Chelipeds are the real weapon: cheliped size is a more effective determinant than body size in male–male competition for mates in a hermit crab

To understand the evolution of weapons, we must understand both their functions and relative importance compared to body size in determining fighting success. Many decapod crustaceans develop disproportionately large chelipeds for their body size and use them as a weapon in agonistic interaction. There are, however, examples where weapons are merely signals of resource holding potential (RHP) and the RHP is actually determined by body size. We investigated the function and relative efficacy of body size and major cheliped size in male–male contests for females in the hermit crab Diogenes nitidimanus. Contests over females took two forms: (1) males preemptively guarded females and opponents did not fight with the guarding male. Cheliped size contributed significantly to the settlement of these contests and probably functioned as a visual signal for the opponents. (2) Guarding males engaged in physical combat with an opponent. In these cases, both body and cheliped sizes affected contest outcomes. The effect size for cheliped size was as strong, or stronger, than that for body size. These results suggest that large chelipeds have evolved as a true weapon and are effective in escalated fights for resources. Therefore they are also efficient visual signals for settling contests with only display. Our results are a rare example that clearly demonstrate that weapons are a more important determinant of fights than body size when both body and weapon size affect resource acquisition.     

Digestion performance and microbial community in full-scale methane fermentation of stillage from sweet potato-shochu production

Sweet potato shochu is a traditional Japanese spirit produced mainly in the South Kyushu area in Japan. The amount of stillage reaches approximately 8 × 105tons per year. Wastewater mainly containing stillage from the production of sweet potato-shochu was treated thermophilically in a fullscale treatment plant using fixed-bed reactors(8 reactors × 283 m3). Following the addition of Ni2+ and Co2+, the reactors have been stably operated for six years at a high chemical oxygen demand(COD) loading rate of 14 kg/(m3·day). Analysis of coenzyme content and microbial communities indicated that similar microbial communities were present in the liquid phase and on the fiber carriers installed in reactors. Bacteria in the phyla Firmicutes as well as Bacteroidetes were dominant bacteria, and Methanosarcina thermophila as well as Methanothermobacter crinale were dominant methanogens in the reactors. This study reveals that stillage from sweet potato-shochu production can be treated effectively in a full-scale fixed-bed reactor under thermophilic conditions with the help of Ni2+and Co2+. The high diversity of bacterial community and the coexistence of both aceticlastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens contributed to the excellent fermentation performance.     

Aniline removal by Photocatalytic reaction of iron(iii) mediated with dissolved organic matter

When light (> 370 nm) was allowed to interact with an aqueous solution containing dissolved organic matter (DOM) and Fe(III), removal of aniline (AN) was observed. This was due to the photocatalytic reaction of Fe(III) mediated by DOM. Syringic acid (SYA) and humic acid (HA) were used as DOM in the present study. The ¹⁵N‐NMR spectrum of the product mixture from the light irradiation of the SYA/Fe(III) system demonstrated that AN was covalently bound to SYA. The kinetics of AN removal were, therefore, interpreted by assuming covalent binding between DOM and AN. The amounts of covalent binding sites and the apparent second‐order rate constants could be evaluated, and the amounts of covalent binding sites decreased with the increases of the concentration of DOM. This is attributed that the polymerization of DOM by the photo‐oxidation competed with the covalent binding between AN and DOM.     

The trail pheromone of the ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crematogaster castanea</Emphasis>

Summary. The major component of the trail pheromone of the myrmicine ant Crematogaster castanea has been identified as (R)-2-dodecanol from the tibial glands of the hind legs. The substance gave activity comparable to the contents of 8 tibial glands at a concentration of 1 pg per 32 cm trail.     

中日合作项目国内外危险化学品安全管理初步研究

按照中日合作项目《加强中国安全生产科学技术能力计划》,分析了日本、美国、加拿大、德国、欧盟和联合国等国际危险化学品安全管理现状,总结提出了实施风险评价、申报登记、风险控制、信息警示和员工培训等国际危险化学品安全管理方式及其特点。同时,结合中国危险化学品安全管理现状,提出了系统化建设危险化学品安全生产法规标准体系、制定作业场所危险化学品卫生要求、修订《危险化学品安全管理条例》等进一步建立健全中国危险化学品安全管理的对策和建议。这对完善中国危险化学品安全管理具有重要的参考意义。     

Local Circulation with Aeolian Dust on the Slopes and Foot Areas of the Tianshan and Kunlun Mountains around the Taklimakan Desert, China

Four automatic weather stations (AWS) were installed on the slopes and foot areas of the Tianshan and Kunlun Mountains along a longitude of 80 degrees east: (1) Taglak 2400 m a.s.l., (2) Aksu 1000 m, (3) Kartash 2800 m, and (4) Qira 1700 m. These two slopes face the Taklimakan Desert. Tagliak lies on the southern slope of Tianshan, and Kartash on the northern slope of Kunlun. The meteorological characteristics of the mountainous regions were investigated using surface data obtained during an intensive observation period (IOP) in spring 2002. It was found that visibility on the slopes decreases in the daytime, and there is no relationship between visibility and wind speed in the mountainous areas. Two snow layers containing dust particles were observed in the snow cover in Taglak during the IOP in spring 2003. These results suggest that a warm air parcel containing aeolian dust climbs over the slopes of the mountainous areas, and dust particles in the mountainous areas are transported from the foot areas.     

Identification and behavior of reaction products formed by chlorination of ethynylestradiol

Six products were formed by reaction of ethynylestradiol (EE2) with sodium hypochlorite in buffered solutions. 4-Chloroethynylestradiol (4-ClEE2) and 2,4-dichloroethynylestradiol (2,4-diClEE2) were identified as the two major reaction products, using preparative HPLC, MS, and NMR. When EE2 reacted with chlorine at different pHs (pH 5, 7, and 9) or chlorine concentrations (0.2, 1, 2, and 5 mmol/l, corresponding to molar ratios to EE2, 1, 5, 10, and 25, respectively), the formation of 4-ClEE2 and 2,4-diClEE2 was observed under the above conditions, and the highest yields were 20 and 52 mol%, respectively. EE2 was consumed almost completely within 5 min of chlorination by addition of chlorine of more than 1 mmol/l (molar ratio to EE2, 5). On the other hand, the two products existed in highly chlorinated solutions after 60 min (4ClEE2, 1-6 mol%; 2,4-diClEE2, 3-25 mol%). The estrogenic activities of 4-ClEE2 by estrogen receptor alpha or beta binding assay were similar to those of the parent EE2, and the activities of 2,4-diClEE2 were lower about 10 times.     

Characteristics of electrolysis, ozonation, and their combination process on treatment of municipal wastewater.

The characteristics of municipal wastewater treatment by electrolysis, ozonation, and combination processes of electrolysis and aeration using three gaseous species (nitrogen [N2], oxygen [O2], and ozone [O3]) were discussed in this research using ruthenium oxide (RuO2)-coated titanium anodes and stainless-steel (SUS304) cathodes. Electrolysis and electrolysis with nitrogen aeration were characterized by a rapid decrease in 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BODs) and total nitrogen and a slow decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD). In contrast, ozonation, electrolysis with oxygen aeration, and electrolysis with ozone aeration were characterized by transformation of persistent organic matter to biodegradable matter and preservation of total nitrogen. The best energy efficiency in removing BOD5 and total nitrogen was demonstrated by electrolysis, as a result of direct anodic oxidation and indirect oxidation with free chlorine produced from the chloride ion (Cl-) at the anodes. However, electrolysis with ozone aeration was found to be superior to the other processes, in terms of its energy efficiency in removing COD and its ability to remove COD completely, as a result of hydroxyl radical (*OH) production via cathodic reduction of ozone.     

Roadside particulate air pollution in Bangkok

Airborne fine particles of PM(2.5-10) and PM2.5 in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Ayutthaya were measured from December 22, 1998, to March 26, 1999, and from November 30, 1999, to December 2, 1999. Almost all the PM10 values in the high-polluted (H) area exceeded the Thailand National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 120 microg/m3. The low-polluted (L) area showed low PM10 (34-74 microg/m3 in the daytime and 54-89 microg/m3 at night). PM2.5 in the H area varied between 82 and 143 microg/m3 in the daytime and between 45 and 146 microg/m3 at night. In the L area, PM2.5 was quite low both day and night and varied between 24 and 54 microg/m3, lower than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard (65 microg/m3). The personal exposure results showed a significantly higher proportion of PM2.5 to PM10 in the H area than in the L area (H = 0.80 +/- 0.08 and L = 0.65 +/- 0.04). Roadside PM10 was measured simultaneously with the Thailand Pollution Control Department (PCD) monitoring station at the same site and at the intersections where police work. The result from dual simultaneous measurements of PM10 showed a good correlation (correlation coefficient: r = 0.93); however, PM levels near the roadside at the intersections were higher than the concentrations at the monitoring station. The relationship between ambient PM level and actual personal exposures was examined. Correlation coefficients between the general ambient outdoors and personal exposure levels were 0.92 for both PM2.5 and PM10. Bangkok air quality data for 1997-2000, including 24-hr average PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3 from eight PCD monitoring stations, were analyzed and validated. The annual arithmetic mean PM10 of the PCD data at the roadside monitoring stations for the last 3 years decreased from 130 to 73 microg/m3, whereas the corresponding levels at the general monitoring stations decreased from 90 to 49 microg/m3. The proportion of days when the level of the 24-hr average PM10 exceeded the NAAQS was between 13 and 26% at roadside stations. PCD data showed PM10 was well correlated with NO2 but not with SO2, suggesting that automobile exhaust is the main source of the particulate air pollution. The results obtained from the simultaneous measurement of PM2.5 and PM10 indicate the potential environmental health hazard of fine particles. In conclusion, Bangkok traffic police were exposed to high levels of automobile-derived particulate air pollution.