Farm management decision and response to climate variability and change in Côte d’Ivoire

This paper investigates threats to farm management in the northern and central region of Côte d’Ivoire, with a particular focus on climate-related threats. To this end, farmers’ perception and adaptation strategies for climate change have been analyzed. The data were collected from 205 respondents by means of the Focus Groups method, and they were evaluated using a framework analysis. The main reported threats related to the implementation of farming activities are the high cost of inputs and the lack of technical support, which are followed by diseases, insects, and climate variations (scarcity of rains, strong winds, and high temperature). We find that most farmers have a strong perception of changes in climatic conditions. Their perceived impacts on the local environment through evidences like the disappearance of certain farming practices, occurrence of new insects, and the disruption of key time reference periods. Farmers mainly attempt to adapt by adjusting their agricultural calendar, adopting new short-season varieties, and using mixed cropping. We find that the most influential factors for farmers’ adaptation behavior is lack of contact with extension services and the scarcity of rainfall. Our suggestions for future agricultural policies for better adaptation to climate change are to take into account farmers’ perception, to provide suitable climate forecast, and to improve local technical support.     

Financing for innovative technologies and best practices to reduce persistent organic pollutants

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) threaten human health and the global environment. Recognizing their dangers many countries began to limit or ban POPs production, use, and release in the 1990s. Eventually the Stockholm Convention on POPs, was adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) provides financial support to developing country Parties for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention. The GEF’s POPs investment portfolio focuses on: 1) strengthening the capacity of developing country Parties to implement the Stockholm Convention; 2) establishing and supporting partnerships to develop and implement National Implementation Plans (NIPs), and 3) demonstrating and deploying best technologies and practices to reduce POPs emission, including development of safe alternatives. Since 2001 the GEF has committed US$568.8 million to POPs projects and leveraged some US$1474.5 million in co-financing from partners in the public and private sectors, bringing the total value of the GEF POPs portfolio to over US$2 billion. With GEF support, 108 developing country Parties have developed their NIPs. The GEF also financed 109 projects for the implementation of the Convention. Upon completion, these GEF POPs investments will contribute to the disposal of more than 70,000 tons of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) oil, contaminated equipments, and waste, more than 40,000 tons of obsolete POPs pesticides and associated waste, and reducing dioxin/furan and mercury emission by introducing environmentally sound technologies and best practices. This paper summarizes: 1) direct and indirect GEF investments to support the goals of the Stockholm Convention; 2) investment case studies on PCB, DichloroDiphenylTrichloroethane (DDT), chlordane and mirex, medical waste, obsolete POPs and engaging civil society; and 3) lessons learned in terms of GEF financing strategies, best technologies and environmental practices to address POPs.     

2009～2012年全国交流输变电工程环保验收问题分析与对策

通过对全国2009—2012年交流输变电工程竣工环境保护验收执行情况的统计,分析了交流输变电工程竣工环保验收中存在的问题,并针对性地提出了相应的对策,探讨了交流输变电工程竣工环境保护验收工作需制定和完善技术标准;推行施工期环境监理;推行设计图纸备案制度等环境保护对策。     

节能降耗技术在污水处理中的应用

通过对污水泵进行变频调速改造及污水处理工艺优化,实现了污水处理的降耗节能。     

中国石化炼油企业QHSE管理体系典型建过程研究

总结了中国石化炼油企业构建QHSE管理体系的典型步骤和内容,描述了体系构建各阶段的工作和要求,并提出了构建QHSE管理体系过程中的关注要点.     

HAZOP与LOPA结合的运用实践

通过将HAZOP与LOPA结合分析的具体事例,阐述了单一的HAZOP分析可能存在的缺陷,同时介绍了将HAZOP与LOPA结合进行HAZOPLOPA分析的优点。     

油品装卸过程静电特性研究

为了研究油品装卸过程中的静电危险性,在两个城市的油库和加油站对油品的装油、卸油过程,以及装油的油罐车从油库向加油站行驶的过程中,油罐车内油品的油面电位进行了静电检测。通过对大量油罐车内油面电位的检测数据分析可以看出,在正常装卸油过程中,油罐车内油品的油面电位远远小于标准所规定安全油面电位,有缩短稳油时间的可能性。     

A time-compressed simulated geomagnetic storm influences the nest-exiting flight angles of the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula

Insects have been used as models for understanding animal orientation. It is well accepted that social insects such as honeybees and ants use different natural cues in their orientation mechanism. A magnetic sensitivity was suggested for the stingless bee Schwarziana quadripunctata, based on the observation of a surprising effect of a geomagnetic storm on the nest-exiting flight angles. Stimulated by this result, in this paper, the effects of a time-compressed simulated geomagnetic storm (TC-SGS) on the nest-exiting flight angles of another stingless bee, Tetragonisca angustula, are presented. Under an applied SGS, either on the horizontal or vertical component of the geomagnetic field, both nest-exiting flight angles, dip and azimuth, are statistically different from those under geomagnetic conditions. The angular dependence of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra of whole stingless bees shows the presence of organized magnetic nanoparticles in their bodies, which indicates this material as a possible magnetic detector.     

Sperm-depleted males influence the reproductive behaviour of conspecifics

In many insect species, sperm-depleted males (SDMs, i.e. males that have exhausted their sperm after a given number of matings) remain sexually active and continue to mate females. Here, we investigated the behavioural modifications that occur in both sexes of the parasitoid Asobara tabida Nees (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), after matings by fertile males and sperm-depleted males. We show that (i) virgin females, mated females and females mated to a SDM exhibited different behaviours and that (ii) males responded differently to females depending on whether the females had previously mated with an SDM or not. Our findings demonstrate that SDM influenced the reproductive behaviour of both males and females, especially with regard to male responsiveness and female attractiveness. These findings are discussed in the context of adaptive behaviour and fitness maximization in both males and females.     

缙云山3种典型森林降雨过程及其氮素输入

选取重庆缙云山的常绿阔叶林、毛竹林和针阔混交林为研究对象,于2012年5~10月对大气降水、穿透雨和树干径流等降水过程及其氮素输入进行研究.结果表明:①研究期间总降雨量564.88 mm,常绿阔叶林、毛竹林和针阔混交林的穿透雨量占总降雨量的比例分别为74.0%、85.0%和71.6%,且树干径流量所占比例分别为1.9%、10.3%和1.6%;3种林分的穿透雨量、树干径流量与林外降雨量之间均呈显著的线性关系(P<0.05),且穿透雨率、树干径流率与林外降雨量之间都呈对数关系(P<0.05).②与大气降水相比,穿透雨和树干径流的NO-3和NH+4浓度要高,且3种林分的大小关系为针阔混交林>常绿阔叶林>毛竹林;穿透雨和树干径流的总无机氮输入量(以N计)分别为针阔混交林(18.93 kg·hm-2)、常绿阔叶林(14.93 kg·hm-2)和毛竹林(15.31 kg·hm-2).③3种林分的无机氮输入量与穿透雨量、树干径流量之间均呈显著的线性关系(P<0.05).