Opposable spines facilitate fine and gross object manipulation in fire ants

Ants inhabit diverse terrestrial biomes from the Sahara Desert to the Arctic tundra. One factor contributing to the ants’ successful colonization of diverse geographical regions is their ability to manipulate objects when excavating nests, capturing, transporting and rendering prey or grooming, feeding and transporting helpless brood. This paper is the first to report the form and function of opposable spines on the foretarsi of queens and workers used during fine motor and gross motor object manipulation in the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. In conjunction with their mandibles, queens and workers used their foretarsi to grasp and rotate eggs, push or pull thread-like objects out of their way or push excavated soil pellets behind them for disposal by other workers. Opposable spines were found on the foretarsi of workers from seven of eight other ant species suggesting that they might be a common feature in the Formicidae.     

Application of positive matrix factorization in characterization of PM(10) and PM(2.5) emission sources at urban roadside

The 24-h average coarse (PM₁₀) and fine (PM_2.5) fraction of airborne particulate matter (PM) samples were collected for winter, summer and monsoon seasons during November 2008-April 2009 at an busy roadside in Chennai city, India. Results showed that the 24-h average ambient PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations were significantly higher in winter and monsoon seasons than in summer season. The 24-h average PM₁₀ concentration of weekdays was significantly higher (12-30%) than weekends of winter and monsoon seasons. On weekends, the PM_2.5 concentration was found to slightly higher (4-15%) in monsoon and summer seasons. The chemical composition of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 masses showed a high concentration in winter followed by monsoon and summer seasons.The U.S.EPA-PMF (positive matrix factorization) version 3 was applied to identify the source contribution of ambient PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations at the study area. Results indicated that marine aerosol (40.4% in PM₁₀ and 21.5% in PM_2.5) and secondary PM (22.9% in PM₁₀ and 42.1% in PM_2.5) were found to be the major source contributors at the study site followed by the motor vehicles (16% in PM₁₀ and 6% in PM_2.5), biomass burning (0.7% in PM₁₀ and 14% in PM_2.5), tire and brake wear (4.1% in PM₁₀ and 5.4% in PM_2.5), soil (3.4% in PM₁₀ and 4.3% in PM_2.5) and other sources (12.7% in PM₁₀ and 6.8% in PM_2.5).     

典型街道环境空气质量分析

根据对深南东路环境空气的监测及车流量、气象条件的调查,分析机动车及气象因素对深圳市环境空气质量的影响。根据分析可知,机动车尾气是深圳市环境空气中污染物的主要来源,但污染程度不断变化的主要原因是风速,深圳市环境空气中污染物浓度与风速有着非常显著的负相关。     

基于UTECC的城市机动车总量控制研究

随着我国城市机动车保有量的快速增长 ,由其使用而产生的大气污染、资源 /能源短缺等问题日渐突出 ,对城市生态环境质量、资源 /能源安全产生了重大影响。基于城市交通环境承载力理论 ,创造性地提出以资源环境的客观约束进行城市机动车总量控制 ,为实现城市交通的可持续发展提供了一条新思路 ;结合北京市的实际情况 ,尝试应用标准车型折算法 ,并以氮氧化合物为控制对象 ,进行了机动车污染承载力的测算研究 ,为下一步的实际应用奠定了理论基础。     

城市机动车尾气污染特征与防治对策

通过对平顶山市主要交通道口空气中NOx、CO、NO2 、Pb的调查 ,分析了城市机动车尾气污染的特征 ,并提出了减少与控制机动车尾气排放 ,改善城市大气环境质量的防治对策     

Effects of air pollution from road transport on growth and physiology of six transplanted bryophyte species

Motor vehicles emit a cocktail of pollutants; however, little is known about the effects of these pollutants on bryophytes located in roadside habitats. Six bryophyte species were transplanted to either a woodland or a moorland site adjacent to a motorway, and were monitored over seven months from autumn through to spring. All species showed an increase in one or more of the following near the motorway: growth, membrane leakage, chlorophyll concentration, and nitrogen concentration. The strongest effects were observed in the first 50-100 m from the motorway: this was consistent with the nitrogen dioxide pollution profile, which decreased to background levels at a distance of 100-125 m. It is hypothesised that motor vehicle pollution was responsible for the effects observed, and that nitrogen oxides had a key influence. The observed effects may lead to changes in vegetation composition with significant implications for nature conservation and management of roadside sites.     

Traffic speeds associated with implementation of 80 mph speed limits on West Texas rural interstates

Problem

In 2006 Texas raised the daytime speed limit for passenger vehicles on segments of I-10 and I-20 from 75 to 80 mph. Methods: Traffic speeds were measured before and 3, 12, and 16 months after the limit was changed. Results: During the 16-month period following the speed limit increase, mean speeds of passenger vehicles on I-20 increased by 9 mph relative to the comparison road, where no speed limit change occurred and traffic speeds declined. On I-10 mean speeds increased by 4 mph relative to the comparison road. Limiting the analysis to the month before the speed limit change and 1 year later, the proportion of drivers exceeding 80 mph was 18 times higher on I-20 and 2 times higher on I-10. Discussion: The smaller speed increases on I-10 may be related to its proximity to the U.S. border with Mexico. Highly visible border patrol activity coincided with posting of the higher speed limit. Long-term monitoring in other states suggests that traffic speeds in Texas are likely to continue to increase. Impact on Industry: The present study adds to the wealth of evidence that increased speed limits lead to increased travel speeds. The primary countermeasures to reduce the risk of speed-related crashes include highly visible police traffic enforcement and the use of speed cameras accompanied by publicity.     

Risks older drivers pose to themselves and to other road users

Problem

Studies have shown that older drivers have high death rates and lower rates of involvement in crashes that kill others; but most studies have not considered drivers' responsibility for their crashes, and many have considered only one particular measure of risk.

Method

This study examines risks that drivers of various ages pose to themselves and to others on per-driver, per-trip, and per-mile bases, taking responsibility for crashes into account, using United States fatal crash data from 1999 through 2003 and travel estimates from 2001.

Results

Relative to other age groups, drivers aged 85 and older face the highest risk of their own death, whereas teens pose the greatest risk to passengers, occupants of other vehicles, and non-motorists.

Discussion

The oldest drivers pose more risk to other road users than middle-aged drivers do; the degree of their excess risk depends strongly upon how risk is measured.

Impact on industry

These results demonstrate the importance of keeping clear the meaning and implications of various risk measures.     

马鞍山市城区主干道近地面空气质量调查

为调查马鞍山市城区主干道近地面空气质量状况,马鞍山市环境监测中心站于1999年1月19日～1月21日对城区3条主干道的5个监测点近地面空气质量进行了监测.结果表明,在城市整体环境空气质量良好的情况下,交通干道近地面空气污染较严重,主要污染源是机动车尾气,NOx、CO、TSP是特征性污染物,其中NOx平均分布浓度与车流量近似成正相关,从时间分布上看,NOx平均分布浓度早上最高,晚上次之,中午最低.指出,为改善城市的环境空气质量,必须加强对机动车尾气的监督管理.     

Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Their Sources in the Air of Izmir, Turkey

Air samples were collected in Izmir, Turkey at two (suburban and urban) sites during three sampling programs in 2002 and 2004 to determine the ambient concentrations of several monoaromatic, chlorinated and oxygenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Samples were analyzed for 60 VOCs using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and 28 compounds were detected in most samples. On the average, urban air VOC concentrations were about four times higher than those measured at the suburban site. Toluene (40.6%) was the most abundant compound in suburban site and was followed by benzene (7.4%), o,m-xylene (6.5%), and 1,2-dichloroethane (5.1%). In urban site, toluene (30.5%), p-xylene (14.9%), o,m-xylene (11.4%), and ethyl benzene (7.2%) were the dominating compounds in summer. In winter, toluene (31.1%), benzene (23.9%), 1,2-dichloroethane (9.5%), and o,m-xylene (8.2%) were the most abundant compounds. Receptor modeling (positive matrix factorization) has been performed to estimate the contribution of specific source types to ambient concentrations. Six source factors (gasoline vehicle exhaust, diesel vehicle exhaust+residential heating, paint production/application, degreasing, dry cleaning, and an undefined source) were extracted from the samples collected in the urban site. Three source factors (gasoline vehicle exhaust, diesel vehicle exhaust, and paint production/application) were identified for the suburban site.