More is not always better: coping with ambiguity in natural resources management

Coping with ambiguities in natural resources management has become unavoidable. Ambiguity is a distinct type of uncertainty that results from the simultaneous presence of multiple valid, and sometimes conflicting, ways of framing a problem. As such, it reflects discrepancies in meanings and interpretations. Under the presence of ambiguity it is not clear what problem is to be solved, who should be involved in the decision processes or what is an appropriate course of action. Despite the extensive literature about methodologies and tools to deal with uncertainty, not much has been said about how to handle ambiguities. In this paper, we discuss the notions of framing and ambiguity, and we identify five broad strategies to handle it: rational problem solving, persuasion, dialogical learning, negotiation and opposition. We compare these approaches in terms of their assumptions, mechanisms and outcomes and illustrate each approach with a number of concrete methods.     

A two-stage inexact joint-probabilistic programming method for air quality management under uncertainty

A two-stage inexact joint-probabilistic programming (TIJP) method is developed for planning a regional air quality management system with multiple pollutants and multiple sources. The TIJP method incorporates the techniques of two-stage stochastic programming, joint-probabilistic constraint programming and interval mathematical programming, where uncertainties expressed as probability distributions and interval values can be addressed. Moreover, it can not only examine the risk of violating joint-probability constraints, but also account for economic penalties as corrective measures against any infeasibility. The developed TIJP method is applied to a case study of a regional air pollution control problem, where the air quality index (AQI) is introduced for evaluation of the integrated air quality management system associated with multiple pollutants. The joint-probability exists in the environmental constraints for AQI, such that individual probabilistic constraints for each pollutant can be efficiently incorporated within the TIJP model. The results indicate that useful solutions for air quality management practices have been generated; they can help decision makers to identify desired pollution abatement strategies with minimized system cost and maximized environmental efficiency.     

Novel microbial fuel cell design to operate with different wastewaters simultaneously

A novel single cathode chamber and multiple anode chamber microbial fuel cell design(MAC-MFC)was developed by incorporating multiple anode chambers into a single unit and its performance was checked.During 60 days of operation,performance of MAC-MFC was assessed and compared with standard single anode/cathode chamber microbial fuel cell(SC-MFC).The tests showed that MAC-MFC generated stable and higher power outputs compared with SC-MFC and each anode chamber contributed efficiently.Further,MAC-MFCs were incorporated with different wastewaters in different anode chambers and their behavior in MFC performance was observed.MAC-MFC efficiently treated multiple wastewaters simultaneously at low cost and small space,which claims its candidature for future possible scale-up applications.     

港湾快速城市化地区河流水质主控因子识别及调控方案

识别快速城市化地区的河流污染的主控因子,对于科学实施河流污染防治调控及实现区域经济又好又快发展具有积极意义。运用流量校准浓度分析法、多元逐步回归分析相结合的方法识别连云港港湾快速城市化地区影响水质变化的主控因子,可准确把握该类区域河流污染趋势及主导原因,进而提出相应的优选调控方案。     

The effects of different predator species on antipredator behavior in the Trinidadian guppy, Poecilia reticulata

Different types of predators often elicit different antipredator responses in a common type of prey. Alternatively, some prey species may adopt a general response, which provides limited protection from many different types of predator. The Trinidadian guppy, Poecilia reticulata, is faced with a wide range of different predators throughout its range and is known to display varying levels of antipredator behavior depending on the predator assemblage. Pike cichlids, Crenicichla frenata, are regarded as the primary aquatic guppy predator in streams in the northern mountain range in Trinidad. As such, they are seen to be responsible for many of the differences in morphology, life history traits, and behavior between guppy populations from areas with few predators and those from areas with many pike cichlids. In this study we investigated how guppies responded when faced with different predator species using three common aquatic predators. We exposed shoals of ten guppies to one out of four treatments: no predator (control), pike cichlid, acara cichlid (Aequidens pulcher), and wolf fish (Hoplias malabaricus); and we made behavioral observations on both focal individuals and the shoal as a whole. Guppies showed significantly greater levels of predator inspection and shoaling behavior, foraged less, spent more time in the surface water, and stayed in significantly larger shoals when faced with pike cichlids than in other treatments. We discuss these results in the context of multiple predator effects.     

大跨人行过街天桥利用MTMD减振控制的理论分析

大跨人行天桥的自振频率通常比较低,与人行走时的频率接近,因此行人通过天桥时容易产生竖向共振,影响天桥的正常使用。本文研究多重调谐质量阻尼(MTMD)系统对大跨人行过街天桥竖向振动的控制作用,首先建立起天桥-MTMD系统的分析模型,推导出系统的传递函数及动力放大系数的数学表达式,继而分析了TMD的数量、阻尼比和频带宽等参数对结构的动力放大系数的影响,为实际工程结构设计MTMD减振系统时提供参考。以沈阳某大跨人行天桥为例,进行MTMD优化设置后,能有效减小天桥的受迫振动和自由振动,从而将振动控制在人体的舒适度范围之内。     

基于天气分型的上甸子大气本底站臭氧污染气象条件

对流层臭氧作为典型二次污染物已成为北京春夏季首要污染物,气象因素是影响其浓度变化的主要因子之一.本研究基于2008~2017年大气成分和气象观测数据,利用Lamb-Jenkinson天气分型法结合Mann-Whitney U检验方法将影响北京地区天气型分为6类,其中SWW和C型上甸子臭氧浓度均值和极值分别最高,在4~9月出现频率最高,合计出现47.4%,并通过多元逐步回归方程确定两种型的主要贡献权重.SWW和C型下54%盛行西南风,新排放的污染物和二次老化气团经西南气流持续输送,850 hPa附近出现垂直速度零层,水平和垂直气象条件均有利于臭氧的输送、生成和聚积;AN和ESN型下64.7%盛行东北风或北风,气团来源清洁,1000 hPa以上盛行一致的下沉运动和气流辐散,新排放的污染物也能很快被稀释扩散,臭氧浓度处于较低值.以NW型2015年5月3日为例,虽然地面盛行西北气流,来源清洁,但大气通过垂直下沉运动将边界层以上的高浓度残留臭氧向近地面输送,导致某些天数中出现臭氧浓度高值.     

珠江口叶绿素a时空分布及初级生产力

2006年5月至2008年2月季度性对珠江口叶绿素a的时空分布特征及其与环境因子的关系以及珠江口水域初级生产力等进行研究。结果表明,表层叶绿素a含量分别与底层、上游叶绿素a含量间无显著差异;表层叶绿素a含量在夏、春季明显大于秋、冬季,但各口门间无显著差异。珠江口水域初级生产力水平夏、秋季明显高于春、冬季,但各口门间无显著差异。表层叶绿素a含量分别与浮游植物细胞密度、初级生产力间相关显著。不同口门及不同季节间影响叶绿素a含量的环境因子存在较大差异。     

厦门市空气质量臭氧预报和评估系统

为了评价和预测厦门市区空气中臭氧的污染水平,运用2006～2009年的监测数据对臭氧的污染成因及其变化规律进行研究。通过风向、风速、气温、湿度等气象因子对臭氧浓度影响的分析,进而运用多元线性回归法建立厦门市臭氧预报及评估系统。     

多元线性回归pH滴定同时测定垃圾渗滤液中重金属浓度

垃圾渗滤液中的高浓度重金属离子严重抑止了废水生化处理过程中微生物的生长与代谢。通过建立多元线性回归模型,结合pH络合滴定方法,实现了同时测定垃圾渗滤液中络合稳定常数极为接近的多种重金属离子浓度。该方法操作简便,准确可靠,适用于大批量相同组成试样的分析。