Characteristics of produced water during coalbed methane （CBM） development and its feasibility as irrigation water in Jincheng, China

Water resources are scarce in Jincheng. Huge quantities of water are pumped out in the dewatering course, and the disposal of CBM water is one of the most important problems during the extracting of CBM. Based on the data of CBM water production, chemical characteristics, the irrigational conditions for major crops, and China irrigation water standard, the feasibility of CBM water as irrigation water is discussed. The result shows the CBM water quality doesn＇t fully meet irrigation water quality standards in Jincheng, its high salinity and sodium adsorption ratio （SAR） in CBM water might affect crops growth and lead to yield loss, and can＇t be used as irrigation water directly, but with the treatment of the reverse osmosis （RO） to lower the salinity and SAR of CBM water, the CBM water can be used as irrigation water.

Adjusting precipitation measurements from the TRwS204 automatic weighing gauge in the Qilian Mountains, China

With the popularity of the automatic precipitation gauges in national weather stations,testing their performance and adjusting their measurements are top priorities. Additionally,because different climatic conditions may have different effects on the performance of the precipitation gauges, it is also necessary to test the gauges in different areas. This study mainly analyzed precipitation measurements from the single-Altershielded TRwS204 automatic weighing gauge(TRwS_(SA)) relative to the adjusted manual measurements(reference precipitation) from the Chinese standard precipitation gauge in a doublefence wind shield(CSPG_(DF)) in the Hulu watershed in the Qilian Mountains, China. The measurements were compared over the period from August 2014 to July2017, and the transfer function derived from the work by Kochendorfer et al.(2017 a) for correcting windinduced losses was applied to the TRwS_(SA) measurements. The results show that the average loss of TRwS_(SA) measurements relative to the reference precipitation decreased from 0.55 mm(10.7%) to 0.51 mm(9.9%) for rainfall events, from 0.35 mm(8.5%)to 0.22 mm(5.3%) for sleet events, and from 0.49 mm(18.9%) to 0.33 mm(12.7%) for snowfall events after adjustment. The uncorrected large biases of TRwS_(SA) measurements are considered to be mainly caused by specific errors of TRwS_(SA), different gauge orifice area and random errors. These types of errors must be considered when comparing precipitation measurements for different gauge types, especially in the mountains.

Payments for Watershed Services and Practices in China:Achievements and Challenges

Implementation of payments for watershed services(PWS) has been regarded as a promising approach to coordinating the interests of upstream and downstream ecosystem services stakeholders. There is growing concern about whether PWS programs have achieved their original environmental goals of improving water quality and quantity, as well as the ancillary objective of increasing the welfare of local people. We start with an overview of PWS schemes and focus on their particularity and implementation mechanisms in China. We proceed to review 62 active PWS cases and examine their environmental performance in detail. The resulting findings show that PWS schemes have been able to reduce water pollution to some extent by establishing collaborative upstream/downstream watershed management policies, thereby improving water quality and quantity, as well as by making government officials more responsible for water resource management. In addition, their continued effectiveness in light of present challenges such as water-quality data availability is discussed. Chinese PWS schemes and their implementation mechanisms also provide information useful in monitoring environmental outcomes and guiding future designs of PWS programs in other regions.

Impact of and adaptation strategies for sea-level rise on Yangtze River Delta

The Yangtze River Delta characterized by a dense population and a rapidly developing economy is highly vulnerable to sea-level rise. The data from the China Oceanic Information Network and the Zhejiang Provincial Hydrology Bureau are used to analyze sea-level rise. The rate of sea-level rise in the delta was 2.4 mm per year in 1981-2015. The annual sea-level at Daishan, Dinghai, and Dongtou stations in the south wing of the delta were 4.3, 3.1, and 5 mm per year respectively over the same period. The 10-year averaged results at each station also indicate a perceptible trend of sea-level rise. Sea-level rise is contributed to a larger proportion of intensified erosion, ranging from 3% to 14% in the delta. Meanwhile, the 100-year return period of tidal level has decreased to the 50-year rank at Dongtou and Dinghai stations. Moreover, the arrival time of tidal bores at Yanguan is 4 min earlier under sea-level rise of 0.145 m than that of 0 m. The height of tidal bores and the velocities at the surface and bottom layers have an increase under sea-level rise. The maximum increases of high and low tide levels are 0.122 m and 0.016 m while the maximum increases of the velocities at the surface and bottom layers are 0.07 m s^- 1 and 0.05 m s ^-1, respectively. Sea-level rise will bring about the damage of seawall, thus the design standard of constructing seawalls should adopt a higher level to minimize the associated risks in the Yangtze River Delta and its south wing.

Distribution of nutrients and eutrophication assessment in the Bohai Sea of China

Water samples were collected in 120 stations in the Bohai Sea of China to analyze the distribution of dissolved nutrients and assess the degree of eutrophication in August 2002. The result shows that the average concentration of DIN increased and the PO4-P concentration sharply decreased compared to the previous data of corresponding period. The high concentrations of DIN and PO4-P occurred in coastal waters, especially in the bays and some river estuaries, while the high concentrations of SiO3-Si in the surface and middle depth occurred in the central area of the Bohai Sea. The average ratio of DIN/PO4-P was much higher than the Redfield Ratio （16：1）. Apparently, PO4-P was one of the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growing in the sea. The average concentrations of DON and DOP were higher than their inorganic forms. The results of eutrophication assessment show that 22.1% of all stations were classified as violating the concentration levels of the National Seawater Quality Standard （GB 3097-1997） for DIN and only 3.9% for PO4-R The average eutrophication index in the overall area was 0.21±0.22 and the high values occurred in Bohai Bay, Liaodong Bay and near the Yellow River estuary. This means that the state of eutrophication was generally mesotrophic in the Bohai Sea, but relatively worse in the bays, especially some river estuaries.

Spatial distribution and environmental characterization of sediment-associated metals from middle-downstream of Xiangjiang River,southern China

The contamination and environmental risk assessment of the toxic elements in sediments from the middle-downstream (Zhuzhou-Changsha section) of the Xiangjiang River in Hunan Province of China were studied. The results show that As, Cd, Pb and Zn are major contaminants in sediments, and average concentrations of these elements significantly exceed both the Control Standards for Pollutants in Sludge of China (GB4284-84) for agricultural use in acidic soils and the effect range median (ERM) values. The average concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in the river water slightly exceed the limit of Surface Water Environment Quality Standard (GB3838-2002). The concentrations of As and Cr in depth profiles extensively change, but slight changes are observed in Pb and Zn. Cd and Zn in most sediment samples can easily enter the food-chain and bring possible ecotoxicological risk to organisms living in sediments according to the risk assessment code.

Influence of Mechanical Grinding on the Interface Characteristics of Rice/Wheat Straws

The mechanical grinding method was used to make rice and wheat straw flakes and the properties of the interface of straws before and after grinding were evaluated. The particle boards were prepared using two kinds of straw flakes, respectively and their physical and mechanical properties were investigated. The results showed that the rice straw was easier to be broken when compared with wheat straw and the inner surface of cells in grinded straws was exposed remarkably. The characteristic peaks of lignin and cellulose on the surface of wheat straw were more significant than rice straw. The free-radical concentrations of straws were increased dramatically after being grinded with heating in the range from I00 ~C to 200 ~C. The surface free energy of straws was also improved after being grinded and the value in wheat straw was higher than that of rice straw, which implies that wheat straw was easier to be bonded than rice straw. The physical and mechanical properties of two kinds of straw particle boards could achieve the requirements of Chinese National Standards of GB 4897.3-2003, while wheat straw particle boards had better properties than those made from rice straws.

An Institutional Innovation for Agricultural Technology Adaptation and Adoption： Rice in West and Central Africa

This paper traces the origins and achievements of the R^seau Ouest et Centre Africain du Riz--ROCARIZ （West and Central Africa Rice Research and Development Network）. The ROCARIZ institutional arrangement showed that rice science is approached from multi-stakeholder perspectives that place end users and entrepreneurs at the center of research for development, and collaboration among rice-based stakeholders can be enhanced and sustained. The ROCARIZ used competitive research grants through multi-stakeholder task forces to generate, adapt, and facilitate the adoption of rice-based technologies and approaches by resource poor households. The grants contributed to： （1） farmer adoption of high yielding and multiple stress resilient lowland NERICAs （New Rices for Africa） （NERICA-L）; （2） producer access to credit and services resulting in increased marketing of quality seed rice, paddy, and grain rice by farmer entrepreneurs and poor rural households; （3） improved skills of stakeholders on the use of impact assessment tools to demonstrate adoption of rice-based technologies; （4） enhanced skills of rice breeders in molecular assisted marker selection to shorten the varietal development process; and （S） experiential learning and sharing to improve access to information and knowledge.

Estimating the Relative Level of Minimum Wage in China

It is generally believed in existing literature that China＇s minimum wage is too low and must be raised substantially. Such a view is highly misleading given the inconsistent statistical standards for minimum and average wages. In order to ensure comparability, this paper has adjusted the statistical scope for minimum and average wages respectively. If employees of urban private and self-employed businesses are included in calculating the average wage, the minimum-to-average wage ratio will increase by about 0.06; if the minimum wage standards of various localities include personal contributions to social insurance and the housing fund, the minimum-to-average wage ratio will increase by 0.008; if overtime pay is deducted from the average wage, the minimum-to-average wage ratio will further increase by around O. 06.In addition, if the median wage is used in place of the average wage, the minimum-to-average wage ratio will increase by at least 0.08. After these adjustments, China＇s minimum-to-average wage ratio for 2013 will increase from 0.28 to 0.49, which is within the range of between 0.40 and 0.60 that is recognized internationally as reasonable. Our analysis suggests that as far as the immediate interests of workers are concerned, it is more imperative to unify the statistical approaches for minimum and average wages in China than to raise the minimum wage standard. In order to achieve the expected effect, simply raising the minimum wage alone is not enough. What is also necessary is to enhance supervision and inspection on compliance by firms with the minimum wage policy, particularly the overtime pay regulations. An alternative is to replace monthly minimum wage with hourly minimum wage.

The Problems and Countermeasures Research of College Students＇ Ideological and Political Education in Colleges and Universities

As the builders and successors of the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, college students＂ ideological and political education level influences the socialist construction. Colleges＇ ideological and political educators should have a clear teaching goal, and sort out their own teaching ideas, constantly updating and reforming the education mode. Based on the problems existing in the college students＇ ideological and political education, this paper will put forward the corresponding reform measures to ensure the ideological and political education work to go on smoothly.

Study on the Exploitation of Bohai Sea Ice as Freshwater Resources

Water shortage is a major issue in northern China. With the transfer of China＇s economic center from south to north, Circum-Bohai Economic Circle has gradually formed and developed as the third pole of China＇s economy after Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta, the problem of water has inevitably become more and more serious. South-to-North Water Diversion and Sea Water Desalination are helpful to solve this dilemma, but some difficulties appeared during the course of the two projects. By contrast, sea ice desalination can be considered as a third way to alleviate freshwater crisis in Bohai Rim. Firstly, the amount of sea ice in Bohai Sea is as much as 1.27 billion m3 even in normal years. Then the salinity of sea ice is only 1/4 to 1/7 as that of sea water. And furthermore, desalinized water of sea ice can meet national water quality standard for drinking. Purposely use the abundant sea ice resources as water source for industry, agriculture and living is very likely to open a new path for the solution of freshwater shortage, which can promote rapid and healthy development of Circum-Bohai Economic Circle.

KO实战录之衍生钓法

日本人玩矶钓的花招越来越多，用的家伙更是越搞越复杂，颇有不掏光消费者口袋不罢的架势!奇怪的是，许多消费者居然还喜欢掏钱出来，所以我们只好把这些败家玩法也一一作以介绍……

Derivation of water quality criteria for representative water-body pollutants in China

In this study, toxicological data for zinc （Zn）, cadmium （Cd）, hexavalent chromium （Cr （VI））, benzene, and nitrobenzene were collected from various databases and publications, screened and then constructed into species sensitivity distribution （SSD） curves. Then water quality criteria （WQC） were derived for protection of the freshwater aquatic life in China against five representative pollutants. The values derived in this study were compared with those issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Chinese national environmental standard for surface water to identify factors underlying the differences. The results showed that the SSD curves for the five pollutants differed significantly, with the examined aquatic species being gen- erally more sensitive to Zn, Cd, and Cr （VI） than benzene and nitrobenzene. The acute WQC were： 48.43 μg L-1 for Zn, 0.4218 μg L-1 for Cd, 45.79μg L-1 for Cr （VI）, 2651 μg L-1 for benzene, and 1426 μg L-1 for nitrobenzene. The chronic WQC were： 20.01μg L-1 for Zn, 0.2428 μg L-j for Cd, 14.22 μg L-1 for Cr （VI）, 530.2 μg L J for benzene, and 286.2 μg L-1 for nitroben- zene. The results of this comparative study of representative pollutants may offer guideline values for future WQC studies for China.

Study of risk acceptance criteria for dams

This paper discusses the methods of establishing risk criteria for dams and reviews the application of dam risk criteria for individuals and societies in different countries or districts. Given the conditions in China and considering the public safety and acceptance of dam risk, historical dam break data and current design standards, individual and societal risk criteria for dams are proposed. The tolerable dam risk criteria for individuals should be set to 10-5-10-7 per annum based on project scale, for ex- ample, approximately 1.0xl0 7 per annum, which corresponds to a reliability index of 4.2 based on a 100-year lifespan for a first-class or large project. The societal limit for risk tolerance for dams should be set to approximately 10-3-10-5 per annum, corresponding to the fatality range from 1 to 100 and be horizontally extended to 1000, and F-N curves are proposed. It was also found that the reliability indices of Chinese Standard （GB 50199-2013） and Eurocodel （2002） are different, but they have the same level of safety measured by the annual probability of failure. The research results have significance for establishing dam risk criteria.