Improvement in the prediction of gasoline pool fire behaviour: CFD modelling and validation

The development and implementation of mathematical models through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques has been acknowledged as a promising tool for the prediction of hydrocarbon pool fires behaviours. In this sense, different approaches, with different assumptions and simplifications, and accounting for different phenomena, have been developed in the literature. However, the deviations in the predictions of the experimentally determined parameters, such as temperatures profiles, flame heights and radiative heat flux, by the implemented models are still high. Therefore, the implementation of these models to predict combustion phenomena and flame behaviours for various scenarios is limited. In this work, the software C3D is used to model gasoline pool fires of different diameters, and under different wind conditions, in order to improve the quality of the predictions of the flame behaviour. The modelled cases correspond to the experimental studies reported in literature. The results from the implemented model show an improved predictive quality when compared with other modelling works reported on literature for the same experimental cases. The deviations in the time averaged temperature, flame height, surface emissive power and radiative heat flux, has been calculated to be 5.0%, 0.05%, 6.32% and 3.82%, respectively.     

Resource allocation in transboundary tuna fisheries: A global analysis

Resource allocation is a fundamental and challenging component of common pool resource governance, particularly transboundary fisheries. We highlight the growing importance of allocation in fisheries governance, comparing approaches of the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (tRFMOs). We find all tRFMOs except one have defined resources for allocation and outlined principles to guide allocation based on equity, citizenship, and legitimacy. However, all fall short of applying these principles in assigning fish resources. Most tRFMOs rely on historical catch or effort, while equity principles rarely determine dedicated rights. Further, the current system of annual negotiations reduces certainty, trust, and transparency, counteracting many benefits asserted by rights-based management proponents. We suggest one means of gaining traction may be to shift conversations from allocative rights toward weighting of principles already identified by most tRFMOs. Incorporating principles into resource allocation remains a major opportunity, with important implications for current and future access to fish.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01371-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Effects of howler monkey reintroduction on ecological interactions and processes

Rewilding has been an increasingly popular tool to restore plant–animal interactions and ecological processes impaired by defaunation. However, the reestablishment of such processes has seldom been assessed. We investigated the restoration of ecological interactions following the reintroduction of the brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba) to a defaunated Atlantic forest site. We expected the reintroduction to restore plant–animal interactions and interactions between howlers and dung beetles, which promote secondary seed dispersal. We estimated the number of interactions expected to be restored by the reintroduction to provide the baseline interaction richness that could be restored. We followed the reintroduced howler monkeys twice a week for 24 months (337 hours total) to assess their diet. We used howler monkey dung in secondary seed dispersal experiments with 2484 seed mimics to estimate the removal rates by dung beetles and collected the beetles to assess community attributes. We compared the potential future contribution of howler monkeys and other frugivores to seed dispersal based on the seed sizes they disperse in other areas where they occur. In 2 years, howler monkeys consumed 60 animal-dispersed plant species out of the 330 estimated. Twenty-one dung beetle species were attracted to experimentally provided dung; most of them were tunnelers, nocturnal, and large-sized (>10 mm). On average 30% (range 0–100%) of the large seed mimics (14 mm) were moved by dung beetles. About 91% of the species consumed by howlers (size range 0.3–34.3 mm) overlapped in seed size with those removed by dung beetles. In our study area, howler monkeys may consume more large-seeded fruit species than most other frugivores, highlighting their potential to affect forest regeneration. Our results show reintroductions may effectively restore ecological links and enhance ecological processes.     

石灰石-石膏法烟气脱硫系统处理废稀硫酸

采用石灰石-石膏法脱硫装置处理废稀硫酸.研究了石灰石浆液和废稀硫酸的不同投加顺序以及不同反应晶种(石膏浆液、石膏稀浆液)对所得石膏晶粒形态和抽滤物含水率的影响.试验结果表明:与废稀硫酸加入石灰石浆液的方式相比,石灰石浆液加入废稀硫酸的方式更利于石膏结晶,晶粒更大,所得石膏抽滤物含水率更低;以石膏浆液和石膏稀浆液作为反应...     

Assessment of Ergonomic and Occupational Health-Related Problems Among Female Prawn Seed Collectors of Sunderbans,West Bengal,India

Abstract

Sixty female prawn seed collectors and 60 female control subjects from Sajenakhali and Sandeshkhali blocks of Sunderbans, West Bengal, India, were randomly selected to evaluate and compare musculoskeletal disorders and physiological stress. The control group was engaged in domestic work involving minimum hand-intensive activities. The modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and rapid entire body assessment were used. Most subjects suffered from discomfort in different body parts, especially in the lower back (98%), knees (88%), shoulders (75%), ankles (70%) and feet (67%). This study reveals that female prawn seed collectors suffer from significant physiological load and extreme physiological stress due to prolonged working hours in a standing posture and excessive work pressure. Consequently, all these factors affect female prawn seed collectors ‘ health and work performance.     

伯克氏菌对水稻种子萌发及初生幼苗耐镉性的影响

在无菌条件下研究了伯克氏菌对镉胁迫下水稻种子萌发及初生幼苗耐镉性的影响。结果表明：伯克氏菌D54能在含500mg·L^-1Cd的培养基中正常生长,显示出极强的耐镉能力。在50 mg·L^-1的镉胁迫下,接种伯克氏菌能显著提高水稻种子的萌发率,但在其他镉处理下,接种伯克氏菌对种子萌发无显著影响。接种伯克氏菌对水稻种子的发芽指数没有影响,但在10 mg·L^-1Cd处理下,接种伯克氏菌能显著提高水稻种子的活力指数和初生幼苗的根长、根表面积、根尖总数和耐性系数。接种伯克氏菌对初生幼苗的芽鲜重无影响,但能显著提高根鲜重。在50 mg·L^-1和100 mg·L^-1的高浓度镉处理下,接种伯克氏菌对根系生长没有影响。     

良种补贴政策的环境效应研究

以小麦良种补贴政策为例,将单位面积化肥施用量作为环境效应评估的代理变量,基于市级农业数据构建了双重差分模型,量化了政策实施导致的单位面积化肥施用量的变化,进而评估化肥施用量变化导致的农户种植成本、温室气体排放和社会碳成本的变化.结果表明,该政策实施使单位面积化肥施用量下降了5.9%,农户种植成本减少了139.42元/hm²,温室气体排放减少了822.06kg CO₂e/hm²,社会碳成本减少了301.91元/hm²,充分补偿了良种补贴的财政支出.建议未来农业补贴政策的制定、改进及推广应充分考虑其潜在的环境影响,以加强农业增产和环境效益的协同.     

高产铁载体菌Burkholderia vietnamiensis YQ9促生特性研究及其对重金属胁迫条件下种子萌发的影响

本研究以Burkholderia vietnamiensis YQ9为供试菌株,明确其产铁载体能力,研究其产吲哚乙酸（Indole acetic acid,IAA）、溶磷解钾和1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸（1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate,ACC）脱氨酶活性等促生特性.发现B.vietnamiensis YQ9铁载体活性单位（Siderophore unit,SU）高达96.6%,兼具分泌IAA、溶磷,以及产ACC脱氨酶能力.YQ9的IAA产量为6.93 mg·L^-1;在含有磷酸三钙的培养基中培养后,其上清液中的可溶性磷含量为104.06 mg·L^-1;ACC脱氨酶活性为8.71μmol·h^-1·mg^-1.此外,在含不溶性重金属的培养基中接种YQ9,上清液中Cu²⁺、Zn²⁺和Cd²⁺含量显著提升,与对照相比分别增加了69.89%、83.80%和51.59%.通过研究重金属胁迫下不同处理对黑麦草和甜高粱种...     

Design principles and common pool resource management: an institutional approach to evaluating community management in semi-arid Tanzania

This paper analyses the role of institutions in the management of common pool resources (CPRs) in semi-arid Tanzania. Common property regimes have often been considered inadequate for the management of CPRs because of the problems of excludability, but they are becoming more widely supported as the way forward to overcome the problems of resource use and degradation in developing countries. A series of design principles for long enduring common property institutions have been proposed by Ostrom, but there is concern that they are not applicable to a wide range of real life situations or that they may be specific to certain types of CPR. Here, we compare these principles to the situation prevailing in 12 villages in six districts in semi-arid Tanzania. Data on management institutions were collected through semi-structured interviews and meetings at district and village level. The combined information was used to make a qualitative assessment of the strength with which each design principle appeared to operate in the management of forest, pasture and water resources. Boundaries, conflict and negotiation in CPR management are of key importance in semi-arid regions. However, the need for flexibility in order to deal with ecological uncertainty means that many management institutions would be considered weak or absent according to the design principle approach. This supports the view that the design principles should not be used as a 'blueprint to be imposed on resource management regimes' rather that they provide a framework for investigating common property regimes with the proviso that, certainly for semi-arid regions, they may highlight where management cannot be explained by institutional theory alone.     

Ecological consequences of forest elephant declines for Afrotropical forests

Poaching is rapidly extirpating African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) from most of their historical range, leaving vast areas of elephant‐free tropical forest. Elephants are ecological engineers that create and maintain forest habitat; thus, their loss will have large consequences for the composition and structure of Afrotropical forests. Through a comprehensive literature review, we evaluated the roles of forest elephants in seed dispersal, nutrient recycling, and herbivory and physical damage to predict the cascading ecological effects of their population declines. Loss of seed dispersal by elephants will favor tree species dispersed abiotically and by smaller dispersal agents, and tree species composition will depend on the downstream effects of changes in elephant nutrient cycling and browsing. Loss of trampling and herbivory of seedlings and saplings will result in high tree density with release from browsing pressures. Diminished seed dispersal by elephants and high stem density are likely to reduce the recruitment of large trees and thus increase homogeneity of forest structure and decrease carbon stocks. The loss of ecological services by forest elephants likely means Central African forests will be more like Neotropical forests, from which megafauna were extirpated thousands of years ago. Without intervention, as much as 96% of Central African forests will have modified species composition and structure as elephants are compressed into remaining protected areas. Stopping elephant poaching is an urgent first step to mitigating these effects, but long‐term conservation will require land‐use planning that incorporates elephant habitat into forested landscapes that are being rapidly transformed by industrial agriculture and logging.