Economic and equity implications of land-use zoning in suburban agriculture

A cash-flow viability model is used to evaluate the impacts of land-use zoning on farm households in New Jersey. Findings suggest that zoning results in increased production expenses, lower efficiency and profitability, and the devaluation of land assets. Cash flow and economic viability are, thus, reduced. Impacts of zoning on farm incomes, off-farm incomes, revenues from land sales, indebtedness, and farm sizes were not statistically significant. The results suggest that the use of land-use zoning statutes to guarantee the existence of agriculture may not be equitable unless transferable development rights or other methods of compensating farmers for their losses are simultaneously implemented.     

INTERBASIN WATER TRANSFERS IN RIPARIAN STATES: A CASE STUDY OF GEORGIA1

ABSTRACT: Under the riparian doctrine of eastern states, transfers of water to nonriparian lands and, thus, to different river basins, are only possible if the natural flow theory has been modified to allow for reasonable use. Even this adaptation is too nebulous to provide water managers and water users with certainty regarding water transfers. To provide a more precise mechanism for allocating water, 14 eastern states have adopted some form of administrative permitting process. Of these, five states statutorily allow for interbasin transfers of water. Thus far, no states have successfully issued permits for interbasin water transfers but Georgia and South Carolina are positioned to do so. Whether the permitting process will deter court action may rest on the ability of affected parties to negotiate an equitable agreement.     

DEVOLUTION OF BUREAU OF RECLAMATION CONSTRUCTED WATER FACILITIES1

ABSTRACT: Recent years have seen an accelerating trend toward devolution and privatization of water supply and distribution infrastructure. This paper discusses and analyzes the experience to date of the federal Bureau of Reclamation's efforts to title transfer to non federal entities. The paper also discusses the concepts of federalism and devolution in the context of Reclamation's title transfer activities.     

Differences in U root-to-shoot translocation between plant species explained by U distribution in roots

Accumulation and distribution of uranium in roots and shoots of four plants species differing in their cation exchange capacity of roots (CECR) was investigated. After exposure in hydroponics for seven days to 100 μmol U L⁻¹, distribution of uranium in roots was investigated through chemical extraction of roots. Higher U concentrations were measured in roots of dicots which showed a higher CECR than monocot species. Chemical extractions indicated that uranium is mostly located in the apoplasm of roots of monocots but that it is predominantly located in the symplasm of roots of dicots. Translocation of U to shoot was not significantly affected by the CECR or distribution of U between symplasm and apoplasm. Distribution of uranium in roots was investigated through chemical extraction of roots for all species. Additionally, longitudinal and radial distribution of U in roots of maize and Indian mustard, respectively showing the lowest and the highest translocation, was studied following X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of specific root sections. Chemical analysis and XRF analysis of roots of maize and Indian mustard clearly indicated a higher longitudinal and radial transport of uranium in roots of Indian mustard than in roots of maize, where uranium mostly accumulated in root tips. These results showed that even if CECR could partly explain U accumulation in roots, other mechanisms like radial and longitudinal transport are implied in the translocation of U to the shoot.     

我国社会保险关系转移和接续问题研究

劳动力要素的自由流动对我国市场经济体制的完善无疑有着极其重要的作用。比如可以提高要素的配置效率、加快城市化建设等作用。在现实中,我国劳动力要素的自由流动不但受到除户籍制度、劳动关系等客观社会基本关系的制约,还受到社会保险关系的制约,各地频繁出现的"退保"等现象,就说明社会保险关系转移和接续难。劳动力在不同地区很难实现自由流动,势必产生了不良的后果.直接损害了劳动者的权益,也影响了社会保险制度的完善。不完善的社会保险制度更加加剧社会的不公平,在构建和谐社会的今天,社会保险关系的顺利衔接无疑更有紧迫性和必要性。本文在了解我国目前劳动力的社会保险关系转移的现状的基础上,运用制度经济学和管理学的相关理论,较为深入地分析了社会保险关系正常流动难的原因,如统筹层次低、转轨成本的未完全消化等原因,并提出了相应的对策、建议。     

用于CO2捕集的Mg（OH）2粉末溶解速率

氢氧化镁是一种正在研究的用于脱除烟气中低浓度CO2的化学吸收剂。为了掌握工业用氢氧化镁粉末的溶解速率,利用缓冲溶液,在不改变溶液体积的情况下对不同悬浊液浓度、溶液温度、溶液pH值和搅拌速率情况下的氢氧化镁粉末溶解速率进行了研究。提高悬浊液浓度、提高溶液温度、降低溶液pH值和提高搅拌速率均能增大氢氧化镁的溶解速率。悬浊液浓度从0.1 mol/L增加到1 mol/L时,溶解速率增大了2.2倍;温度从23℃增加到52℃时,溶解速率增大了4.3～9.5倍;pH值从9.8降低到6.6时,溶解速率增大了78～225倍;搅拌速率从350 r/min增加到700 r/min时,溶解速率增大了1～2倍。     

The Probability of a Horizontal Gene Transfer from Roundup Ready® Soybean to Root Symbiotic Bacteria: A Risk Assessment Study on the GSF Lysimeter Station

The gene transfer from glyphosate tolerant soybean to Bradyrhizobium japonicum was evaluated in a free-air lysimeter experiment under natural conditions and increasing selection pressure, to monitor for the probability of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). A large volume lysimeter study that offers conditions comparable to normal farming was conducted in 2004 and 2005 with Roundup Ready® (RR) soybean and Roundup® application according to agricultural practice. Analysis of nodules showed, as expected, the presence of the transgenic 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS). However, in bacteroids that were isolated from nodules and then cultivated for several rounds in the presence of high levels of glyphosate, the EPSPS gene could no longer be detected. This indicates no stable HGT transfer of the whole EPSPS gene under field conditions.     

西安高新区多情景碳达峰预测及减排路径分析

第十三届全国人民代表大会第五次会议提出要致力于推进碳达峰碳中和工作,促进经济社会向全面绿色低碳转型,实现高质量发展.西安高新区作为陕西省重要的科技创新和产业聚集区,经济发展在很大程度上依赖于能源消耗,碳减排的任务就显得尤为艰巨.以西安高新区为研究对象,首先通过系统核算园区内碳排放,对不同能源种类和不同行业企业碳排放现状进行分析;然后利用Kaya模型设定多种独立的碳达峰情景,预测不同情景下的碳排放总量值及碳达峰时间;最后结合西安高新区发展特点科学甄选相应的碳减排路径,给出合理的减排建议.结果表明,目前电力消耗碳排放占比最多且份额呈逐年上升趋势,工业碳排量始终占主导地位且第三产业发展日益蓬勃;碳排放因子情景、能源强度情景和经济水平情景这3种情景下可于2030年达到碳达峰,其中经济发展水平对西安高新区未来碳达峰的峰值和时间影响最大,产业结构情景、能源结构情景和人口规模情景在2030年前没有出现峰值;未来减排路径主要从电力部门脱碳、经济稳健高质量发展、能源及产业结构绿色升级和构建绿色交通体系入手,可为实现碳中和预留更多的准备时间,也为我国工业园区低碳发展提供决策参考.     

基于资源环境承载力的武汉市三大万亿集群产业发展策略研究

资源环境是城市的基础性资源,对经济社会发展具有支撑与约束作用,为加快实施武汉市光电子信息、汽车及零部件和大健康3个万亿级产业集群建设,推动制造业高质量发展,结合武汉市工业发展和资源环境利用现状,计算和评估三大万亿产业经济发展指标、资源消耗指标和污染排放指标,提出三大万亿产业集群发展策略建议.