Pheromone-based female mate choice and its effect on reproductive investment in a spitting spider

Numerous studies have focused on whether organisms can signal or perceive pheromones and use chemical signals in species and mate recognition. Recently, there have been an increasing number of studies investigating whether pheromones are used in mate choice. Yet, little attention has been paid in exploring the effects of pheromone-based mate choice on reproductive investment. We first tested this hypothesis by providing virgin Scytodes sp. females with a choice between two virgin males in the presence of chemical signals alone and found strong evidence of an odor-based mate preference. We then examined the consequences of the odor-based mate choice by allowing female Scytodes sp. that had previously made an odor-only mate choice to mate with preferred and non-preferred males, respectively. We measured the success of copulation, mortality of male, pre-oviposition interval, egg-sac weight, egg weight, fecundity, fertility, embryonic period, and size of offspring at hatching. Females that mated with the preferred males produced significantly heavier egg sacs that contained more and larger eggs with a greater fertility. Significantly more non-preferred males than preferred males were killed by spitting. However, pre-oviposition interval, embryonic period, and hatchling size were not affected by female mate choice. This study is the first to demonstrate that female spiders are able to regulate their highly valuable reproductive investment based solely on chemical signals.     

下向进路回采钢筋混凝土假顶稳定性分析

〗为确保下向进路采场高效安全回采,采用ABAQUS的损伤塑性模型对下向进路钢筋混凝土假顶进行稳定性分析,得到假顶的应力与位移分布规律,分别从假顶的应力分布、变形量对不同进路尺寸及假顶厚度的影响进行比较分析。结果表明,进路假顶产生的最大拉应力（089MPa）小于混凝土层的抗拉强度（127MPa）;最大压应力（416 MPa）小于混凝土层的抗压强度（119MPa）;假顶底部最易被拉裂位置为偏离假顶中央(05~1)m处;钢筋承载了大部分拉应力,受拉性能得到充分利用。在进路尺寸为3m×3m或者4m×3m时假顶厚度取06m,进路尺寸为4m×4m时假顶厚度取08m,假顶最大拉应力值均未超过混凝土的抗拉强度值,此时假顶较为稳定,便于进路维护与提高回采强度。研究结果对下向进路采场的安全生产提供技术保障。     

电梯电动机运转时间限制器检验新方法的探讨

随着电梯的广泛使用,钢丝绳断丝、断股导致的事故时有发生,电梯电动机运转时间限制器的重要性越来越凸显出来。针对电梯电动机运转时间限制器落后的检验现状,根据实际现场检验经验,通过分析电梯的控制原理,总结了一种新的检验方法,该方法安全性高,实用性强,操作方便。     

北京市大气细粒子的来源分析

细粒子(空气动力学直径小于2.5μm的颗粒物)污染是许多城市重要的大气环境问题.从1999年至2000年对北京市细粒子展开了4次采样和化学分析,有效采样天数为40d.利用正定矩阵分解(PMF)方法对细粒子的来源进行了分析.化学成分包括EC(元素碳)、有机物、SO₄^2-、F^-、Cl^-、Fe、Ca、K、Mg、Al、Na、Zn、Mn、Ti、Pb、Ba和P等17种.发现主要来源有6类:地面扬尘、建筑源、生物质燃烧、二次源、机动车排放和燃煤.     

Origin of major ions in monthly rainfall events at the Bamenda Highlands, North West Cameroon

Rainwater characteristics can reveal emissions from various anthropogenic and natural sources into the atmosphere. The physico-chemical characteristics of 44 monthly rainfall events （collected between January and December 2012） from 4 weather stations （Bamenda, Ndop plain, Ndawara and Kumbo） in the Bamenda Highlands （BH） were investigated. The purpose was to determine the sources of chemical species, their seasonal inputs and suitability of the rainwater for drinking. The mean pH of 5 indicated the slightly acidic nature of the rainwater. Average total dissolved solids （TDS） were low （6.7 mg/L）, characteristic of unpolluted atmospheric moisture/air. Major ion concentrations （mg/L） were low and in the order K＋ 〉 Ca2＋ 〉 Mg2~ 〉 Na＋ for cations and NO3 〉〉 HCO3 〉 SO] 〉 CI- 〉 PO3- 〉 F- for anions. The average rainwater in the area was mixed Ca-Mg-SO4-CI water type. The CI-/Na＋ ratio （1.04） was comparable to that of seawater （1.16）, an indication that N a＋ and CI originated mainly from marine （Atlantic Ocean） aerosols. High enrichments of Ca2＋, Mg2＋ and SO2- to Na＋ ratios relative to seawater ratios （constituting 44% of the total ions） demonstrated their terrigenous origin, mainly from Saharan and Sahelian arid dusts. The K＋/Na＋ ratio （2.24）, which was similar to tropical vegetation ash （2.38）, and NO3 was essentially from biomass burning. Light （〈 100 mm） pre-monsoon and post-monsoon convective rains were enriched in major ions than the heavy （〉 100 mm） monsoon rains, indicating a high contribution of major ions during the low convective showers. Despite the acidic nature, the TDS and major ion concentrations classified the rainwater as potable based on the WHO guidelines.     

Motorcycle safety among motorcycle taxi drivers and nonoccupational motorcyclists in developing countries: A case study of Maoming,South China

Objective: An increasing number of motorcycle taxis have been involved in traffic crashes in many developing countries. This study examines the characteristics of both motorcycle taxi drivers and nonoccupational motorcyclists, investigates the risks they pose to road safety, and provides recommendations to minimize their risks.

Methods: Based on the data collected from a questionnaire survey of 867 motorcycle taxi drivers and 2,029 nonoccupational motorcyclists in Maoming, South China, comparisons were made to analyze differences of personal attributes, attitudes toward road safety, and self-reported behavior of the 2 groups.

Results: Results of the chi-square tests show that not only motorcycle taxi drivers but also nonoccupational motorcyclists in Maoming held poor attitudes toward road safety and both groups reported unsafe driving behavior. There is much room for improving local road safety education among all motorcyclists in Maoming. Yet, motorcycle taxi drivers were more likely to pose road safety risks than nonoccupational motorcyclists under some circumstances, such as speeding late at night or early in the morning, not requiring passengers to wear helmets, and running a red light. The results of the binary logistic regression model show that possessing a vehicle license for a motorcycle or not was the common significant predictor for unsafe driving behavior of motorcycle taxi drivers and nonoccupational motorcyclists. Therefore, enforcement against all motorcyclists not showing vehicle licenses for their motorcycles should be stepped up.

Conclusion: Motorcycle safety is largely poor in Maoming. Therefore, efforts to improve motorcycle safety should be strengthened by targeting not only motorcycle taxi drivers but also nonoccupational motorcyclists.     

类芦对铅的耐性及富集能力探讨

通过野外调查和盆栽试验,研究了类芦(Neyraudia reynaudiana)对Pb的耐性和富集能力.研究结果表明,类芦对Pb耐受的临界浓度为800 mg/kg,在此浓度以下Pb对类芦的生长基本无抑制作用.随着处理浓度的增加,类芦生长变缓慢、出现中毒症状,但仍能存活.从富集能力来看,土壤Pb为中低浓度时,类芦的富集能力较强,但Pb浓度超过1 000 mg/kg后地上部富集量增加缓慢,而根部的含量则降低.在各种Pb处理浓度下,类芦地上部Pb含量均大于根部,说明这种植物对Pb有较好的迁移能力.研究发现,类芦具有较高的生物量,因此其地上部Pb迁移总量较高,在土壤Pb浓度为800 mg/kg时类芦地上部的迁移总量可达到221.77 mg/m2.综合分析可知,类芦对中度Pb污染土壤的植物修复具有较大的潜力.     

高温状态下受热时间对膨润土物性指标的影响∗

高温状态下膨润土的物性指标变化是高放核废物深地质处置库设计的重要参数之一。通过高温状态下不同受热时间MX80钠基膨润土的比重、液塑限、自由膨胀率试验,研究了受热时间对膨润土基本物性指标的影响规律;并通过热重分析(TGA)、X衍射(XDR)、电镜扫描(SEM)试验,从微观角度对上述变化规律进行了合理解释。研究结果表明:随着受热时间的增加,膨润土的比重、液塑限、自由膨胀率在受热15～30天内急剧下降,降幅分别为2.5%、3.1%和28.3%,之后各值变化量很小;高温状态下,膨润土的矿物成分转化、结合水脱附、微观形貌改变是膨润土物性指标发生变化的根本原因,三者之间相互作用和彼此影响。     

2012年上半年我国南方地区极端阴雨天气评价——以湖南省为例

基于湖南省97个地面气象观测站观测资料,根据所选定的阴雨天气评价指标,运用数理统计方法,对2012年上半年湖南省阴雨天气特征及强度进行分析评估,结果表明,阴雨天气阶段性特征显著,属隆冬至初春历史罕见的寡照低温多雨事件与初春至初夏的极端多雨寡照事件的组合。同时根据社会调查数据对阴雨天气的影响展开多方位分析,得出低温阴雨天气不仅对农业造成了重大影响,而且对水利、交通、建筑业等多行业和人们身体健康也有较大影响,以此提出了应对极端天气气候事件的对策建议。     

潖江蓄滞洪区洪灾风险分析及避难转移安置研究

以潖江蓄滞洪区洪灾避难转移安置为研究对象,利用Mike21技术,建立潖江蓄滞洪区洪水演进数值模型,模拟北江遭遇300年一遇洪水时,在潖江口泄洪,潖江蓄滞洪区内洪水演进,分析潖江蓄滞洪区洪灾风险.通过实地调查,结合历史洪水情况,利用潖江蓄滞洪区DEM数据、Google地图及最快避难转移安置时间分析法,详细设计了潖江蓄滞洪区内各行政村落遭遇洪灾时避难转移与人员安置,为潖江蓄滞洪区启用预案科学编制及防洪减灾提供科学依据.