Application of Ecological Classification and Predictive Vegetation Modeling to Broad-Level Assessments of Ecosystem Health

The Little Missouri National Grasslands (LMNG) of western North Dakota support the largest permitted cattle grazing use within all lands administered by the USDA, Forest Service, as well as critical habitat for many wildlife species. This fact, coupled with the need to revise current planning direction for range allotments of the LMNG, necessitated that a broad-level characterization of ecosystem integrity and resource conditions be conducted across all lands within the study area (approximately 800,000 hectares) in a rapid and cost-effective manner. The approach taken in this study was based on ecological classifications, which effectively utilized existing field plot data collected for a variety of previous inventory objectives, and their continuous spatial projection across the LMNG by maps of both existing and potential vegetation. These two map themes represent current and reference conditions (existing vs. potential vegetation); their intersection allowed us to assign various ecological status ratings (i.e., ecosystem integrity and resource condition) based on the degree of departure between current and reference conditions. In this paper, we present a brief review of methodologies used in the development of ecological classifications, and also illustrate their application to assessments of rangeland health through selected maps of ecological status ratings for the LMNG.     

Climate Change and Climate Variability: Adaptations to Reduce Adverse Health Impacts

Global climate change is likely to have a range of consequences for human health as a result of disturbance or weakening of the biosphere's natural or human-managed life support systems. The full range of potential human health impacts of global climate change is diverse and would be distributed differentially spatially and over time. Changes in the mortality toll of heatwaves and changes in the distribution of vector-borne infectious diseases may occur early. The public health consequences of sea level rise and of regional changes in agricultural productivity may not occur (or become apparent) for several decades. Vulnerability is a measure of both sensitivity to climate change and the ability to adapt in anticipation of, or in response to, its impacts. The basic modes of adaptation to climate-induced health hazards are biological, behavioural and social. Adaptation can be undertaken at the individual, community and whole-population levels. Adaptive strategies should not introduce new health hazards. Enhancement of the acknowledged public health infrastructure and intervention programmes is essential to reduce vulnerability to the health impacts of climate change. In the longer-term, fundamental improvements in the social and material conditions of life and in the reduction of inequalities within and between populations are required for sustained reduction in vulnerability to environmental health hazards.     

Strategies used to Guide the Design and Implementation of a National River Monitoring Programme in South Africa

This article explores the strategies that were, and are being, used to facilitate the transition from scientific developmentto operational application of the South African River Health Programme (RHP). Theoretical models from the field of the management of technology are used to provide insight into the dynamics that influence the relationship between the creation and application of environmental programmes, and the RHP in particular. Four key components of the RHP design are analysed,namely the (a) guiding team, (b) concepts, tools and methods, (c) infra-structural innovations and (d) communication. These key components evolved over three broad life stages of the programme, which are called the design, growth and anchoring stages.     

气溶胶中有机物的研究进展和前景

首先指出了气溶胶中有机物的研究意义 ,接着介绍了目前对气溶胶中有机物的化学组成、来源和成因、环境和健康效应的认识 ,综述了分析测试方法的研究现状 ,并评述了其研究前景     

大型底栖动物快速评价指数BMWP在太子河流域的应用

大型底栖动物快速生物评价方法可快速判断河流在人为活动影响下的生态状况,对河流健康评价研究和河流保护与管理具有重要的意义。基于太子河46个样点的大型底栖动物监测数据,探讨大型底栖动物生物监测工作组(Biological Monitoring Working Party,BMWP)指数的适用性。采用方差分析研究了BMWP指数对重要水环境参数的响应程度,研究结果表明BMWP指数随地表水水质级别的降低呈显著地下降趋势。利用回归分析研究了BMWP指数与其他生物指数、生境状况的回归关系,结果显示BMWP指数与底栖动物香农多样性指数(R2=0.74)、底栖动物完整性指数(R2=0.85)以及生境质量评估指数(R2=0.60)均呈显著线性回归关系(p0.01),表明BMWP指数可以有效指示与反映不同河段的生物状况及其栖息地质量。利用BMWP指数对采样点进行的河流健康评价结果显示太子河46个采样点中,极好和良好的采样点占45.7%,一般的样点占21.7%,差和极差的样点为32.6%。BMWP指数对河流生态状况指示灵敏,能够准确反映河流健康状况。同时,野外监测、物种鉴定和指数计算简便,是河流健康评价中表征能力较强的快速生物评价指数。     

长三角区域一体化的环境效应研究进展

长三角区域一体化的环境效应研究对于资源节约和环境友好型社会的建立和长三角区域整体竞争实力的提升具有重要意义。总结当前该领域研究在理论、方法等方面取得最新进展的基础上,指出当前研究的薄弱环节,并展望未来的研究方向。研究表明：目前长三角区域一体化的环境问题受到普遍关注,已从经济空间格局变化、产业集聚发展与污染转移、人口增长压力及外商直接投资增长等多个方面对长三角区域一体化的环境影响机理和效应进行分析,并从区域环保合作（环保一体化）、区域生态补偿及环保规制等方面探讨解决长三角区域一体化环境效应的途径。在研究方法上,以计量经济学模型和采用ArcGIS空间分区为主的定量分析方法开始应用于长三角区域一体化的环境问题变量的识别及基于环境约束的一体化空间优化格局。当前的研究尚未形成体系,理论研究欠缺,方法应用有限。从发展趋势看,今后基于区域一体化的环境效应的机理研究有待深入,多学科融合、新技术方法的应用将得到加强     

Work-related fatal injuries in parking lots, 1993-2002

PROBLEM: Although parking facilities are a common feature of the landscape in the United States, little is known about their safety. METHOD: A dataset of parking lot fatalities for 1993-2002, created from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injury (CFOI) research file, was analyzed. RESULTS: The most common events in parking lots were contact with objects (15%), pedestrian fatalities (13%), homicides (36%), and suicides (11%). The perpetrators of parking lot fatalities, compared to all workplace homicides, were more likely to be known to the victim. CONCLUSION: The 206 work-related fatalities per year in parking lots present challenges to the safety community. Although much of the risk results from the usage of motor vehicles, violent acts are even more prominent. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Because homicides are most prevalent in parking lots, both administrative and environmental measures may lower the risk of homicide. Although difficult to assess, various elements of the design of parking facilities may have an influence on the occurrence of injuries.     

移动脚手架升降作业的FMECA分析

利用FMECA(故障模式,影响及危险度分析)方法回顾了升降作业的典型事故,阐述了架体结构和升降作业流程,对移动脚手架升降作业进行了故障类型、影响及危险度分析,认为保障移动脚手架升降施工作业安全的重点是:保证防坠装置的有效可靠性、维护防护装置的功能完整性、确保提升机构和架体结构的整体稳定性。     

从业人员安全卫生权利法律定位及保护问题综述

通过对安全卫生权本质的解析和法理学分析,明确安全卫生权的法律定位,并指出民法上的物质性人身权与劳动法上的职业安全卫生权存在的区别。根据安全卫生权的法律定位,并结合我国职业安全卫生权利法律保护研究现状,对我国职业安全卫生权利保护存在的问题进行了综述,并对法律制度的综合性调节功能欠缺,法律制度的内容不够系统、完善,侵权责任中的工伤赔偿与民事侵权赔偿等主要问题进行研讨。经过分析和归纳,可以得出如下结论:只有向着职业安全卫生法律一体化方向发展,方能从制度层面有效解决现存的问题;应采用"补充模式"解决侵权责任事故中的工伤赔偿与民事侵权赔偿问题。