The effect of clock-shift on the initial orientation of wild rock doves (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Columba l. livia</Emphasis>)

Previous experiments on wild rock doves ( Columba l. livia Gmelin) released within their familiar area revealed an evident effect of fast-shifting, although shifted doves, but not controls, tended to orient homeward. Such an outcome suggested a possible influence of the release time per se on the directional choices of the tested doves. In the present study, this hypothesis was investigated by comparing the orientation of slow-shifted birds to that of two control groups released at different times of the day. As would be expected if doves make use of a time-compensated sun compass, the bearings of shifted birds were deflected clockwise with respect to controls. The time of release itself seemed to influence only the scatter of the vanishing bearings of controls. These findings testify to the substantial similarity of clock-shift effects on the initial orientation of rock doves to those on homing pigeons released from familiar sites.     

NdFeB磁体表面环保型Zn-Al涂层的盐雾腐蚀行为

目的 研究NdFeB磁体表面环保型Zn-Al涂层在盐雾环境中的腐蚀行为。方法 采用SEM、XRD、EDS、拉曼光谱、傅里叶变换红外光谱等对Zn-Al涂层的形貌、物相、成分结构进行分析。通过电化学曲线探究Zn-Al涂层在盐雾环境中的腐蚀机理。结果 在NdFeB磁体表面制备的环保型Zn-Al涂层的耐盐雾腐蚀时间不少于1 000 h。在盐雾腐蚀环境中,Zn-Al涂层表面逐渐被白锈覆盖,失去金属光泽,腐蚀至1 126 h时,Zn-Al涂层表面出现红色锈点,涂层微观组织呈蜂窝状结构,并出现微裂纹。腐蚀产物由Zn_(5)(OH)_(8)Cl_(2)·H_(2)O、Al_(9)SiAl_(12)(OH)_(18)(AlO_(4))(Si_(5)O_(16))Cl、Fe_(2)O_(3)和极少量的Zn、Al组成。腐蚀前期,Zn-Al涂层表面的钝化膜、硅烷膜起保护作用;随腐蚀进行,膜层破坏暴露出片状金属粉,金属粉活化,涂层发挥牺牲阳极保护作用;腐蚀后期,腐蚀介质通过涂层微裂纹穿透涂层至磁体,涂层牺牲阳极的保护作用和物理屏蔽保护作用显著减弱,直至失效。结论 环保型Zn-Al涂层可显著提高NdFeB磁体的耐中性盐雾腐蚀性能。     

Sex-dependent immune response in a semelparous spider

Previous studies on arthropods showed that seasonality and parity in breeding considerably impact the direction of sex differences in immunocompetence, and it has been suggested that life span and the time window available for breeding play key roles in shaping sex-differences in immunity. One proposed mechanism behind this phenomenon is differential investment into life history traits in sexes. Here, we tested whether in a seasonally breeding semelparous arthropod sexes differ in their immunocompetence, predicting that females would show weaker immune response than males. We compared encapsulation efficiency (a well-established and widely used method for assessing immunocompetence) of freshly matured, virgin males and females of the lycosid spider Pardosa agrestis (Westring, 1861). On average, males mounted stronger immune response than females and the extent of encapsulation was positively associated with prosoma length in males, but not in females. Also, time until maturation was positively related to the extent of encapsulation in both sexes, but did not significantly affect adult prosoma length. We propose that sex-difference in encapsulation is likely shaped by combined effects of relatively higher costs of reproduction in females, narrow time window of reproductive activity, and the absence of trade-off between current and future reproduction.     

超越价值:生物多样性与思想自由

各种环境因素的协同作用已经导致保护运动在解释保护运动的基本信念时尤其缺乏信心。“反对派”行动主义者以为他们的论据是得到证实的,而“制度派”战术主义者倾向于采取他们并不赞同的功利主义的或经济的观点。根据现有的证据,在几百年以后,这个星球上主要的自然区域将基本消失,人类的生活质量将会受到极大的威胁。一种更可靠的观点认为：自然界是人类体验自由(这也是一种精神环境)的能力中不可或缺的一部分。这一观点将改变我们对待自然环境的方式,也关乎今后生物多样性长期生存的前景。     

Silver sources of archaic Greek coinage

We report on new chemical and lead isotopic results and interpretations of archaic Greek silver coins from the Asyut hoard which was buried around 475 B.C. Aeginetan coins were of central interest in this study. Possible ancient silver mines were explored in the Aegean region in the course of several geologic expeditions, and chemically and isotopically investigated. Some of the silver sources in Greece were traced by combination of the analytical methods and questions of provenance were solved. In addition, processes of silver smelting and refining were studied. Results and implications of this work are summarized in the final section on Conclusions.     

Future risk of flooding: an analysis of changes in potential loss of life in South Holland (The Netherlands)

Potential loss of life is considered an important indicator of flood risk. We examine the future development of potential loss of life due to flooding for a major flood prone area in The Netherlands. The analysis is based on projections and spatial distribution of population under a high economic growth scenario and a loss of life model. Results show that the projected population growth in flood prone areas is higher than average in the Netherlands between 2000 and 2040. Due to this effect the potential number of fatalities is projected to increase by 68% on average for 10 different flood scenarios, not including impacts from climate change and sea level rise. Just sea level rise of 0.30 m leads to an average 20% increase in the number of fatalities. The combined impact of sea level rise and population growth leads to an estimated doubling in the potential number of fatalities. Taking into account increasing probability of flooding due to sea level rise and extreme river discharges, the expected number of fatalities could quadruple by 2040. The presented results give a conservative and upper bound estimate of the increase of the risk level when no preventive measures are undertaken. It is found that the consideration of the exact spatial distribution of population growth is essential for arriving at reliable estimates of future risk of flooding.     

2016—2018年西宁市颗粒物来源及输送差异分析

利用HYSPLIT模式计算了2016—2018年西宁市逐日72 h气团后向轨迹,采用聚类分析方法,结合同期颗粒物PM₁₀和PM_2.5质量浓度数据,分析逐年和3年平均西宁市颗粒物输送特征及差异,运用潜在源贡献因子分析法（PSCF）和浓度权重轨迹分析法（CWT）对影响西宁市PM₁₀和PM_2.5质量浓度的污染潜在源区及不同潜在源区贡献进行了分析.结果表明,2016—2018年,西宁市颗粒物最主要输送路径源自青海北部的聚类2、甘肃中部的聚类6和甘肃东部的聚类8,占同期总轨迹比例分别为28.1%、27.4%和27.5%;3年平均则源自青海北经青海东折回西宁的聚类2,占比45.3%.最主要输送路径对应颗粒物质量浓度最低,输送距离较短、垂直高度较低、气团移速较慢;影响气团由西北向偏东转变,3年平均则以西北气团为主.2018年源自甘肃经青海东至西宁的短距离输送处于突出地位,所含轨迹占总轨迹的比例高达49.6%.PM₁₀和PM_2.5主要输送路径和污染路径由较长距离向较短距离过渡,较长距离输送路径出现比例逐年较小.PM_2.5/PM₁₀小于0.3时,主要输送路径与PM₁₀污染轨迹有很好的对应关系;PM_2.5/PM₁₀大于0.6时,主要输送路径与PM_2.5污染轨迹有较好的对应关系.PSCF和CWT分析发现,影响西宁市颗粒物质量浓度的主要污染潜在源区分布在新疆南部和青海北部,对PM₁₀质量浓度贡献大于100 μg·m^-3,对PM_2.5质量浓度贡献大于45 μg·m^-3.潜在源区分布年变化差异明显,2016年最广,2018年最小.印度北部主要贡献源区虽分布范围逐年减小,但在2017年局部贡献增大,对PM₁₀贡献超250 μg·m^-3,对PM_2.5贡献超60 μg·m^-3.主要贡献区周边区域及西宁至兰州一带为中等贡献源区,对PM₁₀贡献为50~100 μg·m^-3,对PM_2.5贡献为15~45 μg·m^-3.