Cooperatively breeding superb fairy-wrens show no facultative manipulation of offspring sex ratio despite plausible benefits

We report a long-term study of offspring sex ratios in the cooperatively breeding superb fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus. Detailed study of this species had revealed a suite of potentially strong selection pressures on the sex ratio. First, females gain substantial fitness benefits from the presence of helpers; so females without male helpers would benefit from any strategy that increased the probability of recruiting help, such as overproduction of sons (local resource enhancement hypothesis), but large numbers of helper males compete among themselves, favouring the production of daughters (local resource competition). Second, daughters fledged early in the season have far greater chances of recruitment to the breeding population than late-fledged daughters, so mothers would benefit from production of daughters early in the breeding season (early bird hypothesis). Third, extra-group mate choice imposes strong sexual selection on males, suggesting that females mating with attractive sires could benefit from investing in sons (sexual selection hypothesis). However, the predictions from these and other sex ratio hypotheses were rejected. The only convincing evidence for manipulation of the sex ratio was a slight bias towards sons (11 sons to 10 daughters) that occurred regardless of context. This result does not support current theory.     

Development and Testing of a Physically Based Model of Streambank Erosion for Coupling with a Basin‐Scale Hydrologic Model SWAT

A comprehensive streambank erosion model based on excess shear stress has been developed and incorporated in the hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). It takes into account processes such as weathering, vegetative cover, and channel meanders to adjust critical and effective stresses while estimating bank erosion. The streambank erosion model was tested for performance in the Cedar Creek watershed in north‐central Texas where streambank erosion rates are high. A Rapid Geomorphic field assessment (RAP‐M) of the Cedar Creek watershed was done adopting techniques developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the stream segments were categorized into various severity classes. Based on the RAP‐M field assessment, erosion pin sites were established at seven locations within the severely eroding streambanks of the watershed. A Monte Carlo simulation was carried out to assess the sensitivity of different parameters that control streambank erosion such as critical shear stress, erodibility, weathering depth, and weathering duration. The sensitive parameters were adjusted and the model was calibrated based on the bank erosion severity category identified by the RAP‐M field assessment. The average observed erosion rates were in the range 25‐367 mm year^?1. The SWAT model was able to reasonably predict the bank erosion rates within the range of variability observed in the field (R² = 0.90; E = 0.78). Editor's note : This paper is part of the featured series on SWAT Applications for Emerging Hydrologic and Water Quality Challenges. See the February 2017 issue for the introduction and background to the series.     

An Open Source GIS‐Based Decision Support System for Watershed Evaluation of Best Management Practices

Economic costs, water quantity/quality benefits, and cost effectiveness of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) at a watershed scale are increasingly examined using integrated economic‐hydrologic models. However, these models are typically complex and not user‐friendly for examining the effects of various BMP scenarios. In this study, an open source geographic information system (GIS)‐based decision support system (DSS), named the watershed evaluation of BMPs (WEBs), was developed for creating BMP scenarios and simulating economic costs and water quantity/quality benefits at farm field, subbasin, and watershed scales. This DSS or WEBs interface integrated a farm economic model, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and an optimization model within Whitebox Geospatial Analysis Tools (GAT), an open source GIS software. The DSS was applied to the 14.3‐km² Gully Creek watershed, a coastal watershed in southern Ontario, Canada that drains directly into Lake Huron. BMPs that were evaluated included conservation tillage, nutrient management, cover crop, and water and sediment control basins. In addition to assessing economic costs, water quantity/quality benefits, and cost effectiveness of BMPs, the DSS can be also used to examine prioritized BMP types/locations and corresponding economic and water quantity/quality tradeoffs in the study watershed based on environmental targets or budget constraints. Further developments of the DSS including interface transfer to other watersheds are also discussed. Editor's note : This paper is part of the featured series on SWAT Applications for Emerging Hydrologic and Water Quality Challenges. See the February 2017 issue for the introduction and background to the series.     

滨海芦苇湿地土壤微生物数量对长期模拟增温的响应

采用开顶式生长室(Open-top chamber,OTC)连续8 a(2008~2015年)长期模拟温度升高,研究滨海芦苇湿地不同土壤深度,及两种代表植物芦苇(Phragmites australis)和白茅(Imperata cylindrical)根际、非根际土壤可培养微生物数量变化对长期增温的响应。结果表明:(1)相对于对照,长期增温导致土壤可培养微生物的数量显著增加。其中,增温对土壤表层细菌、真菌的数量影响显著,细菌在第一层的增幅最大,增加率为34.16%,真菌在第三层的增幅最大,增加了64.42%。增温对20~40 cm土层放线菌影响显著,其中在第二层达到最大增加率59.47%;(2)长期增温对芦苇根际土壤微生物的根际效应变化的影响不大,表现为各土层芦苇根际效应增温对照,而白茅根际真菌和放线菌分别在第二层和第三层有显著差异;(3)不同的植物类型,其根际可培养微生物数量及根际效应对长期增温的响应不一致,表现为芦苇和白茅根际土壤可培养微生物数量及根际效应的增加幅度不同,这可能与植物不同类型,根际分泌物种类、数量的差异有关。     

接种内生细菌对龙葵吸收积累镉的影响

通过在LB培养基中加入不同浓度的镉,从镉超富集植物龙葵植株内分离到3株很强的镉抗性内生菌株N1、N2、N4,最高耐受镉浓度达300 mg·L^-1.通过生理生化鉴定和16S rDNA序列分析,初步确定N1为芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus sp.）细菌,N2为肠杆菌属（Enterobacter sp.）细菌,N4为巨大芽孢杆菌（Bacillus megaterium）.将龙葵种植在含有一定镉（50 mg·kg^-1）的土壤中进行盆栽试验,以灌根的方式分别接种分离到的3株细菌及其混菌组合,并对其株高、生物量及镉吸收能力进行分析.结果显示,N4菌株处理的龙葵叶、茎、根部镉含量比不接菌对照分别增加32.94%、14.50%、23.44%,差异显著（p<0.05）;接种N1+N2+N4混菌的处理龙葵叶、茎和根干重分别比不接菌对照高出118.22%、109.83%和113.01%,植株地上和地下镉吸收总量分别增加109.53%和83.01%,差异显著.试验表明供试菌株能显著促进植株生长,强化龙葵吸收土壤中镉的能力.     

Laser tempering based turning process for efficient machining of hardened AISI 52100 steel

Cost-effective machining of hardened steel components such as a large wind turbine bearing has traditionally posed a significant challenge. This paper presents an approach to machine hardened steel parts efficiently at higher material removal rates and lower tooling cost. The approach involves a two-step process consisting of laser tempering of the hardened workpiece surface followed by conventional machining at higher material removal rates with lower cost ceramic tools to efficiently remove the tempered material. The laser scanning parameters that yield the highest depth of tempered layer are obtained from a kinetic phase change model. Machining experiments are performed to demonstrate the possibility of higher material removal rates and improved tool wear behavior compared to the conventional hard turning process. Tool wear performance, cutting forces, and surface finish of Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) tools as well as low cost ceramic tools are compared in machining of hardened AISI 52100 steel (~63 HRC). In addition, cutting forces and surface finish are compared for the laser tempering based turning and conventional hard turning processes. Experimental results show the potential benefits of the laser tempering based turning process over the conventional hard turning process.     

高比表面硫脲改性花生壳炭的制备及对四环素和铜的吸附

以硫脲和磷酸为改性剂,通过一步碳化制备了高活性氮硫共掺杂高比表面改性花生壳炭PBC-NS.探讨了改性花生壳炭PBC-NS吸附单一与混合体系中TC/Cu(Ⅱ)吸附特性,并研究了改性对TC/Cu(Ⅱ)吸附的增强作用及机制.结果表明,改性花生壳炭PBC-NS成功引入了砒啶氮、石墨氮、 C—S—C和—SH等氮硫官能团,且改性后比表面积高达1 437 m²·g^-1,比改性前提升了2.6倍.改性花生壳炭PBC-NS对单一体系TC和Cu(Ⅱ)的最大吸附量分别为585mg·g^-1和21.2mg·g^-1,较改性前提升2.6倍和2.7倍;且PBC-NS对混合体系中的TC和Cu(Ⅱ)的饱和吸附量较单一体系提升13mg·g^-1和6.8mg·g^-1.PBC-NS在4次重复使用后对TC和Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附容量仍能达到初始吸附量的66%和70%.等温拟合与现代光谱分析表明,改性使PBC-NS对TC/Cu(Ⅱ)吸附量的大幅提高主要归因于氮硫活性官能位的化学络合和高比表面引起的孔填充共同作用...     

基于D-S证据理论的可靠性强化试验的综合评价

针对可靠性强化试验的各个试验项目对产品的可靠性影响的综合评价问题,应用D-S证据理论对其试验效果进行评价。介绍了D-S证据理论的基本概念及D-S证据融合准则,并针对RET给出应用D-S证据理论对其进行评价的方法。该方法首先针对RET对产品可靠性影响的各个可能性结果构造识别框架;其次,将RET中的每个试验项目视为一个证据,建立相应的证据体;最后,使用D-S证据融合规则对各个证据进行融合。结果表明,针对RET采用D-S证据理论进行评价有助于将多个证据有机地融合在一起,有利于提高评价的准确性,降低不确定度。     

低强度超声波对低温下污水生物处理的强化效果及工艺设计

为了研究低温条件下超声波对污水生物处理的强化效果,采用强度0.3 W·cm-2的超声波对好氧活性污泥进行10 min的辐射处理,然后在4℃条件下进行模拟SBR(sequencing batch reactor)反应.以耗氧呼吸速率(oxygen uptake rate,OUR)、脱氢酶活性(dehydrogenase activity,DHA)和COD为指标,研究了低温条件下超声波对污泥生物活性以及有机物去除效果的改善.结果表明,低温条件下,经超声波处理后污泥活性可提高30%,COD的去除率也可保持常温水平.通过比较可以看出,低温条件下超声波的强化效果较常温条件下更为明显.本研究还以典型的城市二级处理污水处理厂和采用SBR工艺的污水处理厂为例,对低强度超声波在污水处理工艺中的设计和操作进行了说明.     

Evaluation of non-point source pollution reduction by applying Best Management Practices using a SWAT model and QuickBird high resolution satellite imagery

This study evaluated the reduction e ect of non-point source pollution by applying best management practices (BMPs) to a 1.21 km2 small agricultural watershed using a SWAT (Soil andWater Assessment Tool) model. Two meter QuickBird land use data were prepared for the watershed. The SWAT was calibrated and validated using daily streamflow and monthly water quality (total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and suspended solids (SS)) records from 1999 to 2000 and from 2001 to 2002. The average Nash and Sutcli e model e ciency was 0.63 for the streamflow and the coe cients of determination were 0.88, 0.72, and 0.68 for SS, TN, and TP, respectively. Four BMP scenarios viz. the application of vegetation filter strip and riparian bu er system, the regulation of Universal Soil Loss Equation P factor, and the fertilizing control amount for crops were applied and analyzed.