A SPATIAL DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING AGRICULTURAL NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION1

ABSTRACT: A spatial decision support system (SDSS) was developed to assess agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution using an NPS pollution model and geographic information systems (GIS). With minimal user interaction, the SDSS assists with extracting the input parameters for a distributed parameter NPS pollution model from user-supplied GIS base layers. Thus, significant amounts of time, labor, and expertise can be saved. Further, the SDSS assists with visualizing and analyzing the output of the NPS pollution simulations. Capabilities of the visualization component include displays of sediment, nutrient, and runoff movement from a watershed. The input and output interface techniques/algorithms used to develop the SDSS, along with an example application of the SDSS, are described.     

THE EFFECT OF BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY ON MONITORING STRATEGIES: METALLOTHIONEINS AS AN EXAMPLE1

ABSTRACT: An increasing need exists to determine the relative health of estuarine and coastal systems with respect to their ability to support populations of fishery organisms. Many monitoring programs developed for this purpose utilize physiological and biochemical techniques to determine if marine organisms axe stressed by contaminant exposure. The use of the low molecular weight, metal-binding protein, metailothionein, is used as a model technique to detect non-lethal stress in aquatic organisms. Test organisms were the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, and the beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus. The data presented illustrates how natural environmental and physiological factors can affect the mobilization and partitioning of metals by organisms and contribute to observed variability in data sets. The processes that affected trace metal partitioning and accumulation were: in oysters, the reproductive cycle/season of the year; in blue arabs, growth and the molt cycle; and in the whale, the type of food and habitat. To effectively monitor populations of fishery organisms, therefore, it is necessary to identify those factors that control survival, growth, and reproduction so that better predictive models can be formulated that will not be confounded by uncontrolled variables.     

A vibroacoustic model of selected human larynx diseases.

With the present development of digital registration and methods for processing speech it is possible to make effective objective acoustic diagnostics for medical purposes. These methods are useful as all pathologies and diseases of the human vocal tract influence the quality of a patient's speech signal. Diagnostics of the voice organ can be defined as an unambiguous recognition of the current condition of a specific voice source. Such recognition is based on an evaluation of essential acoustic parameters of the speech signal. This requires creating a vibroacoustic model of selected deformations of Polish speech in relation to specific human larynx diseases. An analysis of speech and parameter mapping in 29-dimensional space is reviewed in this study. Speech parameters were extracted in time, frequency and cepstral (quefrency) domains resulting in diagrams that qualified symptoms and conditions of selected human larynx diseases. The paper presents graphically selected human larynx diseases.     

A Hydrologic/Water Quality Model Applicati11

Abstract: This paper presents a procedure for standard application of hydrologic/water quality models. To date, most hydrologic/water quality modeling projects and studies have not utilized formal protocols, but rather have employed ad hoc approaches. The procedure proposed is an adaptation and extension of steps identified from relevant literature including guidance provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This protocol provides guidance for establishing written plans prior to conducting modeling efforts. Eleven issues that should be addressed in model application plans were identified and discussed in the context of hydrologic/water quality studies. A graded approach for selection of the level of documentation for each item was suggested. The creation and use of environmental modeling plans is increasingly important as the results of modeling projects are used in decision‐making processes that have significant implications. Standard modeling application protocols similar to the proposed procedure herein provide modelers with a roadmap to be followed, reduces modelers’ bias, enhances the reproducibility of model application studies, and eventually improves acceptance of modeling outcomes.     

ROLE OF WATERSHED SUBDIVISION ON MODELING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITH SWAT1

Distributed parameter watershed models are often used for evaluating the effectiveness of various best management practices (BMPs). Streamflow, sediment, and nutrient yield predictions of a watershed model can be affected by spatial resolution as dictated by watershed subdivision. The objectives of this paper are to show that evaluation of BMPs using a model is strongly linked to the level of watershed subdivision; to suggest a methodology for identifying an appropriate subdivision level; and to examine the efficacy of different BMPs at field and watershed scales. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was calibrated and validated for streamflow, sediment, and nutrient yields at the outlet of the Dreisbach (623 ha) and Smith Fry (730 ha) watersheds in Maumee River Basin, Indiana. Grassed waterways, grade stabilization structures, field borders, and parallel terraces are the BMPs that were installed in the study area in the 1970s. Sediment and nutrient outputs from the calibrated model were compared at various watershed subdivision levels, both with and without implementation of these BMPs. Results for the study watersheds indicated that evaluation of the impacts of these BMPs on sediment and nutrient yields was very sensitive to the level of subdivision that was implemented in SWAT. An optimal watershed subdivision level for representation of the BMPs was identified through numerical simulations. For the study watersheds, it would appear that the average subwatershed area corresponding to approximately 4 percent of total watershed area is needed to represent the influence of these BMPs when using the SWAT model.     

A giant termite from the Late Miocene of Styria, Austria (Isoptera)

A giant termite is described and figured from the Late Miocene of the Styrian Basin in southeastern Austria. Gyatermes styriensis gen. n. et sp. n. is represented by a relatively complete forewing, with basal scale. The fossil approximates in size the largest of all termites today and is the largest fossil termite on record. The presence of this species in the Late Miocene fauna of Europe indicates that climatic conditions were appropriate for the persistence of species and colonies requiring relatively stable, warm conditions. The genus is primitive in overall features but shares some similarity with the dampwood termites.     

大型体育赛事对城市旅游的影响研究——以兰州国际马拉松为例

大型体育赛事的举办对城市旅游业发展具有巨大的刺激作用。以兰州国际马拉松为例,采用2000—2013年兰州旅游人数和旅游收入的统计数据,分析比赛前后几年旅游人数及旅游收入的变化。结果表明,兰州国际马拉松赛事对兰州旅游业发展的拉动作用极为明显。在此基础上,提出作为经济欠发达地区的兰州在发展以体育赛事为主的文化创意产业时所面临的问题及对策。     

澜沧江梯级水电站库区水体富营养化研究

根据2008年1—12月对澜沧江下游的漫湾和大朝山水电站库区的水环境监测结果,应用浮游植物指示法、地表水资源质量标准评价、经验TLI法评价、藻类现存量指标法对影响水体富营养化的水环境指标进行了分析。结果表明,两库区水体中,营养盐指标总体处在一种高含量水平,大朝山和漫湾库区水体总氮浓度年变化范围分别为0.345~1.880mg/L和0.340~1.743mg/L,总磷浓度年变化范围分别为0.019~0.139mg/L和0.015~0.111mg/L。TLI综合指数评价表明两库区水体处于贫营养水平。     

温度对沉水植物腐解释放DOM及微生物群落多样性的影响

在5,10,20,35℃下研究了黑藻和马来眼子菜腐解过程中DOM的特性、细菌和真菌群落结构多样性的变化.结果表明,腐解结束时5,10,20,35℃下黑藻的干物质剩余量分别为初始干物质质量的59.13%、43.91%、32.61%和29.57%,马来眼子菜的干物质剩余量分别为初始干物质质量的69.13%、51.3%、30.87%和29.57%.升高温度一定程度上促进了植物有机碳和全氮释放,对全磷无明显影响（P>0.05）.采用平行因子分析法得到黑藻中含有2种类腐殖酸组分C1、C2和1种类蛋白质组分C3,马来眼子菜中含有3种类腐殖酸组分C1、C2和C3.温度升高使得腐解水体中DO和电导率的变化程度加剧,总体上4种温度下2种植物腐解水体中DO均呈现先下降后上升的趋势.通过高通量测序得到腐解前期（0~16d）参与黑藻和马来眼子菜腐解的主要细菌分别为变形菌门（Proteobacteria）和拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）;腐解中后期（16~68d）参与黑藻和马来眼子菜腐解的细菌分别以厚壁菌门（Phylum Firmicutes）和变形菌门（Proteobacteria）为主,温度对细菌群落结构无明显影响,而参与2种植物腐解的真菌均以子囊菌（Ascomycetes）最为活跃.