Ordination of Plant Communities in Forest Biogeocenoses under Conditions of Air Pollution in the Northern Kola Peninsula

The species diversity and structure of the tree, herb–dwarf shrub, and moss–lichen layers in the biogeocenoses (BGCs) of pine forests of the Kola Peninsula were analyzed in the zone affected by the Pechenganikel Combined Works. Relationships of the diversity of phytocenoses with the amount of atmospheric fallout and the concentrations of accessible compounds of polluting elements (nickel and copper) and nutrients (potassium, magnesium, and nitrogen) in forest litters were revealed.     

Developing shared qualitative models for complex systems

Understanding complex systems is essential to ensure their conservation and effective management. Models commonly support understanding of complex ecological systems and, by extension, their conservation. Modeling, however, is largely a social process constrained by individuals’ mental models (i.e., a small-scale internal model of how a part of the world works based on knowledge, experience, values, beliefs, and assumptions) and system complexity. To account for both system complexity and the diversity of knowledge of complex systems, we devised a novel way to develop a shared qualitative complex system model. We disaggregated a system (carbonate coral reefs) into smaller subsystem modules that each represented a functioning unit, about which an individual is likely to have more comprehensive knowledge. This modular approach allowed us to elicit an individual mental model of a defined subsystem for which the individuals had a higher level of confidence in their knowledge of the relationships between variables. The challenge then was to bring these subsystem models together to form a complete, shared model of the entire system, which we attempted through 4 phases: develop the system framework and subsystem modules; develop the individual mental model elicitation methods; elicit the mental models; and identify and isolate differences for exploration and identify similarities to cocreate a shared qualitative model. The shared qualitative model provides opportunities to develop a quantitative model to understand and predict complex system change.     

Neutral modelling of agricultural landscapes by tessellation methods—Application for gene flow simulation

Neutral landscape models are not frequently used in the agronomical domain, whereas they would be very useful for studying given agro-ecological or physical processes. Contrary to ecological neutral landscape models, agricultural models have to represent and manage geometrical patches and thus should rely on tessellation methods. We present a three steps approach that aimed at simulating such landscapes. Firstly, we characterized the geometry of three real field patterns; secondly, we generated simulated field patterns with two tessellation methods attempting to control the value of some of the observed characteristics and, thirdly, we evaluated the simulated field patterns. For this evaluation, we considered that good simulated field patterns should capture characteristics of real landscapes that are important for the targeted agro-ecological process. Real landscapes and landscapes simulated using either a Voronoi or a rectangular tessellation were thus compared when used as input data within a gene flow model. The results showed that neither tessellation method captured field shapes correctly, thus leading to over or (small) under estimation of gene flow. The Voronoi tessellation, though, performed better than the rectangular tessellation. Possible research directions are proposed to improve the simulated patterns, including the use of post-processing, the control of cell orientation or the implementation of other tessellation techniques.     

Integration of process control protection layer into a simulation-based HAZOP tool

This paper discusses the framework methodology behind the proposed simulation-based HAZOP tool. Simulation-based approach is one of the many ways to support conventional HAZOP by its automation. Compared to knowledge-based and other approaches, a HAZOP software tool based on deviations simulation is able to examine the investigated process more into detail and so find root causes of hazardous consequences. Another advantage is the ability to identify also potential hazards which did not occur in the past and might be overlooked. The presented framework methodology uses a layer of protection analysis (LOPA) concept of independent protection layers (IPLs) testing. Control system integrated into the raw process design represents the first of various protection layers of the LOPA concept. As a case study, a CSTR chemical production with nonlinear behavior under Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) actions as the predominant type of classical feedback control strategy is used. The presented tool identifies hazardous regimes under conditions when control loop introduces hazardous consequences or even acts synergically with existing hazardous events. Risk derived from different consequences is ranked by the risk assessment matrix (RAM) as a part of the conventional quantitative HAZOP study.     

Use of bifurcation analysis for identification of a safe CSTR operability

Exothermic reactions are the most interesting systems for safety analysis because of their potential safety problems and the possibility of exotic behavior like multiple steady states. An operability and safety analysis of an exothermic reaction (hydrolysis of propylene oxide to tri-propylene glycol with consecutive reactions in a CSTR) with cooling is reported in this work. The information obtained from the bifurcation diagram is used to identify a set of unsafe operation points, which have been chosen on the base of requirement of maximal production of the process. An important information of safe reactor operation is the time in which the operator must handle a critical situation. For this reason, dynamics simulation of a failure in the cooling medium flow rate has been done and discussed for each of the selected operation points.     

Analysis of the Relationship between Soil and Vegetation in Forest Biogeocenoses by the Principal Component Method

Coordinated soil–geobotanical studies revealed a close correlation between the species diversity of phytocenoses and soil properties in the Russkii Sever National Nature Park (Vologda oblast). Soil acidity, together with the concentrations of exchangeable calcium, potassium, and magnesium, is a factor determining variations of species diversity indices for vascular plants and bryophytes in forest biogeocenoses.     

Multi-causal and integrated assessment of sustainability: the case of agriculturization in the Argentine Pampas

Assessing the sustainability of complex development processes requires multi-causal and integrated analyses. We develop a system-based methodology, rooted in interdisciplinary discussion and consensus building between 15 experts, to construct a multi-causal diagram which examines the sustainability of the Argentine Pampas′ process of agriculturization. The resulting diagram includes 25 factors and provides a big-picture of the multiple dimensions and interrelations affecting sustainability. According to this examination, the increasing concentration of production and the incorporation of technological innovations, triggered by economic and institutional factors, are the cause of environmental distresses and social changes, whose consequences for sustainability are still highly disputed. Nevertheless, the symptoms of both environmental and social unsustainability are more evident in the case of the extra-Pampean regions than in the Pampas. This suggests that the Pampean agriculture model should not be transferred to these regions without substantial modifications. The experts did not reach consensus on whether the agriculturization process is overall sustainable or unsustainable. Lack of consensus revolved mainly around opposing perspectives regarding the significance of the threats to environmental sustainability. The magnitude of socio-distributive unbalance and loss of rural jobs were also contentious. Yet, the paper shows how the exercise of building a joint causal diagram was undoubtedly helpful for linking piece-meal disciplinary facts, brought in from all fronts, into a comprehensive and coherent picture. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

丙烯燃爆危险性分析

为预防丙烯氧化制环氧丙烷工艺流程中丙烯燃爆危险的发生,利用5 L爆炸极限测试仪测定丙烯在空气中常压不同温度条件下的爆炸极限,得到丙烯在常压下爆炸极限随温度的变化情况;针对丙烯工艺中的典型工况,采用11 L爆轰管测定不同工况温度、压力条件下,丙烯在空气中不同氧含量下的爆炸极限,并以此绘制爆炸极限三元图,得到不同工况条件下"丙烯-氧气-氮气"混合体系的燃爆区域。结果表明:随着温度、压力及氧气含量的升高,丙烯爆炸上限明显提高,但爆炸下限变化不明显;丙烯在80℃、0.24 MPa,130℃、0.96 MPa,40℃、1.90 MPa条件下的极限氧含量(LOC)分别为11.0%,10.2%和10.8%。降低体系中氧气含量有助于预防丙烯燃爆危险的发生。     

兰州市大气颗粒物中化学特征污染物的筛选

采用综合评分法对兰州市大气颗粒物中化学特征污染物进行筛选. 综合评分法的指标体系主要由环境检出率、潜在危害指数和环境影响度等9项指标组成,综合分值总分为280分. 筛选结果表明:苯并芘(综合评分为272,下同)、Pb(262)、Cr(262)、Ni(262)、Cd(262)、Cu(246)、苯并蒽(230)、二苯并[a,h]蒽(215)、Zn(214)、苯并荧蒽(212)10种化学污染物得分较高,为兰州市大气颗粒物中重点关注的化学污染物. 而Hasse图解法筛选结果表明,苯并芘、Pb、Cr、二苯并[a,h]蒽、Ni、Cd、Cu、Zn、苯并蒽9种化学污染物的危害性排序靠前. 在综合评分法的基础上利用Hasse图解法对化学特征污染物进行筛选,按照危害性大小,兰州市大气颗粒物中化学特征污染物可分为5个层次,依次为:①苯并芘、Pb和Cr;②Ni、二苯并[a,h]蒽;③Cu、Cd;④苯并蒽、Zn;⑤苯并荧蒽. 综合评分法和Hasse图解法的结合应用既简化了单一Hasse图解法筛选化学特征污染物的繁琐过程,又可实现对污染物危害性的较全面认识.      

事故的突变论

事故是系统运动发生的突变。事故潜势是系统在运动过程中所存在的发生事故的可能性。在参量空间 ,用系统参量演化相对于分岔点 (集 )的度量 ,建立事故潜势的数学表达式。事故潜势反映了事故发生的本质特征和机理 ,为预防事故提供了理论依据。