The Role of Communication in Preparation for Wildland Fire: A Literature Review

Fire regimes are needed for healthy forest ecosystems, but citizens who live parallel to public forests do not always understand or favour the mechanisms land managers use for fire prevention and preparation. One way that land managers and citizens may share concerns and overcome barriers is through effective communication, allowing both parties to adequately prepare for a wildfire event. While collaboration between land managers and citizens has been well studied, the research on communication between citizens and among land managers is less prevalent yet equally important. The lack of research on communication between these parties creates an incomplete picture of the spectrum of communication that takes place in preparation for a wildland fire event. This paper reviews the current literature on communication between and among citizens and land managers before a wildfire event.     

Efficacy of text messaging apprentices to reinforce ergonomics and safety voice training

Introduction: Injuries and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among masons. SAfety Voice for Ergonomics (SAVE) integrates training in ergonomic and safety problem-solving skills into masonry apprenticeship training. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of text messaging to reinforce SAVE program content. Method: SAVE effectiveness was evaluated at masonry apprenticeship training centers across the United States by comparing three experimental groups: (1) Ergonomics training, (2) Ergonomics and Safety Voice training, and a (3) Control. Apprentices received SAVE training with their standard instruction. To reinforce classroom training, refresher training was implemented by sending weekly text messages for six months. Half of the text messages required a response, which tested knowledge or assessed behavior, while the remaining reiterated knowledge. Apprentices (n = 119) received SAVE text messages. Response rates and percentage of correct responses were compared with chi-square tests and independent group t-tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis predicted apprentice response with selected demographic and work experience variables. Finally, feedback on of the use of text messaging was obtained. Result: Of 119 participants, 61% (n = 72) responded to at least one text message. Logistic regression revealed that being a high school graduate and a brick and block mason significantly affected the odds of responding. Sixty-nine percent of apprentices agreed that text messages reinforced SAVE content. Conclusion: Even though there was no training center requirement to respond, the high response rate suggests that text messaging can effectively be used to reinforce ergonomics and safety voice training for both knowledge and behavior. Practical Application: The prevalent use of text messaging creates opportunities to reinforce health and safety training and engage workers, especially for populations that may be at various locations over time such as construction sites. Instructors and practitioners should consider the utility of text messaging for supporting their training and safety programs.     

中国能源效率与其影响因素的动态关系研究

本文利用1978-2006年样本数据,首先通过状态空间模型分析了经济结构、技术进步、能源消费结构和能源价格对能源效率的单向动态变化过程及成因;接着使用向量误差修正模型估算出能源效率与其影响因素之间的长期均衡和短期波动关系;在此基础上利用脉冲响应函数和方差分解模型就我国能源效率与其影响因素之间的动态关系作进一步分析。结果表明:改革开放以来我国能源效率与其影响因素之间存在长期均衡关系,经济体制改革和一些相关政策对能源效率有着深远的影响。从长期均衡关系来看,技术进步对能源效率的正面影响最大,能源价格和一些不可观测变量对能源效率有着促进作用,而经济结构和能源消费结构未能对能源效率起推动作用。从各因素对能源效率的贡献百分比来看,能源价格对能源效率的贡献最大,然后依次是经济结构、能源消费结构和技术进步。     

Exploration and exploitation of food sources by social insect colonies: a revision of the scout-recruit concept

Social insect colonies need to explore and exploit multiple food sources simultaneously and efficiently. At the individual level, this colony-level behaviour has been thought to be taken care of by two types of individual: scouts that independently search for food, and recruits that are directed by nest mates to a food source. However, recent analyses show that this strict division of labour between scouts and recruits is untenable. Therefore, a modified concept is presented here that comprises the possible behavioural states of an individual forager (novice forager, scout, recruit, employed forager, unemployed experienced forager, inspector and reactivated forager) and the transitions between them. The available empirical data are reviewed in the light of both the old and the new concept, and probabilities for the different transitions are derived for the case of the honey-bee. The modified concept distinguishes three types of foragers that may be involved in the exploration behaviour of the colony: novice bees that become scouts, unemployed experienced bees that scout, and lost recruits, i.e. bees that discover a food source other than the one to which they were directed to by their nest mates. An advantage of the modified concept is that it allows for a better comparison of studies investigating the different roles performed by social insect foragers during their individual foraging histories. Received: 29 December 1999 / Revised: 25 February 2000 / Accepted: 16 October 2000     

低浓度SO2和NOx自动监测系统性能评价方法

通过对7种废气自动监测系统的比较研究和现场测试,提出了非分散红外法、紫外差分法、紫外荧光法、化学发光法等多种SO2和NO x自动监测技术在低浓度范围实现准确定量监测的性能评价方法,定义了CEMS的系统检出限及其主要影响因素。建议采用系统检出限、线性误差等关键参数作为低浓度CEMS的性能评价方法,提出将全系统多点标准气体校准或加标回收率作为验收和质控监督的基本方法。     

Standardisation of Temperature Observed by Automatic Weather Stations

Daily mean, maximum and minimum surface airtemperature data were gathered from a network ofautomatic weather stations (AWS) within the Moor HouseNational Nature Reserve in northern England. Five AWSwere installed next to the official EnvironmentalChange Network weather station at Moor House. Datawere compared graphically and correction constantswere calculated to adjust data from each AWS to thestandard of the official station by optimising theconcordance correlation coefficient. Each correctedstation was re-located next to one of five in-situstations in and around the reserve, allowingcorrection of all temperature sensors to a commonstandard. The mean error associated with measureddaily mean, maximum and minimum temperature for eachsensor does not exceed ±0.2 K. The procedurequantifies a source of systematic measurement error,improving the identification of spatial temperaturedifferences between stations.     

The influence of neighborhood traffic density on the respiratory health of elementary schoolchildren

Background

Several studies have found that living near major roadways is associated with an increase in respiratory illness but few studies have measured the volume and type of traffic.

Objective

We investigated the relation between traffic volume and respiratory health of 2328 children 9 to 11 years old in the city of Windsor, Canada.

Methods

We identified the roadways within a 200 meter radius of the child's neighborhood using the latitude and longitude of the residential postal code. Traffic exposure was defined as the sum of the annual volume of vehicles on all of these roadways. Volume was calculated using sensors to detect passing vehicles (simple traffic counts), and by counts and direction of traffic at intersections (turning movement counts). Ventilatory lung function was measured by spirometry and airway inflammation by exhaled nitric oxide (eNO).

Results

The odds ratio between an interquartile increase in truck turning movement counts and chest congestion was 1.20 (1.06-1.35). The percentage of predicted FVC declined 0.68%, (95% CI 1.32, 0.03) for an interquartile increase in simple traffic counts (33,787 vehicles daily). Among those with self-reported asthma, effect sizes were larger. Percentage predicted FEV₁ declined 1.84% (95% CI 0.07, 3.61) associated with an interquartile range increase in turning movement counts. No statistically significant change was detected between traffic measures and exhaled nitric oxide.

Conclusions

Our findings provide further support for the hypothesis that neighborhood exposure to traffic-related air pollution increases respiratory symptoms and reduces ventilatory function in children, especially those with self-reported asthma.     

Coping with Complexity,Uncertainty and Ambiguity in Risk Governance: A Synthesis

The term governance describes the multitude of actors and processes that lead to collectively binding decisions. The term risk governance translates the core principles of governance to the context of risk-related policy making. We aim to delineate some basic lessons from the insights of the other articles in this special issue for our understanding of risk governance. Risk governance provides a conceptual as well as normative basis for how to cope with uncertain, complex and/or ambiguous risks. We propose to synthesize the breadth of the articles in this special issue by suggesting some changes to the risk governance framework proposed by the International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) and adding some insights to its analytical and normative implications.     

中国碳排放与经济增长的协整与因果关系分析

中国碳排放与经济增长的关系是目前热点问题。研究碳排放与经济增长关系有助于实现中国2020年碳减排目标。选取1953～2008年中国碳排放量和经济增长数据,运用协整和误差修正模型及Granger因果关系,研究碳排放与经济增长关系。研究结果表明：从长期来看,碳排放与经济增长之间存在长期均衡关系(协整关系),GDP增加1%,碳排放将增加036%,即碳排放对经济增长的长期弹性为036;在短期内,两者存在着动态调整机制,非均衡误差项的存在,保证了两者之间长期均衡关系的存在。误差修正系数(-0669 4)为负,调整方向符合误差修正机制,并且误差修正模型的拟合效果比较理想。Granger因果关系研究表明：总体来说,碳排放与经济增长之间互为双向因果关系。针对研究结果,提出了“发展低碳经济、提高能源效率和发展非化石能源”的策略,减少能源消费和降低碳排放,实现碳排放与经济增长的相对脱钩     

远洋船员的机体功能状态与适航性研究

将远洋航行船员的内在和外在环境作为人因失效根原因和关键环节进行分析研讨,指出其对船员机体功能造成的负面影响,而产生失效行为,造成船舶事故.基于马尔可夫链原理,建立远洋船员的机体功能状态在航行链中的变化过程矩阵.根据对中远集团部分远洋船员统计数据,建立机体状态初始向量,结合过程矩阵进行仿真,结果显示船员从第5个月时,开始出现再适应期(休船期).考虑到航运业具体特点,远洋船员的航行时间以4个月为益,不要超过6个月.从船员机体状态适航性的角度,根据船员的状态向量的转换结果,分析和预测船员的适航性,对船员进行合理配置能有效提高船舶的航行安全.