Opportunities to Improve the Quality of Environmental Reports and the Effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment: A Case of Electric Power Transmission Systems in Brazil

A good quality Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is key for the effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes and consequently to the acceptability of projects subject to EIA. The international literature has contributed to the understanding of the essential aspects to be verified regarding the quality of EIS, offering a wide spectrum of good practice examples related to the content of the studies. Even so, there is a need for empirical studies that allow the identification of specific aspects related to the context of application of the EIS, which could lead to the identification of opportunities to improve both the quality of the reports and also the effectiveness of EIA. Therefore, the present paper is focused on the quality review of a number of EIS submitted to the Brazilian Federal Environmental Agency (Ibama) to instruct the assessment of electric power transmission systems. Based on the application of the EIS quality review package as proposed by Lee and Colley (1992), the outcomes reveal opportunities for improving the scope of EIA, analysis of alternatives, prediction of magnitude and the assessment of impact significance. Finally, the development and/or adaptation of a similar tool for the systematic review of the quality of EIA reports is recommended.

Reformed Environmental Impact Assessment in China: An Evaluation of Its Effectiveness

Since 2015, a “reform storm” of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) opened up in China. This study tries to answer the question of whether these reforms improve the effectiveness of EIA. First, we elaborate on the reforms along with three well-acknowledged components, including EIA legislation, administration, and process. Then, evaluate the reformed EIA system against revised Ahmad and Wood’s criteria. The results demonstrate that the revised laws and regulations are more stringent than the old versions. The EIA process is simplified, and its coordination with the pollutant discharge permit system is promoted. The interim and post-event supervision is currently more robust and the penalties are more severe than before. However, the hierarchical position of the Environmental Protection Law is not high enough and the coordination of different government departments is still challenging. In summary, despite the problems occurring at the initial phase of reforms, the effectiveness of the EIA system has largely been improved.

Effects on Sedimentary Processes via Upper Triassic Climate Forcing Caused by Multiple Impacting and Large Igneous Provinces (LIP)-Rifting/Degassing: Jordanian Platform/Arabian Plate and Germanic Basin/Central Europe

Upper Triassic sedimentary systems of both the Arabian Plate and the Germanic Basin reveal climate- and plate tectonic-forced effects through certain time-intervals experienced by architectural elements, lithofacies types, unconformities, flash flood deposits, maximum flooding surfaces/sequence boundary (MFS/SB), mineralogy, and isotope anomalies. Further, Moon recession and changes of Earth’s rotation velocity (core/mantle boundary) are associated with multiple impacting and large igneous provinces/Mid Oceanic Ridge Basalt, LIP/MORB-rifting/degassing. While acidification (by degassing, sturz-rain) does influence tectosilicates and carbonates, montmorillonite represents a key mineral as transformation of volcanic/impact glass (Tephra) to be found as co-components in and in certain pelite units as “boundary clay-suspicions” (mixture of eolian paleoloess, pelite, paleosol, and tephra → tuffite). Obviously, unconformities and sequence boundaries of both study areas separate and dislocate interrupted ∂13C and 87Sr/86Sr-data groups along the isotope curves. Both Proto-Arctic Ocean rifting/degassing comprising kimberlitic pyroclastic eruptions and Neotethys rifting/degassing as well as multiple impacting played the most important role during the Norian, followed by the incipient Central Atlantic Magmatic Provinces rifting since the Rhaetian. The following associations are encountered and dealt with in this study: Sequence boundaries-∂13C, maximum flooding surfaces-(FUCs)-∂13C, unconformities-plate motion, tephra-pelite-tuffite-montmorillonite. Norian: maximum flooding surfaces (MFSs)-“paleosol”/boundary clay?-rifting-volcanism, Moon/Earth data change. So the Norian (~221 - 206 Ma) hosts anomalous “amalgamated maximum flooding surfaces (MFSs)”, amalgamated paleosol (Jordanian Platform), multiple impacting (~219 - 214 Ma), the maximum opening of the Proto-Arctic Ocean (PAO) (~230 - 200 Ma), Neo-Tethys (NT)-subvolcanic (sills, dikes) in the NE Dead Sea area prior the Rhaetian, and a significant change of Earth/Moon relation data. The study concludes that rare and extreme events are very strongly shaping the geologic constellations in the Earth System.

Environmental Impact Assessment Follow-Up of Seismic Survey Offshore Activities in Brazil

Follow-up of environmental impacts is an integral part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, closely related to the effectiveness of the instrument. EIA follow-up has been receiving a lot of interest from scientists and practitioners, though it is recognized as one of the weakest points of EIA systems globally. Also, EIA follow-up is influenced by the context, mainly in terms of the types of projects or activities and their related impacts on the environment. Therefore, the present paper is focused on the investigation of the follow-up stage applied to the activity of seismic survey coupled with offshore oil & gas exploitation in Brazil. Research was based on a qualitative approach that included document analysis and semi-structured interviews with analysts involved in EIA processes, and sought to generate evidence of effectiveness of the EIA follow-up as conducted by the Federal Environment Agency (Ibama) in order to situate the practice of follow-up in the broader context of international best practice principles. Based on the findings, it was concluded that, due to the peculiarities of offshore seismic survey, it is necessary to promote adaptations in the procedures for monitoring impacts in order to ensure proper alignment with the principles and conceptual foundations that guide EIA practice. Specifically, the timing of the execution of the activity imposes challenges for its integration into the “conventional” cycle that has guided the monitoring of the impacts in the EIA of projects.

Numerical Analysis and Verification of the Gas Jet from Aircraft Engines Impacting a Jet Blast Deflector

The process of the gas jet from aircraft engines impacting a jet blast deflector is not only a complex fluid–solid coupling problem that is not easy to compute, but also a safety issue that seriously interferes with flight deck envi?ronment. The computational fluid dynamics(CFD) method is used to simulate numerically the impact e ect of gas jet from aircraft engines on a jet blast deflector by using the Reynolds?averaged Navier?Stokes(RANS) equations and turbulence models. First of all, during the pre?processing of numerical computation, a sub?domains hybrid meshing scheme is adopted to reduce mesh number and improve mesh quality. Then, four di erent turbulence models includ?ing shear?stress transport(SST) k-w, standard k-w, standard k-ε and Reynolds stress model(RSM) are used to compare and verify the correctness of numerical methods for gas jet from a single aircraft engine. The predicted values are in good agreement with the experimental data, and the distribution and regularity of shock wave, velocity, pressure and temperature of a single aircraft engine are got. The results show that SST k?w turbulence model is more suitable for the numerical simulation of compressible viscous gas jet with high prediction accuracy. Finally, the impact e ect of gas jet from two aircraft engines on a jet blast deflector is analyzed based on the above numerical method, not only the flow parameters of gas jet and the interaction regularity between gas jet and the jet blast deflector are got, but also the thermal shock properties and dynamic impact characteristics of gas jet impacting the jet blast deflector are got. So the dangerous activity area of crew and equipments on the flight deck can be predicted qualitatively and quantitatively. The proposed research explores out a correct numerical method for the fluid–solid interaction during the impact process of supersonic gas jet, which provides an e ective technical support for design, thermal ablation and structural damage analysis of a new jet blast deflector.

An Empirical Analysis on the Impacting of Fiscal Policy on Haze Governance ：Based on the Data of Anhui Province from 2005 to 2014

为准确把握财政政策对雾霾治理的影响,在确立财政政策投入和雾霾治理产出两个维度的基础上,建立评价指标体系,选取安徽省2 0 0 5 年-2 0 1 4 年评价数据,建立T0 P S IS模型,进行实证评价.结果表明：总体上,安徽省财政政策对雾霾治理影响效应表现逐年削弱的变化特征.其次,分阶段来看,2 0 1 0年以前,安徽省财政政策对雾霾治理的影响出现“W ” 型变化特征,即“削弱-增强-削弱-增强” 的变化.2 0 1 1年-2 0 1 3年财政政策效果快速下降;2 0 1 4年以来,财政政策对雾霾治理的影响有增强的趋势.再次,财政资金使用不科学,技术创新不足一定程度上削弱了财政政策对雾霾治理的影响效应.为进一步增强财政政策对雾霾治理的积极影响,充分发挥财政职能,建议完善财政资金的专项转移支付制度,推进资源税制改革,完善相关财政专项补贴政策,推进财政政策绩效评价.

The Impact of the Integration of Culture and Tourism Industry on the Upgrading of Tourism Industry Performance

Based on the provincial data of tourism and cultural industries from 2009 to 2019,this paper studies the impact of the integration of culture and tourism on the economic benefits of regional tourism in China.The results show that:①The integration level of the two industries is generally low in all provinces and regions,and the regional differences are obvious.The integration degree of the central and eastern regions is generally higher than that of the western regions.②The integration degree of culture and tourism has a significant positive impact on the economic benefits of regional tourism.The influence on the central and eastern regions is greater than that on the western regions.③The level of informatization has a positive moderating effect on the economic benefits of regional tourism caused by the integration of culture and tourism.④Government intervention has a negative moderating effect on the economic benefits of tourism.In addition,the level of regional economic development,accessibility and tourism resource endowment are also significant factors affecting the economic benefits of regional tourism.The results show that promoting the deep integration of culture and tourism,promoting the informatization of tourism and moderate government intervention in the industry are conducive to improving the economic benefits of regional tourism.

Evaluation of Pre-listening Activities by Effective Listeners and Less-effective Listeners

This study,which is about pre-listening activities in language comprehension,seeks to obtain a better understanding of Chinese EFL students’listening comprehension in relation to radio news broadcasts.It investigates listeners’evaluation of the effects of pre-listening activities involving three listening texts with three kinds of different pre-listening activities.The findings yielded that the pre-listening activities had some impact on influencing the listeners’listening comprehension and it differed for effective and less-effective listeners.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Poly (Vinyl Chloride) Modified by Silica Fume /Acrylic Core-Shell Impact Modifier Blends

This research explored replacing acrylic core-shell impact modifier （AIM） by silica fume to toughen PVC. 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of AIM （8 phr） were substituted by silica fume in PVC respectively, and then processed by dry blending and twin-screw extrusion. Severe silica fume agglomeration was observed by scanning electron microscope （SEM） in the PVC matrix when 8 phr pure silica fume was used and processed by screw speed of 20 rpm. Its tensile strength was thereby reduced by 38% comparing to unmodified PVC. The silica fume was successfully dispersed while the screw speed was slowed down to 10 rpm to give a stronger screw torque and a longer melt residential time in the extruder. The tensile strength was ’recovered’ to a level comparable to unmodified PVC. Impact test were performed on all formulations extruded at 10 rpm screw speed and synergetic toughening effect was found with 50% substitution and it had the impact strength that was comparable to 8 phr pure AIM toughened PVC.

A Framework for the Assessment of Research and Its Impacts

This paper proposes a holistic framework for the development of models for the assessment of research activities and their impacts. It distinguishes three dimensions, including in an original way, data as a main dimension, together with theory and methodology. Each dimension of the framework is further characterized by three main building blocks： education, research, and innovation （theory）; efficiency, effectiveness, and impact （methodology）; and availability, interoperability, and ＂unit-free＂ property （data）. The different dimensions and their nine constituent building blocks are attributes of an overarching concept, denoted as ＂quality.＂ Three additional quality attributes are identified as implementation factors （tailorability, transparency, and openness） and three ＂enabling＂ conditions （convergence, mixed methods, and knowledge infrastructures） complete the fi-amework. A framework is required to develop models of metrics. Models of metrics are necessary to assess the meaning, validity, and robustness of metrics. The proposed framework can be a useful reference for the development of the ethics of research evaluation. It can act as a common denominator for different analytical levels and relevant aspects and is able to embrace many different and heterogeneous streams of literature. Directions for future research are provided.

山区铁路隧道工程资源环境影响效应评估研究

山区地质复杂、环境敏感、生态脆弱,致使铁路隧道建设难度大,且在资源节约、环境保护等方面面临较高要求。绿色设计作为绿色建设的先行环节,对减少隧道建设对资源环境的扰动作用,达到资源节约、环境友好的目的起关键引领作用。为定量评估山区铁路隧道工程的资源环境影响效应、衡量隧道设计的绿色程度,提出一种山区铁路隧道工程资源环境影响效应分析方法。首先,基于“驱动力-状态-响应”模型(Driving force-State-Response,DSR),以隧道设计参数为驱动力指标、资源环境状况为状态指标、隧道设计措施为响应指标,构建山区铁路隧道工程资源环境影响效应评估指标体系,并建立各指标分级标准;其次,运用一种具有自学习自调整能力的支持向量回归模型(Support Vector Regression,SVR)对隧道工程的资源环境影响效应进行评估;再次,以驱动力指标和响应指标为分析对象,运用考虑指标间关联关系及叠加效应的敏感性分析法,甄别对隧道工程资源环境影响效应优化具有重要影响的隧道设计因素;最后,以某山区铁路隧道工程为例,得到该隧道工程的资源环境影响效应值为4.7157,对应等级为较好,表明该隧道工程绿色设计水平较好,资源集约节约利用较合理、环境保护力度较大,可为其他类似工况隧道工程的绿色设计提供借鉴。此外,分析结果显示,注浆加固效果是导致该隧道工程资源环境影响效应变化最敏感的因素,其次为清污分流比例,可着重从这2个方面进行优化设计,以实现隧道工程资源环境影响效应的进一步优化。研究结果验证了本文研究方法的适用性和可操作性,可为山区铁路隧道工程资源环境影响效应评估及明确隧道工程优化设计方向提供科学依据。

Drawbacks of Social Impacts Assessment in Brazil: Is It Time for a New Approach?

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has shown a progressive improvement in addressing environmental impacts worldwide. However, EIA practice in Brazil and in other developing countries has been recognized as insufficient to deal with relevant issues related to the implementation of projects. One of the reasons found in the literature is related to the difficulties to integrate the biophysical environment and social issues within the decision-making process. In this paper, the practice of EIA in Brazil is analyzed in order to verify the relevance that social, cultural and economic impacts have been given for the acceptability of development projects. Firstly, a quality review of 23 randomly selected Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) from federal and state levels were checked in order to verify the range of social issues that have been encompassed. Secondly, seven EIS were scrutinized to check the adherence to international principles of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) best practices and guidelines applied to this instrument. The outcomes reveal a gap between the legal and empirical frameworks that describe the practice of SIA in Brazil and the main principles and guidelines for best practice in SIA. The paper concludes for the need to improve the effectiveness in the assessment of the social dimensions of environmental impacts in order to better inform the decisions. Also, the practice of EIA Brazil would benefit from guidelines for SIA and its integration to the EIA process.

数字经济与农业经济韧性:基于中介效应的机制研究

提升农业经济韧性是实现农业现代化与建设农业强国的重要举措,数字经济为农业经济韧性的提升提供了新路径。文章基于2012-2021年中国30个省区市面板数据,采用双向固定效应模型,分析数字经济对农业经济韧性的直接影响,并利用因果效应法与Bootstrap研究方法分析创新能力在此影响过程中充当的中介作用。研究结果表明:数字经济发展能够显著促进农业经济韧性的提高;进一步研究发现,创新能力在数字经济影响农业经济韧性过程中发挥部分中介作用,数字经济对农业经济韧性的影响存在明显区域差异,对东部地区农业经济韧性赋能效果显著高于中西部地区。基于此,文章提出加强数字经济建设,增强农业经济韧性,提升创新赋能农业经济发展的作用以及实施地区差异化发展政策等建议。

IMPACT有效沟通模型对机构公信力关键因素的影响及评价体系的建立

本文通过IMPACT有效沟通模型,挖掘慈善组织与群众沟通中影响公信力构建的关键因素,从而构建慈善组织公信力评价体系。经研究,可以从运营能力、形象树立、项目能力、社会价值、捐赠信任、渠道开拓六个维度共30个指标对慈善组织进行评价与分析,六个维度之间存在较大关联,要获得公众的理解与信任,慈善组织需提高自身硬实力,并与多方配合,才能更好赢得公众的信任。

乡村振兴与县域经济耦合发展对中国式现代化发展的影响效应研究

乡村振兴与县域经济耦合发展对中国式现代化发展具有重要影响,能够加快人口规模巨大的现代化发展、全体人民共同富裕的现代化、人与自然和谐共生的现代化以及物质文明与精神文明相协调的现代化发展,是推进中国式现代化发展的有力推手。基于理论分析提出研究假说,进而通过指标体系构建、熵值法、回归模型构建等方法,进一步分析2013—2022年乡村振兴与县域经济耦合发展对中国式现代化发展的影响效应。结果表明:(1)乡村振兴与县域经济耦合发展对中国式现代化发展具有积极效应,主要表现在乡村振兴与县域经济耦合发展对中国式现代化发展具有经济促进效应、社会辐射效应和生态促进效应;(2)乡村振兴与县域经济耦合发展对中国式现代化发展的影响效应具有明显的区域异质性,东部地区乡村振兴与县域经济耦合发展对中国式现代化发展的影响效应要大于其他地区。

数字普惠金融对农村相对贫困的影响机制及空间效应研究

基于中国2011—2021年和2011—2019年省级面板数据,分别运用固定效应模型、中介效应模型和空间杜宾模型分析数字普惠金融对农村相对贫困的影响机制及空间效应。结果表明:数字普惠金融可以显著缓解农村相对贫困;中介效应分析表明,数字普惠金融可以通过支付、信贷、保险和收入分配等渠道缓解农村相对贫困,且支付渠道的减贫效果更好;空间效应分析结果显示,数字普惠金融能有效缓解本地区的相对贫困,但空间溢出效应尚不显著。因此,要继续深化金融供给侧结构性改革、重视对农村相对贫困群体数字金融素养的提升和加强区域合作,充分发挥数字普惠金融的作用,助力农民共同富裕。

基于文本分析的可再生能源政策工具及其对技术创新影响研究

能源绿色低碳转型是实现我国“碳达峰、碳中和”战略目标的首要行动,可再生能源技术创新已经成为实现能源结构绿色低碳发展和转型升级的关键举措。为了检验“波特假说”并验证不同政策工具对于可再生能源技术创新的影响效应,研究首先根据政策演进的时间逻辑,将我国可再生能源政策发展划分为从初步探索至优化完善5个不同发展阶段;然后针对1995—2023年间我国颁布的678个政策文本,按照命令控制型、市场激励型和公众参与型3种不同的可再生能源政策工具的进行了词频、共词和语义网络图谱文本量化分析;进一步,为了验证波特假说在可再生能源政策领域的有效性,分析得出了异质性政策工具对于可再生能源技术创新的影响效应。研究发现:在整体层次上,不同政策工具的使用频率存在差异性,其中命令控制型政策工具占比最高;在可再生能源不同的发展阶段,政策工具的使用也存在显著的差异性;不同政策工具类型通过不同的手段对于可再生能源技术创新产生了异质化的影响效应。最后得出需要强化市场激励型和公众参与型政策工具,加大可再生能源技术创新的投入,继续完善包括绿色金融支持和税收优惠类等政策工具体系的使用频率等相关政策启示。

Studies on the Coefficient of Friction During the Oblique Impact of a Hard Sphere Against a Ductile Solid Target

Following the original approach of Bowden and Tabor and introducing state variables, an effective friction coefficient μ_e for solid particle erosion is defined as a combination of shearing term and ploughing term. In the case of continuous sliding, based on considering the interaction between asperities under certain condition, it is indicated that during the oblique impact of a hardened steel sphere against a mild steel target, a possible value of μ_e is 0.05, which was chosen in all of the calculations by Hutchings for consistency with both experiments and calculations. In the case of continuous ploughing, it is shown that the value of μ_e is a function of the impact process and the initial impact angle and is greater than 0.05 on an average for Hutchings' experiments. It is suggested that the variation of sliding, rolling and ploughing state at each instant in the impact process makes “the coefficient of friction” equal to 0.05 for Hutchings' experiments, and in general, makes the effective friction coefficient during particle impact on metal far less than the friction coefficient during simple continuous sliding on an average.

Electrical Analysis of Indium Deep Levels Effects on Kink Phenomena of Silicon NMOSFETs

Several methods of characterization of trap levels like I-V, C-V and transient spectroscopy (DLTS) were used to determine the accurate values of the activation energies of traps present in N+P junctions obtained after retrograde profile implantation of indium and boron on silicon. Four main traps located at Ev + 0.15 eV, Ev + 0.21 eV, Ev + 0.28 eV and Ev + 0.46 eV are reported. Shallow levels are also calculated from I-V characteristics. Concurrently, indium channel doped NMOSFETs are investigated showing the kink phenomenon. In order to discuss the relationship between the kink effect and the active indium trap level situated at 0.16 eV, the transient effects are studied by varying the integration time and the temperature. The effects of substrate polarization are also carried out showing the reduction of the kink with the bulk positive polarization.

轨道交通对交通客流参数的技术效应分析

城市轨道交通与公交车在整个城市居民出行中占据主要地位,地铁的开通运营势必会对沿线公交及整个城市公交客流产生重要影响,进而需要重新进行优化配置公交线路,使其与地铁融合衔接,从而更加方便居民出行。本文以哈尔滨市作为研究对象,基于历年哈尔滨市公交车客流数据,借助MATLAB软件,运用灰色预测GM(1,1)方法,研究哈尔滨市公交车客流增长变化模型,在地铁开通后,公交实际客流与预测客流进行对比,结合常住人口的变化,可以分析地铁开通运营对公交车客流的具体影响,同时为其他城市公交车在地铁开通后的优化配置提供相关建议与借鉴。