Foodgrain disposals as early warning famine signals: A case from Burkina Faso*

Recent research suggests that monitoring key events in social, economic, cultural and political systems may provide more timely, frequent, and reliable warnings of impending famine than monitoring physical processes alone. But empirical data on early warning distress signals in these arenas are slim. Based on anthropological investigations in a southern Volta Noire community of Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) during the drought of 1983–1984, this paper outlines a variety of possible early warning signals in disposal systems for staple foodgrains - the nutritional “bottom line” for farmers and herders in the West African savannah. Pre-famine distress signals in five broad categories are discussed: changes in marketing patterns, non-market exchanges, dietary practices, utilization of agricultural and pastoral labour, and ideological and sociopolitical behaviours. Data consist of both quantitative and qualitative comparisons of cereal disposals in these categories between 1983 and preceding years.     

Prenatal diagnosis of de novo (7;19)(q11.2;q13.3) translocation associated with a thick corpus callosum and Wilms tumor of the kidneys

We present a case of prenatal diagnosis of a de novo (7;19)(q11.2;q13.3) translocation associated with ultrasound features, including enlarged cisterna magna, normal vermis, thick corpus callosum, micrognathia, small and low-set ears and right hyperechogenic kidney. Karyotyping was performed at 24 weeks of gestation. Termination of pregnancy was accepted at the parents' request. Postmortem examination confirmed the prenatal findings, but revealed bilateral Wilms tumors of the kidneys. Parental karyotype was normal. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influences on stakeholder support for a wildfire early warning system in a UK protected area

Projected increases in wildfire risk and impacts to human populations in the UK have prompted the installation of expanded management approaches such as early warning systems (EWSs). Newer iterations of wildfire EWSs help mitigate risk through rapid detection, often using high-resolution monitoring technology and instantaneous information collection. While existing research suggests that local social context plays an important role in the effective application of EWSs, little is known about factors that contribute to stakeholder support for these technocratic systems and their successful implementation in protected areas. This study examines support for an EWS in Northumberland National Park, UK, using focus groups with a broad range of local stakeholders. We found that diverse stakeholder understandings of wildfire, different perceptions of wildfire risk, and varied identification of values at risk collectively help explain mixed support for the EWS. Mixed support also was an outgrowth of distrust between several stakeholder groups, indicating a need for improved communication regarding wildfire risk management across stakeholder groups. Results suggest that EWSs adopted in multi-use protected areas shared by a range of stakeholder are most likely to be successful when stakeholders have shared understandings of the hazard and opportunities for collective planning to address its risks. We conclude that EWSs are a viable approach to wildfire risk reduction, but there needs to be a critical consideration of pre-existing stakeholder dynamics for effective EWS implementation.     

我国黑土地农田土壤除草剂残留特征研究及展望

粮食安全是“国之大者”.东北黑土地作为我国重要的粮仓,是保障国家粮食安全的“压舱石”.但黑土地农田除草剂的长期高强度施用,导致除草剂在土壤中积累和迁移,影响土壤质量、作物产量和品质,阻碍黑土地可持续利用和农业可持续发展.解决黑土地农田除草剂残留问题,既要从源头管控除草剂的施用,也要掌握除草剂的残留特征、时空演变和驱动因素,才能做到科学防控、精准施策.系统总结了我国黑土地农田除草剂的施用状况和存在的问题,全面梳理了除草剂的残留现状,指出了当前在黑土地农田除草剂残留特征、空间分布和污染诊断等研究上的不足,提出了我国黑土地农田除草剂残留诊断与风险管理研究思路与重点方向,为保障我国黑土地农田土壤健康、粮食安全和生态系统安全提供科技支撑.     

荧光法快速测定浮游植物以及应用于梅梁湖预警监测可行性探讨

YSI 6600-V2多功能水质自动监测仪采用荧光原理快速测定水体中浮游植物蓝绿藻的密度,梅梁湖夏季水华高发期时,湖体中的浮游植物几乎全部是蓝绿藻。传统的浮游植物监测前处理方面就需要24~48 h,最终要数天后才有镜检结果,导致浮游植物数据滞后,不能很好的应用到预警监测中。通过比对相关性验证,保证荧光法数据的可信度,提高工作效率,为预警监测提供有力的支持。