基于SEM-EDS的大气降尘特征及来源解析——以荒漠草原区井工开采煤炭基地为例

利用场发射扫描电子显微镜-配能谱分析系统（SEM-EDS）于2019年3~5月对荒漠草原区煤炭基地及其周边5个功能区（煤炭工业区、煤炭运输道路、电力工业区、商住区和沙区）共计23个大气降尘样品的粒径特征、微观形貌、单颗粒能谱图进行检测分析.结果表明,各功能区大气降尘中颗粒物总体形貌基本相似,均包括近球状、类椭球状、颗粒状、块状和柱状/片状颗粒物以及烟尘集合体.此外,煤炭运输道路、电力工业区和商住区还存在球状颗粒物.各功能区大气降尘以>10μm颗粒物为主,其中,电力工业区、商住区、沙区和煤炭工业区大气降尘平均粒径均>100μm,且总量超过65%,煤炭运输道路大气降尘平均粒径为67.59μm,粒径>50μm的颗粒物量占53%.大气降尘主要由细粉砂、粗粉砂和细砂组成.大气降尘中颗粒物的类型包括存在于各功能区中的硅酸盐矿物（石英、钾长石和斜长石）、碳酸盐矿物（方解石和白云石）、硫酸盐矿物（石膏）和高岭石,存在于煤炭运输道路、煤炭工业区和电力工业区中的富铁颗粒,存在于煤炭工业区中的铁镁颗粒,存在于煤炭运输道路、煤炭工业区、电力工业区和商住区中的烟尘集合体和燃煤飞灰.大气降尘来源主要为本地源,包括各功能区中均存在的地表扬尘、工业扬尘、建筑扬尘和大气中二次化学反应产物,煤炭运输道路、煤炭工业区和电力工业区中存在的机动车零件磨损产物,以及煤炭运输道路、煤炭工业区、电力工业区和商住区中存在的机动车尾气排放和燃煤产物.     

Environmental scanning electron microscopy as a new technique to determine the hygroscopic behaviour of individual aerosol particles

The hygroscopic behaviour of NaCl, (NH₄)₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄ and NH₄NO₃ particles in the size range of 0.1–20 μm was studied by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). This technique allows the in-situ observation of individual aerosol particles while changing the temperature and/or relative humidity (RH) in the sample chamber. The hygroscopic behaviour of these particles (e.g., deliquescence, adsorption of water on the particle surface) becomes directly observable with a lateral resolution of the order of 8–15 nm. The deliquescence relative humidities (DRH) of the different salts, the temperature dependence of the DRH for NH₄NO₃, and the growth factors (at increasing relative humidities) for NaCl were determined. Generally, a good agreement between the values obtained by ESEM and those found in literature was achieved. However, the DRH of NaCl determined by ESEM is systematically higher (approximately 2%, absolute) than the values obtained by other techniques, which can be explained by the observed strong absorption of water onto the crystal surface prior to droplet formation. The efflorescence behaviour of individual particles can be studied only qualitatively due to influences of the sample substrate. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the activation of soot can be studied at high resolution by ESEM.     

Characterization of Environmentally Friendly Polymers by Inverse Gas Chromatography: I Amylopectin

Amylopectin, as a potato starch based polymer, with a molecular weight of six million gram/mol was characterized using the Inverse Gas Chromatography Method (IGC). DSC method was also used to measure the glass and melting temperatures. Both DSC and IGC agreed well on a T_g of 105°C and T_m of 160–166°C. Nineteen solutes (solvents) were injected onto a chromatographic column containing amylopectin. These solutes revealed the interaction of alkanes with AP, and the wettability and water intake of AP. Alkanes showed exothermic values of interaction parameters which were increased as the temperature increased and as the number of carbons in the alkane series decreased. Retention diagrams of these solutes in a temperature range of 80–200°C revealed two zones, crystalline and amorphous. T_g and T_m were measured using these zones which complimented the DSC values. The two zones were used to calculate the degree of crystallinity below the melting temperature which ranged from 85% at 104°C to 0% at 161°C. The dispersive component of the surface energy of amylopectin was measured using alkanes which ranged from 25.35 mJ/m² at 80°C to 8.47 mJ/m² at 200°C. This is attributed to the weak crystalline surface of AP at 80°C and when the surface melted at 160°C the surface energy decreased due to the thermal expansion of the surface.     

隧道火灾后衬砌材料物理力学性能变化试验研究

通过对衬砌混凝土在不同温度等级下烧损试验，及其随后的电子显微镜扫描观察，分析了组织结构变化情况，并用X射线法对其矿物分进行了分析，研究了四种温度状态下的弹性模量的变化规律。试验结果表明，隧道火灾后衬砌材料随温度的升高，其破坏程度越明显，严重影响了隧道结构受力的性能。     

Towards the development of differential land taxation and its implications for sustainable land management

Despite the concerted efforts by the researchers, government and NGOs to arrest land degradation problems, most agricultural lands of developing countries are still suffering from massive degradation. This study introduces a new strategy, called differential land taxation (DLT), where rural lands are subject to different taxation rates. DLT is determined by rating the magnitude of accord or discord between the recommended and the implemented land management practices. To appraise DLT, opinion of stakeholders, drawn from sample localities of central Ethiopia, were assessed. Most respondents proved that DLT could bring about sustainable land management practices through encouraging conservation-minded peasants while systematically discouraging land abusers.     

Differential predator escape performance contributes to a latitudinal sex ratio cline in a migratory shorebird

Sexual segregation outside the mating season is common in vertebrates, and has been attributed to sexual differences in predator escape performance in ungulates and fish, but not in birds. Here, we tested the hypothesis that sex- and latitude-specific predator escape performance underlies the differential nonbreeding distribution of western sandpipers (Calidris mauri), a migratory shorebird. Females overwinter further south along the American Pacific coast, creating a latitudinal cline in sex ratio. Escape performance is reduced with increasing body mass, and birds generally carry less fat further south. Western sandpipers with poor escape performance were therefore predicted to prefer southern sites to reduce the risk of mortality posed by predators. Data from four nonbreeding latitudes showed that wing loading, used as an index of escape performance, was overall higher for females, and that it decreased with latitude in both sexes. Within latitudes, wing loading was lower at smaller, and presumably more dangerous, sites. Flight response to a predatory attack was longer in the south. Mortality risk offers a novel and candidate explanation for differential distribution patterns in western sandpipers and possibly other avian migrants.     

Are blue eggs a sexually selected signal of female collared flycatchers? A cross-fostering experiment

Impressive variation in egg colouration among birds has puzzled evolutionary biologists for a long time. The most frequently studied selective forces moulding egg colouration—predation and brood parasitism—have either received little empirical support or may play a role in only a minority of species. A novel hypothesis has suggested that egg colour may be significantly influenced by sexual selection. Females may deposit a blue-green pigment biliverdin into eggshells instead of using it for themselves as a powerful antioxidant. By this handicap, females may signal their quality to males, which are then hypothesized to increase their paternal effort. We experimentally tested the hypothesis in the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis), a species laying blue-green eggs. We cross-fostered clutches between nests to disentangle effects of female/territory quality and egg colour on paternal effort and nestling quality. The results supported two assumptions of sexual signalling through egg colour hypothesis: Blue pigment seems to be a limited resource for females, and female quality is positively correlated with the intensity of the blue-green colour. However, we did not find support for the main prediction of the hypothesis, as male parental effort parameters (feeding frequencies to nestlings and intensity of nest defence) were unrelated to egg colour. We discuss possible reasons for the discrepancy between our results and previous correlative analyses that supported the hypothesis that blue egg colour may be a postmating, sexually selected signal in females.     

Drivers’ visual scanning behavior at signalized and unsignalized intersections: A naturalistic driving study in China

Introduction: Intersections are the most dangerous locations in urban traffic. The present study aims to investigate drivers’ visual scanning behavior at signalized and unsignalized intersections. Method: Naturalistic driving data at 318 green phase signalized intersections and 300 unsignalized ones were collected. Drivers’ glance allocations were manually categorized into 10 areas of interest (AOIs), based on which three feature subsets were extracted including glance allocation frequencies, durations and AOI transition probabilities. The extracted features at signalized and unsignalized intersections were compared. Features with statistical significances were integrated to characterize drivers’ scanning patterns using the hierarchical clustering method. Andrews Curve was adopted to visually illustrate the clustering results of high-dimensional data. Results: Results showed that drivers going straight across signalized intersections had more often glances at the left view mirror and longer fixation on the near left area. When turning left, drivers near signalized intersections had more frequent glances at the left view mirror, fixated much longer on the forward and rearview mirror area, and had higher transition probabilities from near left to far left. Compared with drivers’ scanning patterns in left turning maneuver at signalized intersections, drivers with higher situation awareness levels would divide more attention to the forward and right areas than at unsignalized intersections. Conclusions: This study revealed that intersection types made differences on drivers’ scanning behavior. Practical applications: These findings suggest that future applications in advanced driver assistance systems and driver training programs should recommend different scanning strategies to drivers at different types of intersections.     

Determination of self-accelerating decomposition temperatures using the Accelerating Rate Calorimeter

A self-accelerating decomposition temperature (T_SADT is the minimum ambient air temperature at which a reactive material of specified stability decomposes in a specified commercial package in a period of 7 days or less. Values for T_SADT are determined to decide whether a substance should be subject to temperature control during transport. Values of T_SADT calculated using the Accelerating Rate Calorimeter (ARC) and techniques suggested by Wilberforce and the authors are compared to those measured by oven stability testing. The methodology and the advantages of using the ARC to obtain T_SADT values are discussed.     

Female egg investment in relation to male sexual traits and the potential for transgenerational effects in sexual selection

Life-history theory predicts that individuals should increase their reproductive effort when the fitness return from reproduction is high. Females mated with high-quality males are therefore expected to have higher investment than females mated with low-quality males, which could bias estimates of paternal effects. Investigating the traits females use in their allocation decisions and the aspects of reproduction that are altered is essential for understanding how sexual selection is affected. We studied the potential for differential female allocation in a captive population of a precocial bird, the Chinese quail, Coturnix chinensis. Females paired with males with large sexual ornaments laid larger, but not more, eggs than females paired with males with small sexual ornaments. Furthermore, female egg mass was also significantly positively affected by male testis size, probably via some unknown effect of testis size on male phenotype. Testis size and ornament size were not correlated. Thus, both primary and secondary male sexual traits could be important components of female allocation decisions. Experimental manipulation of hormone levels during embryonic development showed that both male and female traits influencing female egg size were sensitive to early hormone exposure. Differences in prenatal hormone exposure as a result of maternal steroid allocation to eggs may explain some of the variation in reproductive success among individuals, with important implications for non-genetic transgenerational effects in sexual selection.Communicated by C. Brown