Household willingness to pay for stream restoration on private and public land: Evidence from the Baltimore metropolitan region

Stream restoration is one of the most widely used interventions to mitigate urban stormwater impacts and improve water quality. Government agencies have typically focused urban stream restoration efforts on public lands that they already own, even though a substantial portion of stream miles in highly urbanized areas occur on privately owned land. Yet, limited research exists to distinguish household willingness to pay (WTP) for stream restoration occurring on private versus public land. In this study, we use a choice experiment to analyze how household WTP for stream restoration attributes vary by land ownership and distance to the restoration project. Our empirical results indicate that streambank stabilization approaches have positive WTP estimates that are substantially larger in magnitude than those related to riparian vegetation management for clearing or planting trees. In general, estimated total household WTP for each of the four restoration design scenarios on public land is higher than when the same restoration design is located on private land. Nonetheless, estimated household WTP for each restoration design scenario on private land is substantial, retaining the majority of the value found on public land in all cases.     

反硝化真菌-细菌优化组合及其脱氮能力研究

从多种真菌中筛选到3株脱氮活性较高的真菌,并将其与一株从武汉市郊新筛选分离到的具有较强脱氮能力的细菌HS-03进行混和培养,通过正交实验确立其最佳培养条件。正交实验方差分析表明:碳源、pH值和温度3个因素对脱氮率的影响都非常显著,菌种因素对脱氮率有一定影响。实验结果表明,真菌与细菌混合脱氮的最佳培养条件为:以琥珀酸钠为碳源,NaNO3为N源,C/N为10,pH=7.5,温度30℃。细菌HS-03和真菌Fusariumoxyspurum的组合优于其它组合。在最佳培养条件下,该组合能在21h内去除10mmolNO3-,优于相同条件下细菌HS-03或真菌F.oxyspurum的反硝化能力。     

A field experiment with variable-suction multi-compartment samplers to measure the spatio-temporal distribution of solute leaching in an agricultural soil

Solutes spread out in time and space as they move downwards from the soil surface with infiltrating water. Solute monitoring in the field is often limited to observations of resident concentrations, while flux concentrations govern the movement of solutes in soils. A recently developed multi-compartment sampler is capable of measuring fluxes at a high spatial resolution with minimal disturbance of the local pressure head field. The objective of this paper is to use this sampler to quantify the spatial and temporal variation of solute leaching below the root zone in an agricultural field under natural rainfall in winter and spring. We placed two samplers at 31 and 25 cm depth in an agricultural field, leaving the soil above undisturbed. Each sampler contained 100 separate cells of 31 × 31 mm. Water fluxes were measured every 5 min for each cell. We monitored leaching of a chloride pulse under natural rainfall by frequently extracting the collected leachate while leaving the samplers buried in situ. This experiment was followed by a dye tracer experiment. This setting yielded information that widely surpassed the information that can be provided by separate anionic and dye tracer trials, and solute transport monitoring by coring or suction cups. The detailed information provided by the samplers showed that percolation at the sampling depth started much faster (approximately 3 h after the start of rainfall) in initially wet soil (pressure head above − 65 cm) than in drier soil (more than 14 h at pressure heads below − 80 cm). At any time, 25% of the drainage passed through 5–6% of the sampled area, reflecting the effect of heterogeneity on the flow paths. The amount of solute carried by individual cells varied over four orders of magnitude. The lateral concentration differences were limited though. This suggests a convective–dispersive regime despite the short vertical travel distance. On the other hand, the dilution index indicates a slight tendency towards stochastic–convective transport at this depth. There was no evidence in the observed drainage patterns and dye stained profiles of significant disturbance of the flow field by the samplers.     

合成聚硅酸硼镁硫酸铁的正交实验研究

研究了用硅酸钠、硼砂、硫酸镁和硫酸铁为原料,制备聚硅酸硼镁硫酸铁（PSBMFS）混凝剂的方法及合成条件。通过正交实验,考查了硅酸活化pH值、缩聚反应时间和陈化时间等合成条件;同时考察了B/Si摩尔比、Mg/Si摩尔比和Fe/Si摩尔比等影响因素。结果表明：PSBMFS具有良好的混凝性能和脱色效果,能有效去除印染废水中的色度和COD,2种污染因子的去除率分别可达95.9%和67.9%。     

中国雨日变化趋势的分形研究

利用1951-2002年中国752个台站的雨日资料,运用分形理论和R/S分析法,研究并预测了中国五大降水区年雨日的气候变化趋势.研究表明:中国五大降水区未来的年雨日变化趋势与过去50a的变化有着很好的自相似性.为了更深入研究雨日的未来的变化,设计了两项Hurst指数试验,用两项试验结果与年雨日年际变化趋势的对应关系来推断未来的变化趋势及其转折与突变.结果表明:中国五大降水区年雨日有着一致的减少趋势,但其变化呈现显著的地域分异特征.依照五大降水区的气候倾向率,西北区、西南区、青藏高原区、东部北方区、东部南方区未来平均每10a雨日减少分别为4.1d,11.4d,3.7d,6.8d和5.9d,其中西南区年雨日减少最多.期间,中国五大降水区虽有气候变化的转折,但不存在雨日气候变化的突变点.     

Potential Mortality Effects of Off-Highway Vehicles on the Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phrynosoma mcallii</Emphasis>): A Manipulative Experiment

Southern California desert public lands receive especially high levels of off-highway recreation due to large population centers nearby and popular riding environments such as sand dunes. Controversy has developed over the flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii), previously a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Some evidence suggests lower lizard abundance in areas of higher recreational use than in areas with low or no use. We designed a manipulative experiment to ensure maximum inference in evaluating the direct impact of recreational riding of off-highway vehicles on lizards. Thirty-six lizards, in situ, were treated with an off-highway vehicle treatment during hibernation season in three treatment groups: high impact, low impact, and control. Treatments consisted of timed riding by off-highway vehicles. In all treatment groups survival was 100%, despite hibernation of lizards at very shallow depths. Consequently, indirect effects of off-highway vehicles deserve increased attention. The relative importance of direct versus indirect (i.e., degradation of lizard habitat) impacts caused by off-highway vehicles remains unknown. These indirect effects may include the altering of vegetation, substrate, and prey. We recommend that a manipulative approach be adopted to investigate these possibilities.     

掘进巷道瓦斯分布数值实验研究

根据局部通风流场特点确定适合矿井局部通风掘进巷道工作面瓦斯与风流质量交换的数学模型,在近壁面使用标准壁面函数法解决近壁面的流动,在湍流充分发展区,使用RNG k-ε双方程湍流模型;讨论考虑巷道支护的情况下壁面粗糙度的影响,确定矿井掘进工作面局部通风模型网格划分的方法、掘进头瓦斯涌出的边界条件;利用计算流体力学(CFD)软件Fluent对掘进工作面的风流与瓦斯的混合过程进行了模拟;得出不同瓦斯涌出量情况下掘进巷道工作面风流分布和瓦斯浓度的分布规律。研究表明:瓦斯涌出量和风速对流场分布有影响,随着瓦斯涌出量的增大和风速的降低,瓦斯对流场的影响越来越明显。     

Alternative soil quality indices for evaluating the effect of intensive cropping, fertilisation and manuring for 31 years in the semi-arid soils of India

Soil quality assessment provides a tool for evaluating the sustainability of alternative soil management practices. Our objective was to develop the most sensitive soil quality index for evaluating fertilizer, farm yard manure (FYM), and crop management practices on a semiarid Inceptisol in India. Soil indicators and crop yield data from a long-term (31 years) fertilizer, manure, and crop rotation (maize, wheat, cowpea, pearl millet) study at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) near New Delhi were used. Plots receiving optimum NPK, super optimum NPK and optimum NPK + FYM had better values for all the parameters analyzed. Biological, chemical, and physical soil quality indicator data were transformed into scores (0 to 1) using both linear and non-linear scoring functions, and combined into soil quality indices using unscreened transformations, regression equation, or principal component analysis (PCA). Long-term application of optimum inorganic fertilizers (NPK) resulted in higher soil quality ratings for all methods, although the highest values were obtained for treatment, which included FYM. Correlations between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and the various soil quality indices showed the best relationship (highest r) between yield and a PCA-derived SQI. Differences in SQI values suggest that the control (no NPK, no manure) and N only treatments were degrading, while soils receiving animal manure (FYM) or super optimum NPK fertilizer had the best soil quality, respectively. Lower ratings associated with the N only and NP treatments suggest that one of the most common soil management practices in India may not be sustainable. A framework for soil quality assessment is proposed.     

具有超压/负压防护功能的急救车防生物污染的安全性试验研究

采用粘质沙雷菌气溶胶,对具有超压/负压防护功能的急救车防生物污染的安全性进行试验考核。分别测试气溶胶发生后30s,1min,5min,10min时,车厢在超压防护和负压防护下的过滤效率,其结果表明:急救车在超压防护状态下开启空调时的平均过滤效率能达到99.99%,不开空调时的平均过滤效率能达到99.95%;在负压防护状态下开启空调时的平均过滤效率能达到99.93%,不开空调时的平均过滤效率能达到99.95%。证明急救车能够通过生物污染区域安全运送、急救伤病员,也能够运送、急救生物污染伤病员或烈性传染病员确保沿途环境不受污染,该研究成果为应对生物恐怖袭击和突发公共卫生事件(烈性传染病)提供了一种安全可靠的机动医疗救治平台。     

Public values for badgers,bovine TB reduction and management strategies

This paper applies an attribute-based stated choice experiment approach to estimate the value that society places on changes to the size of the badger population in England and Wales. The study was undertaken in the context of a rising incidence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle and the government's review of current bTB control policy. This review includes consideration of culling badgers to reduce bTB in cattle, since badgers are thought to be an important wildlife reservoir for the disease. The design of the CE involved four attributes (size of badger population, cattle slaughtered due to bTB, badger management strategy and household tax) at four levels with eight choice sets of two alternatives presented to respondents. Telephone interviews were undertaken with over 400 respondents, which elicited their attitudes and preferences concerning badgers, bTB in cattle and badger management strategies. The study estimated a willingness to pay of £0.10 per household per year per 100,000 badgers and £1.52 per household per year per 10,000 cattle slaughtered due to bTB which aggregated to £22 per badger and £3298 per bTB slaughtered animal for all households in England and Wales. Management strategy toward badgers had a very high valuation, highlighting the emotive issue of badger culling for respondents and the importance of government policy towards badgers.