Evaluating a safety culture campaign: Some lessons from a Norwegian case

The focus of the present study is on the implementation and some of the results of an evaluation of a safety culture campaign that partly was aimed at increasing workmate interventions (care). I focus on three groups either working on or with a Norwegian offshore platform: onshore managers, crane operators and process operators. The research questions are: “Has the safety culture campaign contributed to new safety cultures related to care in the three groups, why/why not and what can we learn from this?”. The study indicates that two of the groups have developed new safety cultures that sensitize them to new hazards, motivate and legitimize new preventive practices. In accordance with the interpretive approach to culture in organizations, these changes are discussed in light of members’ of each group’s negotiation over the meaning and relevance of campaign efforts on workmate interventions. Lessons that can be learned from the study are discussed.     

极端嗜盐菌Halomonas elogata的分离鉴定及其降解偶氮染料活性兰BRF的条件优化研究

从新疆地区土壤中经驯化、分离纯化得到一株极端嗜盐菌,并对其形态特征、生理生化特性及16S rDNA同源性进行了检索比较,鉴定该菌株为伸长盐单胞菌(Halomonas elogata);其次,考察了不同因素对菌株降解偶氮染料--活性兰BRF的影响,比较了不同盐度条件下的降解率,并在30℃、5%盐度生长条件下采用单因素实验考察了该菌接菌量、染料初始浓度、初始pH等因素对活性兰BRF72h降解率的影响,采用正交试验L9(33)获得适宜的降解条件;最后,通过紫外-可见吸收光谱分析了降解产物.结果表明,该菌株耐盐范围为0～32%,最适生长盐度为5%～20%;在盐度为3%～25%条件下该菌株对活性兰BRF的降解率随着盐度的升高先升后降,5%盐度下的降解效果最佳;在30℃、5%盐度下适宜降解条件为:染料浓度100mg·L-1,pH=7,接菌量5%,72h的降解率为88.62%.紫外-可见光谱结果显示,降解产物的光谱与活性兰BRF的明显不同,可见光区的吸收峰消失,正己烷萃取液无紫外吸收,二氯甲烷萃取液出现两个紫外吸收峰,推测为芳胺类及杂环类等极性化合物;质谱分析证实,降解产物合苯甲基二胺、2,6-氨基苯酚等极性化合物.     

Climatic and genetic controls of yields of switchgrass, a model bioenergy species

The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard calls for 136 billion liters of renewable fuels production by 2022. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has emerged as a leading candidate to be developed as a bioenergy feedstock. To reach biofuel production goals in a sustainable manner, more information is needed to characterize potential production rates of switchgrass. We used switchgrass yield data and general additive models (GAMs) to model lowland and upland switchgrass yield as nonlinear functions of climate and environmental variables. We used the GAMs and a 39-year climate dataset to assess the spatio-temporal variability in switchgrass yield due to climate variables alone. Variables associated with fertilizer application, genetics, precipitation, and management practices were the most important for explaining variability in switchgrass yield. The relationship of switchgrass yield with climate variables was different for upland than lowland cultivars. The spatio-temporal analysis showed that considerable variability in switchgrass yields can occur due to climate variables alone. The highest switchgrass yields with the lowest variability occurred primarily in the Corn Belt region, suggesting that prime cropland regions are the best suited for a constant and high switchgrass biomass yield. Given that much lignocellulosic feedstock production will likely occur in regions with less suitable climates for agriculture, interannual variability in yields should be expected and incorporated into operational planning.     

Mitigation and adaptation synergy in forest sector

Mitigation and adaptation are the two main strategies to address climate change. Mitigation and adaptation have been considered separately in the global negotiations as well as literature. There is a realization on the need to explore and promote synergy between mitigation and adaptation while addressing climate change. In this paper, an attempt is made to explore the synergy between mitigation and adaptation by considering forest sector, which on the one hand is projected to be adversely impacted under the projected climate change scenarios and on the other provide opportunities to mitigate climate change. Thus, the potential and need for incorporating adaptation strategies and practices in mitigation projects is presented with a few examples. Firstly, there is a need to ensure that mitigation programs or projects do not increase the vulnerability of forest ecosystems and plantations. Secondly, several adaptation practices could be incorporated into mitigation projects to reduce vulnerability. Further, many of the mitigation projects indeed reduce vulnerability and promote adaptation, for example; forest and biodiversity conservation, protected area management and sustainable forestry. Also, many adaptation options such as urban forestry, soil and water conservation and drought resistant varieties also contribute to mitigation of climate change. Thus, there is need for research and field demonstration of synergy between mitigation and adaptation, so that the cost of addressing climate change impacts can be reduced and co-benefits increased.     

Silvery mole-rats (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Heliophobius argenteocinereus</Emphasis>, Bathyergidae) change their burrow architecture seasonally

Little is known about seasonal changes in burrowing activity and burrow architecture in subterranean African mole-rats (Bathyergidae, Rodentia). The solitary genus Heliophobius is the least known genus of this family. We examined burrow systems of the silvery mole-rat ( Heliophobius argenteocinereus) in Malawi in two periods of the dry season. Burrow pattern was influenced by the time of the year, becoming more reticulated at the peak of the dry season when soil was dry and hard. Overall digging activity did not cease during the dry season; yet burrowing strategy changed and the soil was deposited in tunnels rather than transported to mounds. The length of burrow systems was correlated with the body mass of the respective occupants. In spite of their solitary habits – and contrary to the prediction of the aridity food-distribution hypothesis – silvery mole-rats are able to occupy poor habitats with low food supply.     

CO2倍增和施氮对水稻不同生长期土壤反硝化细菌丰度的影响

随着全球气候变化的不断加剧,大气CO₂浓度呈明显增加趋势,这将间接影响土壤-植物-微生物系统的氮循环过程.为研究典型水稻土壤反硝化细菌对CO₂浓度升高的响应规律和机制,借助水稻密闭培养箱,运用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（Real-Time qPCR）分子技术,设置不施氮（0 mg/kg）和常规施氮（100 mg/kg）2个处理,研究CO₂倍增对水稻不同生长期土壤关键反硝化功能细菌（narG、nirK和nirS型）丰度的影响.结果表明:①在2种施氮水平,CO₂倍增显著促进了水稻分蘖期、孕穗期、扬花期和成熟期水稻根系生长（增幅为2.96%~28.4%）、地上部生物量增加（增幅为7.1%~107.3%）以及成熟期籽粒干质量的增加（增幅为19.5%和38.0%）,具有显著的增产效应.②反硝化细菌丰度对CO₂倍增的响应与生育期及施氮水平有关,CO₂倍增在2个施氮水平均抑制分蘖期反硝化细菌的繁殖,显著增加孕穗期反硝化细菌数量;在水稻扬花期,CO₂倍增促进了施氮处理narG和nirS型反硝化细菌数量的增加,在成熟期抑制未施氮处理下narG、nirK和nirS型反硝化细菌的生长.另外,narG、nirK、nirS型反硝化细菌丰度整体表现为narG > nirS > nirK,且随水稻的生长,其在成熟期的丰度均呈降低趋势.nirK和nirS基因同属亚硝酸还原酶,但nirS基因丰度高于nirK,且对CO₂倍增和施氮的响应有所差异.研究显示,CO₂倍增可显著增加水稻生长和产量,不同施氮水平对稻田土壤反硝化细菌丰度的影响存在差异.      

水生生态系统中的氮

从淡水到河口、沿海和海水系统的连续统一体中,水生生态系统对营养富集和营养比变化的反应各不相同.尽管在淡水系统里,人们认为磷是浮游植物生产的限制性营养元素,但大气中氮的影响和它对淡水酸化所起的作用却可以是有害的.从河口到海岸带的连续统一体中,随着盐的梯度和季节不同,在氮、磷、硅之间出现多元的营养限制,但是,一般认为氮是浮游植物生物量积累的主要限制性营养元素.在氮和磷通量、浮游植物初级生产及渔业产量之间有确切的、非线性的正相关关系.流向河口.海岸和海洋系统的营养负载超过了营养富集后生产活动的同化能力,以及水质发生恶化时,存在着各种阈值.其影响包括有害和有毒藻类的滋生、混浊度增加,随后是沉水植物消失、缺氧、生态系统功能瓦解、栖息地丧失、生物多样性丧失、食物网变换,以及捕捞渔业的损失.