Long-term dynamics of radioactive <Superscript>90</Superscript>Sr and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs contamination of small mammals in the Chernobyl zone

Between 1986 and 1994, a decrease in nonalimentary ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs intake and changes in the accessibility of radionuclides in the soil-plant link of their cycle resulted in a 10-to 100-fold decrease in their specific activity (SA) in the bodies of small mammals inhabiting the Chernobyl zone, and a similar decrease was observed in the radionuclide transition factor (TF) in the soil-animal chain. Between 1995 and 2005, no consistent increase or decrease in SA or TF could be revealed against the background of a combined effect of different physicochemical and ecological factors. It is suggested that subsequent changes in the level of radioactive contamination of small mammals will generally reflect only the dynamics of physical ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs decay, but, nevertheless, seasonal and local variations in this level will be significant.     

Characteristics of worker accidents on NYSDOT construction projects

INTRODUCTION: This paper aims at providing cost-effective safety measures to protect construction workers in highway work zones, based on real data. Two types of accidents that occur in work zones were: (a) construction work area accidents, and (b) traffic accidents involving construction worker(s). METHODOLOGY/RESULTS: A detailed analysis of work zone accidents involving 36 fatalities and 3,055 severe injuries to construction workers on New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) construction projects from 1990 to 2001 established that five accident types: (a) Struck/Pinned by Large Equipment, (b) Trip or Fall (elevated), (c) Contact w/Electrical or Gas Utility, (d) Struck-by Moving/Falling Load, and (e) Crane/Lift Device Failure accounted for nearly 96% of the fatal accidents, nearly 63% of the hospital-level injury accidents, and nearly 91% of the total costs. These construction work area accidents had a total cost of $133.8 million. Traffic accidents that involve contractors' employees were also examined. Statistical analyses of the traffic accidents established that five traffic accident types: (a) Work Space Intrusion, (b) Worker Struck-by Vehicle Inside Work Space, (c) Flagger Struck-by Vehicle, (d) Worker Struck-by Vehicle Entering/Exiting Work Space, and (e) Construction Equipment Struck-by Vehicle Inside Work Space accounted for nearly 86% of the fatal, nearly 70% of the hospital-level injury and minor injury traffic accidents, and $45.4 million (79.4%) of the total traffic accident costs. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this paper provide real statistics on construction worker related accidents reported on construction work zones. Potential preventions based on real statistics have also been suggested. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The ranking of accident types, both within the work area as well as in traffic, will guide the heavy highway contractor and owner agencies in identifying the most cost effective safety preventions.     

海岸带城市环境-经济系统的协调发展评价及应用--以天津市为例

在海岸带城市的环境一经济系统分析的基础上,建立了适用于海岸带城市的环境一经济协调发展评价指标体系。并以天津市为例。采用综合指数法对其协调度和综合发展水平进行了计算。结果表明。天津市环境与经济发展关系相对趋于协调。但1995年后天津市的环境经济协调发展模式已从经济增长滞后型发展为环境质量滞后型。利用灰色系统GM(1,1)模型对天津市未来15年的经济协调度和发展水平进行预测,发现天津市环境与经济发展协调度在未来将显现下降趋势,从2000年的0．95下降到2015年的0．59。城市综合发展水平在2005年之后也开始呈下降趋势。     

安全煤岩柱性能研究及综合评价

在对里彦煤矿采矿地质条件分析的基础上,对安全煤岩柱的化学成分及其阻水性能、岩性及力学特征进行了研究.针对里彦煤矿的具体情况,分析了里彦安全煤岩柱的阻水性能,认为其阻水性能良好,可以适当减小防水防砂煤岩柱宽度,以提高开采上限,释放部分煤炭储量.     

论楔块运动与地震带的关系

目前，地震和地震带的成因问题仍然是世界性的科学难题。本研究认为圈闭隐爆作用能形成正楔块、倒楔块；负荷均衡作用能引起楔块运动；楔块运动形成了断陷盆地，也就是说，地堑、地垒是楔块运动的产物；最终，试图通过对楔块运动模式的研究揭示地壳凹陷与地震带的成因问题。     

Conservation and management of the Bangladesh coastal ecosystem: Overview of an integrated approach

Although the coastal ecosystem of Bangladesh contains a highly functional and structurally diverse ecology, this ecology is gradually being degraded. As a consequence, the quality of life of a large section of the coastal community is in economic decline. This poses a daunting challenge to the sectoral coastal management programmes, active since the 1960s, aiming at simultaneously ameliorating people's livelihood and supporting the ecosystem. These programmes have been reasonably successful in managing the ecosystem, but in many cases, the situation has become worse. The limitations of these programmes include the tendency to adopt an exclusionist approach, a narrowly departmentalized administration and weak management. Currently, the integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) approach is espoused as the main strategy. With the adoption of Bangladesh's Coastal Zone Policy of 2005, the foundation for integrated management was laid. The next realistic target will be to bring about changes in culture and mandate among coastal institutions in favour of integrated management.     

HOW RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS ARE PROTECTED AT LAKE TAHOE1

Riparian ecosystems are designated for special protection from development and disturbance at Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) required protection of Stream Environment Zones (SEZs) in its Regional Plan for the Lake Tahoe Basin in 1987. These zones are identified by the presence of key indicators such as the evidence of surface water flow, riparian vegetation, near‐surface ground water, designated floodplain, and alluvial soils. They are mapped on each potential building site and assigned a setback that is also off limits to building construction. The SEZs are protected to maintain their functions and values, including flood attenuation, water quality enhancement, and wildlife habitat. Strict regulations control use or disturbance of SEZs on public and private property throughout the watershed. The TRPA has set restoration targets to increase the acreage of naturally functioning SEZs in the Tahoe Basin. Many SEZ restoration projects have been designed and implemented, but SEZ restoration targets have not been met. More SEZ restoration projects are being designed and funded each year. Restoration designers would benefit from increased effectiveness monitoring of completed projects and Web‐based dissemination of monitoring results.     

High visibility safety apparel and nighttime conspicuity of pedestrians in work zones

PROBLEM: Every year numerous occupational fatalities result from pedestrians being struck by motor vehicles intruding into work zones. METHOD: Attributes of retroreflective personal safety garments on pedestrian conspicuity at night were assessed in a field study. Using instrumented vehicles on a closed track, participants drove through simulated work zones attempting to detect pedestrians located in the work zones. RESULTS: Configuration of the retroreflective trim, trim color, placement in the work zone, and driver age significantly affected pedestrian conspicuity. Intensity and the amount of retroreflective trim did not. DISCUSSION: Personal safety garments incorporating retroreflective trim significantly improve pedestrian conspicuity in work zones. SUMMARY: The results emphasize the importance of retroreflective trim on personal safety garments, particularly if the trim is located on garment sleeves. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: We examine the design attributes that contribute to making a personal safety garment conspicuous. The results have implications regarding preferred garment designs, industry standards, and service life of personal safety garments.     

云南宣威群地层路堑边坡滑带土蠕变特性研究

为研究云南宣威群地层路堑边坡滑带土的蠕变特性,采用GDS非饱和反压直剪仪,对边坡滑带土进行直剪蠕变试验,研究该路堑边坡滑带土在不同法向应力下的蠕变特性和长期强度.试验结果表明:该路堑边坡滑带土的绝对蠕变量随水平剪切应力的增加而增加,当水平剪切应力一定时,滑带土的绝对蠕变量与法向应力呈负相关性,而滑带土的瞬时蠕变量随水平...