A proposed framework of key activities and processes in the preparedness and recovery phases of disaster management

This paper proposes an empirically grounded framework for examining the preparedness and recovery phases of disaster management activities and processes pertaining to predictable disasters within a developed country. The two‐stage framework provides a single model composed of important preparedness and recovery initiatives, as well as activities and processes derived from empirical data collected for case studies from Australia: the ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires in the state of Victoria in February 2009; and Cyclone Larry in March 2006. The framework enables a variety of analyses, including the generation of insights into disaster management preparedness and recovery in the context of events in wealthy developed countries. The paper combines two empirical examples, a series of bushfires and a severe tropical cyclone, to enhance understanding of, and to contribute to better, disaster preparedness and recovery in the future. The paper contributes to the growing literature on disasters, preparedness, recovery and associated logistics, and other issues.     

Ambient ozone effects on gas exchange and total non-structural carbohydrate levels in cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata L.) growing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Ozone-sensitive and -tolerant individuals of cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata L.) were compared for their gas exchange characteristics and total non-structural carbohydrates at Purchase Knob, a high elevation site in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance decreased with increased foliar stipple. Sensitive plants had lower photosynthetic rates for all leaves, except the very youngest and oldest when compared to tolerant plants. Stomatal conductance decreased with increasing leaf age, but no ozone-sensitivity differences were found. Lower leaves had less starch than upper ones, while leaves on sensitive plants had less than those on tolerant plants. These results show that ambient levels of ozone in Great Smoky Mountains National Park can adversely affect gas exchange, water use efficiency and leaf starch content in sensitive coneflower plants. Persistence of sensitive genotypes in the Park may be due to physiological recovery in low ozone years.     

三亚城区PM2.5中水溶性离子特征与来源分析

基于2019年三亚城区站点PM_2.5中水溶性离子在线观测数据,分析了水溶性离子的质量浓度水平、不同时间尺度和不同PM_2.5浓度下的特征,探讨了气象因子对离子组分的影响,通过主成分分析（PCA）解析来源.结果表明：2019年三亚城区总水溶性离子（TWSI）质量浓度为8.173 μg·m^-3,占ρ（PM_2.5）的58.4%,各离子质量浓度大小依次为：ρ（SO₄^2-） > ρ（NO₃^-） > ρ（K⁺） > ρ（NH₄⁺） > ρ（Na⁺） > ρ（Cl^-） > ρ（Ca²⁺） > ρ（F^-） > ρ（Mg²⁺） > ρ（NO₂^-）,其中二次离子SO₄^2-、NO₃^-、NH₄⁺（SNA）和K⁺为主要离子组分,占总水溶性离子的80.0%,海盐粒子Na⁺及Cl^-之和占比为14.7%,且与风速呈显著正相关;TWSI季节浓度变化特征明显,秋季最高,春冬季次之,夏季最低,主要与秋冬季风速较大、主导风向转为东北风,易受外来传输有关;SO₄^2-在各个季节均是浓度及占比最高的离子,硫氧化率（SOR）的日均值均大于0.1,存在显著的SO₂向SO₄^2-转化的过程;PCA分析结果表明三亚城区水溶性离子主要受海洋源、二次源及生物质燃烧源的影响.     

Autocorrelation and univariate time series modelling for grass fluoride and airborne fluoride concentrations

The dependence of observed fluoride levels-grass, gaseous air and particulate air-on previous levels was investigated in the field situation. Autocorrelation was found in grass fluoride observations, and to a lesser extent was present in both gaseous and particulate airborne fluorides. Univariate time series models were obtained which accounted for 56-66% of total variation in grass fluoride, 31% in gaseous airborne and 26% in particulate airborne fluorides. The large amount of variation unexplained by the models was thought to be due to the influence of environmental and meteorological factors not included in the models, and random variation due to day-to-day and plot-to-plot variation.     

三亚市臭氧污染特征、输送路径及潜在源区分析

基于2015-2019年三亚市空气质量自动监测数据和气象观测资料,结合后向轨迹聚类与潜在源区分析等方法,分析了三亚市O₃污染特征。结果表明:2015-2019年三亚市O₃浓度总体优良,优良天数比例为97.9%(标准状态),超标天均为轻度污染,多发生在秋冬季。O₃浓度与平均相对湿度、气温和降水量呈负相关关系,与平均风速呈正相关关系,同时与风向密切相关。6-8月气温较高,主导风向为偏南风,O₃及其前体物以本地排放为主,O₃浓度较低;秋冬季盛行东北风,易受到来自内陆的污染传输影响,O₃浓度相对较高。当日最高气温为20~30℃、日均相对湿度为65%~85%、日均风速为3~8 m/s、主导风向为东北风时,三亚市发生O₃超标的概率较高。台风外围和冷高压南下是导致三亚市O₃超标的2种典型天气形势。经聚类分析得到,2019年2个污染过程气团输送路径均来自东北方向,潜在源区分析WPSCF与WCWT的高值区一致性较好,均表明珠三角地区是三亚市重要的O₃污染潜在源区,需要加强与珠三角地区O₃污染的联防联控。     

Native plant species suitable as bioindicators and biomonitors for airborne fluoride

For 30-40 years airborne fluoride, usually in the form of HF or SiF4, was one of the most important and damaging air pollutants affecting forests, crops and natural vegetation. It is much more toxic than most other air pollutants such as O3 or SO2 because injury to the most sensitive species begins when they are exposed to a concentration below 1 ppb (ca. 0.8 microg m(-3)) for a 1- to 3-day period. The long-term threshold concentration is around 0.25-0.30 microg m(-3). Higher concentrations and longer durations of exposure induce much more rapid and extensive injury. However, there is a difference in sensitivity between the most and least sensitive species of around 2-3 orders of magnitude and most species possess a degree of resistance. Dramatic improvements in engineering technology have greatly reduced emissions but because of the high toxicity, cases of vegetation injury are still common, even in developed countries, and cases involving litigation still occur. Therefore there is a continuing need for bioindicators and biomonitoring of fluorides, so this paper reviews the subject, drawing attention to the strengths and limitations of the techniques. Visible symptoms are described and illustrated and tables of relative sensitivity are given and their limitations discussed. Finally, examples of biomonitoring in Europe and the USA are presented.     

Effects of social networks on interventions to change conservation behavior

Social networks are critical to the success of behavioral interventions in conservation because network processes such as information flows and social influence can enable behavior change to spread beyond a targeted group. We investigated these mechanisms in the context of a social marketing campaign to promote a wildlife poisoning hotline in Cambodia. With questionnaire surveys we measured a social network and knowledge and constructs from the theory of planned behavior at 3 points over 6 months. The intervention initially targeted ∼11% (of 365) of the village, but after 6 months ∼40% of the population was knowledgeable about the campaign. The likelihood of being knowledgeable nearly doubled with each additional knowledgeable household member. In the short term, there was also a modest, but widespread improvement in proconservation behavioral intentions, but this did not persist after 6 months. Estimates from stochastic actor-oriented models suggested that the influences of social peers, rather than knowledge, were driving changes in intention and contributed to the failure to change behavioral intention in the long term, despite lasting changes in attitudes and perceived norms. Our results point to the importance of accounting for the interaction between networks and behavior when designing conservation interventions.     

Climate Change Influence On Ontario Corn Farms’ Income

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - Our study quantifies the impact of climate change on the income of corn farms in Ontario, at the 2068 horizon, under several warming scenarios. It is...     

Prenatal diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type VII facilitating treatment in neonatal period

Duo exome testing was performed on a fetus conceived via in vitro fertilization with an egg donor. The fetus presented with non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) at 20 + 0 weeks gestation. Two variants were detected in the GUSB gene. Biallelic pathogenic variants cause mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS-VII), which can present with NIHF prenatally. At the time of analysis and initial report, one variant was classified as likely pathogenic and the other as of uncertain clinical significance. Biochemical testing of the amniotic fluid supernatant showed elevated glycosaminoglycans and low β-glucuronidase activity consistent with the diagnosis of MPS-VII. This evidence allowed the upgrade of the pathogenicity for both variants, confirming the diagnosis of MPS-VII. The infant was born at 36 + 5 weeks and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using vestronidase was initiated at 20 days with planning for hematopoietic stem cell transplant ongoing. The ERT therapy has been well tolerated, with decreasing quantitative urine glycosaminoglycans. Long-term follow up is required to determine whether treatment has been successful. This case demonstrates the utility of alternative testing methods to clarify the pathogenicity of variants and the clinical utility of obtaining a diagnosis antenatally in facilitating treatment in the neonatal period, and specifically highlights MPS-VII as a treatable cause of NIHF.     

Mental health in South Sudan: a case for community‐based support

This paper² provides a snapshot of the mental health situation in South Sudan between 2013 and 2016, taking account of the personal reflections of both authors who were engaged in mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)³ programming in the country at this time.⁴ It begins by presenting an overview of MHPSS activities from this period, including governmental and non‐governmental organisation (NGO) services, and relevant research and coordination mechanisms. It goes on to illustrate the challenges to the provision of support, as well as the overarching structural, governance, and human resource constraints faced by the sector. Finally, recommendations are put forward for improving services and care for people suffering from psychosocial and mental health issues, as well as suggestions for areas of focus in the future. The importance of an integrated, community‐based model is emphasised, and opportunities for organisations engaged in reconciliation efforts and mental health service provision to collaborate are proposed.