An application of Markov Decision Programming to ecologico-cybernetics—A decision method applied to the antifrost of winter wheat

Modern ecologico-cybernetic principle is of importance to decreasing damages in relation to agricultural productions. As an illustration of this, the authors studied some of the questions about the optimal policy of choosing actions for the antifrost measures of winter wheat by means of the finite-stage model of Markov Decision Programming (MDP). The related data came from the investigation results of the investigated region in the northeastern part of Henan, China. First, the authors give the states, ecologico-cybernetic action measures, transition probabilities and reward values in relation to these antifrost action measures of winter wheat crop. Second, the authors describe the principles and computational procedures of the ecologico-cybernetic decision-makings based on the finite-stage model of MDP. Third, a simple table applicable to the decision-making practice is given. Finally, we evaluate the results of this study, point out their shortcomings and suggest that this method is applicable to the other fields in relation to decreasing damage ecologico-cybernetics.     

Characteristics of Urban Natural Areas Influencing Winter Bird Use in Southern Ontario,Canada

Characteristics of urban natural areas and surrounding landscapes were identified that best explain winter bird use for 28 urban natural areas in southern Ontario, Canada. The research confirms for winter birds the importance of area (size) and natural vegetation, rather than managed, horticultural parkland, within urban natural areas as well as percent urban land use and natural habitat in surrounding landscapes. Alien bird density and percent ground feeding species increased with percent surrounding urban land use. Higher percent forest cover was associated with higher percentages of forest, bark feeding, small (<20 g) and insectivorous species. Natural area size (ha) was related to higher species richness, lower evenness and higher percentages of insectivorous, forest interior, area-sensitive, upper canopy, bark feeding, and non-resident species. Higher number of habitat types within natural areas and percent natural habitat in surrounding landscapes were also associated with higher species richness. Common, resident bird species dominated small areas (<6.5 ha), while less common non-residents increased with area, indicative of a nested distribution. Areas at least 6.5 ha and more generally >20 ha start to support some area-sensitive species. Areas similar to rural forests had >25% insectivores, >25% forest interior species, >25% small species, and <5% alien species. Indicator species separated urban natural areas from rural habitats and ordination placed urban natural areas along a gradient between urban development and undisturbed, rural forests. More attention is needed on issues of winter bird conservation in urban landscapes.     

Response of winter wheat yield and soil microbial biomass to fertilization with ridge mulching-furrow planting in the dry highlands of the Loess Plateau北大核心CSCD

As the typical planting pattern of winter wheat in the dry highlands of the Loess Plateau, ridge mulching-furrow planting (RMFP) has played an important role in fertilizer efficiency of different fertilizers, and the differences in fertilizer efficiency further influence the diversity of the structure of soil microbial communities. The effects of different fertilization practices on winter wheat yield formation, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN), and soil microbial biomass phosphorus (SMBP) were investigated by field experiments during 2014-2016 in the winter wheat growing region of the dry highlands in southern Shanxi. The treatments included four groups, farmer fertilization (FF), monitoring fertilization (MF), monitoring fertilization combined application of manure (MFM), and monitoring fertilization combined application of bio-organic fertilizer (MFB). Results showed a significant increase in winter wheat yield by optimized and balanced fertilization, and the grain yield of MFB was highest among all treatments, with a value of 4 107-5 400 kg/hm2, which was 14.5%-23.2% (P < 0.05) higher than that of FF. The effects of different fertilization treatments on the winter wheat yield formulation mainly depended on spike number; however, no effect was found on kernel number per spike and 1 000-grain weight. Soil microbial biomass was affected by both growth period and fertilization patterns, i.e., the content of SMBC from jointing to flowering stage was highest during the winter wheat growth period, whereas the maximum values of SMBN and SMCP were found during the jointing stage. Changes in the rates of SMBC, SMBN, and SMBP during the entire growth period were less than 50%; however, the average contribution rate of optimized fertilization on SMBC, SMBN, and SMBP reached 90%. Compared to single chemical fertilizer applications, the combined application chemical fertilizer and manure or bio-organic fertilizer significantly improved the contents of SMBC, SMBN, and SMBP; however, the contents of SMBC and SMBN between MFM and MFB had no significant difference, whereas the SMBP of MFB was 19.8%-47.1% (P < 0.05) higher than that of MFM owing to the effect of mixed phosphorus bacteria. The soil microbial biomass C/N and C/P of the different treatments were 6.9-9.8 and 14.4-41.0, respectively, and maximum values occurred during the flowering stage. Given the above, the combined application of reasonable chemical fertilizer and bio-organic fertilizer can effectively improve the winter wheat yield and soil microbial biomass under RMFP cultivation in the dry highlands of the Loess Plateau. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Which regional features of Danish agriculture favour the corn bunting in the contemporary farming landscape?

Corn buntings Miliaria calandra were abundant throughout arable agricultural landscapes in Europe, but have catastrophically declined since the mid 1970s with changes in farming practice and now give serious conservation cause for concern. Corn buntings declined in Denmark during 1976–1993, but (almost unique in Europe) have since increased (by up to 11% per annum) in some areas without specific conservation recovery actions. Based on breeding bird surveys in the mid 1990s, highest corn bunting densities occurred on mixed agriculture in west Denmark (Jylland); the species was rarer or absent in regions of highest arable land cover. Corn bunting density and extent of rotational and permanent grassland were correlated, but not with spring sown barley (all known to constitute important corn bunting winter habitat). The extent of spring barley rapidly declined in Denmark during the 1980s, but since 1990, most counties have since shown 2–3% annual increases in this crop, except in Nordjylland, where high densities of corn buntings have remained stable. Elsewhere in Jylland, corn buntings have increased in counties supporting highest densities during the mid 1990s, contrasting stable or declining trends in south and east Denmark where densities were originally lower. After dramatic decreases everywhere in Denmark, corn buntings retain highest breeding densities associated with mixed agriculture, especially where grassland and spring sown barley remained in greatest extent. Although purely based on land use correlation and bird surveillance, these results show an association between mixed farming and favourable conservation status of a species now red-listed throughout much of Europe. Further investigations of habitat use at small spatial scales and throughout the annual cycle are urgently required to better enlighten specific recommendations for wider applicability of guidelines for corn bunting recovery actions elsewhere.     

上海西郊麦期氮素淋溶定位研究

上海西郊水旱轮作地中麦期的淋失研究表明，氮肥淋失的基本形态为硝酸盐氮，施肥后10d左右，形成硝酸盐氮淋溶的高峰期，在整个生育期间，随深度增加，硝酸盐氮浓度峰值向深层推移，但其渗漏深度为80cm左右。氮素的淋失主要发生在11月到次年3月的作物幼苗期，当追肥超过150kg/hm^2后，渗漏量增加很快。     

Understanding unusually high levels of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in winter in Urban Jinan, China

Peroxyacetyl nitrate(PAN), as a major secondary pollutant, has gained increasing worldwide attentions, but relevant studies in China are still quite limited. During winter of 2015 to summer of 2016, the ambient levels of PAN were measured continuously by an automatic gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector(GC–ECD) analyzer at an urban site in Jinan(China), with related parameters including concentrations of O3, NO, NO_2, PM_(2.5), HONO,the photolysis rate constant of NO_2 and meteorological factors observed concurrently. The mean and maximum values of PAN concentration were(1.89 ± 1.42) and 9.61 ppbv respectively in winter, and(2.54 ± 1.44) and 13.47 ppbv respectively in summer. Unusually high levels of PAN were observed during severe haze episodes in winter, and the formation mechanisms of them were emphatically discussed. Study showed that high levels of PAN in winter were mainly caused by local accumulation and strong photochemical reactions during haze episodes, while mass transport played only a minor role. Accelerated photochemical reactions(compared to winter days without haze) during haze episodes were deduced by the higher concentrations but shorter lifetimes of PAN, which was further supported by the sufficient solar radiation in the photolysis band along with the high concentrations of precursors(NO_2, VOCs) and HONO during haze episodes. In addition, significant PAN accumulation during calm weather of haze episodes was verified by meteorological data.     

Seasonal variation in fall-related emergency department visits by location of fall – United States, 2015

Introduction: In the United States, fall-related emergency department (ED) visits among older adults (age 65 and older) have increased over the past decade. Studies document seasonal variation in fall injuries in other countries, while research in the United States is inconclusive. The objectives of this study were to examine seasonal variation in older adult fall-related ED visits and explore if seasonal variation differs by the location of the fall (indoors vs. outdoors), age group, and sex of the faller. Methods: Fall-related ED visit data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program were analyzed by season of the ED visit, location of the fall, and demographics for adults aged 65 years and older. Results: Total fall-related ED visits were higher during winter compared with other seasons. This seasonal variation was found only for falls occurring outdoors. Among outdoor falls, the variation was found among males and adults aged 65 to 74 years. The percentages of visits for weather-related outdoor falls were also higher among males and the 65–74 year age group. Conclusions: In 2015, there was a seasonal variation in fall-related ED visits in the United States. Weather-related slips and trips in winter may partially account for the seasonal variation. Practical Implications: These results can inform healthcare providers about the importance of screening all older adults for fall risk and help to identify specific patients at increased risk during winter. They may encourage community-based organizations serving older adults to increase fall prevention messaging during winter.     

华北冬小麦生长期旱情指标探讨

选用降水、无雨日因子,参考作物生长与供水关系,拟用模糊数学方法评定旱情,结果令人满意。笔者认为,研究农业干旱,无雨日数和无雨日发生时机的重要性等同。     

Mapping sediment contamination and toxicity in Winter Quarters Bay,McMurdo Station,Antarctica

Winter Quarters Bay (WQB) is a small embayment located adjacent to McMurdo Station, the largest researchbase in Antarctica. The bay is approximately 250 m wide andlong, with a maximum depth of 33 m. Historically, trashfrom the McMurdo Station was piled on the steep shoreline ofWQB, doused with fuel and ignited. That practice hasceased, and the adjacent land area has been regraded tocover the residual waste. The bottom of WQB remainslittered with drums, equipment, tanks, tires, cables, andother objects, especially the southeastern side of the baywhere dumping took place. Sediments are contaminated withPCBs, metals, and hydrocarbon fuels. The objectives of this study were to map the distributionof organic contaminants in WQB, assess the toxicity of WQB sediments using a simple microbial test, anddetermine correlations between toxicity and contaminantlevels. The study suggests that adverse ecological effectshave occurred from one or more of the contaminants found inWQB but the source of the toxic impacts to bay sedimentsremains unknown. Whole sediment toxicity was onlycorrelated with oil-equivalent while solvent extracts ofsediments were correlated with PAHs and oil-equivalent. Theauthors recommend that an integrated research plan bedeveloped that focuses on determining what additionalinformation is needed to make informed decisions on possibleremediation of WQB.     

缺水地区煤化工项目污水用于荒地浇灌的可行性及关注点探讨

随着国家能源开发西移战略实施，内蒙古构筑我国重要能源重化工基地成为内蒙古自治区十一五规划的主要内容之一。因此，内蒙古自治区得天独厚的煤炭储量以及相对丰富的土地资源使得煤化工项目在内蒙古自治区得到了前所未有的发展。同时内蒙古自治区匮乏的水资源和煤化工污水排放的最终去向亦成为严重制约大型煤化工项目建设的瓶颈。 通过这几年做煤化工项目环评我有以下体会，即一般煤化工项目特别是大型煤化工项目的工艺路线和设备的选择均为国际或国内成熟技术，而制约煤化工项目建设的主要问题是外部依托条件，如：原料来源及产品贮运路线、水源供给、废渣填埋场、污水最终去向等。 本文拟通过已完成并通过国家环保总局评审的一个大型煤化工项目的污水去向的设计为例，针对大型煤化工项目在西部缺水地区的污水最终去向如何处理以及其需特别关注的方面和老师及同行进行交流并探讨。 该项目的污水在深度处理后排入净化库后经氧和沉淀后对项目区域周边的荒地进行冬储夏灌，用于生态建设用水，不向外环境排放。荒地种植景观生态林。灌木以及植被等。