Parental care compromises feeding in the pumpkinseed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepomis gibbosus</Emphasis>)

Providing parental care is potentially costly. Costs can arise through elevated energy expenditure or from an increased risk of mortality. A cost of parental care can also occur because a parent is compromised in their ability to forage. We used pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus, a fish with an alternative male mating strategy, to test whether parental males differed in their feeding in comparison with females and cuckolder males. To address this question, we examined the stomach contents of female, cuckolder male, and parental male pumpkinseed during the breeding season over an entire diel cycle. We showed that parental males had a lower total weight of food in their stomachs in comparison with females, while cuckolder males did not. Parental males also had a lower weight and number of chironomids in their stomachs. The temporal pattern of feeding of parental males diverged from that of females, and they had a lower probability of pupal chironomids in their stomachs, which implies spatial segregation in foraging. Parental males had a greater probability of conspecific eggs in their stomachs than females, while the probability of egg cannibalism did not differ between cuckolder males and females. Overall, these finding meet predictions in accordance with an assumption that parental care and territoriality can compromise feeding.     

The fractal dimension of a conspicuous ornament varies with mating status and shows assortative mating in wild red-legged partridges (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alectoris rufa</Emphasis>)

Complex body designs, such as plumage ornaments in birds, can be described by fractal geometry. These complex patterns could have a role as visual signals during courtship and social interactions, but an empirical validation in the wild is currently lacking. Here, we investigated whether the fractal dimension (FD) of a complex plumage pattern displayed by red-legged partridges Alectoris rufa could function as a potential sexual signal. We captured wild birds early in the breeding season and tested if mated and unmated birds differed in the FD of their conspicuous melanin-based black bib. We also tested if the FD of the black bib was correlated within the pair, looking for evidence of assortative mating based on the expression of this trait. We simultaneously assessed similar effects in other ornamental traits (black bib size, white throat patch and black flank band surface, redness of the eye rings and bill). Mated birds showed higher black bib FD values than unmated ones. Mated males, but not females, also displayed a larger black bib. Moreover, the black bib FD (but not the trait size) and the white throat patch surface showed assortative mating. Finally, females with higher black bib FD showed smaller black flank band surface, suggesting a trade-off in the expression of the two melanin-pigmented plumage traits. This provides unique and novel indication for the shape complexity of a pigmented trait, here described by its fractal dimension, to be potentially under sexual selection in a wild animal.     

A comprehensive classification method for VOC emission sources to tackle air pollution based on VOC species reactivity and emission amounts

In China, volatile organic compound(VOC) control directives have been continuously released and implemented for important sources and regions to tackle air pollution. The corresponding control requirements were based on VOC emission amounts(EA), but never considered the significant differentiation of VOC species in terms of atmospheric chemical reactivity. This will adversely influence the effect of VOC reduction on air quality improvement. Therefore,this study attempted to develop a comprehensive classification method for typical VOC sources in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region(BTH), by combining the VOC emission amounts with the chemical reactivities of VOC species. Firstly, we obtained the VOC chemical profiles by measuring 5 key sources in the BTH region and referencing another 10 key sources, and estimated the ozone formation potential(OFP) per ton VOC emission for these sources by using the maximum incremental reactivity(MIR) index as the characteristic of source reactivity(SR). Then, we applied the data normalization method to respectively convert EA and SR to normalized EA(NEA) and normalized SR(NSR) for various sources in the BTH region.Finally, the control index(CI) was calculated, and these sources were further classified into four grades based on the normalized CI(NCI). The study results showed that in the BTH region,furniture coating, automobile coating, and road vehicles are characterized by high NCI and need to be given more attention; however, the petro-chemical industry, which was designated as an important control source by air quality managers, has a lower NCI.     

The determinants mostly disclosed by companies that are members of the Carbon Disclosure Project

Concerns about climate change as a result of anthropic actions have led to an increase in the volume of information disclosed about it in the reports of companies that are members of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). In this context, the factors most disclosed remain obscure due to both the complexity of climate change impacts and the stakeholders’ different interests. This study aims to identify which factors are most disclosed in the reports of companies that are members of CDP. For this purpose, it is necessary to investigate if the factors indicated by managers and experts are the main ones disclosed in the reports of Brazilian companies that are members of CDP, as well as to identify which companies stand out in climate change disclosure based on these factors. To this end, 463 reports submitted by 48 companies between 2014 and 2016 were examined and 32 factors were investigated using the NVivo® software. Some companies submitted reports with unified titles, which reduced the sample. The results indicate that certain factors—prevention of pollution, prevention of loss, management of environmental assets, volume of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and climate change strategy—account for 50.03% of the total volume of information disclosed about climate change. The main lesson learned from this research is that climate change mitigation strategy is strongly supported by the evidence of corporate annual reports, and it has relation with the following determinant factors: pollution prevention, loss prevention, environmental asset management, GHG emissions, and the strategy chosen by the companies to deal with climate change. Due to the low volume of research related to loss prevention and pollution prevention, we have identified that little attention has been paid to these items. Based on our results, we recommend that climate change mitigation strategies begin to consider these determinant factors in their structure because both have a strong influence in demonstrating how companies are managing these factors for stakeholders. Therefore, companies can benefit from this data to manage their resources for the maintenance of the social contract (legitimacy) through the factors most disclosed, especially companies with lower scores on the scale of ranking presented. Hence, stakeholders can have access to more information on strategies that mitigate climate change and help companies improve the disclosure of the actions that contribute to reduction of GHG emissions.     

典型可溶有机质与磺胺二甲嘧啶的络合作用研究

以藻源有机质(AOM)和腐殖酸(HA)作为典型生物大分子可溶有机质(DOM)和腐殖化DOM,采用荧光猝灭滴定和光谱分析考察磺胺二甲嘧啶(SMZ)与DOM的络合作用.三维荧光光谱结合平行因子分析显示AOM荧光组分主要由类酪氨酸和类色氨酸物质组成,而类富里酸和类腐殖酸物质是HA荧光组分的主要构成.4种荧光组分可与SMZ发生不同程度的静态猝灭,且猝灭过程中DOM分子构象改变.同步荧光光谱结合二维相关图谱进一步发现类酪氨酸优先于类色氨酸组分与SMZ发生络合作用.Ryan-Weber非线性模拟拟合表明AOM中各荧光组分与SMZ的络合稳定常数(logK)大小为:类富里酸(3.33)类酪氨酸(3.12)类色氨酸(2.15)类腐殖酸(1.57);而HA中大小为:类富里酸(3.06)类腐殖酸(2.02).总体上生物大分子DOM对SMZ的亲和力高于腐殖化DOM.DOM与SMZ的相互作用可改变水环境中抗生素的形态和归趋,影响其生物有效性和生态毒性.     

Computational investigation of the effects of knee airbag design on the interaction with occupant lower extremity in frontal and oblique impacts

Objective: The lower extremity of the occupant represents the most frequently injured body region in motor vehicle crashes. Knee airbags (KABs) have been implemented as a potential countermeasure to reduce lower extremity injuries. Despite the increasing prevalence of KABs in vehicles, the biomechanical interaction of the human lower extremity with the KAB has not been well characterized. This study uses computational models of the human body and KABs to explore how KAB design may influence the impact response of the occupant's lower extremities.

Methods: The analysis was conducted using a 50th percentile male occupant human body model with deployed KABs in a simplified vehicle interior. The 2 common KAB design types, bottom-deploy KAB (BKAB) and rear-deploy KAB (RKAB), were both included. A state-of-the-art airbag modeling technique, the corpuscular particle method, was adopted to represent the deployment dynamics of the unfolding airbags. Validation of the environment model was performed based on previously reported test results. The kinematic responses of the occupant lower extremities were compared under both KAB designs, 2 seating configurations (in-position and out-of-position), and 3 loading conditions (static, frontal, and oblique impacts). A linear statistical model was used to assess factor significance considering the impact responses of the occupant lower extremities.

Results: The presence of a KAB had a significant influence on the lower extremity kinematics compared to no KAB (P <.05) by providing early restraint and distributing contact force on the legs during airbag deployment. For in-position occupants, the KAB generally tended to decrease tibia loadings. The RKAB led to greater lateral motion of the legs compared to the BKAB, resulting in higher lateral displacement at the knee joint and abduction angle change (51.2 ± 21.7 mm and 15° ± 6.0°) over the dynamic loading conditions. Change in the seating position led to a significant difference in occupant kinematic and kinetic parameters (P <.05). For the out-of-position (forward-seated) occupant, the earlier contact between the lower extremity and the deploying KAB resulted in 28.4° ± 5.8° greater abduction, regardless of crash scenarios. Both KAB types reduced the axial force in the femur relative to no KAB. Overall, the out-of-position occupant sustained a raised axial force and bending moment of the tibia by 0.8 ± 0.2 kN and 21.1 ± 8.7 Nm regardless of restraint use.

Conclusions: The current study provided a preliminary computational examination on KAB designs based on a limited set of configurations in an idealized vehicle interior. Results suggested that the BKAB tended to provide more coverage and less leg abduction compared to the RKAB in oblique impact and/or the selected out-of-position scenario. An out-of-position occupant was associated with larger abduction and lower extremity loads over all occupant configurations. Further investigations are recommended to obtain a full understanding of the KAB performance in a more realistic vehicle environment.     

汶川MS8.0地震前青海地区数字化水温(地温)异常变化分析

介绍了青海地区十个数字化水温井、六个数字化地温井的水温(地温)观测概况。经研究发现,2008年汶川MS8.0地震前,乐都和民和两个井孔出现了中期趋势异常,西宁、乐都和德令哈三个井孔出现了短临异常;从地域来看,异常测点主要集中于西宁-民和断陷盆地内,该区域其它两个正常运行的井孔没有异常,可能和探头与密闭套管末端间的距离过大有关。另外,笔者认为,西宁、乐都、民和井所表现出的中期和短临异常,可能与汶川地震的孕震过程密切相关。     

Pyrolysis behaviors of oil sludge based on TG/FTIR and PY-GC/MS

Pyrolysis is an alternative technology for oil sludge treatment. Thermogravimetric Analysis-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry were employed to investigate the pyrolysis process and products of oil sludge. The pyrolysis process was divided into five stages: drying and gas desorption, oil volatilization, main pyrolysis, semi-coke charring, and mineral decomposition. The main reaction temperatures ranged from 497.6 K to 753.2 K. The products were mainly composed of pairs of alkane and alkene (carbon number ranges from 1 to 27). The mechanisms consisted of random chain scission followed by end chain scission at high temperatures with volatilization occurring during the whole process. This study is useful not only for the proper design of a pyrolysis system, but also for improving the utilization of liquid oil products.     

可生物降解材料聚羟基脂肪酸酯（PHA）的合成与应用概述

聚羟基脂肪酸酯（polyhydroxyalkanoates,PHA）是很多微生物合成的一种细胞内聚酯,是一种天然的高分子生物材料。PHA具有良好的生物相容性能、生物可降解性和塑料的热加工等性能。文章主要综述了PHA的合成途径与有关应用方面的研究。     

高蛋白有机废弃物厌氧消化系统稳定性及其耐氨氮机制解析

病死及自然灾害产生的大量畜禽尸体的不恰当处理处置会带来较为严重的环境卫生和公众安全隐患.本研究利用厌氧消化技术对畜禽尸体这类高蛋白有机废弃物的无害化处理进行尝试,旨在探索其适宜的有机负荷条件、系统的稳定性及潜在的氨抑制风险.研究表明高蛋白有机废物(以猪肉作为实验样品)作为厌氧消化基质时,系统稳定运行的有机负荷能够达倒(4.76±0.41)kg·m~(-3)·d~(-1);同时,VS降解率、单位体积沼气产率、单位添加VS沼气产率、单位降解VS沼气产率以及甲烷含量分别能达到95%、(3.72±0.21)L·L~(-1)·d~(-1)、(0.78±0.02)m~3·kg~(-1)、(0.82±0.02)m~3·kg~(-1)以及65%.在该条件下,TAN和FAN的浓度与系统产气性能没有直接线性关系,且在浓度高达5700 mg·L~(-1)和700 mg·L~(-1)时未呈现对系统的明显抑制作用.454高通量焦磷酸测序法对系统内古菌种群相对密度的分析结果表明,系统中氨抑制问题得到一定程度的缓解或者消除的原因可能为甲烷八叠球菌属(Methanosarcina)的优势地位并未受到明显影响,以及整个产甲烷菌种群在系统运行过程所得到的明显驯化.