Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: Precautionary Science and Conflicts of Interests

Risk governance of GM plants and GMfood products is presently subject to heatedscientific and public controversies. Scientistsand representatives of the biotechnologyindustry have dominated debates concerningsafety issues. The public is suspicious withregard to the motives of scientists, companies,and political institutions involved. Thedilemmas posed are nested, embracing valuequestions, scientific uncertainty, andcontextual issues. The obvious lack of data andinsufficient information concerning ecologicaleffects call for application of thePrecautionary Principle (PP). There are,however, divergent opinions among scientistsabout the relevance of putative hazards,definition of potential ``adverse effects,' andwhether actions should be taken to preventharm. The reliance on the concept ofsubstantial equivalence in safety evaluation ofGM food is equally controversial. Consequently,value assumptions embedded in a scientificframework may be a barrier for employment ofthe PP. One of our major conclusions is thatprecautionary GMP usage requires riskassessment criteria yet undeveloped, as well asbroader and more long-term conceptions of risk,uncertainty, and ignorance. Conflicts ofinterest and public participation are otherissues that need to be taken intoconsideration. GMP governance regimes that arejustifiable from a precautionary and ethicalpoint of view must transcend traditionalscientific boundaries to include alternativescientific perspectives as well as publicinvolvement.     

BUILDUP,WASHOFF, AND EVENT MEAN CONCENTRATIONS1

ABSTRACT: Most watershed water quality simulation models require the user to specify pollutant buildup and washoff rate parameters for pollutants, by land use. Buildup and washoff rates are difficult to measure directly, and only limited guidance and few observed data are available from the literature. Many studies, however, report storm event mean concentrations (EMCs). These EMCs must arise as a result of the buildup and washoff processes, but typically represent the net contribution from a variety of pervious and impervious surfaces. This paper explores the relationship between EMCs and buildup/washoff parameters. An assumption of the mathematical form of the buildup/washoff relationship gives an algebraic expression for the EMC consistent with model assumptions. This yields techniques to separate observed EMCs into contributions from different land uses and from pervious and impervious surfaces. Given this relationship, numerical optimization may be used to estimate site specific values of buildup and washoff parameters from observed storm EMCs for use in modeling. Use of this approach helps ensure that model parameters are consistent with observed data, providing a rational starting point for final model calibration. Several site examples demonstrate use of the method.     

无线数据传输技术在列车安全监控系统中的应用

笔者将GSM网的无线数据传输技术成功应用到列车安全监控系统中 ,系统监测数据经转储发送系统中转 ,由移动台系统实时、无线传输到基站微机系统 ,通过VC ++语言编制的软件系统实时统计分析数据 ,来监控列车运行状况 ,达到列车安全运行的目标。在列车安全监控系统中 ,不仅实现了数据无线实时传输 ,而且提高了工作效率和减轻了工作强度。在济南铁路局装车试验并广泛使用 ,表明了无线数据传输技术应用到列车安全监控系统中具有较高的可靠性和实用性     

山区高速公路挖方边坡的稳定性评价与安全防护技术

山区高速公路挖方边坡的稳定性对道路交通安全具有重要影响 ,阐述了进行挖方边坡的稳定性评价和安全防护的必要性 ,提出了评价原则、工作程序、评价方法及系列安全防护技术。得出了关于山区高速公路挖方边坡的稳定性评价和安全防护的几点认识。     

入侵检测的1类支持向量机模型

计算机网络尤其是互联网的迅速发展与普及 ,使得信息安全已经成为一个全球瞩目的重要研究课题。随着攻击技术的不断进步与更新 ,迫切需要一种有效的入侵检测技术来保护信息系统的安全。由于几乎所有的攻击与滥用都被记录在系统的网络数据中 ,因而可以基于计算机系统的网络数据构造入侵检测系统。在对网络数据进行深刻的分析和研究的基础上 ,提出了入侵检测的 1类支持向量机模型。第一 ,构造适于异常点检测的1类支持向量机模型 ;第二利用抽象化的网络数据对该模型进行训练以确定其中各个参数的值。实验表明 ,该方法是行之有效的     

利用地理信息系统(GIS)开发多功能空管系统

在航空运输中 ,飞行安全最为重要 ,空管指挥是保证飞行安全的重要手段。地理信息系统 (GIS)能够将空间位置和性质属性结合在一起 ,非常适合空管指挥中直观性、安全性方面的需要。笔者在研究开发多功能空管系统的基础上 ,讨论了对地形、地物、航道、空管区、禁飞区等进行数字化的方法 ,提出了系统开发的主要技术 ,介绍了多功能空管系统的显示、控制、示警、辅助决策、智能纠错等功能 ,指出了空管系统的发展方向     

我国非煤矿山安全生产的差距

从我国非煤矿山安全生产立法、安全生产管理体制、监察执法、群众监督、宣传教育、科研、矿山企业等方面与国外矿业进行了对比分析，分析了我国非煤矿山存在的问题以及与国外的差距，最后分析了产生问题与差距的原因。     

移动床生物膜反应器充氧能力的试验研究

对移动床生物膜反应器的充氧能力进行了试验研究，结果表明：反应器充氧能力在添加填料比无填料时大；在悬浮载体能够均匀流化的填充率范围内，反应器充氧能力随着填充率的增大而增大；当填充率大于可以均匀流化的最大填充率时，反应器的充氧能力略有下降。     

工作岗位设计与安全管理

员工工作情绪对安全生产有着相当的影响，表现在工作投入和注意心理等方面，直接或间接地影响企业的安全生产状况。采用科学的工作岗位设计方法和管理方法，藉以改善员工工作投入和工作中的注意心理，必将有利于改善员工对工作本身的态度，以及改善员工对安全生产的直接和间接参与程度，最终促进安全生产。     

Microbial cycling of iron and sulfur in acidic coal mining lake sediments

Lakes caused by coal mining processes are characterized by low pH, low nutrient status, and high concentrations of Fe(II) and sulfate due to the oxidation of pyrite in the surrounding mine tailings. Fe(III) produced during Fe(II) oxidation precipitates to the anoxic acidic sediment, where the microbial reduction of Fe(III) is the dominant electron-accepting process for the oxidation of organic matter, apparently mediated by acidophilic Acidiphilium species. Those bacteria can reduce a great variety of Fe(III)-(hydr)oxides and reduce Fe(III) and oxygen simultaneously which might be due to the small differences in the redox potentials under low pH conditions. Due to the absence of sulfide, Fe(II) formed in the upper 6 cm of the sediment diffuses to oxic zones in the water layer where itcan be reoxidized by Acidithiobacillus species. Thus, acidic conditions are stabilized by the cycling of iron which inhibits fermentative and sulfate-reducing activities. With increasing sediment depth, the amount of reactive iron decrease, the pH increases above 5, and fermentative and as yet unknown Fe(III)-reducing bacteria are also involved in the reduction of Fe(III). Sulfate is reduced apparently by the activity of spore-forming sulfate reducers including new species of Desulfosporosinus that have their pH optimum similar to in situconditions and are not capable of growth at pH 7. However, generation of alkalinity via sulfate reduction is reduced by the anaerobic reoxidation of sulfide back to sulfate. Thus, the microbial cycling of iron at the oxic-anoxic interface and the anaerobic cycling of sulfur maintains environmental conditions appropriate for acidophilic Fe(III)-reducing and acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing microbial communities.