Nutrient transfer functions: the site of integration between feeding behaviour and nutritional physiology

Summary. We describe and extend a graphical approach to quantitative nutrition that focuses on the interplay between behavioural and physiological components of nutritional regulation. The site of integration is the nutrient transfer function, which is the function describing the time course of nutrient transfer between serially connected nutritional compartments (e.g., from the gut to the blood). The relationship between the shape of the nutrient transfer function and the temporal patterns of feeding determines the values of two key quantitative parameters of nutrition: the rate ('power') and the efficiency of nutrient acquisition. The approach can be extended to consider, in addition to the short-term behavioural and physiological decisions made by animals, some ecological determinants and longer-term, life history consequences of such decisions. Most importantly, this category of models can provide insights into the interplay among the various nutrients in an animal's diet. We illustrate this using hypothetical examples, and also present preliminary data for the power-efficiency relationships of protein and digestible carbohydrates in locusts. Finally, we consider existing evidence for the various means available to these and other insects for regulating such relationships. Received 24 September 1997; accepted 9 December 1997.     

Modelling and assessment of South African elephant Loxodonta africana population persistence

The use of a quantitative population growth model to investigate the persistence of South African elephant populations is explored. The model provides quantitative assessments of population persistence and confidence intervals for estimated parameters based purely on population size estimates. The analysis supports the view that most of the larger populations in the region are secure. This view is further supported by a lack of density dependent effects in most of the recovering populations and the high population rates of increase observed. This predominantly positive prognosis is in contrast with that emerging from most of the rest of the African continent where the populations are under greater threat because of habitat restriction and direct human conflict. This preliminary assessment of elephant population persistence suggests that “viable” populations may lie between 400 and 6000 individuals. Although not inconsistent with information-greedy genetic and demographic models, the relationship between population growth versus genetic and demographic models should be further investigated. The implementation of a metapopulation management strategy towards these smaller populations is advocated. In addition, as all of the populations included in this analysis have been afforded some degree of protection since the 1920s, continued protection would be a prerequisite for their continued survival.     

环境中VOCs的污染现状及处理技术研究进展

综述了近十年来大气环境中挥发性有机物(VOcs)的污染现状及其主要处理技术的研究进展.介绍了目前大气环境中VOCs的主要处理技术(包括吸附、冷凝及膜分离等回收技术和燃烧、等离子体、光催化降解和生物降解等销毁技术)的适用条件、经济性、可操作性和净化效率.提出要对VOCs的吸收和生物降解的反应动力学模型、催化机制、材料的性能及微生物活性进行深入研究的建议.     

土壤优先流的理论研究和试验分析

在活动流场模型的基础上建立了新的溶质运移控制方程,研究了流场分形特征参数的计算方法;采用4组染色示踪试验资料,分析了活动流场模型模拟土壤水流运动和溶质运移宏观非均匀特征的适用性.模拟分析表明,活动流场模型能较准确地捕捉到土壤中的优先流特别是不稳定流的宏观运动特征;土壤存在大孔隙结构的情况下,水流和溶质将更快的迁移到深层土壤,活动流场模型模拟计算的入渗深度偏小,但大于连续性模型的模拟计算结果;当土壤中的大孔隙结构较少时,活动流场模型模拟预测的土壤含水率分布和溶质浓度分布与实测结果比较一致.     

低强度超声波与酸、碱协同对污泥溶胞的影响

在能量密度为0.05W·mL-1和pH范围3.0～12.0条件下,研究了超声波辐射与酸、碱协同对污泥溶胞效果的影响.结果表明,溶解性化学需氧量(SCOD)、溶解性磷(SP)和溶解性糖(SA)含量随pH增大均呈先降后升趋势.当pH为3.0时,污泥溶胞效果不高,随污泥溶液碱性增强,SCOD、SP和SA含量随pH呈指数增长,说明强碱性环境有利于污泥溶胞.超声波辐射可显著提高污泥溶胞率,而且pH越大超声波辐射改善的溶胞效率越高.pH=11.0时超声波辐射60min以内,SCOD、SP和SA含量与时间均呈线性关系,超声波/碱协同污泥溶胞为一级反应.pH大于9.0的碱性条件下,超声波辐射和提高pH均可降低VSS/TSS.依据实验数据,应用非线性优化技术得到SCOD与pH和超声波辐射时间的数学模型,其平均相对误差小于2.6%.     

Global sensitivity analysis of a process-based model for ammonia emissions from manure storage and treatment structures

The development of process-based models to estimate ammonia emissions from animal feeding operations (AFOSs) is sought to replace costly and time-consuming direct measurements. Critical to process-based model development is conducting sensitivity analysis to determine the input parameters and their interactions that contribute most to the variance of the model output. Global and relative sensitivity analyses were applied to a process-based model for predicting ammonia emissions from the surface of anaerobic lagoons for treating and storing manure. The objectives were to compare global sensitivity analysis (GSA) to relative (local) sensitivity analysis (RSA) on a process-based model for ammonia emissions. Based on the first-order coefficient, both GSA and RSA showed the model input parameters in order of importance in process model for ammonia emissions from lagoon surfaces were: (i) pH, (ii) lagoon liquid temperature, (iii) wind speed above the lagoon surface, and (iv) the concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen in the lagoon. The GSA revealed that interactions between model parameters accounted for over two-thirds of the model variance, a result that cannot be achieved using traditional RSA. Also, the GSA showed that parameter interactions involving liquid pH had more impact on the model output variance than the single parameters: (i) temperature, (ii) wind speed, or (iii) total ammoniacal nitrogen. This study demonstrates that GSA provides a more complete analysis of model input parameters and their interactions on the model output compared to RSA. A comprehensive tutorial regarding the application of GSA to a process model is presented.     

用废变压器油吸收废气中的二甲苯

以废变压器油作为吸收剂对二甲苯废气进行吸收处理,考察了影响二甲苯气体去除率的因素。实验结果表明:二甲苯废气流量为350 L/h、废变压器油喷淋量为40 L/h、进口二甲苯废气平日质量浓度为935 mg/m~3、吸收温度为18℃、吸收时间为50 min时,出口二甲苯气体质量浓度为35 mg/m~3,二甲苯去除率高达96.3%,小于GB16297—1996《大气污染物综合排放标准》中二甲苯质量浓度90 mg/m~3的排放标准。     

基于热异常遥感的冀南城市群工业能耗及大气污染

选取冀南城市群为研究区,基于2012~2016年VⅡRS卫星数据热异常点产品,结合工业能源消耗量、工业废气排放量以及空气质量数据,利用统计分析和空间分析探讨热异常点辐射强度的变化规律及其与工业能源消耗、污染物排放之间的关系.结果表明,热异常点的辐射强度可以表征工业能源消耗量,并间接反映工业生产规模与污染排放水平.辐射强度越大,工业生产规模越大.辐射强度与工业SO₂排放量呈较高的正相关,与NO_x排放量呈中度线性相关.PM₁₀、SO₂及NO₂浓度与工业能源消耗和热异常点辐射强度灰色关联度均较高.工业生产活动产生的污染物中,颗粒物对大气污染的贡献最高,其次为SO₂.2012~2016年,邯郸、石家庄以及廊坊的工业生产空间分布呈逐年收缩聚集的趋势,保定和沧州的工业生产分别出现向南、向西迁移趋势.