Uncertainty Matters: Computer Models at the Science–Policy Interface

The use of computer models offers a general and flexible framework that can help to deal with some of the complexities and difficulties associated with the development of water management plans as prescribed by the Water Framework Directive. However, despite the advantages modelling presents, the integration of information derived from models into policy is far away from being trivial or the norm. Part of the difficulties of this integration is rooted in the lack of confidence policy makers have on the incorporation of modelling information into policy formulation. In this paper we examine the reasons for this apparent lack of confidence and explore how some tools, presently in use, address this problem. We conclude that public confidence in models is highly dependent on the way uncertainties are addressed and suggest possible directions of action to improve the current situation. Four real case studies illustrate how computer models have been used in The Netherlands for carrying out management plans at regional and national scale. We suggest that the solution to integrate modelling information into policy formulation lies on both the modelling and the policy-making communities.     

Prospects of N2O emission regulations in the European fertilizer industry

European authorities consider that N₂O emissions from nitric acid plants can be reduced to a large extent at a relatively low cost. Two regulation approaches can have major implications for the fertilizer industry in Europe. The EU integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) directive will be effective from October 2007 for existing plants. In this, emission permits will be based on best available techniques (BAT). Additionally, the EU commission will shortly consider whether the emission trading directive should be applicable to cover other greenhouse gases besides CO₂. This paper discusses advantages and drawbacks of these approaches, with emphasis on how emission trading with N₂O can be turned into a win–win situation both for European governments and for the fertilizer industry.     

Agro-ecosystem modeling can aid in the optimization of biomass feedstock supply

Recent European Directives promoted the development of biofuels, requesting mandatory limits to their emissions ot greenhouse gases (GHG). Second-generation biofuels based on lignocellulosic biomass are prime candidates but their GHG emissions are variable and uncertain. Agro-ecosystem modeling can capture them and the performance of biofuel feedstocks.This study aimed at optimizing feedstock supply for a bioethanol unit in France, from agricultural residues, annual and perennial crops. Their productivity and environmental impacts were modelled on a regional scale using geo-referenced data on soil properties, crop management, land-use and future weather data. Several supply scenarios were tested. Cereal straw was the most efficient feedstock but had a low availability, and only miscanthus could meet the bioethanol plant's demand. Sorghum combined poor yields and high GHG emissions compared by miscanthus and triticale. A mix of three biomass sources used less than 3% of the regional agricultural land while abating GHG emissions by 60%.     

U.v. absorbers in sun cosmetics 1978

A comprehensive survey has been carried out to establish which sun-screen agents are used by the cosmetics industry in Holland. During 1978, some 200 cosmetic sun preparations, composed of forty-eight brands, were purchased and analysed to determine which u.v. absorbing compounds were present. Most of those found were identified and quantified by means of thin layer chromatography and u.v. spectrometry. A basis for this work was the proposal by the European Cosmetic Manufacturers to produce a positive list of u.v. absorbers. It was felt that by carrying out this survey, some priority could be placed on the most popular materials used by the industry. When comparing those found with the European list of u.v. absorbers 1978, only twenty-four of the sixty compounds listed could be identified in the samples. The six most frequently used were found to be:

• 1 2-Ethylhexyl.p.methoxycinnamate (nineteen brands).
• 2 2-Phenylbenzimidazole.5-sulphonic acid (eleven brands).
• 3 2-Ethoxyethyl.p.methoxycinnamate (nine brands).
• 4 3 (4′Methylbenzylidene)D,D,L-camphor (seven brands).
• 5 3-Benzylidene.D,L-camphor (six brands).
• 6 2-Hydroxy.4-methoxy.benzophenone (six brands).

Usage levels varied from 0.4% up to 6.8%. Twenty-two products used a combination of two, and four products a combination of three sun-screens. Les filtres u.v. dans les produits anti-solaires 1978     

基于MSP430零序直流小电流接地选线装置设计

本文提出了零序直流小电流接地选线系统的一种新的选线原理,并依据该原理,设计出以MSP430为核心的选线装置,该装置具有性能高,价位低,运行可靠,易于维护等特点。     

Electrical energy metering: Some challenges of the European Directive on Measuring Instruments (MID)

The introduction of static electric energy meter together with voltage and current distortions in the electric networks are revolutionizing the measurement of the electrical energy. Several questions and studies are proposed in the scientific literature concerning with metrological and reliability aspects of the actual electrical energy measurement. The European Directive on Measuring Instruments (MID) represents a different spin on setting the performance and safety requirements for those meters. The International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) has published the document D11 discussing recommendations for legislation to meet the MID. An OIML technical committee is drafting the recommendation (IR46) that would give regulatory bodies an easily-adoptable set of requirements and tests to meet the requirements of the MID. With the introduction of the MID directive, the actual discussion involves aspects as the metrological characterization of the meters. The paper proposes an analysis of the test settings imposed by the actual MID-harmonized standards, regarding the electric energy metering. The aim is to check the presence of degree of freedom in the test settings that could compromise both result reliability and the compliance/non-compliance of a given apparatus.     

无线医疗设备的EMC测试法规

介绍当前不同国家中应用无线通信技术的医疗设备电磁兼容测试法规的要求,重点分析了美国、欧盟对无线医疗设备的电磁兼容要求,并对我国的检测要求和发展方向进行了说明。最后指出无线医疗设备产品获得认证时需要注意的问题。     

我国东部地区污水处理设施技术指南调研

对我国东部地区沪、浙、苏、粤等地若干代表性城市(镇)污水处理设施技术指南的制定和执行情况进行了调研,发现东部地区污水处理设施技术指南的制定和执行情况不容乐观,污水处理工程缺乏系统性,导致管网建设、处理工艺选择及运行管理等都存在一定的问题。     

Welfare Improvisation from the Receiving Waters of Urban Wastewater Systems in the Context of the Water Framework Directive

The compliance of wastewater authorities with the Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) although may highly contribute to a “good” ecological status in aquatic ecosystems, is alleged to require disproportionally high costs in relevance to the anticipated benefits. This is mainly due to the limited yet research in the assessment of the economic welfare derived by the compliance with the WFD. In this light, the direct and indirect economic benefits emerged by the attaining of WFD are investigated. The wastewater treatment plant of Athens (Greece) is demonstrated as a comprehensive pilot case.     

I-AHSDT: intrusion detection using adaptive dynamic directive operative fractional lion clustering and hyperbolic secant-based decision tree classifier

ABSTRACT

This paper proposes an effective intrusion detection method, named I-AHSDT, which is the combination of the Adaptive Dynamic Directive Operative Fractional Lion clustering (ADDOFL) and Hyperbolic Secant-based Decision Tree classifier (HSDT). The proposed HSDT classifier is based on the inverse hyperbolic secant function and it performs the two level classification to detect the intrusion, which offers robust classification performance. The experimentation is performed using the KDD Cup 1999 data, and the HCR Lab data set, and the experimental results prove that the proposed method outperforms the existing system in terms of the accuracy, which is 0.95.