Possible Extinction Vortex for a Population of Iberian Lynx on the Verge of Extirpation

Abstract: Theory suggests that demographic and genetic traits deteriorate (i.e., fitness and genetic diversity decrease) when populations become small, and that such deterioration could precipitate positive feedback loops called extinction vortices. We examined whether demographic attributes and genetic traits have changed over time in one of the 2 remaining small populations of the highly endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Doñana, Spain. From 1983 to 2008, we recorded nontraumatic mortality rates, litter size, offspring survival, age at territory acquisition, and sex ratio. We combined these demographic attributes with measures of inbreeding and genetic diversity at neutral loci (microsatellites) and genes subjected to selection (major histocompatibility complex). Data on demographic traits were obtained through capture and radio tracking, checking dens during breeding, track surveys, and camera trapping. For genetic analyses, we obtained blood or tissue samples from captured or necropsied individuals or from museum specimens. Over time a female‐biased sex ratio developed, age of territory acquisition decreased, mean litter size decreased, and rates of nontraumatic mortality increased, but there were no significant changes in overall mortality rates, standardized individual heterozygosity declined steadily, and allelic diversity of exon 2 of class II major histocompatibility complex DRB genes remained constant (2 allelic variants present in all individuals analyzed). Changes in sex ratio and age of territory acquisition may have resulted from demographic stochasticity, whereas changes in litter size and nontraumatic mortality may be related to observed increases in inbreeding. Concomitant deterioration of both demographic attributes and genetic traits is consistent with an extinction vortex. The co‐occurrence, with or without interaction, of demographic and genetic deterioration may explain the lack of success of conservation efforts with the Doñana population of Iberian lynx.     

Uranium resource appraisal: Past trends and outlook for adequacy of supply

As uranium has practically no other industrial uses besides electricity generation, demand is determined by the requirements and stockpiling policies of electric utilities. The uranium market has experienced strong fluctuations and is currently affected by the reductions in nuclear forecasts resulting from the slowdown in electricity demand. Analysing supply/demand indicators proves, however, that in retrospect the development has been relatively smooth and it appears that oversupply is more a consequence of overly optimistic short-term expectations. In the future, especially in the long term, nuclear power policies continue to be concerned with striking a proper balance between increasing production capability and development of new reactor technologies which would be less dependent on the availability of uranium. A bounding scenario approach is applied in this article to the assessment of adequacy of supply under varying assumptions on the total installed nuclear capacity, available resource base and attainable production capability.     

火力发电厂安全现状评价模式探讨

以火电厂现状评价为例,探索火力发电厂安全现状评价模式。     

飞机撞击下核电厂安全壳载荷曲线相关问题研究

针对大型商用飞机对核电厂反应堆安全壳恶意撞击的安全评估需求,综述了国外确定飞机撞击安全壳载荷曲线的基础理论、试验测试技术和数值模拟方法.首先,从理论上对飞机撞击安全壳的载荷特性和Riera撞击模型进行分析,给出了Riera模型的基本假设、模型各项物理意义及模型的求解方法,明确了靶体碰撞表面的冲击载荷(力)由静载项和动载项组成;其次,分析总结了确定Riera模型中压损载荷参数的试验方法和真实飞机撞击载荷测量的试验技术和实施方法,指出大型商用飞机对核电厂反应堆安全壳恶意撞击属"软冲击"范畴,撞击载荷可用Riera模型计算得到;再者,在数值模拟方面,总结了采用有限元技术进行飞机撞击载荷计算和安全评估的数值模拟方法及其发展趋势;最后,在分析国内开展飞机撞击载荷研究面临问题的基础上,指出从理论上建立飞机撞击载荷-时间曲线计算模型及方法,并通过试验和数值模拟验证是国内确定大型商用飞机撞击安全壳结构载荷曲线比较可行的技术路线.     

基于熵值法和物元可拓模型的核电站安全运行状态评价

我国核电事业发展迅速,核电安全是核电产业发展的重要基础.针对我国核电的发展和安全运行现状,建立了安全运行状况指标体系,通过构建物元可拓模型获得各指标在各评价等级上的关联度,将关联度与熵值法求得的指标权重合成得到加权综合关联度,继而确定核电站安全运行状况评价等级.在对核电站整体运行状况进行综合评价的同时,也能实现对安全运行状况各指标的分类评价.     

基于人工神经网络建模的PTC功率智能检测技术

PTC是家用空调器中主要器件之一,具有耗电量大、非线性的特征。目前PTC常用的功率检测方法是通过"专用电量计量芯片结合电压、电流采样电路"来实现,存在成本高和可靠性低问题。提出一种基于人工神经网络的PTC功率纯软件计算方法,无需增加任何硬件成本。通过实验验证,精度达±3%,满足产品化需求,成熟可靠。     

水电厂设备设施风险的动态分级研究

为保障水电厂安全运行,根据水电厂设备设施构成要素,系统分析其风险,建立涵盖水轮机及其辅助设备、发电机及其辅助设备、计算机监控系统及自动装置、电气一次设备、电气二次设备、水工建筑物及金属结构、机具与防护设施等因素在内的评价指标体系。采用欧氏距离定义样本差异,标准化处理属性特征值,通过聚类迭代,开发水电厂设备设施风险的动态分级方法。研究结果表明:水电厂设备设施故障风险在每年的第2,3季度明显大于第1,4季度,并且随着时间推移,各季度设备设施故障风险同比有增加的趋势,风险分级结果与设备设施故障的变化趋势基本吻合。     

The Effect of Local Biomass Projects on Energy Balance and GHG Emission: A Life Cycle Approach

Emerging attention has been given to the use of biomass in local areas for its contribution to reducing fossil fuel dependence and mitigating global warming. The objective of the present study is to develop a method that quantitatively assesses the effects of local biomass projects on fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. A practical method based on a life cycle approach is proposed and applied to a case of bioethanol project in Miyako Islands of Japan. The project is aiming to produce bioethanol from molasses within the islands, and to replace the entire gasoline consumed in the islands to E3 fuel (i.e., a mixture of 3% ethanol and 97% gasoline by volume). The assessment using the developed method revealed that, first, the complete shift from gasoline to E3 fuel allows for decreases in fossil fuel consumption and GHG emission. Second, the performance of the project is improved by the integration of the ethanol plant and the sugar factory. Moreover, the assessment found that, in small-scale bioethanol projects, the contribution of capital goods to life cycle fuel consumption and GHG emission is not negligible.     

我国生物质气化发电行业综合风险评价

针对我国生物质气化发电行业的现状,总结诸多风险的影响因素,建立了我国生物质气化发电行业综合风险评价体系。该评价体系主要包括5个一级风险影响因素:市场风险、技术风险、安全风险、管理风险、环境风险,每个一级影响因素包括4个二级风险影响因素。由层次分析法获得各个一级影响因素和二级影响因素的权重值,根据所构建的评价集和评分标准,结合模糊综合评价法对我国生物质气化发电行业现状的综合风险等级做定量定性分析。综合风险评价研究结果表明,生物质气化发电行业处于"较高"的风险等级,与实际情况相符。综合风险评价体系的构建合理,所建立的评价方法以及相应对策分析可为决策者提供参考依据。     

太阳能驱动的一体化设备在农村污水处理中的应用

以太湖流域环境敏感区内某村为例,介绍了太阳能驱动的污水处理一体化设备对农村生活污水处理的应用。连续6个月的运行及监测数据表明,污水处理实际消耗电量与光伏发电量比值为54.3%,能够有效地保证污水处理所需动力。污水处理部分采用A/O-BF一体化技术,生活污水经处理以后,出水水质达到GB 18918-2002《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》中一级A标准。太阳能驱动的污水处理一体化设备运行稳定、故障率低、无需投加药剂且无运行费用,适宜在太湖流域的农村地区推广应用。