Effect of Subjective and Objective Workload on Asthenopia at VDU Workplaces

An ergophthalmological tool has been developed to investigate effects of subjective and objective workload on work-related visual complaints (asthenopia). In field studies on different visual display unit (VDU) workplaces effects of objective and subjective workload, work intensity, and work breaks (5-9 min/hour) could be found. It could be shown that during the first hours of VDU work, asthenopic complaints have the tendency to follow effective workload. With increasing working time the effect of a general and visual fatigue overlaps other reported visual complaints in the majority of cases.     

Goodbye to natural resource-based livelihoods? Crossing the rural/urban divide

Life in proximity to a growing city can be especially difficult for those rural people who are poor. Findings from sustained research around three cities of the South illustrate how peri-urban conditions can create pressure for livelihood change. People were pressed further into a cash-based economy for which they were ill prepared. Surprisingly, agriculture remained important, even though urban expansion changed natural resource-based livelihoods, especially by taking land. The inevitable livelihood transitions were easier if there was support for both familiar and new natural resource-based activities, orienting production towards urban markets. Successful change was associated with greater diversification of income strands, rapid cash returns and bridging opportunities. Participatory planning of livelihood changes and local NGO inputs were advantageous. These findings are important for pro-poor development policy affecting peri-urban populations and may inform rural to urban migration policy.     

Orientation experiments with displaced juvenile barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) during autumn migratory season

In a previous paper, we reported that juvenile barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) trapped during the autumn migratory season and tested in modified Emlen funnels under overcast conditions can use magnetic information for compass orientation, although they did not orient toward the expected migratory direction. To further investigate this behaviour, in the present paper, we report the results of two series of displacement experiments performed on juvenile barn swallows belonging to two different roost sites [Massaciuccoli Lake (ML) and Terzo Cavone (TC)] and tested using the same protocol as that previously adopted. On the whole, the outcome of the ML and TC experiments was quite different with respect to (a) the degree of bird activity within the funnel (substantially lower for TC) and (b) the effect of the experimental displacement on the directional preferences of the tested subjects (not detectable in TC, while evident in ML swallows). Taken together, these results suggest that migrating swallows could react differently to the experimental tests depending on the roost site where they were caught. Indeed, TC swallows, trapped in southern Italy, close to the seacoast, and characterized by fairly large amounts of fat stores, mainly broke off their migratory activity or reoriented their directional preferences toward inland sites, possibly in search of more profitable habitats. On the other hand, ML swallows, trapped about 660 km to the north and characterized by lower amounts of fat stores, apparently tried to compensate for the experimental displacement.

Crossing Invisible Boundaries: the Effectiveness of the Langebaan Lagoon Marine Protected Area as a Harvest Refuge for a Migratory Fish Species in South Africa

Abstract:  The application of no-take areas in fisheries remains controversial. Critics argue that many targeted species are too mobile to benefit from area protection and that no-take areas are only appropriate for resident species. The degree of protection does not depend on the size of the no-take area but rather on the time fish reside inside its boundaries during key life-history events (i.e., spawning) and during periods of peak fishing activity. We evaluated the potential of a small no-take marine protected area (MPA) inside a coastal embayment as a harvest refuge for a mobile, possibly migratory, long-lived fish species. We used acoustic telemetry to track movements of 30 transmitter-tagged white stumpnose (Rhabdosargus globiceps) across and on both sides of the boundary of a small (34 km²) no-take area over a full year. Being landlocked on 3 sides, the location of the MPA inside the lagoon made it practical to detect all boundary crossings and to calculate the time individual fish used the MPA. We detected frequent movements across the boundary, with strong seasonal and individual variations. There were significant differences in MPA use patterns between fish from different release areas. The time spent in the MPA by individual fish during summer (mean 50%; max 98%) was out of proportion with the size of that area (4% of total habitat). Summer coincided with peak recreational fishing activity and with the spawning season of this species. The small MPA provided a refuge for a part of the spawning stock of white stumpnose. Our findings suggest that if strategically placed, a small no-take area can be effective in protecting mobile species and that models of spillover from no-take areas should account for seasonal and individual variation in area use and the spatiotemporal distribution of fish and fishers.     

Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing Managed Relocation for Conservation of Freshwater Species

Abstract: The rapidity of climate change is predicted to exceed the ability of many species to adapt or to disperse to more climatically favorable surroundings. Conservation of these species may require managed relocation (also called assisted migration or assisted colonization) of individuals to locations where the probability of their future persistence may be higher. The history of non‐native species throughout the world suggests managed relocation may not be applicable universally. Given the constrained existence of freshwater organisms within highly dendritic networks containing isolated ponds, lakes, and rivers, managed relocation may represent a useful conservation strategy. Yet, these same distinctive properties of freshwater ecosystems may increase the probability of unintended ecological consequences. We explored whether managed relocation is an ecologically sound conservation strategy for freshwater systems and provided guidelines for identifying candidates and localities for managed relocation. A comparison of ecological and life‐history traits of freshwater animals associated with high probabilities of extirpation and invasion suggests that it is possible to select species for managed relocation to minimize the likelihood of unintended effects to recipient ecosystems. We recommend that translocations occur within the species’ historical range and optimally within the same major river basin and that lacustrine and riverine species be translocated to physically isolated seepage lakes and upstream of natural or artificial barriers, respectively, to lower the risk of secondary spread across the landscape. We provide five core recommendations to enhance the scientific basis of guidelines for managed relocation in freshwater environments: adopt the term managed translocation to reflect the fact that individuals will not always be reintroduced within their historical native range; examine the trade‐off between facilitation of individual movement and the probability of range expansion of non‐native species; determine which species and locations might be immediately considered for managed translocation; adopt a hypothetico‐deductive framework by conducting experimental trials to introduce species of conservation concern into new areas within their historical range; build on previous research associated with species reintroductions through communication and synthesis of case studies.     

A Simple Discussion on the Supply and Demand of Water Resources in the Western Region of China

We are accustomed to solve the problem of the water scarcity in the western region by the thought of increasing the effective supply of water to meet the needs of Go-west Campaign. After introducing the dynamic equilibrium principle on supply and demand in economy, we find that we should solve the problem of the water scarcity in the western region through reducing total demand to achieve the dynamic equilibrium of supply and demand. Finally water resources in the western region can be enlarged by an accumulated way.     

行政中心驻地对县域土地利用景观格局的影响研究

使用GIS（地理信息系统,Geographic Information System）的缓冲区法、空间叠置分析法以及景观格局分析法,分析不同等级的行政中心驻地对土地利用景观格局的影响。研究结果表明：（1）耕地是丰县的景观基质,聚落（城乡建设用地）景观是丰县主要的景观类型。与行政中心的距离越近,人为景观的面积比重就越高,大于各景观类型的现状比重,表现出较强烈的空间吸引特性;相反,自然景观所占比重远远低于现状比重,反映出较明显的空间排斥效应。（2）与镇政府的距离变大,土地利用景观的破碎程度、聚集程度、斑块形状的规则程度均先减弱后增强;与县政府驻地的距离变大,景观的破碎程度呈现“减弱-增强-稳定”模式,景观形状的复杂程度变大,聚集程度先减弱后稳定,景观的多样性与异质性受两等级行政中心驻地距离的影响程度均较小。（3）镇级、县级行政中心分别在1 500 m、3 000 m范围内对土地利用景观格局的影响程度大     

237Np在饱和浙江红粘土中迁移参数的优化

依据放射性核素237 Np在浙江红土饱和土柱中浓度分布,采用单纯形优化算法对237 Np在饱和浙江红粘土中的迁移参数进行了优化,得到的目标函数χ2为0.45,而用实验测得的迁移参数计算得到的目标函数χ2为0.75。结果表明:迁移参数的优化结果与实验测量结果有很好的一致性,可直接依据核素浓度分布采用优化方法确定核素迁移参数。     

山东南四湖沉积物中汞的污染现状及迁移研究

通过测定南四湖及其入湖河流沉积物中总汞和形态含量,研究南四湖沉积物中汞的污染现状及空间迁移特征.南四湖表层沉积物中总汞含量为0.046 mg·kg-1,明显高于其环境背景值,表明南四湖受到一定程度的汞污染;沉积物中汞的形态主要以残渣态为主,占总汞含量的65.15%,非残渣态占总汞比例相对较小,依次为有机结合态(30.61%)、可提取态(2.93%)、铁锰氧化态(1.31%),其空间变化为独山湖区和昭阳湖区非残渣态汞含量较低,南阳湖区和微山湖区相对较高,具有一定的潜在生态危害;从水平方向来看,南四湖表层沉积物中汞含量具有明显差异,各湖区污染程度不同,汞在水平方向迁移较明显;垂直方向来看,从柱状沉积物底部到顶部汞的含量呈增加趋势,这可能与不同时期社会经济状况有关.     

阳极内添加阳离子交换树脂提升辊压“三合一”膜电极MFC性能

阳极-隔膜-阴极的"三合一"膜电极结构能够最大程度减小阴阳极间距,提高微生物燃料电池(microbial fuel cell,MFC)的输出功率.为进一步提高MFC性能,本研究使用非贵金属材料构建了辊压"三合一"膜电极系统,其欧姆内阻降低至3~5Ω.以乙酸钠为底物,MFC的最高功率密度达到446 m W·m-2.向阳极内添加固体小球(如聚苯乙烯球和玻璃微球)可在辊压过程中增加阳极表面和内部的大孔,强化电解液向阴极的传递从而使MFC的功率密度提升10%.添加阳离子交换树脂能够进一步强化阳极内部的质子传递,提高阴极电位,从而将功率密度提升至543 m W·m-2.此外,阳极内添加阳离子交换树脂还可提高电池运行的稳定性和库仑效率.