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Abstract: Gaseous emissions from animal feeding operations may be influenced by production stage, genetics, dietary type and nutritional plan, housing type, manure handling schemes, and climatic conditions. This study was conducted to quantify annual emission rates (ERs) of greenhouse gases (GHGs)—methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from naturally ventilated swine gestation (GE), farrowing (FA), nursery (NU) and growing-finishing (GF) barns under typical operational conditions in suburban Beijing, China. Variables relative to the GHG ERs were measured every two months for a one-year period, with each measurement episode lasting 72h. Air exchange rate of the naturally ventilated barns was estimated using CO2 balance method. The annual mean daily GHG ERs (mean SD), expressed in live body weight), for the GE, FA, NU, and GF barns were, respectively, and for CO2; and for CH4; and and for N2O. The GHG ER values from the current study paralleled those reported in the literature in some cases but differed considerably in other cases. This outcome of similarity and disparity confirms the need to exercise caution when applying literature data to estimation of GHG emissions under various production systems. Results of this study are expected to contribute to the global GHG inventory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article cites a study that aimed to identify and quantify organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and their metabolites in human milk in the Chinese Capital of Beijing and to obtain additional information about DDT and BHC present pollution by comparing their levels with those in previous studies. Sixty human milk samples were collected in December 1998 from healthy donors living in four different regions of Beijing including Dongcheng, Xicheng, Xuanwu and Chongwen for at least five years. Results of the study revealed that the total DDT residues in human milk was 2.04 mg/kg and the total BHC residue in women's milk was 1.18mg/kg.

A home electrocardiography (ECG) and blood pressure (BP) monitoring network was established in Beijing. The network consisted of three parts: (1) the home ECG and BP monitoring devices; (2) the monitoring centre at the hospital; and (3) the data communication network, for which we chose the public telephone network. The system was tested in our university hospital for two months with 30 patients and six normal volunteers. A preliminary evaluation by the users indicated that the system was acceptable in terms of its efficiency and effectiveness. This paper describes the system design, the preliminary testing procedure, and results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on the International Conference on Systems, Development and Self-Organization (ICSDS), hosted by the Research Centre for Contemporary Management, School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University, in Beijing, China from November 30 to December 1, 2002. Purpose of ICSDS 2002; Topics related to Systems Science to be addressed during the event; Organizers of the conference.

Hoop structures have been used quite widely for animal production in the U.S. due to their lower capital costs and multi-purpose versatility. Hoop barns for grower-finisher (G-F) swine production have attracted attention in China as an alternative, environmentally friendly, and water-saving production system. This study was conducted to assess concentrations and emissions of ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) for a hoop G-F pig barn at a commercial pig operation in suburban Beijing, China. The NH3 and GHG concentrations and emissions of the facility were measured for three consecutive days during spring and summer seasons. The results revealed the following hourly gaseous concentrations (mean ± SD, mg m-3): 5.9 ± 2.7 NH3, 2,183 ± 1,376 CO2, and 4.0 ± 2.5 CH4 in spring, and 6.8 ± 3.4 NH3, 1,530 ± 364 CO2, and 5.0 ± 2.3 CH4 in summer. The estimated gaseous emissions averaged, in g pig-1 d-1, 22.7 NH3, 2,003 CO2, and 6.7 CH4, or in g AU-1 d-1 (AU = 500 kg), 124 NH3, 11,264 CO2, and 36.2 CH4. The emission values from this study, while being generally comparable with those reported in the literature, add new information concerning emissions from alternative swine housing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]