Some recent advances in the theory of random vibration

A brief introduction is first given of the history of the technical field of random vibration, tracing back to the works of physicists since the beginning of the twentieth century. This is then followed by an account of more recent developments, with emphasis on nonlinear and quasi-nonlinear systems, and on analytical solutions for the associated Fokker-Planck equation and the generalized Pontryagin equation. The governing equation of a quasi-nonlinear system is linear, but with one or more randomly varying coefficients. The techniques for finding exact probability solutions, approximate probability solutions, conditions for motion stability, and the failure probability and statistics of a system are discussed.     

The species flocks of East African cichlid fishes: recent advances in molecular phylogenetics and population genetics

With more than 3,000 species, the fish family Cichlidae is one of the most species-rich families of vertebrates. Cichlids occur in southern and central America, Africa, Madagascar, and India. The hotspot of their biodiversity is East Africa, where they form adaptive radiations composed of hundreds of endemic species in several lakes of various sizes and ages. The unparalleled species richness of East African cichlids has been something of a conundrum for evolutionary biologists and ecologists, since it has been in doubt whether these hundreds of species arose by allopatric speciation or whether it is necessary to invoke somewhat less traditional models of speciation, such as micro-allopatric, peripatric, or even sympatric speciation or evolution through sexual selection mediated by female choice. Ernst Mayrs analyses of these evolutionary uniquely diverse species assemblages have contributed to a more direct approach to this problem and have led to a deeper understanding of the patterns and processes that caused the formation of these huge groups of species. We review here recent molecular data on population differentiation and phylogenetics, which have helped to unravel, to some extent, the patterns and processes that led to the formation and ecological maintenance of cichlid species flocks. It is becoming apparent that sexually selected traits do play an important role in speciation in micro-allopatric or even sympatric settings. Species richness seems to be roughly correlated with the surface area, but not the age, of the lakes. We observe that the oldest lineages of a species flock of cichlids are often less species-rich and live in the open water or deepwater habitats. While the species flocks of the Lake Malawai and the Lake Victoria areas were shown to be monophyletic, the cichlid assemblage of Lake Tanganyika seems to consist of several independent species flocks. Cichlids emerge as an evolutionary model system in which many fundamental questions in evolution and ecology can be tested successfully, yet for other fish species flocks the relative importance of alternative mechanisms of speciation is likely to differ from that in cichlid fish.Dedicated to Prof. Ernst Mayr     

Air quality management in China: Issues, challenges, and options

This article analyzed the control progress and current status of air quality,identified the major air pollution issues and challenges in future,proposed the long-term air pollution control targets,and ...     

Recent improvements in oily wastewater treatment: Progress, challenges, and future opportunities

Oily wastewater poses significant threats to the soil, water, air and human beings because of the hazardous nature of its oil contents. The objective of this review paper is to highlight the current and recently developed methods for oily wastewater treatment through which contaminants such as oil, fats, grease, and inorganics can be removed for safe applications. These include electrochemical treatment, membrane filtration, biological treatment, hybrid technologies, use of biosurfactants, treatment via vacuum ultraviolet radiation, and destabilization of emulsions through the use of zeolites and other natural minerals. This review encompasses innovative and novel approaches to oily wastewater treatment and provides scientific background for future work that will be aimed at reducing the adverse impact of the discharge of oily wastewater into the environment. The current challenges affecting the optimal performance of oily wastewater treatment methods and opportunities for future research development in this field are also discussed.     

近30a来乐清湾海岸线与海岸湿地变迁分析

以Landsat ETM/ TM影像为主要数据源,采用人机交互的方式提取了1990~2017年间6期乐清湾海岸线。利用马尔科夫矩阵法计算了滩涂转化规律,并按照年份进行岸线和海岸湿地变迁分析。结合当地相关资料,开展了乐清湾区域海岸线和海岸湿地变化的驱动力分析。结果表明:乐清湾岸线以人工岸线为主,岸线变化剧烈,变化速率分布不均,海岸湿地的变化整体面积变化不大,其中人工湿地主要由自然滩涂湿地转化而来,人类围填是乐清湾海岸线和海岸湿地变迁的主要因素。     

Artificial placenta and womb technology: Past,current, and future challenges towards clinical translation

Extreme prematurity remains a major cause of neonatal mortality and severe long-term morbidity. Current neonatal care is associated with significant morbidity due to iatrogenic injury and developmental immaturity of extreme premature infants. A more physiologic approach, replacing placental function and providing a womb-like environment, is the foundational principle of artificial placenta (AP) and womb (AW) technology. The concept has been studied during the past 60 years with limited success. However, recent technological advancements and a greater emphasis on mimicking utero-placental physiology have improved the success of experimental models, bringing the technology closer to clinical translation. Here, we review the rationale for and history of AP and AW technology, discuss the challenges that needed to be overcome, and compare recent successful models. We conclude by outlining some remaining challenges to be addressed on the path towards clinical translation and opportunities for future research.     

生物多样性保护面临的新问题和新挑战

"生物多样性"是动物、植物、微生物与环境形成的生态复合体,包括生态系统多样性、物种多样性和基因多样性三个层次.生物多样性是人类社会发展的战略资源,是衡量一个国家可持续发展能力的指旨标,维护了自然界的生态平衡,在减缓气候变化、保护和涵养水源、维护生态功能、保障生态安全方面具有重要作用,是建设美丽中国的重要基础.本文回顾了全球生物多样性现状,总结了生物多样性保护国际形势,重点介绍了包括生物多样性与气候变化、企业参与生物多样性、海洋生物多样性保护、生物多样性与合成生物学等当前生物多样性面临的新问题和新挑战,并就新形势下我国生物多样性保护的措施提出建议.     

Mitigation,adaptation, and climate change: results from recent research on US timber markets

This paper reviews recent studies that have addressed how US timber markets may adapt to climate change, and how US forests could be used to mitigate potential climate change. The studies are discussed in light of the ecological and economic assumptions used to estimate adaptation. Estimates of both economic impacts and carbon sequestration costs depend heavily on the assumptions and methods used, although some general conclusions can be drawn. Studies of economic impacts suggest that average market effects in the United States may range from +$1.3 to +7.4 billion per year by the middle of the next century. Estimates of the cost of sequestering carbon have generally increased over the last 10 years, with a current range of <1–73 million metric t per year of additional sequestration from afforestation projects costing $5–66 per metric t. Estimates of the potential for alternative methods for carbon sequestration, such as product markets and recycling, are as large as afforestation estimates, with up to 50 million metric tons per year of additional storage considered possible. Cost estimates have not been developed for these alternative methods, however.     

近20 a来我国海岸线曲折度变化分析

曲折是海岸线的基本属性,也是影响海洋自然环境和经济发展的重要影响因素.本文借助SuperMap的线数据集重采样功能,构建了基于海岸线轮廓基线的一种新的海岸线曲折度计算方法.选取1990年、2000年、2007年和2012年4期遥感影像,提取4期海岸线基础数据,计算海岸线曲折度,根据结果分析了近20 a来的我国海岸线曲折度的变化趋势和变化特征,得出以下结论:采用构建轮廓基线计算海岸线曲折度是一种有效的方法;近20 a来,我国大陆海岸线曲折度呈波动趋势,按照变化趋势可分为上升型、下降型和波动型3种;我国海岸线曲折度空间分布差异明显,整体上北方曲折度小于南方.     

近25年来我国海岸线开发强度变化研究

海岸线资源作为社会经济发展与城市扩张的重要空间基础,成为沿海城市社会经济发展的最重要因素。本文基于1990年、2000年、2010年和2015年4个时期的遥感影像提取岸线数据,计算25年来我国大陆海岸线开发强度变化量及年均变化速度,研究其时空演变规律,得出以下结论:（1）我国海岸线开发强度变化速度保持增长趋势,空间分布上以长江入海口为分界线,北方沿海城市普遍高于南方,时空演变形态呈现"三期"和"两型"两种特征;（2）重度开发岸线多分布于山东、辽宁和浙江三省,而天津、江苏和上海范围内其所占本省已开发利用岸线总长度的比例较大,均大于70%;（3）近25年来,我国大陆海岸线开发强度指数,以上海市为分界线,北方沿海城市指数全部高于0.6,均高于南方。     

Climate change and local level disaster risk reduction planning: need, opportunities and challenges

The field of climate change is full of uncertainties that are limiting strategic disaster risk reduction planning. In this paper, however, we argued that there is lot to do before we get our hands on reliable estimates of future climate change impacts. It includes bringing together different stakeholders in a framework suggested in this paper, developing case studies that reflect long-term local impacts of climate change, capacity building of local stakeholders that enables them to take decisions under uncertainty etc. We proposed a simple scheme that brings together climate, disaster and policy community together to start a dialogue in a run-up to understanding wider aspects of long-term risk reduction at local level. Strategic thinking, which has only been restricted to national and regional planning to date, needs to be inculcated in local level disaster risk reduction and policy personnel as well. There is a need to move from the attitude of considering local level players as ‘implementers’ to ‘innovators’ for which developing a network of self learning and evolving organizations are required at the local level.