Age-dependent effects of carotenoids on sexual ornaments and reproductive performance of a long-lived seabird

Understanding the mechanisms mediating age-dependent reproductive effort in wild animals is a major challenge in evolutionary ecology. The acquisition of molecules able to deter somatic damage could potentially improve reproductive performance, especially in physiologically compromised individuals. Carotenoids are antioxidants and immunoenhancers that animals can only obtain through diet. We tested in male blue-footed boobies whether carotenoid supplementation during incubation improves condition and reproductive performance, particularly of older males. Old birds showed lower levels of peroxidative damage than middle-aged males; however, changes of males' antioxidant capacity and peroxidative damage were not affected by carotenoid supplementation irrespective of age. Experimental old males displayed more colourful feet than control old males after 13 days of first carotenoid supplementation. The effect of carotenoids on male reproductive performance was dependent upon age: young males receiving extra-carotenoids produced chicks with smaller growth rates than control young males, whereas old males receiving extra-carotenoids produced chicks with higher growth rates than control old males. Our results highlight that carotenoids influence the relationship between age and reproductive performance and suggest a positive effect of carotenoids on reproduction of old males.     

近53年山东省霾季节性特征的年代际变异

为了进一步认识山东省霾日长期变化特征,从而为政府决策和空气质量预报提供科学依据,基于山东省80 个气象站53 年（1961-2013）的观测资料分析,利用多项式及线性回归拟合、定义表示随季节和年际变化程度的变量如季节变化率、年际变化率等多种统计方法分析了近53 年来山东省霾日季节性的年际、年代际长期变化及空间分布规律,结果表明,山东上个世纪明显的冬季霾高发的典型季节性特征演变为本世纪模糊的季节差异,即霾多发时段随年际增长逐渐由冬季蔓延至秋季,夏季和春季.全省平均霾日的季节变率从60 年代的84.0%,70-80 年代的72.4%~73.6%,到90 年代跌至56.4%,而在本世纪的13 年低达42.3%,体现了山东霾日变化季节性的年代际特征,即近53 年季节差异在不断减小,霾趋于常年化发生的大气污染事件.霾日季节性的空间分布及年际变化特征还表明：近53 年山东霾日呈持续上升趋势,1990 年之前呈显著的增长趋势,1990 年之后上升缓慢,但维持霾高发的水平.霾日高发区域主要集中在济南地区,济宁-泰安-莱芜一带,枣庄-临沂一带,青岛地区和聊城西部地区,其中,高中心依次为济南的80.9 d·a^-1,临沂的78.2 d·a^-1 和青岛的69.0 d·a^-1.山东中东部的霾日年增长率整体高于西部地区,鲁中、鲁南及半岛南部地区是霾日年际增长高值区.山东省霾日年际变化趋势以夏季增长率最高,大部分地区的年际增长率都在4.5%·a^-1 以上,其次是秋季、春季霾日年际变化趋势,冬季霾日年际变化趋势普遍增长率最低,且大部分地区的变化率值为1.5%·a^-1 以上,近53 年来山东大部分地区出现了霾日模糊季节性变异.     

板坯火焰清理机烟气治理技术

介绍了国产板坯火焰清理机烟气的治理系统及湿式电除尘器的结构和技术特点.结果表明,该烟气治理系统及湿式电除尘器能够满足火焰清理机工况和烟气排放的环保要求,完全可以替代同类进口设备.     

危险品仓库静电隐患的测量、评估与防护危险品工作区域中人体静电隐患的防护

阐述了危险品工作区域中人体静电防护的必要性,总结了人体静电的起因和危害形式,给出了危险品工作区域中人体静电隐患防护的几个方法.     

Utilization of Natural Oils for Decomposition of Polyurethanes

The model polyurethane foam and model compact polyurethane material were prepared and then decomposed by means of natural oils. Castor oil and fish oil based polyol were used in this study. Optimal conditions for the polyurethane decomposition were found. Temperature 250 °C was necessary for efficient polyurethane decomposition by castor oil whereas 200 °C is sufficient in the case of fish oil based polyol. Prepared products have hydroxyl number in the range of 95–168 mg KOH g⁻¹. During the polyurethane decomposition no cleavage of double bonds in the fatty acid chains of castor oil and fish oil based polyol was observed.     

Influence of Polyol Plasticizers on the Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Fabricated by Melt Processing

In this work, high-alcoholysis polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films were fabricated by melt processing and the plasticizing effect of compound polyol plasticizers on PVA were investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheological measurements, mechanical tests etc. Hydrogen bonding interactions occurred between PVA and plasticizer. With the increase of plasticizer, the flowability of PVA was improved and reached the maximum value at the plasticizer of 20%. Glass transition temperature (T _g) and melting point (T _m) decreased with the increase of plasticizer content. For the heterogeneous nucleation effect of plasticizer, new polymorph of PVA formed. The viscosity was sensitive to the shear rates. The incorporation of plasticizers into PVA resulted in the increase of elongation at break and impact strength, as well as the decrease of tensile strength.     

Removal of methylene blue by coupling black carbon adsorption with TiO2 photodegradation

In this study, the removal of methylene blue (MB) by the coupling of black carbon (BC) and TiO₂ was investigated. The effects of different parameters such as catalyst dose, sorbent, initial concentrations of dye, pH of the solutions, recycles on discoloration, and chemical oxidation demand (COD) reduction of MB were monitored to optimize the reaction conditions. The discoloration and COD conversation rate of MB obtained by the coupling process were 100% after 90?min irradiation. The synergistic effect of MB-adsorption on BC followed by degradation through TiO₂ photocatalysis was proved by FT–IR spectrophotometer. The BC as by-product of natural materials is a promising adsorbent for waste water treatment.     

Determination and QSPR analysis of log Kow and log Koc for fluorine containing benzene derivatives

Octanol‐water partition coefficients (Kow) and soil organic carbon sorption coefficients (Koc) were determined for 14 fluorinated benzene derivatives. Quantitative structure‐property relationships were developed using molecular connectivity indices and quantum chemical parameters to analyze the most significant factors influencing these physico‐chemical properties of the compounds. The substitution by F in benzene derivatives has greater influence on Koc than on Kow.     

Structural effect on photocatalytic degradation of metallised azo dyes in aqueous TiO2 suspension

Three metallised azo dyes were investigated under TiO₂‐photocatalytic and photosensitised conditions in aqueous buffering solutions. The degradation follows apparent first‐order kinetics. The size and strength of intramolecular conjugation determine the light‐fastness of the investigated dyes. Compared with ¹O₂ produced in photosensitised process, the more powerful *OH radicals in TiCO₂ photocatalytic process are highly reactive towards the investigated azo dyes. And as a result, the TiO₂‐photocatalysis makes little less distinction in the degradation kinetic data of the azo dyes compared with the photosensitised degradation of them.