The generative power of metaphor: long‐term action research on disaster recovery in a small Japanese village

Disaster recovery is a dynamic process of creating, maintaining, and changing the meaningful context of survivors. It is completed when they redevelop their self‐reliance and resume managing their social relations with a sense of community. This study employed action research to examine how researchers and survivors collaborated to change disaster recovery through the generative power of metaphor in a small village in Japan that experienced the Niigata–Chuetsu earthquake on 23 October 2004. It outlines long‐term collaborative practices as survivors undertook new activities owing to the power of the metaphor of ‘school’. Once ‘school’ was adopted as the metaphor for where survivors learnt new skills and passed on traditional knowledge, they created new metaphors and performed new activities independently, which is critical for recovery as it demonstrates self‐reliance. The paper assesses the reasons why generative metaphors worked effectively in this case and highlights some academic and practical implications for disaster recovery.     

Modelling of a downdraft gasifier fed by agricultural residues

A non-stoichiometric model for a downdraft gasifier was developed in order to simulate the overall gasification process. Mass and energy balances of the gasifier were calculated and the composition of produced syngas was predicted. The capacity of the modeled gasifier was assumed to be 0.5 MW, with an Equivalence Ratio (EQ) of 0.45. The model incorporates the chemical reactions and species involved, while it starts by selecting all species containing C, H, and O, or any other dominant elements. Olive wood, miscanthus and cardoon were tested in the formulated model for a temperature range of 800-1200 °C, in order to examine the syngas composition and the moisture impact on the supplied fuel. Model results were then used in order to design an olive wood gasification reactor.     

Assessing Public Perceptions of Computer-Based Models

Although there is a solid body of research on both collaborative decision-making and on processes using models, there is little research on general public attitudes about models and their use in making policy decisions. This project assessed opinions about computer models in general and attitudes about a specific model being used in water planning in the Middle Rio Grande Region of New Mexico, United States. More than 1000 individuals were surveyed about their perceptions of computer-based models in general. Additionally, more than 150 attendees at public meetings related to the Middle Rio Grande planning effort were surveyed about their perceptions of the specific Rio Grande-based model. The results reveal that the majority of respondents are confident in their ability to understand models and most believe that models are appropriate tools for education and for making policy decisions. Responses also reveal that trust in who develops a model is a key issue related to public support. Regarding the specific model highlighted in this project, the public revealed tremendous support for its usefulness as a public engagement tool as well as a tool to assist decision-makers in regional water planning. Although indicating broad support for models, the results do raise questions about the role of trust in using models in contentious decisions.     

Intercomparison of Numerical Urban Dispersion Models – Part I: Street Canyon and Single Building Configurations

Microscale Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models havebecome an efficient and common simulation tool forassessment and prediction of air quality in urban areas.The proper validation of such a model is a crucialprerequisite for its practical application. Within theframework of the European research network TRAPOS a workinggroup on computational fluid dynamics modelling wasestablished and model intercomparison exercises werelaunched. Different Computational Fluid Dynamics Codes wereapplied for simulating the wind flow and pollutantconcentration patterns in several test cases. The aim ofthe present model intercomparison is (1) to assess andallocate the source of differences that appear whendifferent CFD codes using the same turbulence model areapplied to well defined test cases and (2) to improve theknowledge base for model development and application.Throughout the series of model applications coveringmanifold urban configurations, the overall agreementbetween the various models and experimental data is fair.In spite of quantitative differences between the variousnumerical results, the models are capable of reproducingthe flow patterns and dispersion characteristics observedin urban areas but they show significant differences forthe turbulent kinetic energy field that controls thedispersion of pollutants.     

大熊猫主食竹种秆龄鉴定及种群动态评估

四川西南部和西北部中山、亚高山森森下，竹源丰富，其中：拐棍竹和冷箭竹是大熊猫的主食竹种，作者１９８２－１９８７年进行竹类生态研究；通过固定样方观察和带标志茎秆记录分析，发现竹杆和笋箨的颜色，以及主枝叶鞘与枝节数的变化和竹子秆龄的增长密切相关，可以作为鉴定竹秆年龄的依据。根据竹子的秆龄结构，应用负指数函数模型，可以估算竹子种群的增长量和死亡率，评估竹子的种群动态变化，可为主管部门制定保护大熊猫规划规     

Nodes,networks, and MUMs: Preserving diversity at all scales

The present focus of practical conservation efforts is limited in scope. This narrowness results in an inability to evaluate and manage phenomena that operate at large spatiotemporal scales. Whereas real ecological phenomena function in a space-time mosaic across a full hierarchy of biological entities and processes, current conservation strategies address a limited spectrum of this complexity. Conservation typically is static (time-limited), concentrates on the habitat content rather than the landscape context of protected areas, evaluates relatively homogeneous communities instead of heterogeneous landscapes, and directs attention to particular species populations and/or the aggregate statistic of species diversity. Insufficient attention has been given to broad ecological patterns and processes and to the conservation of species in natural relative abundance patterns (native diversity).The authors present a conceptual scheme that evaluates not only habitat content within protected areas, but also the landscape context in which each preserve exists. Nodes of concentrated ecological value exist in each landscape at all levels in the biological hierarchy. Integration of these high-quality nodes into a functional network is possible through the establishment of a system of interconnected multiple-use modules (MUMs). The MUM network protects and buffers important ecological entities and phenomena, while encouraging movement of individuals, species, nutrients, energy, and even habitat patches across space and time. An example is presented for the southeastern USA (south Georgia-north Florida), that uses riparian and coastal corridors to interconnect existing protected areas. This scheme will facilitate reintroduction and preservation of wide-ranging species such as the Florida panther, and help reconcile species-level and ecosystem-level conservation approaches.     

Response of Georges Bank cod to periodic and nonperiodic oil spill events

In the management of conflicting dual-resource systems such as continental shelf hydrocarbon extraction and commercial fishing operations, it is necessary to consider the possibility of repeated impact events. The potential magnitude of impacts on Georges Bank fisheries of single oil spill events has been addressed in detail elsewhere (Reed and Spaulding 1979, Reed and others 1980, Spaulding and others 1982). An oil spill-fishery impact estimation model, implemented for the Georges Bank cod fishery (Reed and others 1980), has been used to investigate the potential for nonlinear biological responses to periodic and nonperiodic repetitive spill events. Prerecruit mortality equations incorporating young-of-the-year as well as adult-juvenile interactions, perform acceptably vis-à-vis the historical catch record, but show highly variable behavior under recruitment reductions induced by periodic simulated spills. The results demonstrate the importance of selecting mathematical representations of biological and physical processes underlying population dynamics such that characteristic system behavior is adequately represented in both the time and frequency domains.     

黄姜废水厌氧处理动力学模型试验研究

介绍了厌氧反应动力学的主要模式，对厌氧处理黄姜废水的动力学模型进行了探讨，并求出了黄姜废水的厌氧反应动力学模型和动力学参数max和Ks，为黄姜废水的厌氧处理提供了理论依据。     

基于系统动力学的推进酒精企业清洁生产政策模拟

政府补贴、资源与能源价格、排污收费等政策是影响企业实施清洁生产的重要因素。本文以某酒精企业推进清洁生产的系统动力学模型为例模拟政府的政策对于企业开展清洁生产的收益的影响，为决策者调节其政策提供科学依据。     

生物絮凝吸附有机物降解动力学模型研究

生物絮凝吸附强化一级处理对于解决中小城镇污水处理问题有较大意义,在生物絮凝吸附后串联生物接触氧化法构成强化生物絮凝＋生物接触氧化一体化工艺,利用高负荷段的生物絮凝吸附强化一级处理提高SS、COD的去除率来降低后续生物膜的处理负荷,从而形成一种高效、低耗的新型处理工艺。探讨了生物絮凝吸附段的有机物降解动力学模型,并对模型进行了检验。