Engineered nanomaterials in rivers--exposure scenarios for Switzerland at high spatial and temporal resolution

Probabilistic material flow analysis and graph theory were combined to calculate predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in Swiss rivers: 543 river sections were used to assess the geographical variability of nano-TiO₂, nano-ZnO and nano-Ag, and flow measurements over a 20-year period at 21 locations served to evaluate temporal variation. A conservative scenario assuming no ENM removal and an optimistic scenario covering complete ENM transformation/deposition were considered. ENM concentrations varied by a factor 5 due to uncertain ENM emissions (15%-85% quantiles of ENM emissions) and up to a factor of 10 due to temporal river flow variations (15%-85% quantiles of flow). The results indicate highly variable local PECs and a location- and time-dependent risk evaluation. Nano-TiO₂ median PECs ranged from 11 to 1′623 ng L⁻¹ (conservative scenario) and from 2 to 1′618 ng L⁻¹ (optimistic scenario). The equivalent values for nano-ZnO and nano-Ag were by factors of 14 and 240 smaller.     

Climate engineering and human rights

ABSTRACT

In this Forum, three scholars discuss how climate engineering will pose novel human rights challenges, and may well force reconsideration of how human rights are applied as a guide to action. Following a short introduction, the first section introduces three competing approaches to human rights, arguing views which emphasize fairness or attempt to maximize satisfaction are more promising than one viewing human rights as inviolable ‘side-constraints’. The second section draws lessons from climate migration that are relevant for climate engineering in terms of incorporating a human rights approach to duties, rights, and participation. The final section compares the ‘needs-based’ and ‘rights-based’ approaches to humanitarian work in the face of climate change and climate engineering, raising concerns for duty-bearers and right-holders. The Forum’s conclusion draws together points of overlap and suggests a path forward for policy and research on this topic.     

The research of market structures for remanufactured products

The rapid development of technology has made it easier to distribute products directly, and many enterprises excel at executing a multi-channel strategy to distribute products. The introduction of direct channel adds a new competition dimension to the enterprises. This paper considers three market channel structures: R-Channel, D-Channel and H-Channel. In R-Channel, both new products and remanufactured products are sold through a retailer. In D-Channel, new products are sold through retailers and remanufactured products are sold directly to consumers. In H-Channel, new products are sold through retailers, while remanufactured products through dual channel. Using the game theory, we obtain and analyse the equilibrium prices, market demands and the profits gain under these three settings. At the same time, the influence of consumers’ willingness to pay on the environment performance is researched. Our results show that the manufacturer prefers H-Channel. By introducing the direct channel the manufacturer is always economically better off, but it is not for the retailer. The numerical simulation also confirms the theoretical analysis and shows that H-Channel has advantages of economic benefit and environmental performance. It is feasible for practical application.     

Quality of life in selected slums of Kolkata: a step forward in the era of pseudo-urbanisation

Urbanisation is the proportionate increase in the urban population with respect to the total population. In India urbanisation was never a result of a strong economic base of cities. It was distress and poverty in rural areas that resulted in a huge influx of rural migrants into urban areas. The pace of urbanisation gained momentum after 1941 with the percentage of people living in urban areas increasing to 31.16% in 2011. The pattern of urbanisation is characterised by continuous concentration of population in the megacities and in Class I cities. India’s urbanisation is best described as pseudo-urbanisation, a condition in which a large city is formed without a functional infrastructure to support it. Migration and pseudo-urbanisation lead to demographic explosion and a progressive concentration of poor migrants in the cities, followed by misery, poverty, unemployment, exploitation, rapid growth of slums and degradation in the quality of urban life. Slums are usually characterised by poor housing conditions, inadequate physical infrastructure, deprivations in socio-economic conditions, health, hygiene and lack of safety and security. Two slums were chosen within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for assessing the quality of life. Despite government initiatives the condition of the slum dwellers has not improved much.     

Some happy,others sad: exploring environmental justice in solid waste management in Kinshasa,The Democratic Republic of Congo

This paper explores the concept of environmental justice (EJ) in solid waste management (SWM) in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It evaluates the extent to which EJ occurs in SWM and discusses the factors accounting for this state of affairs. The paper examines the relevant theoretical framework(s) and mechanisms that would facilitate the attainment of EJ in Kinshasa. It is argued that solid waste (SW) often ends up in the poorest and least powerful communities in the cities of the DRC. A qualitative research methodology, which includes exhaustive critical review of the literature, system analysis, reflections from best practices through case studies and discussion with stakeholders, was used for this study. Findings revealed that SWM in Kinshasa is a duty entrusted to publicly-funded municipal authorities. There are evidences of a clear divide between the rich and poor neighbourhoods in the manner SW is managed. This is an inequality that has only recently begun to be recognised as injustice practices in SWM. It is argued that a politico-cultural mechanism on remedying SWM inequities could enable changes that will address EJ in Kinshasa. Such a solution will go directly against the prevailing notion “some happy, others sad”.     

玄武湖挺水植物区与敞水区浮游甲壳动物昼夜水平迁移初探

浮游甲壳动物昼夜垂直迁移(DVM)是深水湖泊中的一种常见的现象,在浅水湖泊中,没有明显的下层滞水层为浮游甲壳动物提供避护所,浮游甲壳动物的垂直迁移活动不明显。但浅水湖泊挺水植物的存在为浮游甲壳动物提供了区别于敞水带的生境,结合理化、浮游植物和鱼的因素,对浅水湖泊玄武湖挺水植物区与敞水区浮游甲壳动物的昼夜水平迁移进行了研究。结果得出：浅水湖泊玄武湖中理化环境（如温度、溶解氧和pH)在荷花区、敞水区、荷花区与敞水区的交界区差异不大,对浮游甲壳动物的昼夜水平迁移不起主导作用。荷花区的浮游植物在质量和数量上低于敞水区,浮游甲壳动物在夜间捕食压力小的情况下会向敞水区移动。敞水区、交界区浮游甲壳动物在白天被捕食的风险要大于荷花区,因而白天时间浮游甲壳动物会迁移到荷花区聚集.     

Ecogenetic features and functions of solods in transural forest-steppes (within Sverdlovsk Oblast)

Specific ecogenetic features of solods in the forest-steppe zone has been studied, and the role of biotic and abiotic factors of soil formation has been estimated. Differentiation of soil horizons with respect to the physical clay fraction accounts for specific features of their moistening, which is reflected in the ratio of strongly and weakly crystallized forms of iron. Periodic changes in redox conditions results in iron segregation, and a high content of fulvic acids accounts for its eluvial migration. These processes are controlled by soil geochemical barriers.     

人行横道危险时段的灰色聚类评价研究

人行横道是人车冲突的焦点地带,以行人违规率(RTI)为评价指标,采用灰色聚类的评价方法,对人行横道的安全状况进行分级评价,然后对单条人行横道的不同时间段的安全状况进行评价,找出危险时段.     

可靠性理论在公共安全领域的应用研究

对公共安全体系从系统可靠性的视角,综合运用可靠性方面的知识,构建公共安全系统混联模型;进而将可靠性分配理论与故障树分析方法相结合,根据系统安全目标的要求,确定混联系统的第一层次各单元事件的可靠性目标值,对构成各单元的各个下属单元采取最小工作量可靠度分配方法,从而建立系统中各单元可靠度再分配量化模型。通过建筑物火灾引起人员伤亡事故实例,详述系统各单元可靠性分配的计算过程。研究表明,可靠性理论可以成功地应用到公共安全领域;使系统在给定的目标值条件下达到系统的安全性优化,实现了公共安全保障效能,减小灾害损失。     

高危企业社会保险投资与员工忠诚度的博弈分析

运用经济博弈论方法,研究高危企业社会保险投资与员工忠诚度问题,建立博弈模型,得出混合策略纳什均衡解,并对影响企业社会保险投资概率和员工忠诚度大小的因素进行分析,得出以下结论:企业对于员工社会保险投资力度越大,或对于不忠诚员工的惩罚力度越大,或对于忠诚员工的奖励越高,越有助于员工忠诚企业。同时指出:企业对员工采取"一刀切"的做法,会挫伤忠诚员工爱企强企的积极性;启发企业实行公平分配机制,来提高员工忠诚度和企业效益,要从积极的态度出发,以人为本,加大保险投资力度,为员工提供安全和生活保障;只有使双方的"非合作博弈"逐步过渡到"合作博弈",才能调动和爱护员工的爱岗敬业积极性。