量合成的方法控制取样信号的幅度和相位,在接收端与干扰信号相互抵消。最后讨论了自适应干扰抵消系统实现过程中可能遇到的问题。     

大气污染环境下传统康复技能培训在精准扶贫中的应用性探索

在大气污染环境下,传统的康复技能培训能带动地方区域性经济发展,实现精准扶贫,为了定量分析大气污染环境下传统康复技能培训和地区性经济增长关系,提高精准扶贫力度,提出一种基于模糊评价决策的传统康复技能培训经济促进性效益评估模型,并应用在精准扶贫中。构建大气污染环境下传统康复技能培训的经济促进性增长约束变量,结合FMOLS和DOLS方法进行传统康复技能培训在精准扶贫中的促进性指标参量分析,建立精准扶贫的资金回报动态规划模型,采用模糊决策评价决策方法实现康复技能培训的效益评估。     

Four years of experience with Erasmus University's “International Off-Campus PhD programme on cleaner production,cleaner products,industrial ecology and sustainability”

This paper describes the first four years' experiences with Erasmus University's “International Off-Campus PhD Programme on Cleaner Production, Cleaner Products, Industrial Ecology and Sustainability.” The proposal for this innovative, off-campus programme was made in 1992, in response to expanding needs for providing environmental professionals the opportunity to continue their employment and to simultaneously work toward fulfilling the requirements of a PhD.After receiving approval and initial financial support from the Board of Deans of Erasmus University, the first INTENSIVE (INTENSIVE is the term used to describe the annual, two-week long training programme within which the new PhD candidates, as well as those who have been in the programme for a year or more, meet to learn more about the rapidly evolving areas addressed by the programme and to report on progress made in each candidate's PhD thesis research. The Erasmus faculty and invited supportive co-advisors and other visiting scholars contribute to the scholarly input and candidate guidance.) of the new International PhD Programme was held in October 1995. Since then the programme has expanded and progressed. As of the academic year 1998/1999, twenty-one PhD candidates from eleven countries in five continents were actively pursuing their PhD research and thesis development within the Programme. Six new candidates were admitted during the November 1999 INTENSIVE.     

Limitations of cleaner production programmes as organisational change agents I. Achieving commitment and on-going improvement

This is the first in a two-part paper that discusses the results of an evaluation of a 2-year ‘cleaner production’ (CP) demonstration project undertaken in New Zealand (NZ). The project's scale and methods were consistent with international best practice and the methods used were consistent with those advocated in traditional CP or ‘pollution prevention’ (PP) guides and manuals. On the surface, the project could be considered to have been successful. Like other apparently successful demonstration projects carried out elsewhere, the demonstration businesses identified a range of options that improved their environmental, economic and social performance (including savings of over NZ$4 million per annum, and significant reductions in materials, water and energy use, and improvements in productivity).However, a more in-depth evaluation of the project raised significant questions about the ability of traditional CP/PP programme components to bring about durable change. The evaluation identified a set of key internal organisational factors that strongly contributed towards the uptake of CP and affected the potential for on-going improvement. They were commitment, leadership, support, communication, staff involvement and programme design. This part of the paper (Part I) provides an overview of the project, as well as the methodology used in the evaluation. It also includes a discussion of the results particularly as they relate to commitment and on-going improvement. Part II discusses the remaining key internal organisational factors. It also presents a framework that could potentially be used to enhance the performance of CP or similar types of programmes, particularly with regard to the key factors identified.     

Homing pigeons (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Columba livia</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">domestica</Emphasis>) can use magnetic cues for locating food

An experimental group of homing pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) learned to associate food with a magnetic anomaly produced by bar magnets that were fixed to the bowl in which they received their daily food ration in their home loft; the control group lacked this experience. Both groups were trained to search for two hidden food depots in a rectangular sand-filled arena without obvious visual cues; for the experimental birds, these depots were also marked with three 1.15 × 10⁶ μT bar magnets. During the tests, there were two food depots, one marked with the magnets, the other unmarked; their position within the arena was changed from test to test. The experimental birds searched within 10 cm of the magnetically marked depot in 49% of the test sessions, whereas the control birds searched there in only 11% of the sessions. Both groups searched near the control depot in 11 and 13% of the sessions, respectively. The significant preference of the magnetically marked food depot by the experimental birds shows that homing pigeons cannot only detect a magnetic anomaly but can also use it as a cue for locating hidden food in an open arena.     

Training and communication in the implementation of environmental management systems (ISO 14001): a case study at the University of Gävle,Sweden

Training and communication are essential elements in the implementation of environmental management systems (EMS). This study is based on two main questions: (i) What methods for training and communication will support the implementation of EMS at a university? and, (ii) How did faculty and staff perceive the training and communication activities? The study includes a literature review, a case study of methods for training and communication, and results of a semi quantitative survey of the perception of training and communication. All activities took place at the University of Gävle (Sweden). The University of Gävle was certified according to ISO 14001 in 2004. Practical experiences from the implementation of EMS in industry were used as reference.The literature review indicates that training is a key factor during implementation of EMS, and that training may change attitude and behaviour among managers and employees. Similar conclusions can be drawn from this study. The case study, and practical experiences from industry, indicate that similar methods of EMS training and communication can be shared by industry and universities. However, “academic freedom” and “critical thinking” may result in the need for more interactive training methods at a university than in industry. The results of the survey indicate that the training and communication have increased awareness of environmental issues. A deeper understanding of the personal role in the EMS was also observed. It can be concluded that the EMS training and communication team has a demanding task to introduce the concept of indirect environmental aspects at a university. Lecturers and researchers should be convinced that the greening of a college involves more than, for example, reducing the consumption of paper. The main role of EMS at a university should be to focus on indirect environmental aspects, for example, to introduce environmental and sustainability issues in courses and research.     

基于改进灰色聚类法的矿区土壤重金属污染评价

在传统灰色聚类法的基础上,以白化函数为突破口进行模型优化改进,并将其应用于马鞍山重点矿区土壤重金属污染评价中。结果表明:通过e型指数函数优化的白化函数评价范围更广,不遗漏任何重要信息;纳入生物毒性因子的双因子权重赋值法可挖掘出潜在的污染因子,使其评价应用更为合理;改进灰色聚类法较传统灰聚类法等更能综合地反映多种重金属联合作用下对土壤环境质量的影响,使其评价结果更为客观。     

A comparative analysis of colour preferences in temperate and tropical social bees

The spontaneous occurrence of colour preferences without learning has been demonstrated in several insect species; however, the underlying mechanisms are still not understood. Here, we use a comparative approach to investigate spontaneous and learned colour preferences in foraging bees of two tropical and one temperate species. We hypothesised that tropical bees utilise different sets of plants and therefore might differ in their spontaneous colour preferences. We tested colour-naive bees and foragers from colonies that had been enclosed in large flight cages for a long time. Bees were shortly trained with triplets of neutral, UV-grey stimuli placed randomly at eight locations on a black training disk to induce foraging motivation. During unrewarded tests, the bees’ responses to eight colours were video-recorded. Bees explored all colours and displayed an overall preference for colours dominated by long or short wavelengths, rather than a single colour stimulus. Naive Apis cerana and Bombus terrestris showed similar choices. Both inspected long-wavelength stimuli more than short-wavelength stimuli, whilst responses of the tropical stingless bee Tetragonula iridipennis differed, suggesting that resource partitioning could be a determinant of spontaneous colour preferences. Reward on an unsaturated yellow colour shifted the bees’ preference curves as predicted, which is in line with previous findings that brief colour experience overrides the expression of spontaneous preferences. We conclude that rather than determining foraging behaviour in inflexible ways, spontaneous colour preferences vary depending on experimental settings and reflect potential biases in mechanisms of learning and decision-making in pollinating insects.     

粤闽浙沿海重点城市道路交通节能减排路径

随着社会和经济的高速发展,能源消耗量快速增加,随之而来的污染问题也日益加剧.目前的研究主要集中于单一城市或长三角、珠三角和京津冀等中国三大经济圈的道路交通节能减排,缺乏对东南沿海经济圈的相关研究.粤闽浙三省位于我国东南沿海经济发展的核心地带,在其经济发展的同时不可避免地带来了能耗及排放问题.基于长期能源替代规划系统模型,构建了2015~2035年粤闽浙沿海重点城市道路交通基准情景（BAU）以及现有政策情景（EPS）和改进政策情景（MPS）,其中,EPS和MPS均设置了车辆结构优化情景（VSO）、提高燃油经济性情景（IFE）和年均行驶里程减少情景（RDM）.基于情景模拟,评估在各项政策和措施的作用下,粤闽浙沿海重点城市的道路交通节能减排潜力.结果表明,在一级情景中,改进政策情景对于节约能耗、碳减排以及污染物减排效果最好,相比于基准情景2035年其节能力度达75%,且对CO₂、CO、NO_x、PM_2.5和SO₂的排放削减力度分别达68%、59%、66%、70%和64%;在二级情景中,提升燃油经济性的改进情景对于节约能耗（削减30%）效果显著;车辆结构调整的改进情景（削减36%、30%、36%、26%和40%）和年均行驶里程减少的改进情景（削减37%、37%、36%、37%和36%）对于CO₂、CO、NO_x、PM_2.5和SO₂减排效果显著.     

How coffee-making can help one understand cleaner production

Cleaner production works. This has been proved by numerous case studies over the last few years in Austria^1–4, as well as in the USA, Sweden, the UK and The Netherlands. Programs such as PREPARE in Austria, the US-American EPAs program, the Landskrona Project in Sweden, the Aire and Calder Project in the UK and PRISMA in The Netherlands have demonstrated that in all sectors of industry it is possible to increase efficiency in the use of materials and energy in industrial processes and at the same time avoid waste and emissions at their source and save companies—sometimes enormous amounts of—money.The cities of Graz and Stenum have developed the program Ökoprofit (Ecoprofit)³, which aims to provide a cost-effective way of involving regional enterprises in a Cleaner Production Project. The approach consists basically of two arms: (1) nine 1-day workshops to give feedback on the progress of the companies, to teach basics of emission prevention, project management and law; (2) consultations with individual companies to help them with specific problems, between the workshops.The teaching sessions during the workshops consist of a short lecture followed by active work in small groups on examples, presentation of the results, a discussion of the findings and the possibilities of applying them to the actual companies of the participants. In one workshop, participants analyse the coffee-making process for its potential to minimize emissions; in another, they analyse it for its energy-saving potential. This article describes how these two interactive training modules for mass-flow analysis and energy analysis are conducted.     

A 1 and 6 month follow-up of prenatal diagnosis patients who lost pregnancies

This paper reports results of an exploratory study of prenatal diagnosis patients who experienced voluntary terminations of pregnancy following the detection of an abnormality or spontaneous miscarriages. The 121 participants were part of the national collaborative Chorionic Villus Sampling and Amniocentesis Study. They completed semi-structured telephone interviews and mailed questionnaires at 1 month and 6 months after the pregnancy losses. Scores on the Profile of Mood States showed that mood levels improved significantly over time. However, there were some declines in loss-related support from partners and others. The persisting distress and difficulties of a minority highlight the variability in women's responses to pregnancy losses. Women who lost pregnancies later in gestation, showed the greatest mood disturbances at initial assessments, used professional mental health assistance after the loss, or reported less satisfactory loss-related support from significant others showed the greatest levels of mood disturbance at the six-month assessment. Follow-up contacts with patients who lose pregnancies should be used to inform women about the variation in possible grief reactions, to assess the extent of support the women are receiving from their partners and significant others, and to provide additional follow-up or referral of those experiencing the greatest distress.     

听说能力的首要性及实践

大学英语教学改革的重点是加强以听说能力为核心的语言交际能力的培养。本文分析了我国大学英语教育的现状和存在的问题,强调了听说能力在英语教学中的首要性。并提出了作者本人尝试过的提高听说能力的思路与有效的方法。     

城市污水处理系统去除药物和个人护理用品（PPCPs）的机理研究

在简单介绍药物和个人护理用品（PPCPs）的主要来源和进入水体途径的基础上,本文对PPCPs在城市污水处理系统中的去除机理进行了详细的分析探讨,主要包括污泥吸附、生物转化和气提;并对其它去除机理如膜分离技术、气浮等进行了简要介绍。