Knowledge,attitude and behavior of farmers in farmland conservation in China: an application of the structural equation model

We analyzed the relationship between the conservation behavior of farmers and their environmental attitude and knowledge, whilst controlling for exogenous socio-economic factors. We employed the structural equation model with cross-sectional data from 442 farmers from the Guanzhong Plain of China. Results showed that local farmers generally possessed a positive environmental attitude and undertook considerable conservation action. Conservation behavior was directly affected by environmental attitude and indirectly by environmental knowledge (via attitude). Social networks, farm size, land rights, age and incentives were significant exogenous explanatory variables. Thus, understanding the importance of socio-behavioral characteristics, including the environmental attitude and knowledge of farmers, is important for the development of farmland conservation policies. Specifically, farmers in this area were found to significantly depend on each other for information on farmland conservation practices. Thus, role model farmer discussions, dissemination of environmentally friendly techniques via social networks and the rewarding of environmentally friendly behavior among farmers should be used to encourage ongoing restoration endeavors, and thereby help mitigate environmental degradation.     

内盘管接管泄漏成因及改进

对反应釜内盘管接管处发生泄漏的原因进行了探讨，通过入釜检查和有限元分析，确认了该处由于局部应力集中导致角焊缝出现微小开裂，并结合该釜结构特点和工况对其改进方法进行了讨论。     

A Survey of Perception, Knowledge, Awareness, and attitude in Regard to Environmental Problems in a Sample of two Different Social Groups in Jakarta, Indonesia

A quantitative study was conducted in 1998 to investigate differences in perception, knowledge, awareness, and attitude with regard to environmental problems between educated and community groups and to identify human-dimension factors to improve public perception, knowledge, awareness, and attitude in relation to global environmental conservation concerns in developing countries. Educated and community groups in Jakarta were interviewed, and data obtained from a total of 537 males aged 30-49 years were analyzed. The data were evaluated by the chi-squared test and logistic regression was applied after factor analysis. The results show that: (1) The perception, knowledge, awareness, and attitude of educated subjects in regard to regional and global environmental problems were much better than those of subjects in the community group; (2) The highest 'yes' response in the community group was in regard to perception of AIDS (82.9%). Few subjects in the community group knew the effects and the cause or source of environmental problems, however, they were well informed about AIDS (86.4% for effects and 93.9% for cause or source). The conclusions are: (1) subjects in the educated group had better perception, more detailed knowledge, were more aware, and had better attitudes in regard to regional and global environmental problems than those in the community group; (2) more education is needed to develop environmental actions and ethics in developing countries; (3) non-formal environmental education through popular mass media should be used more widely and frequently, and more detailed information on the environment should be provided to literate people by newspapers and other means.     

The importance of tangible and intangible factors in human–carnivore coexistence

Conflict with humans is one of the major threats facing the world's remaining large carnivore populations, and understanding human attitudes is key to improving coexistence. We surveyed people living near Hwange National Park about their attitudes toward coexisting with lions. We used ordinal regression models with the results of the survey to investigate the importance of a range of tangible and intangible factors on attitudes. The variables investigated included the costs and benefits of wildlife presence, emotion, culture, religion, vulnerability, risk perception, notions of responsibility, and personal value orientations. This was for the purpose of effectively tailoring conservation efforts but also for ethical policy making. Intangible factors (e.g., fear and ecocentric values) were as important as, if not more important than, tangible factors (such as livestock losses) for understanding attitudes, based on the effect sizes of these variables. The degree to which participants’ fear of lions interfered with their daily activities was the most influential variable. The degree to which benefits accrue to households from the nearby protected area was also highly influential, as was number of livestock lost, number of dependents, ecocentric value orientation, and participation in conflict mitigation programs. Contrary to what is often assumed, metrics of livestock loss did not dominate attitudes to coexistence with lions. Furthermore, we found that socioeconomic variables may appear important when studied in isolation, but their effect may disappear when controlling for variables related to beliefs, perceptions, and past experiences. This raises questions about the widespread reliance on socioeconomic variables in the field of human–wildlife conflict and coexistence. To facilitate coexistence with large carnivores, we recommend measures that reduce fear (through education and through protective measures that reduce the need to be fearful), reduction of livestock losses, and ensuring local communities benefit from conservation. Ecocentric values also emerged as influential, highlighting the need to develop conservation initiatives tailored to local values.     

基于蒙特卡洛方法的着陆擦机尾风险预测

为解决对航班和机队着陆时擦机尾风险客观预测问题，基于飞行QAR数据和蒙特卡洛模拟方法，建立擦机尾风险预测模型，将某航空公司Boeing737-800机队的380套QAR数据作为样本数据，运用MATLAB编程进行5 000次模拟抽样试验，得到不同机队着陆时俯仰角的分布和擦机尾风险预测曲线。研究结果表明:当着陆俯仰角大于4.5°时，机队2擦机尾风险较大；运用蒙特卡洛模拟预测的飞机着陆俯仰角更为稳定和准确。该模型可进一步软件化，为航空公司的擦机尾超限事件管理提供可靠性指标参考，实现对飞行员操作风险的动态管理。     

Examining RULA’s Postural Scoring System With Selected Physiological and Psychophysiological Measures

The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) survey is a posture-sampling tool used specifically to examine the level of risk associated with upper limb disorders of individual workers. This paper examines the relationship between RULA’s postural scoring system and measures of surface electromyography (EMG), self-reports of discomfort, and job attitude questionnaires. Twenty participants each performed a 30-min typing task on a computer in 3 working postures based on RULA’s scoring system. A statistically significant difference was found only in perceived discomfort. The perceived discomfort results demonstrated that RULA was able to identify “high risk” postures. The next question we need to ask is, does perceived discomfort result in tissue damage, or does tissue damage yield discomfort?     

切顶卸压自成巷的连续-非连续方法模拟及切缝倾角的影响*

为克服利用连续方法或非连续方法模拟切顶卸压自成巷过程的不足,采用自主研发的适于模拟连续介质向非连续介质转化或非连续介质进一步演化的拉格朗日元与离散元耦合连续-非连续方法,提出基于高斯求积公式的势接触力计算方法以提高计算效率,通过考察剪裂纹和拉裂纹的时空分布和煤层支承压力的演化规律,研究不同切缝倾角时切顶卸压自成巷过程,并考虑右巷(胶运巷)的锚杆原始支护、锚索补强支护和液压元件的临时支护。研究结果表明:切缝倾角越大,右巷顶板完整性越好,这是由于当倾角较大时切缝尖端发展出的裂纹促进采空区顶板冒落,从而阻隔采场压力向右巷顶板传递;左巷顶板的冒落越严重;切缝倾角以10°为宜。     

Attitude of Saudi families affected with hemoglobinopathies towards prenatal screening and abortion and the influence of religious ruling (Fatwa)

Hemoglobinopathies are common inherited disorders in Saudi Arabia. Prenatal diagnosis for such diseases is specific and sensitive but not yet implemented in Saudi Arabia. Saudis are Muslims with a very high rate of consanguinity and inherited genetic disorders. To examine the attitude of Saudi families affected with hemoglobinopathies towards prenatal diagnosis and abortion, and to evaluate the effect of education on religious ruling on such attitudes, 32 families were interviewed using a pre-structured questionnaire. The majority accepted prenatal diagnosis (81.3%). The attitude towards abortion was greatly affected by religious values. Education about religious ruling significantly affected parents' attitude towards accepting abortion and prenatal diagnosis. No other factors were found to influence the outcome. Although the majority of families received some kind of formal genetic counseling [23/32 (71.9%)], none of them was informed about the possibility of prenatal or preimplantation diagnosis prior to the interview. Therefore for prevention of genetic disorders, the emphasis in countries with a vast majority of Muslims such as Saudi Arabia has probably to be placed on public awareness about genetic risks, the risk of consanguinity, availability of services, and so on, while at the same time taking into consideration the religious beliefs and education of the target population Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

波形电晕线排列形态对放电特性的影响实验与分析

为了明确波形电晕极的放电特性以指导工程设计与应用,在线-板式电除尘器中,实验研究了波形电晕极排列方式对电除尘器伏安特性的影响.试验中主要考虑了2个因素对波形电晕线放电性能的影响,即波形电晕线的偏转角和波形电晕极间距.其波形电晕极的具体布置方式分为:①波形电晕线偏转角分别为0°、45°、90°;②波形电晕极间距分别为14...     

Linking Conservation and Development: An Analysis of Local People’s Attitude Towards Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

Factors influencing local people’s attitudes towards conservation of the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) are analyzed using an ordered logit model. The results indicate that households living closer to the KTWR are more likely to reveal negative attitude towards conservation. Similarly, respondents from larger households tend to show negative conservation attitude. Educated respondents and farmers are likely to demonstrate a positive conservation attitude. The results consistently show that households with poor socioeconomic status and greater dependence on the KTWR for firewood, fodder, and raw materials are likely to possess a more negative attitude towards conservation. Poor households may not necessarily be less concerned about conservation, although institutional settings and abject poverty near protected areas appear to affect their attitudes. Sustainable management of protected areas and local support for natural resource conservation would require socioeconomic development.