A simple population theory for mutualism by the use of lattice gas model

The population dynamics of species interactions provides valuable information for life sciences. Lotka-Volterra equations (LVEs) are known to be the most popular model, and they are mainly applied to the systems of predation and competition. However, LVEs often fail to catch the population dynamics of mutualism; the population sizes of species increase infinitely under certain condition (divergence problem). Furthermore, LVEs never predicts the Allee effect in the systems of obligate mutualism. Instead of LVEs, several models have been presented for mutualism; unfortunately, they are rather complicated. It is, therefore, necessary to introduce a simpler theory for mutualism. In the present paper, we apply the lattice gas model which corresponds to the mean-field theory of the usual lattice model. The derived equations are cubic and contain only essential features for mutualism. In the case of obligate mutualism, the dynamics exhibits the Allee effect, and it is almost the same as in the male-female systems. In our model, the population sizes never increase infinitely, because our model contains not only intra- but also interspecific competitions. If the density of one species increases disproportionately in respect of its mutual partners, then this might imply downward pressure on the population abundance of the mutual partner species and such feedback would eventually act as a controlling influence on the population abundance of either species. We discuss several assumptions in our model; in particular, if both species can occupy in each cell simultaneously, then the interspecific competition disappears.     

Comparative sensitivity of various developmental stages of sea urchins to some chemicals

The sensitivity to some chemical agents was examined comparatively at sperm, fertilization, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, pluteus and metamorphosis stages of a sand dollar from Japanese waters (Peronella japonica) and a sea urchin from the Pacific coast of Australia (Heliocidaris erythrogramma). These agents included Cu sulphate, ABS and NH₃ chloride. Responses observed included departures from control rates of fertilization and developmental reduction at the attainment of first cleavage, gastrula, pluteus or metamorphosis. Developmental anomalies were noted at the fertilization, 2-cell, gastrula, pluteus and metamorphosis stages. Using minimum effective concentrations of the 3 chemicals at various developmental stages of P. japonica, it was found that sensitivity to chemicals varies from fertilization to metamorphosis. It seems that sperm activity is the most sensitive, and that fertilization and gastrulation are more sensitive than first cleavage, blastulation and pluteus formation. H. erythrogramma seems to show nearly the same responses to Cu, but is more sensitive at metamorphosis.Experiments conducted at the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Wakayama Prefecture, JapanExperiments conducted at School of Biological Sciences, the University of Sydney, Sydney, N.S.W., AustraliaContributions from the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, No. 664     

Deer predation on leaf miners via leaf abscission

The evergreen oak Quercus gilva Blume sheds leaves containing mines of the leaf miner Stigmella sp. (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae) earlier than leaves with no mines in early spring in Nara, central Japan. The eclosion rates of the leaf miner in abscised and retained leaves were compared in the laboratory to clarify the effects of leaf abscission on leaf miner survival in the absence of deer. The leaf miner eclosed successfully from both fallen leaves and leaves retained on trees. However, sika deer (Cervus nippon centralis Kishida) feed on the fallen mined leaves. Field observations showed that deer consume many fallen leaves under Q. gilva trees, suggesting considerable mortality of leaf miners due to deer predation via leaf abscission. This is a previously unreported relationship between a leaf miner and a mammalian herbivore via leaf abscission.     

挥发性氯代烃在湿润土壤中的平衡吸附研究

吸附是挥发性氯代烃(volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons,VCHs)赋存于土壤的主要机制之一.开展动态吸附实验,研究了4种常见VCHs污染物在我国8种典型土壤中的吸附平衡关系.结果表明,土壤在干燥条件下对VCHs气体的吸附能力要远大于湿润条件,且随含水率的升高吸附能力急剧下降,在含水率达到10%以后土壤吸附量趋于稳定.湿润土壤对三氯乙烯(TCE)、四氯乙烯(PCE)、1,1,1-三氯乙烷(MC)气体的吸附等温线符合Henry型吸附等温式,而1,1,2-三氯乙烷(1,1,2-TCA)符合Freundlich模型.VCHs在湿润土壤中的吸附量总体上与土壤有机碳(soil organic carbon,SOC)含量呈正相关,且受SOC类型和化合物极性影响较大.弱极性的TCE、PCE在土壤中的吸附能力与SOC含量呈严格正相关,而极性的MC、1,1,2-TCA在黑土等高碳土壤中不仅与SOC含量有关,还受到SOC物质组成的影响.建立了TCE和PCE在湿润土壤中的平衡吸附量预测模型,预测值与实测值相关性良好(n=80,R2=0.98).     

Characterization of products obtained from pyrolysis and steam gasification of wood waste,RDF, and RPF

Pyrolysis and steam gasification of woody biomass chip (WBC) obtained from construction and demolition wastes, refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and refuse paper and plastic fuel (RPF) were performed at various temperatures using a lab-scale instrument. The gas, liquid, and solid products were examined to determine their generation amounts, properties, and the carbon balance between raw material and products.The amount of product gas and its hydrogen concentration showed a considerable difference depending on pyrolysis and steam gasification at higher temperature. The reaction of steam and solid product, char, contributed to an increase in gas amount and hydrogen concentration. The amount of liquid products generated greatly depended on temperature rather than pyrolysis or steam gasification. The compositions of liquid product varied relying on raw materials used at 500 °C but the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons became the major compounds at 900 °C irrespective of the raw materials used. Almost fixed carbon (FC) of raw materials remained as solid products under pyrolysis condition whereas FC started to decompose at 700 °C under steam gasification condition.For WBC, both char utilization by pyrolysis at low temperature (500 °C) and syngas recovery by steam gasification at higher temperature (900 °C) might be practical options. From the results of carbon balance of RDF and RPF, it was confirmed that the carbon conversion to liquid products conspicuously increased as the amount of plastic increased in the raw material. To recover feedstock from RPF, pyrolysis for oil recovery at low temperature (500 °C) might be one of viable options. Steam gasification at 900 °C could be an option but the method of tar reforming (e.g. catalyst utilization) should be considered.     

Fitness of occupational exposure data to inverse Gaussian distribution

Short-term exposure datasets of 10 workers exposed to organic solvents and daily average exposure datasets of seven workers exposed to cobalt and organic solvents were analyzed in order to clarify whether these exposure data fit an inverse Gaussian distribution. The goodness-of-fit test showed that time-weighted average (TWA) values with averaging times of 30 min, 60 min and 8 hours can be described by an inverse Gaussian distribution, but not those with averaging times of 7.5 min and 15 min.     

Treatment of bleaching wastewater from pulp paper plants in China using enzymes and coagulants

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＢｌｅａｃｈｉｎｇｗａｓｔｅｗａｔｅｒｆｒｏｍｐｕｌｐｐａｐｅｒｐｌａｎｔｓｃｏｎｔａｉｎｓｍａｎｙｋｉｎｄｓｏｆｃｈｌｏｒｉｎａｔｅｄｏｒｇａｎｉｃｃｏｍｐｏｕｎｄｓｗｈｉｃｈａｒｅｐｒｏｖｅｄｔｏｂｅｃａｒｃｉｎｏｇｅｎｉｃ，ｍｕｔａｇｅｎｉｃａｎｄｒｅｆｒａｃｔｏｒｙ（Ｇｅｌｌｍａｎ，１９８８；Ｐａａｓｉｖｉｒｔａ，１９８８；Ｇａｒｄｅｎ，１９９０；Ｓｕｎｔｉｏ，１９８８；Ｖｕｏｒｉｎｅｎ，１９８７；Ｓｅｐｐａｌａ，１９８８）．Ｓｅｖｅｒａｌｍｅｔｈｏｄｓ，ｉｎｃ…     

High-performance liquid chromatography with conductimetric detection of perfluorocarboxylic acids and perfluorosulfonates

A rapid and simple method for separating and determining various environmentally harmful perfluorocarboxylic acids and perfluorosulfonates was successfully developed using high- performance liquid chromatography with conductimetric detection, for product and waste management of these compounds at manufacturing and processing sites. Compounds having C(3)-C(8) perfluoroalkyl groups were separated using a Tosoh TSKgel Super-ODS column and a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol and aqueous NaH(2)PO(4) at several mixing ratios. The best detection limits for the compounds ranged from 0.12 to 0.66 mg l(-1) (ppm), and linear calibration graphs were obtained up to 87-109 mg l(-1). The combination of this method with concentration of the sample by solid-phase extraction with cartridges based on styrene-divinylbenzene-copolymer enabled the determination of approximately 50 microg l(-1) (ppb) for compounds with C(4)-C(8) perfluoroalkyl groups. This method was successfully used to monitor the artificial decomposition of the perfluorocarboxylic acid n-C(4)F(9)COOH induced by a photocatalyst.     

Identification of odorous compounds in air and gas from painting and printing industries by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and library search system

A computer-assisted library search system is described consisting of a data base, pre-search and main search. Odorous air and effluent gas from painting and printing industries were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the library search system. Main components were 2-methylpropanol, three xylenes, toluene, ethyl acetate and butyl acetate.     

Removal of nitrogen oxides with organic amines and metal complexes

Aqueous solutions containing organic amines and metal complexes were applied for the removal of nitrogen oxides. Organic amines were effective for the removal of the mixture composed of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. In particular, methyl and ethyl amines removed these species with 1 : 1 ratio from the mixture at fairly rapid rates. Dinitrogen trioxide (N₂O₃) was suggested to be involved in the course of the removal.Metal complexes removed nitrogen dioxide efficiently. As has been previously reported for a number of inorganic or organic redox systems, it was concluded that the removal of nitrogen dioxide by metal complexes proceeded also by the redox mechanism.Iron (ii) chelate complexes were highly effective for the removal of nitric oxide and this was attributed to a reversible coordination to the complex.