Changes in reproductive life-history strategies in response to nest density in a shell-brooding cichlid, Telmatochromis vittatus

To determine whether the appearance of a reproductively parasitic tactic varies, and how this variation affects territorial males of the Lake Tanganyika cichlid fish Telmatochromis vittatus, we examined the reproductive ecology of territorial males in Mtondwe and compared it with that of a neighboring Wonzye population, where nest density differs from that at Mtondwe. In Wonzye, with high nest density, male tactics change with their body size from a territorial to a non-territorial parasitic tactic called piracy in which they conquer several nests defended by territorial males and take over the nests while females are spawning. These “pirate” males could decrease the costs incurred by travelling among nests by exclusively targeting aggregations of nests in close proximity while avoiding separate nests. Territorial males in Wonzye sacrifice the potential higher attractiveness offered by large nests and instead compete for nests farther from neighbors on which pirates less frequently intrude. In contrast, the Mtondwe population had lower nest density and piracy was absent. Given that the success of piracy depends on the close proximity of nests, nest density is likely responsible for the observed variation in the occurrence of piracy between the two populations. Furthermore, in Mtondwe, territorial males competed for larger nests and were smaller than the territorial males in Wonzye. Thus, this lower nest density may free territorial males from the selection pressures for increased size caused by both defense against nest piracy and the need to develop into pirates as they grow.     

增强企业内安全培训能力对策研究

依据中日合作项目《加强中国安全生产科学技术能力计划》成果，对比分析了中日对企业安全培训相关法规要求，明确了各自的优点、缺点，提出通过开展企业内安全培训负责人培训可增强企业内安全培训能力，并在宁波进行了试点。提出应当重视企业内安全培训工作，对生产经营单位安全培训规定进行修改，制定配套实施细则和办法，开展企业内安全培训负责人培训、把班组长培训制度化、充分利用外部培训机构等增强企业内安全培训能力的对策和建议。     

我国安全生产法制宣传现状调研与对策研究

在调研我国当前安全生产法制宣传现状、存在问题以及地方安监部门和生产经营单位的现实需求等的基础上,本研究提出今后一段时期内提高我国安全生产法制宣传效果的建议措施,包括研究建立安全生产法制宣传制度、明确有关工作机制,优化安全生产网络与信息系统等平台、充分利用现代化传媒手段进行宣传,进一步发挥教育培训作为安全生产法制宣传的载体作用,以及加强生产经营单位重点人群、职业健康领域和标准的法制宣传。     

Mate availability accelerates male filial cannibalism in a nest brooding fish: effects of number and fecundity of females

Theoretical models predict that increased mate availability accelerates filial cannibalism by the parental male, but we do not yet fully understand how the various aspects of mate availability contribute to this effect. We examined the effects of two elements of mate availability—female fecundity and sex ratio—on filial cannibalism by the lizard goby, Rhinogobius flumineus, which is a paternal nest brooding fish. We used three types of females (stimulus-females): a single female with slim belly (not ready to spawn), a single gravid female (ready to spawn), and two gravid females. Stimulus-females were housed in a transparent cage and shown to subject males just before and after spawning with a separate female, after which males cared for the brood. A single gravid stimulus-female accelerated filial cannibalism, compared with a control-stimulus consisting of an empty cage, but only during the early care period. In contrast, a single slim-bellied stimulus-female did not accelerate cannibalism. A stimulus of two gravid females accelerated cannibalism to the same degree as a single gravid female stimulus. Our results suggest that in lizard gobies, filial cannibalism by parental males is accelerated by female quality (fecundity) in the early care period, but not by a higher number of available females (sex ratio).     

Liquefaction process for a hydrothermally treated waste mixture containing plastics

Most landfilled plastic waste is a mixture or is in the form of composites with incombustible wastes such as glass, metals, and ceramics. After hydrothermal treatment, including a steam-explosion process, the separation of mixed waste (MW) into organic and inorganic substances becomes easy. However, the effect of hydrothermal pretreatment on the subsequent liquefaction of organic substances from MW is not obvious. In this study, the effects on the liquefaction of polystyrene and high-density polyethylene are discussed. Moreover, optimum conditions for the liquefaction of organic substances from hydrothermally treated MW are identified. By means of this hydrothermal pretreatment, including the steam-explosion process, polystyrene and high-density polyethylene can be significantly converted to oil by liquefaction at 300°–400°C. In comparison with liquefaction of hydrothermally pretreated mixed waste (HMW) at 300°–400°C with a batch type reactor, the yield of oil increases significantly on liquefaction using a semi-batch type reactor. It is considered that the radical chain and termination reactions among the radicals from HMW were inhibited in the semi-batch type reactor. On liquefaction of HMW in a semi-batch reactor, the conversion of HMW to oil was enhanced on increasing the liquefaction temperature to 350°C and the holding time to 60 min. Chemical Feedstock Recycling & Other Innovative Recycling Techniques 6     

Immobilization of tritiated water by hydrothermal hot-pressing

Tritium is generally disposed of as an oxide form, and immobilization of tritium oxide with Portland cement is the most popular disposal method. However, the cement solidified body is rather leachable for tritium and is poor in some physical properties. A silicate powder, such as borosilicate glass powder, forms a synthetic rock by the hydrothermal hot-pressing (HHP) technique, making it a technique for immobilization of tritium oxide. Tritium oxide with borosilicate glass powder was solidified by the HHP technique. Leachability of tritium from the produced solidified bodies and the behavior of fixed tritium oxide during the heating were studied and discussed. The amount of tritium oxide fixed by the present procedure was almost the same as that fixed by the ordinary cement solidifying procedure. The diffusivity of tritium from the body by this procedure was much lower than that from the cement body and the compressive strength of the body was higher than that of the cement body.     

Comprehensive temperature monitoring in an in-vessel forced-aeration static-bed composting process

Comprehensive temperature monitoring was done in an in-vessel forced-aeration static-bed composting process using sewage sludge. The three layers that divided the compost pile horizontally showed different temperature distributions. The temperature of the top layer appeared not to be influenced by the ambient temperature. The temperature of the center area of the top layer was taken to be the representative temperature for evaluating composting start-up performance. The temperature of the bottom layer was strongly influenced by the ambient temperature, and the temperature of the center area of the bottom layer was taken to be the representative temperature for pathogen control as it was the minimum temperature in the reactor. Composting start-up performance was influenced by several factors when the ambient temperature was either below or above 20°C. When the ambient temperature was below 20°C, the time taken to reach 65°C (T ₆₅) was influenced by the temperature of inflowing air, but when the temperature was higher than 20°C, it was influenced by the ratio of sewage sludge to seed compost (F/S). T ₆₅ was least when F/S was 1–2. Received: January 9, 2001 / Accepted: October 10, 2001