Mosquito management: Ecological approaches

This article discusses organism use for management of mosquitoes included are considerations of the introduction and/or manipulation of plants, animals, and microorganisms into breeding habitats in which they act to make conditions less suitable for mosquito production. The importance of foresight and careful planning is stressed with regard to developing mosquito management strategies     

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS IN WATER RESOURCES PLANNING1

Historically, the main objective of water resources development has been economic efficiency, and the technique for its evaluation has been benefit-cost analysis. Gradually other objectives have emerged, and these in order of their emergence are regional income redistribution, environmental quality and social well-being. These multi-objectives have given rise to multifarious problems, and have made the planning process much more complex than ever before. The different objectives are not mutually exclusive, and, hence, contributions to one can only be made at the expense of others. Trade-off studies between different objectives are difficult to make. It is suggested that one way to overcome this difficulty could be to design a system to perform optimally in terms of one objective, subject to a specified level of performance of the other, which in effect becomes a constraint. The paper also discusses the pros and cons of the desirability of public participation in our decision-making processes, and the necessity of developing social sciences models to aid water planning and management.     

Modelling Easily Biodegradability of Materials in Liquid Medium-Relationship Between Structure and Biodegradability

In the present project, twenty materials (e.g., polyhydroxybutyrate-hydroxyvalerate, polycaprolactone, cellulose acetate, polyacticacid, polyethylene), representing varied biodegradability levels were studied. An aerobic respirometric test, based on the CEN Draft, was setup. The biodegradability of each plastic film was evaluated by measuring the percentage of carbon converted into CO₂ during 35 days. The values of the CO₂ production were plotted versus days as a cumulative function. In order to reduce its number of points, the cumulative curve was modeled using a sigmoïd function (Hill sigmoïd). This model was compared to one found in the literature. A _i ² test showed that the biodegradation curve was more accurately fitted with the model than the previous one. Three kinetic parameters were determined by this Hill model: one represents the maximal percentage of carbon converted into CO₂, the second the half-life time in days of the degrading part of the material and the third one the curve radius.In addition, the following analyses were carried out on each sample: elemental analysis, thickness, hydrophobicity and surface free energy measurements. In order to compress the information and to keep only relevant pieces, these parameters were submitted to a Principal Component Analysis. PCA found linear combinations of variables that describe major trends in the data. The two principal components which separate groups of materials were closely related to a chemical and a physical axis respectively. Materials showing a high biodegradability were related to high oxygen (and nitrogen) contents and low hydrophobicity: Material thickness did not influence the likeliness to biodegradability described by the maximum biodegradation rate. Finally, this study established the correlation between the biodegradation and the structure of biopolymers.     

Bayes理论在河流水质模型参数识别中的应用

参数识别是水环境数学模型建模的重要步骤.在实际模拟过程中,往往难以获得理想的数据进行模型参数识别.充分利用研究者已有的经验,可在一定程度上减少模拟过程的风险.Bayes理论为把研究者的经验或前验信息纳入到水质模拟提供了一个定量手段.采用离散Bayes理论的基本方法,以国内某河段实际监测数据为基础,完成了模型的参数识别过程,并对识别结果进行了分析.验证结果表明,采用Bayes理论获得的参数识别结果能够达到模型验证的要求.     

Experimental evidence for species-specific habitat preferences in two flycatcher species in their hybrid zone

Hybrid zones are often found in areas where the environmental characteristics of native habitat of both parental species meet. One of the plausible mechanisms that maintain species distinctiveness, or limit hybridization, is the existence of local species-specific preferences for the natal habitat type. We evaluated this hypothesis for two passerine bird species, the pied Ficedula hypoleuca and collared flycatcher F. albicollis, in their narrow hybrid zone in Central Europe. Both species have quite distinct habitat distributions, and they have also been reported to differ in their foraging niches. In a series of aviary experiments, we demonstrated that both species show distinct preferences for trees from their native area. The pied flycatcher preferred coniferous vegetation, while the collared flycatcher favored deciduous vegetation. In addition, both species differed in foraging substrate preferences. The pied flycatcher preferred to forage in the lower strata on the ground than the canopy, whereas the collared flycatcher foraged more at the canopy level. Both males and females of each species were highly consistent in their preference patterns. Due to the widespread nature of hybrid zones as places with transitional habitat features and the well-known habitat tight associations of various animal taxa with particular habitat types, we propose that habitat preferences might be an important and common mechanism that enhances the formation of conspecific pairs.     

Modelling of time-varying dispersion for elevated pressurised releases without rainout

Many commonly used atmospheric dispersion models are limited to continuous or instantaneous releases only, and cannot accurately simulate time-varying releases. The current paper discusses a new enhanced dispersion formulation accounting for time-varying effects resulting from a pressure drop in a vessel or pipe, and presuming no rainout. This new formulation is implemented in the Unified Dispersion Model (UDM), and is planned to be included in a future version of Phast.First existing methods are summarised for modelling finite-duration and time-varying releases, and limitations of these methods are identified.Secondly the new mathematical model is summarised. The new formulation presumes a number of ‘observers’ to be released at successive times from the point of discharge. The UDM carries out pseudo steady-state calculations for each observer, where the release data correspond to the time at which the observer is released. Subsequently the model applies a correction to the observer concentrations to ensure mass conservation when observers move with different velocities. Finally effects of along-wind diffusion (due to ambient turbulence) are included by means of Gaussian integration over the downwind distance. This results in reduced concentrations while the cloud travels in the downwind direction.The benefits of the new UDM methodology are illustrated for the case of a H₂S toxic release from a long pipeline representative of some extremely sour fields in the Middle East that are now being developed. Using corrected observer concentrations and along-wind diffusion significantly reduces toxic effect distances when compared to the current Phast 7.1 approach.     

An adapted companion modelling approach for enhancing multi-stakeholder cooperation in complex river basins

The sustainable development agenda 2030 calls for achievement of certain targets to ensure access to water and sanitation for all. Multi-stakeholder partnerships and the use of data and modelling tools are conditioning elements for their achievement. In this article, we demonstrate that participatory modelling supports informed and participatory decision making in complex river basins. An adapted companion modelling approach is presented to support collective action by reducing disputes and enhancing collaboration among stakeholders. The co-development and use of empirical models for understanding the complexity of the physical system is combined with the use of role-playing games to ensure the active involvement of stakeholders. The approach is implemented in a top-down water quality planning process in Turkey. Results show its suitability for managing water quality in complex river basins in an inclusive manner and its substantial benefits in developing stakeholders’ capacities and creating a cooperative environment.     

Organizational adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices in India: integrating institutional theory and corporate environmental responsibility

Organizations are increasingly engaging in socially and environmentally sustainable initiatives. This paper focuses on the institutional isomorphism mechanisms to analyse the organizational adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices like eco-design, source reduction, and environmental management practices. This paper empirically examines the role of institutional influence in the organizational adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices among firms in India. The results of this study confirm the significance of the three institutional isomorphism mechanisms in influencing sustainable responses, but not all mechanisms influence the organizational response equally. In particular, the results show a strong influence of self-regulatory normative isomorphism on the implementation.     

黄浦江上游底栖动物的指示生物生态研究

就黄浦江上游水质现状，底栖动物指示种的适用范围及其对污染的指示意义，加以探讨，研究，结果筛选出适应于当前水质状况的底栖动物有颤蚓，水丝蚓，珍珠蚌，钩虾和摇蚊幼虫等指示种，从底栖动物指示种的变化，可预测水质变化的趋势以及季节性的差异。     

On modelling the global copper mining rates,market supply,copper price and the end of copper reserves

The world supply and turnover of copper was modelled using simple empirical estimates and a COPPER systems dynamics model developed for this study. The model combines mining, trade markets, price mechanisms, population dynamics, use in society and waste as well as recycling, into a whole world system. The degree of sustainability and resource time horizon was estimated using four different methods including (1) burn-off rates, (2) peak discovery early warning, (3) Hubbert's production model, and (4) COPPER, a system dynamics model. The ultimately recoverable reserves (URR) have been estimated using different sources that converge around 2800 million tonne, where about 800 million tonne have already been mined, and 2000 million tonne remain. The different methods independently suggest peak copper mine production in the near future. The model was run for a longer period to cover all systems dynamics and delays. The peak production estimates are in a narrow window in time, from 2031 to 2042, with the best model estimate in 2034, or 21 years from the date of writing. In a longer perspective, taking into account price and recycling, the supply of copper to society is estimated to run out sometime after 2400. The outputs from all models put focus on the importance of copper recycling so that society can become more sustainable with respect to copper supply.