Human Diets and Animal Welfare: the Illogic of the Larder

Few moral arguments have been made against vegetarian diets. One exception is the “Logic of the Larder:” We do animals a favor by purchasing their meat, eggs, and milk, for if we did not purchase these products, fewer animals would exist. This argument fails because many farm animals have lives that are probably not worth living, while others prevent a significant number of wild animals from existing. Even if this were not so, the purchase of animal products uses resources that could otherwise be used to bring a much greater number of animals into existence.     

城乡劳动力流动及其对农地利用影响研究评述

农业劳动力务农机会成本呈上升趋势,促使大量农业劳动力向城镇流动,成为当今中国社会的一个突出特征。劳动力城乡流动会影响农户的土地利用决策行为,继而影响土地利用变化过程。为理解这一过程对于农地利用变化的影响,文章首先综述了城乡劳动力流动理论研究的历史脉络,并总结了国内外劳动力流动对农地利用影响的研究进展。提出了尚需研究的若干学术问题,即在方法上需要建立劳动力流动-农户土地利用决策模型,重视农户尺度研究,注重区域差异。     

Can Labor Out-Migration Reduce Rrewood Consumption by Rural House- holds in Western Mountainous China

The relationship between out-migration of labor in the Qinling mountain area and households＇ firewood consumption is explored. Migration and remittances reduce households＇ firewood consumption due to i...     

Impacts of the Rising Opportunity Cost of Farm Labor on Agricultural Land Use Structure: Theory and Empirical Evidences

Abstract

Nowadays the rising of opportunity cost of farm labor comes to the forefront of attention in China. In order to understand its impact on agricultural land-use structure, a theoretical framework of household economics is formulated drawn on Low’s model. Under the theoretical framework, the impact of the rising opportunity cost of on-farm on cropping structure is deduced in theory. And then, using statistic and survey data, taking mountain area of southern Ningxia as an example, the theoretical assumes are verified. The results show that the rise of opportunity cost of farm labor leads to less diversified cropping structure.     

Can Labor Out-Migration Reduce Firewood Consumption by Rural Households in Western Mountainous China

Abstract

The relationship between out-migration of labor in the Qinling mountain area and households’ firewood consumption is explored. Migration and remittances reduce households’ firewood consumption due to increases in both income and opportunity cost of firewood collection. Previous studies have been equivocal because they ignored uncertainty in household economy, which is widespread in forest areas of less developed countries. This study provides additional insight by considering vulnerability and subjective assessment of poverty generated by unstable income and an uncertain future. We provide evidence that the amount of firewood consumed depends on income and opportunity cost of firewood collection, but also on a prudent consumption strategy, due to farmers’ subjective assessment of their future possible poverty. We also find out-migration of labor can reduce per capita firewood consumption but subjective poverty also acts against reduction of firewood consumption.     

农田生态系统管理与非点源污染控制

随着化肥和农药大量使用,农业非点源污染已经成为全球水污染的主要来源．不同农田管理措施,如免耕、少耕、传统耕作方式,化肥和农药的使用量、使用方式以及使用季节,灌溉的不同方式,如沟灌、淹灌和喷灌等与农业非点源污染形成之间均有密切的关系,通过农田景观设计来控制非点源污染,可望在控制农业非点源污染方面起到指导作用．     

Pilot-scale experiments on multilevel contact oxidation treatment of poultry farm wastewater using saran lock carriers under different operation model

A pilot-scale multilevel contact oxidation reactors system, coupled with saran lock carriers,was applied for the treatment of poultry farm wastewater. The removal efficiencies of CODcr, ammonia, and the total nitrogen as well as the elimination performance of CODcr and total nitrogen along the three-level contact oxidation tanks under six designed operational models were investigated. Based on the performance of the nitrogen removal of the saran lock carriers and the distribution of anoxic–aerobic interspace under the suitable operation model, the mechanism of nitrogen removal of the system was also explored. The results revealed that the intermittent aeration under parallel model is the most suitable operation model, while the removal efficiencies of CODcr, ammonia, and the total nitrogen were 86.86%, 84.04%, and 80.96%, respectively. The effluent concentration of CODcr,ammonia, and the total nitrogen were 55.6 mg/L, 8.3 mg/L, and 12.0 mg/L, which satisfy both the discharge standard of pollutants for livestock and poultry breeding industry(GB18596–2001) and the first grade of the integrated wastewater discharge standard(GB 8978–1996). Moreover, the mechanism for the nitrogen removal should be attributed to the plenty of anoxic–aerobic interspaces of the biofilm and the three-dimensional spiral structure of the saran lock carriers, where the oxygen-deficient distribution was suitable for the happening of the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process. Therefore, the multilevel contact oxidation tanks system is an effective pathway for the treatment of the poultry farm wastewater on the strength of a suitable operation model and novel carriers.     

区域农村土地市场发育的农户行为响应与农业土地利用变化——以江苏省苏州市、南京市、扬州市村庄及农户调查为例

在江苏省苏州市、南京市、扬州市各自选择了2个村的基础上,运用对240个农户的抽样调查资料,建立了区域农业土地利用变化分析的数量经济模型,较为深入地分析了农村土地流转市场引导下的农户行为对于农业土地利用变化的影响。研究结果表明,在农户决策行为起主导作用的前提下,农业土地利用正在逐步由传统的大田作物向效益更高的经济作物和水产养殖等地类转化;农户家庭非农就业水平的提高有效地推进了这一转化;同时,农户受教育水平的高低以及政府行为都在一定程度上影响着农业土地利用变化。最后从区域非农产业和城镇化发展、深化农村土地产权的物权化改革、农村社会保障制度的完善、建立农村土地流转中介机制、进一步规范政府行为及积极推进农村户籍制度改革等方面提出了一些政策性建议。     

油品罐区安全隐患分析及防范

通过对炼油厂油品罐区消防、安全设施进行分析和改进，消除其对罐区的危害；对油罐主体腐蚀及加热器泄漏进行深入分析并提出实用的改进措施；完善生产与安全双重控制系统，为油品罐区标准化改造创造条件。     

风电场对米波雷达系统的影响研究

目的针对目前风电场对米波雷达的潜在威胁,研究风电场的有源干扰、无源散射、遮蔽对米波雷达系统的影响,为评估风电场对米波雷达系统的影响提供技术指导。方法根据风力发电机的工作原理和结构,对风电场的有源干扰进行实际测试,就风电场有源干扰对米波雷达系统周边背景噪声的影响进行分析,提出一系列应对有源干扰的措施;利用散射、刃峰绕射、多普勒效应等理论,就无源散射、遮蔽等因素对米波雷达系统的影响进行仿真计算和分析。结果风电场将引起米波雷达系统周边背景噪声恶化、虚警率提高、探测距离缩减、测向和测速误差等,导致米波雷达性能下降。结论风电场对米波雷达系统存在着巨大威胁,在米波雷达台站附近规划建设风电场前应进行严格的技术评估,保证国家经济建设和雷达系统性能不受影响。