The mystery of a missing bone: revealing the orbitosphenoid in basal Epicynodontia (Cynodontia,Therapsida) through computed tomography

The basal non-mammaliaform cynodonts from the late Permian (Lopingian) and Early Triassic are a major source of information for the understanding of the evolutionary origin of mammals. Detailed knowledge of their anatomy is critical for understanding the phylogenetic transition toward mammalness and the paleobiological reconstruction of mammalian precursors. Using micro-computed tomography (μCT), we describe the internal morphology of the interorbital region that includes the rarely fossilized orbitosphenoid elements in four basal cynodonts. These paired bones, which are positioned relatively dorsally in the skull, contribute to the wall of the anterior part of the braincase and form the floor for the olfactory lobes. Unlike procynosuchids and the more basal therapsids in which the orbitosphenoids are well developed, dense, and bear a ventral keel, the basal epicynodonts Cynosaurus, Galesaurus, and Thrinaxodon display cancellous, reduced, and loosely articulated orbitosphenoids, a condition shared with many eucynodonts. The hemi-cylindrical orbitosphenoid from which the mammalian condition is derived re-evolved convergently in traversodontid and some probainognathian cynodonts.     

Male scent-marking pheromone of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombus ardens ardens</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera; Apidae) attracts both conspecific queens and males

To explore the role of the volatiles emitted from male labial gland (LG) of the bumblebee Bombus ardens ardens, we investigated the responses of virgin queens and males to volatiles using a gas chromatography–electroantennographic detector (GC–EAD) system and Y-tube olfactometer. GC–EAD analysis revealed that citronellol, the main compound detected in the male LG, caused clear electrophysiological responses in the antennae of B. a. ardens virgin queens and males although two minor compounds elicited antennal responses when applied in a high concentration. Behavioral tests using a Y-tube olfactometer showed that queens and males were significantly attracted to both LG extracts and citronellol more than to the solvent alone. This is the first study to demonstrate that citronellol as a major compound of male scent-marking pheromone in B. a. ardens functions as a sex attractant for queens. The results also suggest that this compound has another function as a trail marker used by males.     

Seasonality and microhabitat selection in a forest-dwelling salamander

Many small terrestrial vertebrates exhibit limited spatial movement and are considerably exposed to changes in local environmental variables. Among such vertebrates, amphibians at present experience a dramatic decline due to their limited resilience to environmental change. Since the local survival and abundance of amphibians is intrinsically related to the availability of shelters, conservation plans need to take microhabitat requirements into account. In order to gain insight into the terrestrial ecology of the spectacled salamander Salamandrina perspicillata and to identify appropriate forest management strategies, we investigated the salamander’s seasonal variability in habitat use of trees as shelters in relation to tree features (size, buttresses, basal holes) and environmental variables in a beech forest in Italy. We used the occupancy approach to assess tree suitability on a non-conventional spatial scale. Our approach provides fine-grained parameters of microhabitat suitability and elucidates many aspects of the salamander’s terrestrial ecology. Occupancy changed with the annual life cycle and was higher in autumn than in spring, when females were found closer to the stream in the study area. Salamanders showed a seasonal pattern regarding the trees they occupied and a clear preference for trees with a larger diameter and more burrows. With respect to forest management, we suggest maintaining a suitable number of trees with a trunk diameter exceeding 30 cm. A practice of selective logging along the banks of streams could help maintain an adequate quantity of the appropriate microhabitat. Furthermore, in areas with a presence of salamanders, a good forest management plan requires leaving an adequate buffer zone around streams, which should be wider in autumn than in spring.     

Postnatal nutrition influences male attractiveness and promotes plasticity in male mating preferences

Poor early-life nutrition could reduce adult reproductive success by negatively affecting traits linked to sexual attractiveness such as song complexity. If so, this might favor strategic mate choice, allowing males with less complex songs to tailor their mating tactics to maximize the reproductive benefits. However, this possibility has been ignored in theoretical and empirical studies. By manipulating the micronutrient content of the diet (e.g., low or high) during the postnatal period of male zebra finches, we show for the first time (1) that males reared on a poor (low) micronutrient diet had less complex songs as adults; (2) that these males, in contrast to the high micronutrient diet group, were more selective in their mating strategies, discriminating against those females most likely to reduce their clutch size when paired with males having less complex songs; and (3) that by following different mating strategies, males reared on the contrasting diets obtained similar reproductive benefits. These results suggest that early-life dietary conditions can induce multiple and long-lasting effects on male and female reproductive traits. Moreover, the results seem to reflect a previously unreported case of adaptive plasticity in mate choice in response to a nutritionally mediated reduction in sexual attractiveness.     

基于本地污染源调查的杭州市大气污染物排放清单研究

基于实地调查数据并辅以统计数据,采用物料衡算法和排放因子法,估算了杭州市2015年大气污染物排放清单,并选取经纬度坐标、路网、航道、土地类型和人口等数据作为权重因子,研究了该地区各类排放源污染物排放空间分布特征.结果表明,杭州市2015年SO_2、NO_x、CO、VOCs、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)和NH_3年排放总量分别为22.20×10~3、108.17×10~3、192.10×10~3、134.94×10~3、78.12×10~3、27.65×10~3和59.75×10~3t.工业源是杭州市SO_2排放的主要来源,移动源对NO_x和CO的排放贡献最为显著,扬尘源是杭州市PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)排放的最主要来源,其次为工业源;VOCs排放的主要来源依次为工业源、天然源和移动源;NH_3排放主要来自农业源.从空间分布来看,排放主要集中在中心城区及其周边的萧山、下沙、大江东、余杭和富阳等工业企业相对密集的区域.本研究建立的排放清单在污染源覆盖范围和排放因子方面仍然存在一定的不确定性,建议在后续研究中重点开展低、小、散企业及本地化排放因子调查研究工作,进一步提升大气污染物排放清单的准确度.     

G20峰会期间杭州地区空气质量特征及气象条件分析

利用空气质量和气象要素的监测资料与再分析资料,分析了2016年G20峰会期间(2016年8月10日—9月20日)杭州及周边地区空气质量演变及区域特征,探讨了气象条件对G20峰会期间杭州空气质量的影响.结果表明:G20峰会管控期间,由于机动车排放大幅度降低,杭州NO_2浓度较管控前有所下降,对比周边城市降幅居于首位;而由于不利气象条件的影响,PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)、SO_2、CO和O_3浓度比管控前有不同程度的增长,但增幅相比周边城市较小,说明管控措施对杭州空气质量有一定的改善效果.9月7日管控措施结束后污染反弹现象明显.气象条件对杭州的空气质量有重要影响:在管控前,杭州晴热高温天气有利于O3的生成,偏东风相对洁净,污染传输较少;在管控期,杭州虽受到静稳天气和外来污染传输的影响,但得益于减排应急管控措施的有效实施,NO_2浓度下降幅度最大,其他污染物的增幅也较周边城市偏小;在管控后,气象条件不利于污染物的垂直扩散,受静稳天气和污染源恢复常态的影响,PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)、NO_2、SO_2和CO出现了整个研究时段的最大值,而台风"莫兰蒂"使得杭州PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)和O_3浓度出现了整个研究时段的最低值.     

林丹短期暴露下的斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)组织学变化

以斑马鱼(Brachydaniorerio)为受试生物,初步探讨了林丹对斑马鱼的急性毒性以及不同浓度(0.01μg·L-1、1.0μg·L-1、100.0μg·L-1)的林丹暴露36d后对斑马鱼鳃和肝组织结构变化的影响.结果表明,林丹对斑马鱼96h-LC50为97.98μg·L-1,95%可信限为94.38￣101.72μg·L-1.当林丹浓度为0.01μg·L-1时,斑马鱼的鳃和肝组织结构未发生明显变化,而暴露在1.0μg·L-1和100.0μg·L-1林丹溶液中的斑马鱼的鳃和肝组织结构变化显著.斑马鱼鳃组织变化为:上皮细胞残损、脱落,鳃小片上皮细胞水肿,柱细胞变形.斑马鱼肝组织变化为:部分肝细胞肿大,细胞核萎缩变形或偏离细胞中心,胞质疏松,空泡明显增加,细胞质中可见脂沉积.与1.0μg·L-1林丹暴露相比,暴露在100μg·L-1林丹溶液中的斑马鱼鳃和肝组织结构受到的损害更为严重.     

Characteristics of sewage sludge and distribution of heavy metal in plants with amendment of sewage sludge

In order to better understand land application of sewage sludge, the characterization of heavy metals and organic pollutants were investigated in three different sewage sludges in Shanghai City, China. It was found that the total concentrations of Cd in all of sewage sludge and total concentrations of Zn in Jinshan sewage sludge, as well as those ofZn, Cu, and Ni in Taopu sludge are higher than Chinese regulation limit of pollutants for sludge to be used in agriculture. Leachability of rig in all of studied samples and that of Cd in Taopu sewage sludge exceed the limit values of waste solid extraction standard in China legislation. Based on the characteristics for three kinds of sewage sludge, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of soil amended with Quyang sewage sludge on the accumulation of heavy metalo.by Begonia semperfloreas-hybr; Ophiopogon japonicas （L.F.） Ker-Gaw; Loropetalum chindense-var, rubrum; Dendranthema morifolium; Viola tricolor; A ntirrhinum majas; Buxas radicans Sieb; Viburnum macrocephalum; Osmanthas fragrans Lour; Cinnamomum camphora siebold and Ligustrum lucidum ait. Results showed that 8 species of plant survived in the amended soil, and moreover they flourished as well as those cultivated in the control soil. The heavy metal concentration in plants varied with species, As, Pb, Cd and Cr concentration being the highest in the four herbaceous species studied, particularly in the roots of D. morifolium. These plants, however, did not show accumulator of As, Pb, Cd and Cr. The highest concentration of Ni and Hg was found in the roots ofD. morifolium, followed by the leaves ofB. semperflorens-hybr. Levels of Zn and Cu were much higher in D. morifolium than in the other plant species. D. morifolium accumulated Ni, Hg, Cu and Zn, which may contribute to the decrease of heavy metal contents in the amended soil. Treatment with sewage sludge did not significantly affect the uptake of heavy metals by the L. chindense-var, rubrum, however, it significantly affected the uptake of heavy metals by D. morifolium.     

地铁多线换乘车站火灾模型实验研究—(1)模型装置设计

为研究地铁网络化运营枢纽车站火灾烟气扩散特征和防排烟技术,根据工程资料和标准规范对典型多线换乘车站进行1∶10火灾实验模型设计,并依据设计方案完成车站模型主体结构和通风排烟系统的搭建,同时在各个防烟分区设计安装温度、流速、烟气浓度和热辐射测量装置,可实现对“T”形、“十”形和“L”形换乘等不同换乘形式车站的火灾场景模拟和危险参数测量。研究结果表明:该模型装置能够开展一系列针对不同换乘形式和通风模式的火灾实验,对于全面揭示大型换乘车站火灾烟气运动规律、验证并优化火灾防排烟设计方法、支撑复杂结构枢纽车站火灾烟气控制技术具有重要意义。     

汽车用聚合物材料火灾燃烧特性研究

为研究车用聚合物材料的燃烧特性,并对材料的火灾危险性进行全方位的评估,采用锥形量热仪,对汽车上常用的ABS,PP-PVC,PVC革-无纺毡以及无纺布-PVC聚合物材料进行分析表征,测得点燃时间、热释放速率、总热释放量、质量损失速率、烟气生成速率等参数。结果表明:ABS材料的点燃危险性相对最低,PVC革-无纺毡材料相对最高;随热辐射强度的增加,各样品的热释放速率和烟气生成速率明显加快;结合热释放速率峰值、均值和总热释放量可知,无纺布-PVC材料的热危险性相对最低;结合烟气生成速率和总烟释放量可知,ABS材料的发烟危害性相对最高,无纺布-PVC的相对最低;综合比较各样品的FGI和FPI值,安全等级由高到低依次为ABS,PP-PVC,PVC革-无纺毡,无纺布-PVC。