生态保护项目绩效评估的技术方法体系

自20世纪90年代以来,以各种形式的生态补偿政策和工程项目为代表的生态保护项目在全球广泛实施。1998年长江大洪水之后,我国也陆续实施了天然林保护工程、退耕还林还草工程、京津风沙源治理工程、森林生态效益补偿基金、退田还湖还湿工程、生态转移支付等一系列生态保护项目。近年来,政府、研究人员和社会各界越来越重视这些项目产生的生态、经济和社会效益。不过,我国生态保护项目绩效评估还处于起步阶段,主要体现在定量化不足、研究设计不严密、基准线选取不规范、评估方法过于简易、因果推理证据不足、评估结果可信度较差。不管是从学术研究、国家战略,还是实际生态管理的角度,都迫切需要推动和完善我国生态保护项目的绩效评估。结合过去十多年的理论和案例研究经验,对绩效评估的研究设计、基准线选取、评估方法、以及评估分析中面临的问题和挑战进行了系统地归纳与梳理,以期为进一步开展生态保护项目绩效评估提供技术参考。     

Indistinguishability and identifiability analysis of linear compartmental models.

Two compartmental model structures are said to be indistinguishable if they have the same input-output properties. In cases in which available a priori information is not sufficient to specify a unique compartmental model structure, indistinguishable model structures may have to be generated and their attributes examined for relevance. An algorithm is developed that, for a given compartmental model, investigates the complete set of models with the same number of compartments and the same input-output structure as the original model, applies geometrical rules necessary for indistinguishable models, and test models meeting the geometrical criteria for equality of transfer functions. Identifiability is also checked in the algorithm. The software consists of three programs. Program 1 determines the number of locally identifiable parameters. Program 2 applies several geometrical rules that eliminate many (generally most) of the candidate models. Program 3 checks the equality between system transfer functions of the original model and models being tested. Ranks of Jacobian matrices and submatrices and other criteria are used to check patterns of moment invariants and local identifiability. Structural controllability and structural observability are checked throughout the programs. The approach was successfully used to corroborate results from examples investigated by others.     

Access to National Programs and Needs for Continuing Education1

This paper describes the American Dental Association's ongoing efforts aimed at improving access to comprehensive dental care for special population groups. Primary attention is directed to the elderly population, a major priority of the Association's Access Program. In addition to highlighting the basic components of the Access Program, a review of some of the barriers affecting utilization of dental care by the elderly and programs designed to eliminate those barriers is provided. Finally, the author offers some thoughts regarding the need for appropriate continuing education activities directed to the general dentist on the topic of geriatric dentistry.     

L'hépatite C

Across Canada, residency programs are attempting to train more physicians to practise in rural and remote areas. The Northern Family Education Program developed in Newfoundland and Labrador is proving that physicians can learn to like life in remote areas.     

Simultaneous evaluation of genotoxicity data from different sources: a multivariate statistical approach.

A great deal of information on short-term mutagenicity assays presently exists, having been generated through individual as well as large comparative programs. The comparative programs have often examined the same tests, but with different sets of chemicals; this then gives rise to the problem of how to identify the information which is common to the different data bases, i.e., the general properties of the assays. This paper continues previous analyses of this subject, and describes a general approach by which different and heterogeneous data bases can be compared to each other. The results relative to 4 assays (Salmonella typhimurium gene mutation, mouse lymphoma L5178Y cell gene mutation, chromosomal aberrations in CHO cells, and SCEs in CHO cells) in 4 different data bases were studied. Factor analysis was used to model the different pieces of information. The analysis demonstrated a concordance between the indications of the U.S. National Toxicology Program and the International Program for the Evaluation of Short-Term Tests for Carcinogens, whereas the results of Gene-Tox and the International Program for Chemical Safety turned out to be biased, to different degrees, by their specific aims and characteristics. Moreover, the general properties--independent of the specific data bases--of the 4 assays were highlighted, and the similarities between the performances of the assays were given a quantitative measure.     

Improvements To The Method Of Fourier Shape Analysis As Applied In Morphometric Studies

Fourier outline shape analysis is a powerful tool for the morphometric study of two-dimensional form in organisms lacking many biologically homologous landmarks. Several improvements to the method are described herein; these modifications are incorporated into the new computer programs H angle , H match and H curve . First, automated tracing of outlines using image capture software, although desirable, results in high frequency pixel 'noise' that can corrupt the Fourier analysis. Program H angle eliminates this noise using optional and variable levels of outline smoothing. Secondly, a widely used Fourier technique, elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA, Kuhl and Giardina 1982), yields coefficients that are not computationally independent of each other, a condition that hampers and compromises statistical analysis. In addition, EFA increasingly downweights successively more detailed features of the outline. Program H angle solves both of these problems. Lastly, Fourier methods in general are sensitive to the placement of the starting position of the digitized trace. This problem is acute when the organisms under study have no unambiguously defined, homologous point on the outline from which to start the trace. Program H angle allows the user to normalize for starting position using various properties of individual outlines. Alternatively, H match takes a new approach and can be used to normalize using properties of the entire population under study. key words : Fourier shape analysis, morphometric studies, new computer programs, foraminiferal outlines.     

Control of onchocerciasis today: status and challenges

The filarid parasite Onchocerca volvulus is the causative agent of human onchocerciasis (river blindness), an infection characterized by chronic skin and eye lesions. There are three regional programs currently dedicated to controlling onchocerciasis in the endemic areas of Africa and the Americas: the Onchocerciasis Control Programme of West Africa, the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control and the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program for the Americas. All three programs use periodic mass treatment with the microfilaricidal drug ivermectin with differing strategic purposes and, as a result, face different challenges to reach their goals. This paper will review the strategies, status and challenges of these three programs.     

Multiple afforestation programs accelerate the greenness in the ‘Three North’ region of China from 1982 to 2013

China has launched multiple afforestation programs since 1978, including the ‘Three North’ Shelterbelt Development Program (TNSDP), the Beijing–Tianjin Sand Source Control Program (BSSCP), the Nature Forest Conservation Program (NFCP), and the Grain to Green Program (GTGP). These programs focus on local environment restoration by planting trees in semi-arid and arid regions and by protecting natural forests. However, the effectiveness of these programs has been questioned by several previous studies. Here, we report an increasing trend of greenness in this region using the satellite-retrieved normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from GIMMS, GIMMS-3g and MODIS datasets in the past 32 years. The NDVI increase for the ‘Three North’ region was 0.28%–0.38% yr⁻¹ in 1982–2000 and 0.86%–1.12% yr⁻¹ in 2000–2013, which is much higher than the country's means of 0.060%–0.063% yr⁻¹ and 0.27%–0.30% yr⁻¹, respectively. Most of the increase occurred in low and sparsely vegetated areas; and enlarged the moderate vegetated area (growing season mean NDVI above 0.5) from 16.5% to 25.7% for the two time periods, respectively. We also analyzed changes in the length of the growing season and the climate conditions including temperature, precipitation and two drought indices. However, these environmental factors cannot completely explain the changes in vegetation activity. Our study suggests these multiple afforestation programs contributed to the accelerated greening trend in the ‘Three North’ region and highlight the importance of human intervention in regional vegetation growth under climate change condition.     

中国昆虫学发展透视

2006—2010年5年来,我国昆虫学工作者获得了国家自然科学基金736项、国家科技支撑计划2项19个课题,公益性行业科研专项34项,"973"项目6项;共发表与昆虫有关的学术论文13772篇,其中SCI收录论文2625篇,Science6篇,Nature1篇,PNAS6篇,Annual Review of Entomology1篇,Nature Bioteachnology4篇;获得了国家科技进步奖二等奖13项。本文分析了2006—2010年我国昆虫学研究项目、研究成果在不同昆虫学分支学科和不同研究区域的分布特征,透视了我们昆虫学研究前沿,旨在为制定我国昆虫学未来发展战略提供基础信息。     

Current progress of China's free ART program

China's Free ART Program was initiated in 2002 as an emergency response to save and improve the lives of AIDS patients living mainly in impoverished rural regions of central China. With little experience in HIV/AIDS treatment and care and resource limitations, China's efforts to provide widespread access to free antiretroviral therapy has been a process fraught with difficulty. However, the Free ART Program is progressing from an emergency response to a standardized treatment and care system. The development of national guidelines, training programs, a laboratory support network, a national patient database, programs for special populations such as children and patients living with co-infections, and operational research has improved the scope and quality of the free treatment program. As of June 30, 2005, a total of 19,456 patients in 28 provinces, autonomous regions, and special municipalities had received free ART. Challenges stemming from the nature of China's health system and patient population persist, but with strong government support and a diverse set of resources, China has the capacity to overcome these challenges and to provide nationwide access to high quality treatment and care.     

Chemicals from alternative feedstocks in the United States

Abstract: Growing industrial interest in products from renewable alternative feedstocks has resulted in the creation of more industry-led federal research and development programs. The basis of this interest is introduced, followed by an overview of the various federal programs that support basic through applied research relevant to chemical products from renewable resources, and evidence of the increased coordination efforts between programs. The majority of the paper outlines a new program within the U.S. Department of Energy, the Alternative Feedstocks Program, which specifically targets chemicals from renewables which have the potential to become part of the next generation of high-volume chemical feedstocks for the manufacturing industries. The first product of the program, an iterative process technology decision analysis tool, is broadly presented using the first process development project: succinic acid from fermentable sugars.     

Advancing cervical cancer prevention initiatives in resource-constrained settings: insights from the Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Zambia

Groesbeck Parham and colleagues describe their Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Zambia, which has provided services to over 58,000 women over the past five years, and share lessons learned from the program's implementation and integration with existing HIV/AIDS programs.     

MacSECPROT: Two programs in basic to evaluate protein secondary structure

Two interactive programs in BASIC are described, which provide useful tools to evaluate protein secondary structure. Output is given in two formats: (1) graphics are displayed on screen, which can be printed immediately, and (2) textfiles are saved to disk as permanent records and can be printed with a word-processing program. The programs are fast and easy to use and could be a valuable teaching aid in biochemical and molecular biology courses. Program lists are written in Microsoft® BASIC for the Apple® Macintosh™, but can be adapted to other machines accepting graphic commands.     

Training in zoo biology,captive breeding,and conservation

Different types of training in zoo biology, captive breeding, and conservation are discussed and the availability of a variety of programs documented. Emphasis is given to the need for more training in general, and especially for less-developed countries where zoos have much potential yet to be realized. The aims, structure, content, and impact of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust's International Training Program are examined.     

Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Changes Observed in Diabetes Prevention Programs in US Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BackgroundThe Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study showed that weight loss in high-risk adults lowered diabetes incidence and cardiovascular disease risk. No prior analyses have aggregated weight and cardiometabolic risk factor changes observed in studies implementing DPP interventions in nonresearch settings in the United States.ConclusionsDPP lifestyle modification programs achieved clinically meaningful weight and cardiometabolic health improvements. Together, these data suggest that additional value is gained from these programs, reinforcing that they are likely very cost-effective.     

Protocol audits for post-approval monitoring of animal use protocols

Monitoring of animal use protocols following IACUC approval is a way to ensure regulatory compliance and to improve communication between the IACUC and investigators. The authors describe the protocol audit system used by the University of California, San Diego's Animal Welfare Program to ensure that IACUC-approved protocols are followed. This program, as well as the protocol audit form they provide, can be used by institutions to initiate, enhance, or evaluate post-approval monitoring programs.     

The utility of a digital simulation language for ecological modeling

Summary Dynamic modeling of ecological phenomena has been greatly facilitated by the recent development of continuous system simulator programs. This paper illustrates the application of one of these programs, S/360 Continuous System Modeling Program (S/360 CSMP), to four systems of graduated complexity. The first is a two species system, with one feeding on the other, using differential equations with constant coefficients. The second and third systems involve two competing plant species in which the coefficients of the differential equations are varying with time. The final example considers the management of a postulated buffalo herd in which the dynamics of the herd population and composition by sex and age is combined with various strategies to control its size and to optimize buffalo production.     

The clean syringe and HIV infection. A clean syringe can be obtained by any drug addict in a bus stationed in places of active drug trading

The results of the work on the Program "Bus" supported by the Charitable Fund "Vozvrashchenie" and the French organization Doctors of the World [correction of Word] are presented. The Program "Bus", in contrast to a number of other programs aimed at the "decrease of harm", extended the project by providing the possibility of organizing, within this program, contacts between specialists and drug addicts, as well as the possibility of carrying out diagnostic procedures. As revealed in the process of the work, a half of those who applied to the "Bus" for help sought advice, psychological support, etc. 70% of the drug addicts asking for clean syringes had never applied for help. Among 900 persons who underwent testing, 90% were found to have markers of hepatitis C virus and 76%, markers of hepatitis B virus. Among those drug addicts who applied to the "Bus" for help 11% were found to have syphilis and 1 person proved to be HIV-infected. The results of the work on this project are indicative of the expediency of using such programs in other regions.     

Effects of Lifestyle Modification Programs on Cardiac Risk Factors

Medicare conducted a payment demonstration to evaluate the effectiveness of two intensive lifestyle modification programs in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease: the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease (Ornish) and Cardiac Wellness Program of the Benson-Henry Mind Body Institute. This report describes the changes in cardiac risk factors achieved by each program during the active intervention year and subsequent year of follow-up. The demonstration enrolled 580 participants who had had an acute myocardial infarction, had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention within 12 months, or had documented stable angina pectoris. Of these, 98% completed the intense 3-month intervention, 71% the 12-month intervention, and 56% an additional follow-up year. Most cardiac risk factors improved significantly during the intense intervention period in both programs. Favorable changes in cardiac risk factors and functional cardiac capacity were maintained or improved further at 12 and 24 months in participants with active follow-up. Multivariable regressions found that risk-factor improvements were positively associated with abnormal baseline values, Ornish program participation for body mass index and systolic blood pressure, and with coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Expressed levels of motivation to lose weight and maintain weight loss were significant independent predictors of sustained weight loss (p = 0.006). Both lifestyle modification programs achieved well-sustained reductions in cardiac risk factors.