Environmental pollution,hydropower and nuclear energy generation before and after catastrophe: Bathtub-Weibull curve and MS-VECM methods

In this paper, the life span of hydro and nuclear energy generations and the relationship between hydro and nuclear energy generations, environmental pollution, and economic growth were investigated for Japan covering the period of 1960–2018 by employing the Bathtub-Weibull curve and Markov switching-vector error correcting (MSVEC) method, respectively. According to the Bathtub-Weibull curve analysis, a rising failure rate for nuclear energy was found, indicating that the life of nuclear energy has expired, but a decreasing failure rate for hydroelectric energy has been detected. Then two different MSVEC models were used. The MSVEC method, unlike traditional approaches, determines the relationship between variables under different regimes. The results of MSVEC methods indicate three important points. First, regime-dependent asymmetry and regime changes are crucial for policy recommendations. Second, the shocks to hydropower and nuclear energy generations cause temporary deviations from the long-run growth path in both regimes. Lastly, the increase in hydropower generation leads to a decrease in environmental pollution and an increase in GDP, and an increase in nuclear power generation increases pollution and growth in both regimes.     

A Screening Test for the Determination of Ethylene Sensitivity

Ethephon, which releases ethylene within plant tissues after application, was chosen to perform assessments of the relative sensitivity of crops to ethylene and to determine which stages of plant development were most sensitive. The species chosen were: barley, wheat, oats, canola and field pea, all of which are important crops in the province of Alberta, Canada. Plants were treated with ethephon at one of 7 different stages. Plants were assessed for their vegetative and reproductive growth, including height, biomass, yield and seed quality. Visual symptoms were photographed and documented to compare them with symptoms caused by ethylene applied as a gas. It was concluded that in barley, wheat and canola the late vegetative and early reproductive stages were most sensitive, at least when sensitivity was defined as reductions in yield and quality. As for field pea, ethephon had no effect on yield but did cause increased numbers of pods, which in certain conditions could lead to increased yields. Significant effects on vegetative growth were only observed in the early vegetative stages of development but with no effects on yield. The screening protocol successfully identified sensitive cultivars and growth stages for further investigation of the effects of ethylene exposure.     

Community participation in cultural heritage and environmental policy formulation in Botswana

Cultural heritage does not have direct economic benefits. However, if properly managed it can stimulate social cohesions, improving the environment and have beneficial economic spin offs for the local communities. This paper discusses the role of communities in the formulation of the policies concerning their local environment. It argues that community engagement by policy makers is important in giving legitimacy and ownership of the policies. Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential of cultural heritage in diversifying the economy in Botswana. This paper recommends for the re-assessment of the relationship between the state and local communities which is critical in resuscitating the seemingly ailing community business organizations. In conclusion, it argues for the sustainable management of cultural heritage as a social and economic resource in the next 50 years of Botswana’s independence.     

利用城市污泥堆肥及建筑弃土种植麦冬研究

将污泥堆肥产品分别与建筑弃土按0%、10%、20%、30%、40%和50%(湿重)的比例配制营养土,以麦冬为例进行180 d的栽培实验,分析了营养土对麦冬生长特性、植物体内及栽培土壤中营养学指标和重金属含量的变化规律,并通过模糊综合评价方法选择营养土较佳配制方案。实验结果表明:堆肥比例在50%时麦冬生物量增加率、新生芽数及地表部分比重为最大值,在30%时纺锤体肉质数减少率为最大值;随着营养土中堆肥比例增加,麦冬体内养分含量、重金属积累量随之增加,均在50%时达到最大值;栽培土壤养分越多损失量越多,各指残留率越低,同时全磷、全氮及K含量降低率较有效磷、碱解氮小得多,Cr降低率在5.20%～8.34%之间,Zn降低率在3.27%～17.35%之间;堆肥比例在40%以上的营养土对麦冬生长效果好,但较佳配制方案为堆肥产品占20%。     

自然资源、技术进步与环境库兹涅茨曲线

不可再生自然资源的约束和环境质量的不断恶化是经济可持续发展必须要面对的挑战。就环境问题而言,现实中一个特征事实是,在不同的收入水平下人们对环境质量的需求不同,只有当收入达到一定水平之后,人们才会注重生活质量的改善。基于现有研究,在考虑非再生自然资源的约束条件下,本研究将环境质量作为生产要素的一部分引入最优增长理论的分析框架,探讨了在环境污染和自然资源双重约束下的长期经济增长问题。在非再生自然资源和环境污染的双重约束下,本研究表明解决环境问题必须要采用的手段是促使技术进步的创新研发,因为技术进步是环境库兹涅茨曲线出现拐点的不可或缺的一个必要条件。在市场竞争的环境下,由于知识的非竞争性质使得研究部门的研究是次优的。因此,政府应当通过适当的财政政策和法制安排以激励私人投资者研究与开发新技术的积极性。     

中国农村经济制度变迁与农业周期性增长分析

农业增长除受到基本投入要素的影响,还受制度因素的影响。对于制度因素对农业增长的影响的研究,大多文献是从定性的角度分析。本文运用计量经济学和统计方法,通过对1978-2007年总体和不同阶段农业增长与农村土地制度、价格制度、财政制度和税费制度进行理论和实证分析,探讨制度变迁对农业生产总值增长的推动作用。文章通过分析发现,我国农业在要素投入并没有周期性变化的情况下,农业总产值增长率却呈现一定的周期性。为了探究农业周期性增长的原因,本文结合我国农村经济制度变迁的路径和农业总产值指数变化的特点,将改革开放以来我国农业增长分为三个阶段进行分析,同时根据Griliches生产函数构造计量分析模型。通过分析发现,正是由于不同阶段农村土地制度、价格制度、财政制度和税费制度的变迁,导致农业生产总值增长率周期性起伏。因此,制度变迁是改革开放后中国农业经济增长的内在决定性因素。     

中国环境污染与经济增长的实证研究

本文基于我国1981-2007年环境污染与经济增长的相关数据,利用时间序列研究方法对我国EKC进行实证研究,说明建立EKC模型可能存在的问题。为弥补EKC模型中环境不影响经济的假设与变量难以量化的不足,运用VAR模型研究二者的动态关系。EKC研究结果表明:EKC是一种客观现象,而不是一般规律;与人们生产生活关系密切的污染物更有可能出现EKC特征。VAR脉冲响应和方差分解的动态分析结果与二者相互作用机理相符:一方面我国经济增长通过规模效应、结构效应、技术效应等因素影响环境;一方面随着人们环境质量需求弹性的增加,政府对环境质量的重视,环境对企业生产行为的约束机制正逐步形成,但可能由于人们通过自身消费影响产出的作用有限和环境政策实施存在滞后性等原因,这种机制的形成存在一定滞后。     

微量元素对双孢蘑菇菌丝生长的影响

聋用固体平板和液体摇瓶培养试验方法,研究了Zn2+、Cu2+、Co2+、Mo(VI)、Mn2+等5种微量元素对双孢蘑菇2796菌丝生长的影响。通过测定各处理组的菌丝干重、胞内多糖、过氧化物酶活和菌丝生长势等生长参数表明,双孢蘑菇在添加上述5种浓度为20—40mg/L的微量元素时,对菌丝生长势、胞内多糖量和胞外蛋白量等都有促进作用,加入的浓度不同其促进程度也不同。加入Mn2+促进菌丝生长的效果最明显,使菌丝干重达最高值(200mg/100ml),胞内多糖量高达23mg/100ml,分别比对照组增加200%和400%,但添加高浓度的微量元素则会抑制菌丝的生长。     

长筒石蒜(Lycoris longituba)种球的无性繁殖试验

以长筒石蒜球茎为材料开展其无性繁殖试验,研究切割方式、植物生长调节剂及浓度3种因素对其子球性状的影响。结果显示:①人工繁育可明显提高种球的繁殖率,切割方式对种球的繁殖率无显著影响,而植物生长调节剂对繁殖率有极显著影响,其浓度对繁殖率也有显著影响,试验最佳处理为"茎盘沟切NAA250",其繁殖率为12.9;②切割方式无论是对子球的平均质量还是平均直径均有显著影响,其中处理"切片扦插GA330"作用下的子球平均质量最重(5.8g)、平均直径(1.2cm)最大。     

煤基腐殖酸对外源砷胁迫下玉米生长及生理性状的影响简

为了筛选用于砷污染土壤治理的煤基腐殖酸,采用盆栽实验研究了施用不同种类和浓度的煤基腐殖酸及EDTA对外源砷胁迫下玉米株高、株鲜重、株干重、根干重、砷积累量、叶片抗氧化酶（POD,SOD和CAT）活性和脯氨酸含量的影响。结果表明,11种供试煤基腐殖酸均促进了玉米生长,提高了叶片POD、SOD和CAT活性。其中6和10号腐殖酸可降低土壤砷活性和显著抑制玉米吸收和积累砷,而8和9号腐殖酸增加了土壤活性砷和显著促进了玉米对砷的吸收和累积,且不同程度地强于EDTA。除8和9号外,其余腐殖酸均可明显降低玉米叶片脯氨酸的含量。EDTA可显著促进玉米吸收和积累砷,且加剧了砷对玉米的危害。因此,8和9号供试煤基腐殖酸可以替代EDTA活化土壤砷,与植物配合以提高砷污染土壤的植物修复速度和效果,而6和10号供试煤基腐殖酸则可用于土壤砷钝化剂,以保证作物产品的安全。