Minimizing Harm in Agricultural Animal Experiments in New Zealand

Intrusive agricultural experimentspublished in New Zealand in the last five yearsare reviewed in terms of the degree of animalsuffering involved, and the necessity for thissuffering in relation to research findings.When measured against animal welfare criteriaof the Ministry of Agriculture, thirty-sixstudies inflicted ``severe' or ``very severe'suffering. Many of these experiments hadquestionable short-term applications, had anapplication restricted to agriculturalproduction or economic growth, or could havebeen modified to prevent or reduce suffering.     

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON NEW YORK CITY'S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM1

ABSTRACT: It has been well established that the greenhouse gas loading of the atmosphere has been increasing since the mid 19th century. Consequently, shifts in the earth's radiative balance are expected with accompanying alterations to the earth's climate. With these anticipated, and perhaps already observable, changes in both global and regional climate, managers of regional water resources seek insight to the possible impacts climate change may have on their present and future water supplies. The types and degrees of impacts that climate change may have on New York City's water supply system were assessed in a study of a watershed at Allaben, New York. Hypothetical scenarios of future climate and climate change projections from three General Circulation Models (GCMs) were used in conjunction with the WatBal hydrological model and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) to ascertain how runoff and soil moisture from this watershed may change in a warmer climate. For the worst case predictions, the results indicate that within the century of the 2000s, the watershed's air temperature may increase up to about 11°F, while its precipitation and runoff may decrease by about 13 and 30 percent, respectively. If this watershed is typical of the others within the New York City water supply system, the system's managers should consider implementing mitigation and adaptation strategies in preparation for the worst of these possible future conditions.     

实用作业场所危险性评价方法

探讨一种操作简便、实用性强,既可定量评价又可在评价过程中得出定性评价结果的全新的安全评价方法,并阐述了其理论依据.     

硬木地板材料和棉花秆的变氧浓度热解燃烧表观动力学的实验研究

本文采用TG-FTIR分析方法深入研究了火场中硬木地板材料和棉花秆变氧浓度燃烧过程,深入分析了氧浓度对纤维物质燃烧表观热失重影响;通过大量的动力学参数计算得出了可燃物的表观活化能与实际氧浓度成线性关系;分析了氧浓度对木材燃烧气体产物的影响,并探索了氧浓度影响热解和燃烧的机理。     

新时期消防工作发展思路

随着我国社会主义市场经济的发展和社会管理体制的变化 ,消防工作也面临着新形势。笔者认为 ,消防工作社会化是适应形势发展的必然要求 ,要在全社会建立起各级人民政府领导下的单位责任自负、隐患自除、风险自担 ,公安消防机构依法实施监督的消防社会化运行机制。新时期消防工作应通过以下方式实现社会化 :进一步完善消防法规体系 ;强化消防安全的基础性地位 ;加强宣传普及基本的消防知识 ;发展消防安全中介组织 ;建立消防安全评价制度和科学评价体系 ;依法实施消防监督     

Graduated driver licensing: the New Zealand experience

In New Zealand, on 1 August 1987, a three-stage graduated driver licensing (GDL) system that applied to all new drivers aged 15-24 years was introduced. The essential elements of GDL were a 6-month learner license (supervised driving) and an 18-month restricted license stage (with restrictions on night driving and carrying passengers). A blood alcohol limit of 0.03 mg% applied at both stages. EVALUATION STUDIES: Early studies indicated that young people were reasonably accepting of the restrictions, with the passenger restriction being the least acceptable. Problems of compliance with the restricted license driving restrictions were reported. Evaluations of the impact of the graduated driver licensing (GDL) on serious traffic-related injury showed that up until 1991-1992, an 8% reduction could be attributed to GDL. At this time, it was considered that reduced exposure was the main reason for this reduction. However, the number of fatalities and hospital admissions among young people continued to decline, as did the population rate and the rate per number of licensed drivers among the young driver age group. A further evaluation study showed that drivers with a restricted license had a smaller proportion of crashes at night, and with passengers, compared with drivers licensed before GDL. IMPACT OF GDL: These results suggested that GDL restrictions had contributed to the reduction in crashes among young people and that it was not simply a case of reduced exposure to risk. An update of the most recent crash statistics indicated that, compared with older age groups, the fatal and serious injury crash rate among young people has remained substantially below the pre-GDL level. This suggests that the impact of GDL has not diminished over time.     

New Zealand drivers study: developing a methodology for conducting a follow-up study of newly licensed drivers

PROBLEM: In recent years, there has been a significant reduction in traffic crash injury among young people, but they continue to be overrepresented in the traffic crash statistics. To improve this situation, sound scientific evidence is needed to develop effective policies and programs. METHOD: The aim of the proposed study is to provide this evidence by examining early driving and driving-related experiences of newly licensed drivers as they progress through the learner-, restricted-, and full-license stages of the graduated licensing system and to determine the impact of these experiences on subsequent negative traffic-related outcomes (risky driving behavior, injury traffic crashes, noninjury traffic crashes, infringements, convictions). Given the size and complexity of the proposed study, a comprehensive pilot study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of conducting a New Zealand-wide cohort study of newly licensed drivers. RESULTS: This article describes the pilot study process and the methodology that has been developed for the New Zealand-wide study.     

城市新区污水收集系统的建设和管理

城市新区开发的过程中,污水收集系统往往是容易被忽视的部分,因此会带来新的水体污染问题。本文针对城市新区开发中污水收集系统容易出现的问题,从规划、建设和管理三方面进行了研究和分析,并对城市新区污水收集系统建设和管理提出了建议。     

Community epidemiology and environmental health risk from dioxin contamination in Paritutu

This article explores community-awareness perspectives and actions towards dioxin-related health exposure in Paritutu Community, New Plymouth, New Zealand. The actions are analysed through media reports, covering a 10-year period from 1998 to 2008. Since 1964, Paritutu Community residents have expressed concern about increased morbidity associated with dioxin contamination from a nearby agrichemical plant. Upon investigation, official agencies were at first unable to verify a causal link between dioxin and morbidity, precipitating community activism and increasing public pressure on relevant authorities. Residents played a major role in alleviating further damage to their community by analysing and evaluating data and providing information that ultimately resulted in both official recognition of their environmental health risk and preventative strategies to alleviate their morbidity. This article backgrounds the Paritutu Community Epidemiology approach and evaluates stages in how the Paritutu Community overcame indifference and lack of precaution and exerted influence leading to the removal of the source of contamination and positive policy changes in public health including the setting up of ameliorative health services for affected people. The findings of this research support theories of popular, lay, community and worker epidemiology.     

天津滨海新区再生资源产业发展对策

天津滨海新区再生资源产业以废弃物流通、加工利用为主营内容,具有补链特征与技术先进性,主要为滨海新区提供生产性服务。为了适应滨海新区发展所提出的要求,再生资源产业应不断提高资源供给能力,扩展服务对象,提高资源流通和集散能力,并挖掘向再制造产业延伸的潜力。建议尽快制定滨海新区再生资源产业发展规划和实施指导方案,实行优先采购制度,并鼓励再生资源企业参与社会回收体系的建立,完善再生资源产业运输和物流系统,不断提高产业的升级能力。