Implications of changing national policies on land use in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

Land use in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh had undergone changes over the past several centuries. The landscape, which was mostly covered with forest with interspersed shifting cultivation plots until the beginning of the colonial period, has gradually changed into a landscape with a blend of land uses. Overall, the forest area has gradually declined, while the area under shifting cultivation and sedentary agriculture has expanded. The process of the change was multi-directional. National forestry, land use, land taxation, population migration policies, and development activities, such as construction of a hydroelectric dam and roads, played an important role in this process. Shifting cultivation had inflicted little damage on the forest until the beginning of the colonial period. The pace of deforestation accelerated with the nationalization of forests which abolished tribal people's customary use and management rights to the forest, and allowed large-scale commercial logging both legally and illegally. The pace was further intensified by the policy encouraging population migration to CHT and construction of a reservoir on the Karnafuli River. Efforts were made to replace shifting cultivation with more productive types of sedentary agriculture. However, much change could not take place in the absence of secure land rights, supportive trade policies, and the required support services and facilities, including infrastructure. Locationally suitable land use evolved in areas where transportation facilities were available and farmers were granted land title with the necessary extension services and credit facilities. These findings have important policy implications for the promotion of environmentally and economically sound land use in CHT.     

污染负荷多情景变化下河流水质响应关系研究

以松花江哈尔滨段为研究对象,构建了EFDC水动力-水质模型,以主要污染物COD、NH₃-N为指标,结合情景分析方法对松花江哈尔滨段支流污染负荷多情景变化下对干流水质及下游出口断面水质进行量化评估.结果表明,大顶子山出口断面COD浓度值在满足Ⅲ类及以下水质要求时,阿什河口与呼兰河口的浓度在枯水期、桃花汛期、平水期和丰水期分别最高不能超过29.3、22.3、41.82和32.13mg/L以及47.75、36.27、65.4和41.47mg/L,大顶子山断面的NH₃-N浓度,枯水期保持在Ⅲ类,则要求阿什河口和呼兰河口NH₃-N浓度最高为8.73和2.92mg/L,桃花汛期保持在Ⅱ类时,则二者最高分别为6.3和2.23mg/L,枯水期大顶子山断面保持在I类时,阿什河口和呼兰河口则最高不能超过7.57和1.79mg/L.     

The use of physiological characteristics for comparison of organic compounds phytotoxicity

The influence of intact (FLT) and photomodified (phFLT) fluoranthene (0.05, 0.5 and 5 μmol l⁻¹) and herbicide Basagran (5, 20, 35 and 50 nmol l⁻¹) on the germination, growth of seedlings and photosynthetic processes in pea plants (Pisum sativum L., cv. Garde) was investigated. The germination was significantly inhibited already by the lowest concentration (0.05 μmol l⁻¹) of FLT and phFLT, while Basagran caused inhibition only in higher concentrations (35 and 50 nmol l⁻¹). The growth of roots was significantly inhibited by higher concentration 5 μmol l⁻¹ of both FLT and phFLT and the shoot of seedlings was significantly influenced only by photomodified form. The length of root and shoot was inhibited already by concentration 5 nmol l⁻¹ of Basagran. Organic compounds applied on chloroplasts suspension influenced primary photochemical processes of photosynthesis. In chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, the significant increase of F₀ values and the decrease of F_V/F_M and Φ_II values by application of FLT (0.5 and 5 μmol l⁻¹) and phFLT (0.05, 0.5 and 5 μmol l⁻¹) was recorded. The maximum capacity of PSII (F_V/F_M) was influenced by the highest (50 nmol l⁻¹) and the effective quantum yield of PSII (Φ_II) already by the lowest (5 nmol l⁻¹) concentration of Basagran. Hill reaction activity decreased and was significantly inhibited by higher concentration (0.5 and 5 μmol l⁻¹) of FLT and phFLT and already by the lowest concentration (5 nmol l⁻¹) of Basagran.     

Northern Idaho House Dust and Soil Lead Levels Compared to the Bunker Hill Superfund Site

House dust has been identified as a major exposure medium for lead (Pb) in children. High levels of Pb in soil and house dust have been recorded at the Bunker Hill Superfund Site (BHSS) in northern Idaho, an historic mining and smelting district. Soil and dust remediation at the site was required; however, regional background soil and dust Pb levels had not been well characterized. The objective of this survey was to determine background house dust Pb levels and to compare those levels with concentrations, and dust and Pb loading rates measured at the BHSS. Soil and house dust samples were collected in five towns demographically similar to the BHSS but unaffected by the mining industry. The background concentrations and loading rates were significantly lower than those observed at the site. House age was a significant factor affecting background soil and house dust Pb concentrations and loading rates.     

测井剖面定量地层对比新技术

根据岩性地层对比原理,本文提出一个测井剖面定量地层对比模式。该模式由三部份组成:1.利用“多变量最优分段方法”将两对比测井剖面的地层进行分段处理;2.利用“爬山法”计算分属不同测井剖面的任意两段地层之间的相似性指标;3.根据相似性指标,利用“动态规划”方法确定地层对比结果。本文还利用上述模式进行了定量地层对比的实例研究,其结果比较令人满意。     

Effect of cerium on photosynthetic characteristics of soybean seedling exposed to supplementary ultraviolet-B radiation

Effects of cerium （Ce^3＋） on photosynthetic characteristics were investigated by hydroponics under laboratory conditions when soybean seedlings were exposed to two levels of supplementary UV-B radiation. UV-B radiation badly inhibited the photosynthesis in soybean seedling, leading to a reduction in net photosynthetic rate （Pn）, Hill reaction activity, light saturated photosynthetic rate （Ps） and apparent quanta yield （AQY）, as well as the CO2 and light saturated photosynthetic rate （Pro） and carboxulation efficiency （CE）. On the contrary, Ce obviously promoted the photosynthesis of plants by increasing Hill reaction activity, accelerating electron transport and photophosphorylation, and enhancing carboxylation efficiency. For Ce＋UV-B treatments, the values of photosynthetic parameters were still lower than those of the control, but obviously higher than those of UV-B treatment. The results indicated that Ce alleviated the inhibition of UV-B radiation on the photosynthesis in soybean seedling to a certain extent. In correlating of Pn with Hill activity, AQY and CE, we found that the changes of photosynthetic rate were mainly influenced by the regulating effect of Ce on Hill activity and AQY at low level （0.15 W/m^2） of UV-B radiation, but were dominated by the regulating effect of Ce on CE at high level （0.45 W/m^2）. Thus, Ce could regulate many aspects in photosynthesis of soybean seedling under UV-B stress. The regulating mechanism was close related with the dosage of UV-B radiation.     

Tensions of Praxis: A New Taxonomy for Social Movements

This essay introduces and illustrates tensions of praxis that humans involved in activism face so that thought–action translation can occur more reflexively. Because social movements face unique challenges in effecting social change (Simons, 1970; Stewart, Smith, & Denton, 2007) the tensions of praxis are especially important for this type of social change agency. Therefore, this essay situates itself within discussions of environmental social movements and begins with a brief introduction of praxis as a theoretical and practical concern. Then, in order to illuminate the tensions of praxis, the following tensions are identified, explained, and illustrated: (1) this world or that world; (2) activity or inactivity; and (3) means and ends. Throughout the essay, primary data from a 2009 interview with Julia Butterfly Hill are used to illustrate these tensions. The essay concludes with theoretical and practical significance of the tensions of praxis and suggests directions for future research.     

贵州威宁麻窝山岩溶盆地沉积物的微量元素特征及环境意义

根据贵州威宁麻窝山岩溶盆地沉积物的剖面特征及微量元素特征的分析,探讨了该地区沉积环境的演化。对沉积剖面73个样品的分析结果表明,该区∑REE含量较高,稀土的配分模式为轻稀土元素明显富集、重稀土元素亏损的"右倾型",δEu负异常明显,样品的轻重稀土的分馏程度高。δCe反映了研究区沉积期的氧化还原状态,在HD、G1、N1、G5、N5、G6、N6表现为正异常或无异常,沉积时处于强氧化状态;其他层表现为负异常或无异常,表征沉积期的还原环境。微量元素含量变化特征、∑REE含量以及δCe值都说明了研究区古气候的干冷-温湿的旋回演化特征,自下而上可分为3个阶段,研究区经历2个明显的干冷-温湿大循环和3个干冷-温湿交替的小循环。     

昆明市西山土壤—菊科植物系统铜锌分布特征研究

论述了昆明市西山土壤－菊科植物系统铜、锌分布特征。利用统计分析及吸收系数等参数,定量描述了植物、土壤中铜、锌含量水平,描述了植物对土壤中铜、锌的吸收及富集能力。结果表明：昆明西山受试菊科植物中除风毛菊外,其余１３种植物对铜表现出相对于铁的稀释作用。斑鸠菊、棉毛挖耳草、风毛菊和滇川还阳参等４种植物对锌表现出富集作用,其余１０种表现出稀释作用。     

Measuring Sustainability Based Upon Various Perspectives: A Case Study of a Hill Station in Southeast Asia

A hill station is a town or city situated in mountain regions in the tropics founded during the western colonization in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Hill stations have moderate temperatures, and are known for their relatively good natural environments, which generate valuable ecosystem services that benefit the local population. However, rapid urbanization threatens the sustainability of these areas. This study evaluates the sustainability of the urbanization process of Baguio City, a hill station city in Southeast Asia and the summer capital of the Philippines, by determining the relationship between its velocity of urbanization and velocity of urban sustainability based upon various perspectives. From an equal weight perspective (of the triple bottom line of sustainability components, namely environmental, social, and economic) and a pro-economic perspective, the results revealed that the urbanization of Baguio City has been moving toward a “sustainable urbanization.” However, from the environmental and eco-sustainable human development perspectives, the results indicated that it has been moving toward an “unsustainable urbanization.” The paper discusses the implications of the findings for the planning of sustainable development for Baguio City, including some critical challenges in sustainability assessment and the applicability of the framework used for future sustainability assessments of the other hill stations in Southeast Asia.