The response of epiphytic lichens to air pollution and subsets of ecological predictors: a case study from the Italian Prealps

We investigated the response of epiphytic lichens to air pollution, against the background of other ecological predictors in a prealpine heterogeneous area, using Non-Parametric Multiplicative Regression (NPMR). The best NPMR model for total lichen diversity according to N environmental predictors at tree level has a cross R(2)=0.709. It includes 10 variables, belonging to three different subsets of factors: two pollution-related factors (distance in meters from the road and from the cement factory); four stand-related (habitat, heat index, LAI and elevation) and four substrate-related factors (inclination, circumference and texture and tree species). Considering separately the effects of each subset on lichen diversity, substrate- and stand-related factors produce good models with similar cross R(2) (0.490 and 0.500, respectively), whereas pollution-related factors produce a model with a lower cross R(2) (0.340). Hence, we provide information to investigate the applicability of lichen biomonitoring to complex heterogeneous areas where standardized protocols are not reliable.     

洞庭湖表层沉积物重金属赋存形态及生态风险评价

为深入了解洞庭湖沉积物重金属污染现状及生态风险,采用欧共体物质标准局提出的BCR提取法分析29个表层沉积物中Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb和Zn的赋存形态,并应用基于重金属形态的RSP（ratio of secondary phase and primary phase,次生相与原生相分布比值法）和RAC（风险评价指数法）评价了沉积物重金属的污染程度与生态风险.结果表明:全湖范围内,Cd主要以弱酸溶解态为主,Cr主要以残渣态和可还原态为主,Cu以残渣态和可氧化态为主,Pb以可还原态和残渣态为主,Zn以残渣态和弱酸溶解态为主;RSP评价结果显示,Cd在全湖范围表现为重度污染,Pb总体表现为中度污染,但在湘、资、沅、澧"四水"入湖口以及东洞庭湖几个采样点表现为重度污染,Cr、Cu和Zn处于轻度污染和清洁水平;RAC评价结果表明,全湖范围内5种重金属生态风险排序依次为Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr,Cd表现为高等风险,Cu、Pb和Zn表现为中等风险,而Cr表现为低等风险.研究显示,在研究沉积物重金属总量基础上进行重金属形态分析,有助于深入了解重金属对环境的危害.      

基于模糊网络和时间依赖的应急车辆调度优化研究

突发灾害的应急物资调度是减轻人民财产损失、防止次生灾害发生、保障社会稳定的必要支撑。借助模糊数学中的三角模糊数学方法对不确定的需求信息特征进行描述,用模糊函数积分确定车辆在路段的模糊行驶时间。以应急车辆调度的总时间最短为调度的主要目标,同时配送数量应最大限度地满足需求点的需求量为次要目标建立应急车辆调度模型。然后设计粒子群算法对模型进行求解。最后通过算例,验证建立的模型拟合现实中的情况,结果不是确定数值,而是模糊数值范围的优化。     

Assessing and improving management practices when planning packaging waste collection systems

Packaging waste collection systems are responsible to collect, within a geographic area, three types of packaging materials (paper, glass and plastic/metal) that are disposed by the final consumer into special bins. Those systems are often characterized by having a network with multiple depots that act as transfer and sorting stations, and where the vehicle fleet is based. However, each depot is often managed independently and not as a part of a unique system. In this work, four current tactical/operational practices that contribute to the independent management of each depot are analysed. The change of such practices is investigated and their impact assessed on the total collection cost. A solution methodology based on mathematical formulations is developed to plan service areas, vehicle routes and vehicle schedules taking into account new alternative solutions in managing the system as a whole. Such methodology is applied to a real case study of a company responsible for the collection of the packaging waste in 7 municipalities in mainland Portugal. New service areas, collection routes and vehicle schedules are defined and significant savings are obtained in terms of the total distance travelled as well as in terms of the number of required vehicles, resulting in a decreasing of the total system cost.     

The Kyoto protocol: Empirical evidence of a hidden success

How effective was the Kyoto protocol? International Environmental Agreements (IEA) have been on the rise over the past four decades; however, thus far their effectiveness is controversial. In view of the conflicting results found in the related literature, this paper addresses its effectiveness by utilizing for the first time the generalized synthetic control method (GSCM) to compare the emissions of the industrialized countries with a “No- Kyoto” counterfactual scenario that represents the expected emissions in the absence of the protocol. This method facilitates a robust comparison between treated and control countries as done by Almer and Winkler (2017) and account for the multiple treated units as done by Grunewald and Martinez-Zarzoso (2016), so as to capture the collective nature of the protocol. Results show that the protocol was successful in reducing the emissions of the ratifying countries approximately by 7% below the emissions expected under a “No-Kyoto” scenario, confirming the importance of accounting for the collective nature of the agreement.     

基于ARM的非接触式IC卡控制器设计

介绍了非接触式读卡模块ZLG500A数据传输时序和传输协议,并采用ARM微处理器LPC2103的GPIO方式,根据ZLG500A的数据传输规范模拟相应的SPI时序,设计非接触式IC卡控制器软硬件系统,完成了非接触式IC卡数据的读写,在此基础上开发出非接触式IC卡门禁应用系统,系统实际运行效果良好.     

Biodiversity below ground: probing the subterranean ant fauna of Amazonia

Ants are abundant, diverse, and ecologically dominant in tropical forests. Subterranean ants in particular are thought to have a significant environmental impact, although difficulties associated with collecting ants underground and examining their ecology and behavior have limited research. In this paper, we present the results of a study of subterranean ant diversity in Amazonian Ecuador that employs a novel probe to facilitate the discovery of species inhabiting the soil horizon. Forty-seven species of ants in 19 genera, including new and apparently rare species, were collected in probes. Approximately 19% of the species collected at different depths in the soil were unique to probe samples. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) results showed that the species composition of ants collected with the probe was significantly different from samples collected using other techniques. Additionally, ANOSIM computations indicated the species assemblage of ants collected 12.5 cm below the surface was significantly different from those found at 25, 37.5, and 50 cm. Ant diversity and species accumulation rates decreased with increasing depth. There were no species unique to the lowest depths, suggesting that subterranean ants may not be distributed deep in the soil in Amazonia due to the high water table. The technique we describe could be used to gain new insights into the distribution and biology of subterranean ant species and other members of the species-rich soil invertebrate macrofauna.     

中国历史上和未来CFC-11和CFC-12的排放量计算

基于CFC-11(CCl3F)和CFC-12(CCl2F2)在家用制冷、工商制冷、汽车空调、气雾剂、烟草和泡沫等应用行业的消费数据、淘汰进程等计算了中国历年CFC-11和CFC-12的消费量,进而利用相应的排放方程计算了其历年排放量及未来的预测排放量.计算结果表明,从1978年中国开始消费到将来完全淘汰CFCs为止,中国CFC-11和CFC-12的总消费量分别为39.79×104t和40.97×104t.与国际公约对中国的要求相比,仅CFC-11和CFC-12,中国就少消费了19.78×104t ODP(臭氧层耗损潜能值)的CFCs物质.中国CFC-11和CFC-12的总排放量分别为全球1950～1999年50年间排放量的4.66%和3.16%,人均排放量及单位国土面积排放量均远远低于全球平均水平.     

蚁群算法在马斯京根模型参数估计中的应用

蚁群算法是一种模拟进化算法,该算法具有许多优越的性质.研究了一种可用于求解连续空间优化问题的蚁群算法策略,针对洪水演算的马斯京根模型参数估计问题,应用连续性空间优化问题的蚁群算法模型进行了求解.应用实例表明,蚁群算法在求解连续空间优化问题中是很有效的,可以广泛应用于各种自然灾害模型的优化问题.     

Measuring and explaining the EU’s effect on national climate performance

ABSTRACT

To what extent has the European Union (EU) had a benign or retarding effect on what its member states would have undertaken in the absence of EU climate policies during 2008–2012? A measurement tool for the EU policy’s effect is developed and shows a benign average EU effect with considerable variation across countries. The EU’s policy effectiveness vis-à-vis its member states is explained by the EU’s non-compliance mechanism, the degree of usage of the Kyoto flexible mechanisms, and national pre-Kyoto emission reduction goals. Time-series cross-sectional analyses show that the EU’s non-compliance mechanism has no effect, while the ex-ante plans for using Kyoto flexible mechanisms and/or the ambitious pre-Kyoto emission reduction targets allow member states to escape constraints imposed by EU climate policy.