Using participatory geographic approaches for urban flood risk in Santiago de Chile: Insights from a governance analysis

Studies based on information acquired by participative geographic approaches have sought to cope with emergency situations and disasters such as floods. However, the impact of these approaches to flood risk governance systems in order to understand these types of events as a complete risk cycle is still not clear. This paper focuses on analysing the governance possibilities of using participative geographic information like volunteered and public participatory geographic information for flood risk reduction in the case of Santiago de Chile, a city which regularly experiences urban floods during rainy seasons. Based on in-depth interviews and document analysis, our study indicates that a relevant part of the current information used for flood risk reduction efforts is provided to local and regional authorities by the affected population. Though, local actors are not recognized by central agencies as valid agents for the production of official information. Moreover, there are neither instances of communication or deliberation with the community, which reduces the capacity of local actors to discuss possible solutions. Participative geographic instruments are seen as potential mechanisms to strengthen work relations among local actors and authorities, by enhancing new logics for producing and sharing information. The impacts for the current risk governance system though can be diverse depending on the participants' level of commitment of participants and the political relations between actors and agencies. Considered as merely data acquisition and analysis mechanisms, participative instruments reproduce the existing hierarchical top-down structures. Furthermore, local-based approaches can enhance local work, support local diagnostics and increase the decision capacity of citizens.     

丁苯橡胶生产过程中不稳定因素分析及对策

针对丁二烯自聚物闪燃爆炸和后处理胶粒塑化着火的形成机理、形成条件、影响因素进行了分析,并提出了防范措施和应急处理办法。     

Testes mass in megachiropteran bats varies in accordance with sperm competition theory

Sperm competition is a widespread phenomenon influencing a range of characters, including investment in gonadal tissue. Conspecific proximity is one factor which can influence the risk of sperm competition and hence testicular investment, and decreased confidence of paternity may be one cost of group living. Aspects of female biology may also influence spermatogenic investment and sperm morphology. This study examines the associations between relative testes mass and roost-group size across 17 species of Megachiroptera. Associations between breeding season duration and investment in spermatogenesis are also examined, as are associations between female reproductive tract dimensions and testes mass and dimensions of spermatozoa across all bats. Relative testes mass was significantly positively associated with roost-group size at a species level and after appropriate phylogenetic control (pairwise comparisons and comparison of independent contrasts). There were no significant relationships between breeding season duration and relative testes mass. Across all bats, neither testes mass nor sperm length were significantly related to dimensions of the female tract. The results are discussed in the context of sperm competition. Received: 7 January 1998 / Accepted after revision: 8 August 1998     

FARMERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD NONPOINT POLLUTION CONTROL AND PARTICIPATION IN COST-SHARE PROGRAMS1

The success of government programs to control nonpoint source pollution depends upon attitudes toward those programs and the availability of technical and financial assistance. Applicants for the Rural Clean Water Program cost-share funding in Virginia possess different personal and operational characteristics than do nonapplicants. Factors associated with participation in the Rural Clean Water Program differed from those associated with the more traditional soil conservation programs. Discriminant analysis was used to differentiate between other farmers who may become applicants and nonapplicants. Farmers' attitudes toward various policy options for inducing implementation of nonpoint source management practices varied greatly. Farmers were most favorable to cost sharing, low-interest loans and tax credits, and least favorable to a soil loss tax. They were either very favorably or very unfavorably inclined toward cross-compliance between pollution control and other agricultural programs.     

Risk analysis of an LPG storage facility in India

An assignment to carry out a hazard study and risk analysis of a gas processing complex has been described briefly, wherein well known procedures have been used to identify and investigate potential hazards. A method of avoiding unintentional overfilling of LPG storage tanks has been recommended, which utilizes the existing level control instruments.     

基于BP神经网络的苯储罐泄漏事故风险评价模型研究

为了在事故发生之前对苯储罐进行风险评价，提出1种基于BP神经网络的泄漏事故风险评价方法，利用该方法构建了苯储罐的风险评价模型，并对模型进行了训练及验证。研究结果表明:BP神经网络成功完成了建模任务，且模型训练结果较好，可利用基于BP神经网络所构建的苯泄漏事故风险评价模型对苯储罐发生泄漏事故的风险进行评价。     

A framework for evaluating flood risk governance

Calls to strengthen flood risk governance are echoed across Europe amidst a growing consensus that floods will increase in the future. Accompanying the pursuit of societal resilience, other normative agendas relating legitimacy (e.g. accountability and public participation), and resource efficiency, have become attached to discussions concerning flood risk governance. Whilst these represent goals against which ‘success’ is socially and politically judged, lacking from the literature is a coherent framework to operationalise these concepts and evaluate the degree to which these are achieved. Drawing from cross-disciplinary and cross-country research conducted within the EU project STAR-FLOOD, this paper presents a framework for evaluating the extent to which flood risk governance arrangements support societal resilience, and demonstrate efficiency and legitimacy. Through empirical research in England, this paper critically reflects on the value of this approach in terms of identifying entry points to strengthen governance in the pursuit of these goals.