THE ADOPTION OF MUNICIPAL WATER CONSERVATION: AN UNLIKELY EVENT?1

ABSTRACT: It is contended that water conservation measures that reduce a water system's net revenues are unlikely to be adopted. Pricing policies that induce conservation can be designed to increase net revenues. Management practices that lead to conservation and pure conservation measures may reduce net revenues; consequently, they are unlikely to be adopted. Recent experience in five southwestern cities supports these contentions. It is argued that the managers of a municipal water enterprise are particularly sensitive to short term variation in revenues. Consequently, to increase the likelihood of the adoption of measures that reduce net revenues it is necessary to remove either the decision to adopt measures that reduce net revenue or the adverse revenue effect from the water enterprise. Finally, to make higher rates for conservation palatable, imaginative use for the funds generated must be developed.     

Application of GIS technology in chemical emergency response

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雷州无瓣海桑群落7种元素的生物累积和循环

在雷州市附城镇岚北人工生态恢复的 7a生无瓣海桑群落生物量调查的基础上 ,对所采集的无瓣海桑进行了植物体各组分样品的灰分和元素含量测定与循环分析 ,结果表明 :无瓣海桑植物体不同组分的灰分含量范围为 2 .2 7%～ 2 6 .4 1% ,以细根的含量最高 ,枯枝的含量最低 .植物体各组分中 7种元素质量分数范围分别为K 0 .11%～ 1.5 6 % ,Na0 .11%～ 1.6 6 % ,Ca 0 .2 0 %～ 2 .6 6 % ,Mg 0 .15 %～ 1.5 9% ,Fe 0 .0 4× 10 -3 ～ 9.6 4× 10 -3 ,Zn 0 .0 5× 10 -4～ 1.0 3× 10 -4,Cu0 .16× 10 -5～ 1.5 0× 10 -5.其加权平均的富集系数为 0 .0 5～ 9.70 ,其中Ca >K >Cu >Na >Mg>Zn >Fe .群落现存生物量中的累积储量分别为K 10 9.76gm-2 ,Ca 138.89gm-2 ,Na 86 .5 7gm-2 ,Mg 81.0 7gm-2 ,Fe 13.139gm-2 ,Zn 0 .4 83gm-2 ,Cu 0 .10 8gm-2 .群落 2 0 0 1年的元素存留累积储量分别为Ca4 1.6 8gm-2 ,K 37.2 4gm-2 ,Mg 2 7.33gm-2 ,Na2 5 .5 6gm-2 ,Fe 4 .2 75gm-2 ,Zn 0 .188gm-2 ,Cu 0 .0 39gm-2 .2 0 0 1年归还量分别为Ca 2 8.5 9gm-2 ,K 16 .83gm-2 ,Mg 12 .0 7gm-2 ,Na 11.5 8gm-2 ,Fe 0 .916gm-2 ,Zn 0 .14 1gm-2 ,Cu 0 .0 2 6gm-2 .年吸收量分别为Ca 70 .2 7gm-2 ,K 5 4 .0 7gm-2 ,Mg 39.4 0gm-2 ,Na 37.1     

Conservation resource allocation,small population resiliency,and the fallacy of conservation triage

Some conservation prioritization methods are based on the assumption that conservation needs overwhelm current resources and not all species can be conserved; therefore, a conservation triage scheme (i.e., when the system is overwhelmed, species should be divided into three groups based on likelihood of survival, and efforts should be focused on those species in the group with the best survival prospects and reduced or denied to those in the group with no survival prospects and to those in the group not needing special efforts for their conservation) is necessary to guide resource allocation. We argue that this decision-making strategy is not appropriate because resources are not as limited as often assumed, and it is not evident that there are species that cannot be conserved. Small population size alone, for example, does not doom a species to extinction; plants, reptiles, birds, and mammals offer examples. Although resources dedicated to conserving all threatened species are insufficient at present, the world's economic resources are vast, and greater resources could be dedicated toward species conservation. The political framework for species conservation has improved, with initiatives such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and other international agreements, funding mechanisms such as The Global Environment Facility, and the rise of many nongovernmental organizations with nimble, rapid-response small grants programs. For a prioritization system to allow no extinctions, zero extinctions must be an explicit goal of the system. Extinction is not inevitable, and should not be acceptable. A goal of no human-induced extinctions is imperative given the irreversibility of species loss.     

升流式膨胀滤池的数学模型及设计参数

讨论了升流式膨胀滤池的反应过程，导出物料消耗，出水水质及反应时间等在有关理论公式，并根据物料流化理论确定了滤池几何尺寸及工艺提高参数的计算方法。     

嘉陵江流域坡耕地“生态农业旅游”垂直景观模式

从治理水土流失角度出发，提出了坡耕地“生态农业旅游”技术与示范。其垂直生态景观模式按坡度和等高线布置：在坡度大于25°的山坡顶形成水保林木区，坡上15°～25°的陡坡种植桃树，坡中5°～15°的斜坡种植枇杷，坡下小于5°的缓坡地带种植特种水果、瓜类及蔬菜，坡底形成“稻—鱼”和“藕—鱼”特色水域区。道路系统设计为环山而下的水泥主路、观景石板干路、埂边地界小路三级，道路两侧实施还林还草。“农家乐”型旅游接待自然分布在试验区内，同时在坡上建立旅游“一条街”、坡底试验旅游产业化经营。果园内实施多熟作物覆盖、间种套种。垂直生态景观产生了独特而丰富的景观效果，并具有较好的生态功能、经济功能和社会功能。     

Estimation of Body‐Size Traits by Photogrammetry in Large Mammals to Inform Conservation

Abstract: Photography, including remote imagery and camera traps, has contributed substantially to conservation. However, the potential to use photography to understand demography and inform policy is limited. To have practical value, remote assessments must be reasonably accurate and widely deployable. Prior efforts to develop noninvasive methods of estimating trait size have been motivated by a desire to answer evolutionary questions, measure physiological growth, or, in the case of illegal trade, assess economics of horn sizes; but rarely have such methods been directed at conservation. Here I demonstrate a simple, noninvasive photographic technique and address how knowledge of values of individual‐specific metrics bears on conservation policy. I used 10 years of data on juvenile moose (Alces alces) to examine whether body size and probability of survival are positively correlated in cold climates. I investigated whether the presence of mothers improved juvenile survival. The posited latter relation is relevant to policy because harvest of adult females has been permitted in some Canadian and American jurisdictions under the assumption that probability of survival of young is independent of maternal presence. The accuracy of estimates of head sizes made from photographs exceeded 98%. The estimates revealed that overwinter juvenile survival had no relation to the juvenile's estimated mass (p < 0.64) and was more strongly associated with maternal presence (p < 0.02) than winter snow depth (p < 0.18). These findings highlight the effects on survival of a social dynamic (the mother‐young association) rather than body size and suggest a change in harvest policy will increase survival. Furthermore, photographic imaging of growth of individual juvenile muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) over 3 Arctic winters revealed annual variability in size, which supports the idea that noninvasive monitoring may allow one to detect how some environmental conditions ultimately affect body growth.     

Analysis of dioxins and furans in environmental samples by GC-ion-trap MS/MS

The work aims to characterise PCDDs/Fs in environmental matrices by high resolution gas chromatography coupled to low resolution quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometry (GC-QITMS/MS). In particular, the study was mainly focused in different environmental samples such as sewage sludge, soils, and sediments and in combustion residues as fly ashes. Previous experiences have already detected and quantified PCDDs/PCDFs in all matrices studied. Moreover, isomer-specific analysis of 2,3,7,8-PCDDs/Fs compounds corroborated good correlation between GC-QITMS/MS and a well-established technique such as high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Finally, QC measures included the participation in intercalibration exercises. Successful results were achieved using GC-QITMS/MS in the analysis of fly ashes, soils and sediment materials. In general, GC-QITMS/MS constitutes an interesting alternative for routine analysis of dioxins in such as matrices.     

城市新增大气污染源合理布局判据的研究

试图提出了一种以环境损失作为评价污染源布局判据的观点，给出了大气环境损失系数的计算方法及污染源合理布局优化计算模型，并结合实例作了进一步的分析。     

Fluid bed gasification – Plasma converter process generating energy from solid waste: Experimental assessment of sulphur species

Often perceived as a Cinderella material, there is growing appreciation for solid waste as a renewable content thermal process feed. Nonetheless, research on solid waste gasification and sulphur mechanisms in particular is lacking. This paper presents results from two related experiments on a novel two stage gasification process, at demonstration scale, using a sulphur-enriched wood pellet feed.Notable SO₂ and relatively low COS levels (before gas cleaning) were interesting features of the trials, and not normally expected under reducing gasification conditions. Analysis suggests that localised oxygen rich regions within the fluid bed played a role in SO₂’s generation. The response of COS to sulphur in the feed was quite prompt, whereas SO₂ was more delayed. It is proposed that the bed material sequestered sulphur from the feed, later aiding SO₂ generation. The more reducing gas phase regions above the bed would have facilitated COS – hence its faster response. These results provide a useful insight, with further analysis on a suite of performed experiments underway, along with thermodynamic modelling.