Field bioassessments for selecting test systems to evaluate military training lands in tallgrass prairie. Ecosystem health. V

Ecosystem responses to physical or chemical stress may vary from changes in single organisms to alteration of the structure and function of the ecosystem. These responses to stress cannol be predicted exactly. Ecosystems repeatedly exposed to physical and/or chemical stress can be used to study the separate and combined environmental effects of stress. Such studies also allow the development of procedures to select test systems for the analysis of stress in ecosystems. A preliminary field survey of six military training sites at Fort Riley, Kansas, USA, was conducted to identify and verify ecological test systems for evaluating ecosystem responses to physical and/or chemical stress. Comparisons of these data with data collected concurrently from Konza Prairie Research Natural Area reference sites showed that soil microarthropods, some species of macroarthropods, small mammals, and native earthworm species were negatively affected by stress. In contrast, plant species diversity, plant foliage biomass, soil mycorrhizae, and many soil characteristics were within the boundaries of nominal variations observed on “pristine” Konza Prairie. Introduced European earthworms appeared to be positively affected by training activities. This study provided a test of systematic procedures to support impact analysis, ecological toxicology, and ecosystem risk assessments. This is paper IX in D. J. Schaeffer's “Environmental Audit” series.     

树冠火蔓延模型和数值分析

本文计及森林多孔性燃烧床含水量和有机物含量，以及渗流气体的受热膨胀和质量源，建立了树冠火蔓延的一维物理模型，给出火蔓延的控制方程组和定解条件。通过数值分析，得到树冠火蔓延速度特性曲线，研究水份蒸发和有机物热解对树冠火蔓延速度的影响。     

Virus transport in physically and geochemically heterogeneous subsurface porous media

A two-dimensional model for virus transport in physically and geochemically heterogeneous subsurface porous media is presented. The model involves solution of the advection-dispersion equation, which additionally considers virus inactivation in the solution, as well as virus removal at the solid matrix surface due to attachment (deposition), release, and inactivation. Two surface inactivation models for the fate of attached inactive viruses and their subsequent role on virus attachment and release were considered. Geochemical heterogeneity, portrayed as patches of positively charged metal oxyhydroxide coatings on collector grain surfaces, and physical heterogeneity, portrayed as spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity, were incorporated in the model. Both layered and randomly (log-normally) distributed physical and geochemical heterogeneities were considered. The upstream weighted multiple cell balance method was employed to numerically solve the governing equations of groundwater flow and virus transport. Model predictions show that the presence of subsurface layered geochemical and physical heterogeneity results in preferential flow paths and thus significantly affect virus mobility. Random distributions of physical and geochemical heterogeneity have also notable influence on the virus transport behavior. While the solution inactivation rate was found to significantly influence the virus transport behavior, surface inactivation under realistic field conditions has probably a negligible influence on the overall virus transport. It was further demonstrated that large virus release rates result in extended periods of virus breakthrough over significant distances downstream from the injection sites. This behavior suggests that simpler models that account for virus adsorption through a retardation factor may yield a misleading assessment of virus transport in "hydrogeologically sensitive" subsurface environments.     

“The way forward”

The paper looks at the progress in the planning process since 1947 and the scale of physical change that has taken place in the intervening years. Lessons of this experience form the basis for looking forward to how the process is changing now, and what trends for the immediate future might be identified.     

Integrated environmental index for application in land-use zoning

This paper describes the development of an integrated environmental index that may serve as a representation of the general environmental quality at a certain location. This index is meant to be used by local administrators to strike a balance between the development of industrial activities and the protection of sensitive land-uses (housing). The approach used to arrive at this index, based on health considerations, is described, detailing the different steps in the construction of the index: identification, assessment, summation, valuation and aggregation. The index combines environmental quality information concerning noise, odor, air pollution, and risk of industrial calamities. The resulting integrated environmental index is illustrated using data of a pilot project.     

Physical Properties of Chemically Modified Starch(RS4)/PVA Blend Films—Part 1

In this paper, we report on the physical properties of films that have been synthesized by using native corn starch (NS) and chemically modified starch (RS4). NS or RS4/PVA blend films were synthesized by using the mixing process and the casting method. Glycerol (GL), sorbitol (SO), and citric acid (CA) were used as additives. The chemically modified starch (RS4) was synthesized by using sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) as a crosslinker. Then, the RS4 thus synthesized was confirmed by using the pancreatin-gravimetric method, swelling power and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Tensile strength (TS), elongation (%E), swelling behavior (SB), and solubility (S) of the films were measured. The result of the measurements indicated the RS4-added film was better than the NS-added film. Especially, the RS4/PVA blend film with CA as an additive showed the physical properties superior to other films.     

A review of research on China’s carbon emission peak and its forcing mechanism

In order to make further steps in dealing with climate change, China proposed to peak carbon dioxide emissions by about 2030 and to make best efforts for the peaking early. The carbon emission peak target (CEPT) must result in a forcing mechanism on China’s economic transition. This paper, by following the logical order from “research on carbon emission history” to “carbon emission trend prediction,” from “research on paths of realizing peak” to “peak restraint research,” provides a general review of current status and development trend of researches on China’s carbon emission and its peak value. Furthermore, this paper also reviews the basic theories and specific cases of the forcing mechanism. Based on the existing achievements and development trends in this field, the following research directions that can be further expanded are put forward. First, from the perspective of long-term strategy of sustainable development, we should analyze and construct the forcing mechanism of CEPT in a reverse thinking way. Second, economic transition paths under the forcing mechanism should be systematically studied. Third, by constructing a large-scale policy evaluation model, the emission reduction performance and economic impact of a series of policy measures adopted during the transition process should be quantitatively evaluated.     

自贸区效应下山东省渔业资源开发基准选择

国家间自贸区的设立,将更加有利于各签约国资源环境利用效率的提升。本文采用贸易指数测算方法,分析了中、挪、韩在海水产品生产、加工及贸易流通中的各自优势。挪威因丰富的渔业资源和先进的渔业技术,在海水产品养殖及加工领域中具有全球引领作用;韩国有相对更加严格的海水产品安全检疫检验体系,可以确保海水产品的品质安全。随着中韩自贸区的实施及中挪重启双边自贸协定谈判,三国海洋渔业彼此间将进入自贸型竞争态势。如何运用自贸区效应,积极促进渔业资源开发比较潜能的发挥,进一步融入全球化,对于我国,尤其是对山东省渔业实现跨越式发展都是一个亟待破解的课题。山东省作为中国第一渔业大省,在继"海上山东"战略实施基础上,又率先提出"海上粮仓"建设规划设想。针对目前山东省渔业发展中存在的瓶颈问题,本文结合全球贸易分析模型(GTAP)的模拟,在中挪、中韩自贸区背景下对各方海水产品贸易的影响进行了系统分析,提出:在当前海水养殖产量大于捕捞产量的格局下,山东"海上粮仓"建设应以自贸区制度所形成的倒逼机制为互动机理,切实落实海产品养殖生产的安全标准底线和生态系统水平提升的两个基准维度,全面践行可持续健康的渔业资源开发理念,在全国先行完成开放型"海上粮仓"示范体系的建设,以推动我国海水产品生产与加工从量到质的转型,实现海水资源开发与生态环境保护并举,提升我国海洋渔业的国际竞争力。     

Influence of environmental street characteristics on walking route choice of elderly people

Walking is an important source of outdoor physical activity among elderly people. In order to devise measures aimed at encouraging walking among the elderly it is important to understand how the local environment influences the walking behaviour of elderly people. Here, a model describing the influence of environmental street characteristics on the walking route choice of elderly people is presented. Techniques adapted from the field of transportation research were employed within the model. Data concerning the walking route choice to specific destinations reported by 364 independently living elderly residents (55–80 years) from three Dutch urban districts were collected. Route choice was modelled within a ‘Geographic Information System’ (GIS) database by using ‘resistance factors’ to describe the resistance to walking of street sections (i.e. links) within the street network. These factors were optimized by minimizing the difference between the estimated and the reported number of trips along each link. This is, to the authors' knowledge the first time that this technique has been applied within this context. The influence of link characteristics on link resistance was investigated by multivariate linear regression. The first results of the route choice model and the influence of street characteristics on route choice are reported and discussed.     

Biodegradability of Chemically Modified Starch (RS4)/PVA Blend Films: Part 2

Biodegradable films were successfully prepared by using cornstarch (CS), chemically modified starch (RS4), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), glycerol (GL), and citric acid (CA). The physical properties and biodegradability of the films using CS, RS4, and additives were investigated. The results of the investigation revealed that the RS4-added film was better than the CS-added film in tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (%E), swelling behavior (SB) and solubility (S). Especially, the RS4/PVA blend film with CA as an additive showed physical properties superior to other films. Furthermore, when the film was dried at low temperature, the properties of the films clearly improved because the hydrogen bonding was activated at low temperature. The biodegradation of films was carried out using the enzymatic, microbiological and soil burial test. The enzyme used in this study was amyloglucosidase (AMG), α-amylase (α-AM) and β-amylase (β-AM). At the enzymatic degradation test, the GL-added films had an approximately 60% degradation, while the CA-added films were degraded about 25%. The low degradation value on CA-added film is attributed to low pH of film added CA that deactivated the enzymatic reaction. The microbiological degradation teat was performed by using Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger.