Do Open-Cycle Hatcheries Relying on Tourism Conserve Sea Turtles? Sri Lankan Developments and Economic–Ecological Considerations

By combining economic analysis of markets with ecological parameters, this article considers the role that tourism-based sea turtle hatcheries (of an open-cycle type) can play in conserving populations of sea turtles. Background is provided on the nature and development of such hatcheries in Sri Lanka. The modeling facilitates the assessment of the impacts of turtle hatcheries on the conservation of sea turtles and enables the economic and ecological consequences of tourism, based on such hatcheries, to be better appreciated. The results demonstrate that sea turtle hatcheries serving tourists can make a positive contribution to sea turtle conservation, but that their conservation effectiveness depends on the way they are managed. Possible negative effects are also identified. Economic market models are combined with turtle population survival relationships to predict the conservation impact of turtle hatcheries and their consequence for the total economic value obtained from sea turtle populations.     

Integrity and Rights of Plants: Ethical Notions in Organic Plant Breeding and Propagation

In addition to obviating the use of synthetic agrochemicals and emphasizing farming in accordance with agro-ecological guidelines, organic farming acknowledges the integrity of plants as an essential element of its natural approaches to crop production. For cultivated plants, integrity refers to their inherent nature, wholeness, completeness, species-specific characteristics, and their being in balance with their (organically farmed) environment, while accomplishing their “natural aim.” We argue that this integrity of plants has ethical value, distinguishing integrity of life, plant-typic integrity, genotypic integrity, and phenotypic integrity. We have developed qualitative criteria to ethically evaluate existing practices and have applied these criteria to assess whether current plant breeding and propagation techniques violate the integrity of crop plants. This process has resulted in a design of a holistic, scientific approach of organic plant breeding and seed production. Our evaluation has met considerable criticism from mainstream (crop) scientists. We respond to the following questions: (1). Can ethics be incorporated into objective crop sciences? (2). What is the nature of the intrinsic value of plants in organic farming? We argue that criteria to take integrity into account can only be assessed from a holistic perspective and we show that a holistic approach is needed to design such ethical notions in a consistent way. The ethical notions have been further elaborated by formulating human responsibility and respect towards crop plants. Responsibility and respect can only be shown by providing crop plants the right to be nurtured and to express natural behavior at all levels of integrity.     

不同预处理对纳氏试剂比色法测氨氮的影响

用纳氏试剂比色法测污水中氨氮含量,为了消除干扰物质对测定的影响,需根据水体受污染程度,对水样通过絮凝沉淀法或蒸馏法进行预处理.本文通过试验论证了即使对较清洁的水,也以蒸馏法预处理为佳,蒸馏法预处理后的测定值更接近真值.     

Food Safety and Ethics: The Interplay between Science and Values

The general public in Europe seems tohave lost its confidence in food safety. Theremedy for this, as proposed by the Commissionof the EU, is a scientific rearmament. Thequestion, however, is whether more science willbe able to overturn the public distrust.Present experience seems to suggest thecontrary, because there is widespread distrustin the science-based governmental controlsystems. The answer to this problem is thecreation of an independent scientificFood Authority. However, we argue thatindependent scientific advice alone is unlikelyto re-establish public confidence. It is muchmore important to make the scientific advicetransparent, i.e., to state explicitlythe factual and normative premises on which itis based. Risk assessments are based on arather narrow, but well-defined notion of risk.However, the public is concerned with a broadervalue context that comprises both benefits andrisks. Transparency and understanding of thepublic's perception of food risks is anecessary first step in establishing theurgently required public dialogue about thecomplex value questions involved in foodproduction.     

水葫芦的开发利用

作者论述了水葫芦的生长习性、化学组成及利用价值，对其开发利用提出了几点建议。     

无花果的研究与产业化发展对策

简述了无花果的化学成分、药用保健价值、临床应用及其在医药和食品工业中的深加工利用等。无花果含有丰富的糖类、有机酸、脂类、维生素、活性生化物质、矿物质等成分，具有调节免疫、防癌抗癌、护肝、降血糖和血脂等药用保健价值，在医药和食品工业中有广泛的应用，并提出了加入WTO后我国无花果产业化发展的对策。     

Economic and financial analysis of harvesting and utilization of river reed in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

The Okavango Delta, the largest Ramsar wetland site, is one of the most resource-rich ecosystems in Botswana. A range of resources, including reeds, contribute in various ways to the well-being of many of the communities through subsistence and income generation. The economic value of reeds and other resources found in wetlands has been poorly understood, leading to the perception that wetlands are wastelands, and have little or no economic values. Such resources are therefore likely to receive lower priority in conservation when evaluated against other alternative activities. The aim of this research was to determine the benefit and financial and economic viability of harvesting river reed in the Okavango Delta. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered at three villages in the Okavango Delta. Secondary data were collected from existing literature. Financial and economic analysis was undertaken using static and financial models. Market prices were used to calculate the net income generated from the sale of harvested reed. The measurement criteria for static models were the annual net cash income, net annual economic benefit, and return on investment (ROI), while those under the dynamic models were the net present value (NPV), benefit cost ratio (BCR), and the net benefit investment (N/K) ratio. It was more financially profitable and economically viable to harvest and sell reeds at Shorobe village (a village relatively close to the District economic centre, Maun), than Shakawe or Etsha-13.     

解读GB19606-2004《家用和类似用途电器噪声限值》

本文从多角度对GB 19606-2004标准进行了较为深入的分析,同时详细地比较了该标准与现行家电产品标准中的噪声限值的差异,从而指出生产厂商必须对家电产品噪声限值的变化引起足够的重视,提高产品的噪声水平以满足该强制性标准的要求.     

论时政环节在"两课"教学中的重要作用

“两课”教学中的时政环节为“两课”教学走出困境提供了现实可能性。它在培养学生的辩证思维方式,增强学生的时代责任感和历史使命感,促进学生正确价值观的形成以及导入新课,提高学生自信心和活跃“两课”课堂气氛等方面都起到了积极的推动作用。可以说,时政教学是增强“两课”教学时代性和感召力的重要环节。     

秦岭生态补偿理论研究与实践进展

生态补偿是通过经济手段促进生态保护与受益地区利益共享的制度设计,是促进我国生态文明建设的重要举措。秦岭是我国重点生态功能区,国家重要的生态安全屏障。生态补偿作为协调秦岭地区生态环境保护和社会经济发展的制度安排,有助于推动该区生态环境的保护与可持续利用,对实现秦岭地区社会经济可持续发展、促进人与自然和谐共生具有重要意义。本文系统梳理了秦岭生态补偿相关理论研究与实践,主要包括秦岭在区域调水、森林生态效益、生物多样性保护、矿产资源开发等方面的生态补偿研究,以及秦岭生态补偿相关政策法规制定、南水北调、退耕还林（草）以及生态移民搬迁等具体生态保护工程补偿实践,并从补偿对象、补偿标准、公众参与、补偿方式几个角度探讨了秦岭生态补偿存在的问题,提出了秦岭生态补偿研究的建议与对策。