Horizontal mergers in the iron ore industry—An application of PCAIDS

The purpose of this paper is to estimate and analyse the price effects of the iron ore mergers between Rio Tinto and North Ltd in 2000, and CVRD and Caemi in 2001. The analyses are conducted using a merger simulation model that, based on the pre-merger situation, estimates the post-merger outcome. This paper applies the so-called proportionality-calibrated almost ideal demand system (PCAIDS) model, which assumes that the product is differentiated and that the strategic variable is price. The results from the merger simulations show that in the case of the merger between Rio Tinto and North Ltd, the merged firm has a combined market share of almost 20%. However, the estimated market weighted average price effect is only 2.6%. Regarding the merger between CVRD and Caemi, the merged firm's market share is about 29%, and the estimated market weighted average price effect is 4.6%. When removing Caemi's Canadian asset, which was the Commission decision in order to allow the merger, the market price effect decreases to 3.1%. Overall the results in this study support the Commission's decisions regarding both merger cases, and shows that merger simulations of price effects can be valuable tools in merger assessments.     

Scenario-visualization for the assessment of perceived green space qualities at the urban-rural fringe

The provision of green space is increasingly being perceived as an important factor for quality of life. However, green spaces often face high developmental pressure. The main objective of this study is to investigate a prospective approach to green space planning by combining three-dimensional (3D) visualization of green space scenarios and survey techniques to facilitate improved participation of the public. Aside from the ‘Status quo’, scenarios ‘Agriculture’, ‘Recreation’, ‘Nature conservation’ and ‘Wind turbines’ are visualized in three dimensions. In order to test responses, a survey was conducted both in print format and on the Internet. Overall, 49 different visualizations that belong to one of the scenarios were available in the survey and were rated according to the perceived esthetic, recreational and ecological values.The highest rated scenes include vegetation elements such as meadows with orchards, single trees, shrubs or forest. The least attractive scenes are those where buildings are highly dominant or where there are no vegetation elements.Based on the ratings for the individual images and on the corresponding scenarios, our study shows that there is high potential for improving the existing landscape. All suggested changes are either rated about equal to or considerably higher than the status quo, with the scenario ‘Nature conservation’ receiving the highest scores.     

杉木观光木混交林群落的能量生态

对杉木观光木混交林群落能量的研究结果表明：混交林中观光木地上部分灰分含量以皮最高,而杉则以叶最高,两者GCV（干重热值）和AFCV（去灰分热值）均以叶为最高;观光木、杉木地下各部分的灰分含量均随径级的减小而增加,GCV均以粗根最高,细根最低;观光木的平均灰分含量高于杉木,但GCV和AFCV均低于杉木;从乔木层、灌木层到草本层,灰分含量依次增加,GCV和AFCV则依次降低,混交林群落的能量现存量公占群落的很小一部分,而其能量年净增量、归还量和净固定量却占有一定比重,混交林群落的太阳能转化率为1.57%,而纯林为1.44%,表明杉观混交林是一种能量生产力较高和维持地力能力较强的杉阔混交类型。同时,混交林的能量累积比大于纯林,能量流动速率则低于纯林;乔木层的能量累积比高于林下植被,能量流动速率则低于林下植被,从能量的角度看,构建合理的群落结构必须选择高能量累积比的乔木层树种,同时须促进能量流动速率快的林下植被的发育以维持和提高地力。     

The role of periodic boundary forcing in plankton pattern formation

We consider one and two-dimensional minimal models in plankton dynamics. The influence of oscillating boundary forcing functions as agents for triggering pattern formation is discussed. In particular it is found that in these conditions population waves arise for one dimensional models, while for two dimensional models, different amplitudes and frequencies in the boundary forcing generate definite patterns, mimicking the boundary term. This happens even though the model we investigate is very simple. The emergence of these features is an interesting metaphor for the fundamental biological problem of how pattern formation processes may be inevitable in natural heterogeneous ecosystems.     

pH值调控柠檬酸污泥厌氧发酵产酸及碳源潜力研究

以柠檬酸废水厌氧颗粒污泥为接种物,在不同pH值调控条件下开展柠檬酸生产废水剩余活性污泥厌氧发酵产酸研究.通过对发酵液挥发性脂肪酸(VFAs)、有机质、氮磷和污泥脱水性能的分析,探讨了柠檬酸污泥厌氧产酸机制.结果表明,pH≥10的碱性条件更有利于有机质的溶出从而促进VFAs的产生.三维荧光光谱分析发现在恒定pH值下腐殖酸(HA)和富里酸(FA)会大量溶出降低VFAs的产量.初始pH=10是柠檬酸污泥厌氧产酸的最佳p H值,发酵4d的VFAs浓度最高达(6681.47±126.82)mgCOD/L,是文献报道中市政污泥产酸量的近2倍,其中乙酸占比49.8%,发酵后产酸功能菌Chloroflexi、Bacteroidota的相对丰度分别由初始的9.52%、10.87%增至16.84%、14.39%,污泥归一化毛细吸水时间(nCST)为(11.34±0.27)s·L/g,脱水性能良好,发酵液TP浓度为(20.45±0.33) mg/L.研究表明,利用柠檬酸剩余活性污泥碱性厌氧发酵产酸作为污水处理过程中的外加碳源具有较大潜力.     

县级空气自动监测站故障分析及排除

结合县级空气自动站运行实践,研究"读数负值"、"管路凝水"、"频繁报警"等常见故障,解析原因并提出有效的解决方法。探索用头发丝结清除石英管内污物,解决氮氧化物分析仪气路堵塞、流量降低的难题,方法简便有效。     

活性炭纤维处理腐植酸废水

采用活性碳纤维处理腐植酸模拟废水,通过静态吸附和动态吸附的研究,测定吸附等温线和动态吸附曲线;研究不同温度、不同活性炭纤维、不同pH值和流速对处理效果的影响。     

空气质量AQI实时发布的改进探讨

针对《环境空气质量指数(AQI)技术规定(试行)》(HJ 633-2012)中对空气质量AQI实时发布存在的欠缺,从增加颗粒物1 h浓度的AQI分级浓度限值及颗粒物24 h滑动平均值计算方法改进着手,解决PM2.5和PM10的24 h滑动平均值实时延迟、1 h平均值代替24 h滑动平均值偏高等问题。     

长三角快速城市化地区土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值的影响——以嘉兴市为例

基于浙江省嘉兴市1979~2012年的土地利用数据,评估了各种土地利用类型的生态系统服务价值,分析了30多年来嘉兴市土地生态系统服务价值的动态变化及其对土地利用变化和景观格局变化的响应。结果表明:(1)1979~2012年,嘉兴市建设用地面积变化最大,增加了136.6%,相应的耕地面积减少了15.5%。(2)1979~2012年,嘉兴市景观破碎度指数从0.6531上升到0.8762,随着城市化进程的加剧,耕地景观破碎度指数不断增加、聚集度指数减小。(3)1979~2012年,嘉兴市的总生态系统服务价值减少了14.7%,2000~2012年嘉兴市总的生态系统服务价值减少尤为显著,生态系统各单项服务价值整体也呈现下降趋势,耕地为嘉兴市提供的生态系统服务占嘉兴市总生态系统服务的70%以上。(4)运用相关分析方法对嘉兴市土地利用类型和景观格局对土地生态系统服务价值的影响分析表明,耕地和水域与生态服务价值呈正相关,而建设用地和未利用地与生态服务价值呈负相关;景观多样性指数(SHDI)和耕地破碎度指数与生态系统服务总价值呈显著负相关关系。     

Why social values cannot be changed for the sake of conservation

The hope for creating widespread change in social values has endured among conservation professionals since early calls by Aldo Leopold for a “land ethic.” However, there has been little serious attention in conservation to the fields of investigation that address values, how they are formed, and how they change. We introduce a social–ecological systems conceptual approach in which values are seen not only as motivational goals people hold but also as ideas that are deeply embedded in society's material culture, collective behaviors, traditions, and institutions. Values define and bind groups, organizations, and societies; serve an adaptive role; and are typically stable across generations. When abrupt value changes occur, they are in response to substantial alterations in the social–ecological context. Such changes build on prior value structures and do not result in complete replacement. Given this understanding of values, we conclude that deliberate efforts to orchestrate value shifts for conservation are unlikely to be effective. Instead, there is an urgent need for research on values with a multilevel and dynamic view that can inform innovative conservation strategies for working within existing value structures. New directions facilitated by a systems approach will enhance understanding of the role values play in shaping conservation challenges and improve management of the human component of conservation.