Strategic Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programs: A Methodology for Estimating Effects on Biodiversity

We developed a methodology for biodiversity evaluations within the process of Strategic Environmental Assessment and we applied it to the estimation of the effect of two Regional Plans of Development on all bird species inhabiting the Castilla y León region (northwestern Spain). The methodology is based on the evaluation of the effects of main development actions on the habitat requirements of species. From these evaluations, and from data on the current distribution and population size (number of individuals) of each species, we estimated the most likely pattern of distribution and population size after the full implementation of the plans for each species. The impacts of the plans were quantified as the differences between the pre- and postproject patterns after codifying them to compensate for differences in the quality of the information available among species. Overall, we conclude that the proposed methodology fulfills the requirements for its use within the SEA process as it allows for the assessment of cumulative impacts on every species, highlighting the development directions and the habitat types with major impacts, and ascertaining whether impacts affect species with either low or high conservation and/or economic value. Generalization of the proposed methodology to other regions or species will require wildlife-habitat models adequate for SEA analyses, so that we also propose guidelines for the development and validation of these models.     

GROUNDSURFACE WATER INTERACTION IN THE LONG ISLAND AQUIFER SYSTEM1

Steady state experimental studies with a viscous analog of the aquifer system in central Long Island, New York, have shown there to be significant interaction between surface accretion, stream base flow, well recharge, and the degree of salt water intrusion. Reductions in accretion are found to cause a proportionately larger decrease in stream base flow. The degree of intrusion is found to be related to the distribution of accretion and well recharge between stream base flow and submarine flow to the sea. This interaction poses a conflict between development of the groundwater resource and maintenance of the surface water resource. Well recharge apparently offers a potential solution to the conflict.     

“结构—特征”二维视角下的府际环境合作网络研究——基于长三角城市群的经验数据

在府际层面构建环境治理网络是实现区域可持续发展的必要保障,以往研究缺乏对异质性结构下的强度网络特征的关注,难以揭示地方政府治理网络的深层运作规律。基于府际合作的结构逻辑和工具逻辑,本文从“结构—特征”的二维视角构建了府际合作网络的交互分析框架。在结构上,考察上级政府参与下的纵向合作和城市间自主性横向协作网络演变;在特征上,构建府际合作强度模型,进而形成数量网络和强度网络。通过以长三角城市群2011—2019年的环境治理实践为研究样本,本文发现,基于数量的合作网络中,长三角城市群环境治理形成了纵向权威力量参与下的集体行动与横向小范围自主协作相互嵌合的合作机制;基于强度的合作网络中,上海都市圈和南京都市圈是两大强度重心区域,上级政府参与的纵向合作制约力更强,行政干预是目前地方政府环境治理集体行动得以深入发展的重要推进力量。     

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of certain analogs of pilocarpine

The synthesis of 4‐(4'‐pyrimidinylmethyl)oxacyclohexan‐2‐one (2a) and 4‐(4'‐pyrimidinylmethyl)oxacycloheptan‐2‐one (3a) were achieved through the Michael addition of the anion derived from 4‐methylpyrimidine with oxacyclyo‐3‐hexen‐2‐one and oxacyclo‐3‐hepten‐2‐one respectively. These compounds 2a and 3a and their quaternary methiodide salts lack cholinomimetic activity.     

Exploring the relationship between unethical practices,buyer–supplier relationships and green design for sustainability

Sustainable procurement practices have gained popularity amongst both researchers and supply chain practitioners. However, ethical practices in sustainable procurement have been the topic of discussion in the recent years. The goal of the study is to scientifically build a green procurement framework by exploring relationship between buyer–supplier relationships, unethical practices and green design for sustainability. The study was conducted considering samples from South African steel and engineering sector. Data show high rate of wastages and losses occurring at various stages of steel and engineering supply chains. Every steel and engineering company aims to reduce such losses for improving their profitability and achieve sustainability. The empirical findings show that such wastage and losses can be minimised through efficient eco-design and involvement of key suppliers at the design stage so that disassembly, recycling and reuse options not only prove successful but as well cost-effective for the organisation. Also we find that buyer deceitful practices are a strong determinant of green design for sustainability. Buyers making up a second source of supply for green components and preferring green suppliers being approved by top management is helpful for mitigation of supply risks under green procurement process. The present study is distinctive in terms of coverage and its contribution to supply chain theory.     

Network and system diagrams revisited: Satisfying CEA requirements for causality analysis

Published guidelines for Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) have called for the identification of cause-and-effect relationships, or causality, challenging researchers to identify methods that can possibly meet CEA's specific requirements. Together with an outline of these requirements from CEA key literature, the various definitions of cumulative effects point to the direction of a method for causality analysis that is visually-oriented and qualitative. This article consequently revisits network and system diagrams, resolves their reported shortcomings, and extends their capabilities with causal loop diagramming methodology. The application of the resulting composite causality analysis method to three Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) case studies appears to satisfy the specific requirements of CEA regarding causality. Three “moments” are envisaged for the use of the proposed method: during the scoping stage, during the assessment process, and during the stakeholder participation process.     

Exploration of relationships between phytoplankton biomass and related environmental variables using multivariate statistic analysis in a eutrophic shallow lake： A S-year study

Understanding the process of the changing phytoplankton patterns can be particularly useful in water quality improvement and management decisions. However, it is generally not easy to illustrate the interactions between phytoplankton biomass and related environmental variables given their high spatial and temporal heterogeneity. To elucidate relationships between them, in a eutrophic shallow lake, Taihu Lake, relative long-term data set of biotic and abiotic parameters of water quality in the lake were conducted using multivariate statistical analysis within seasonal periodicity. The results indicate that water temperature and total phosphorus （TP） played governing roles in phytoplankton dynamics in most seasons （i.e. temperature in winter, spring and summer; TP in spring, summer and autumn）; COD （chemical oxygen demand） and BOD （biological oxygen demand） presented significant positive relationships with phytoplankton biomass in spring, summer and autumn. However, a complex interplay was found between phytoplankton biomass and nitrogen considering significant positive relationships occurring between them in spring and autumn, and conversely negative ones in summer. As the predatory factor, zooplankton presented significant grazing-pressure on phytoplankton biomass during summer in view of negative relationship between them in the season. Significant feedback effects of phytoplankton development were identified in summer and autumn in view that significant relationships were obser,qed between phytoplankton biomass and pH, Trans （transparency of water） and DO. The results indicate that interactions between phyto：plankton biomass and related environmental variables are highly sensitive to seasonal periodicity, which improves understanding of different roles of biotic and abiotic variables upon phytoplankton variability, and hence, advances management methods for eutrophic lakes.     

Composition analysis of colored dissolved organic matter in Taihu Lake based on three dimension excitation-emission fluorescence matrix and PARAFAC model, and the potential application in water quality monitoring

Taihu Lake is one of the five biggest lakes in China. Surface water samples from 26 sampling sites of Taihu Lake were collected. Furthermore wet chemical analysis （CODCr and BOD5） and measurement of three dimensional excitation-emission matrix （3DEEM） spectra in the laboratory have been conducted. Using parallel factor analysis （PARAFAC） model, three components of colored dissolved organic matter （CDOM） have been identified successfully, based on the analysis of 3DEEM data. The characteristics of the three components also have been described by comparing them to some components of CDOM, identified in earlier researches. Meanwhile, spatial variations of concentration for the three components in Taihu Lake have been analyzed, and the result indicates that the concentration of component 1 depends more on the situation of wastewater pollution and can be used as the indicator of wastewater pollution. The relationship between the concentrations of the three components and results of the wet chemical analysis show that none of the three components can be used as indicators of gross organic matter in water. However, the concentrations of all the three components have obvious linear relationships with the BOD5 value, especially for component 1 （r = 0.72878）. Finally, the potential applications of the composition analysis based on 3DEEM and PARAFAC model in water quality monitoring have been illuminated.