The effect of metapleural gland secretion on the growth of a mutualistic bacterium on the cuticle of leaf-cutting ants

In Acromyrmex octospinosus leaf-cutting ants the metapleural glands produce an array of antibiotic compounds that serve as a general defence against unwanted microbes on the cuticle. Leaf-cutting ants also grow mutualistic Pseudonocardiaceae bacteria on their cuticle that produce antibiotics controlling a microfungal parasite of their fungus gardens. Interaction between this bacterium and gland secretion therefore seems unavoidable. We document the typical development of bacterial growth on the cuticle of young major workers, show that growth starts a few days after eclosion, and that the maximal cover is reached after 2–3 weeks and gradually declines when workers mature. Experimental closure of the metapleural glands had no effect on the initial exponential growth phase of the bacterium, but significantly reduced the cover during the decline phase. The age-dependent abundance of the bacterium and its partial dependence on metapleural gland secretion support the hypothesis that the abundance of this mutualist is actively regulated.     

The effect of queen pheromones on worker honey bee ovary development

We report results that address a long-standing controversy in honey bee biology, the identity of the queen-produced compounds that inhibit worker honey bee ovary development. As the honey bee is the only organism for which identities have been proposed for any pheromone that regulates reproduction, the resolution of its identity is of broad significance. We examined the effects of synthetic honey bee queen mandibular pheromone (QMP), four newly identified queen retinue pheromone components, and whole-queen extracts on the ovary development of caged worker bees. The newly identified compounds did not inhibit worker ovary development alone, nor did they improve the efficacy of QMP when applied in combination. QMP was as effective as queen extracts at ovary regulation. Caged workers in the QMP and queen extract treatments had better developed ovaries than did workers remaining in queenright colonies. We conclude that QMP is responsible for the ovary-regulating pheromonal capability of queens from European-derived Apis mellifera subspecies.     

乳状液膜分离法预处理垃圾渗滤液氨氮的试验研究

用span-80表面活性剂制作的乳状液处理垃圾渗滤液中氨氮,考察了表面活性剂span-80用量、膜内相硫酸浓度、膜增强剂用量、油内比、乳水比、外相水pH值因素对氨氮去除率的影响。结果表明,在最佳反应条件下,用乳状液膜分离法预处理垃圾渗滤液中的氨氮,分离速度快,处理效果达到87%以上。     

An assessment of carbon stock for various land use system in Aravally mountains, Western India

Reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries is of the central importance in efforts to combat climate change. A study was conducted to measure carbon stocks in various land-use systems including forms and reliably estimates the impact of land use on carbon (C) stocks in the forest of Rajasthan, western India (23°3′–30°12′N longitude and 69°30′–78°17′E). 22.8% of India is forested and 0.04% is the deforestation rate of India. In Indian forest sector of western India of Aravally mountain range covered large area of deciduous forest and it’s very helpful in carbon sequestration at global level. The carbon stocks of forest, plantation (reforestation) and agricultural land in aboveground, soil organic and fine root within forest were estimated through field data collection. Results revealed that the amount of total carbon stock of forests (533.64?±?37.54 Mg·ha^?1, simplified expression of Mg (carbon) ·ha^?1) was significantly greater (P?<?0.05) than the plantation (324.37?±?15.0 Mg·ha^?1) and the agricultural land (120.50?±?2.17 Mg·ha^?1). Soil organic carbon in the forests (172.84?±?3.78 Mg·ha^?1) was also significantly greater (P?<?0.05) than the plantation (153.20?±?7.48 Mg·ha^?1) and the agricultural land (108.71?±?1.68 Mg·ha^?1). The differences in carbon stocks across land-use types are the primary consequence of variations in the vegetation biomass and the soil organic matter. Fine root carbon was a small fraction of carbon stocks in all land-use types. Most of the soil organic carbon and fine root carbon content was found in the upper 30-cm layer and decreased with soil depth. The aboveground carbon (ABGC): soil organic carbon (SOC): fine root carbon ratios (FRC), was 8:4:1, 4:5:1, and 3:37:1 for the forest, plantation and agricultural land, respectively. These results indicate that a relatively large proportion of the C loss is due to forest conversion to agricultural land.     

西泉眼水库富营养化状况的研究

通过对西采眼水库水质进行调查分析,综合不同水期的监测数据得出分析结果：西泉眼水库的TIL（∑）值在40—60之间,表明水库水质污染介于中营养与轻度富营养之间。     

刍议生态城市建设的意义

生态城市这一崭新的城市概念和发展模式一经提出,就受到全球的广泛关注。生态城市是现代城市发展的高级阶段,是依托现有城市,根据生态学原理,并应用现代科学与技术等手段逐步创建,在"生态文明"时代形成的可持续发展的人居模式。文章阐述了生态城市的内涵,系统地分析了生态城市与传统城市的差异;提出了促进城市生态化发展的途径,为中国生态城市的建设指出了发展方向和理论依据。     

轻烃回收装置工艺过程危险分析及控制探讨

采取系统的分析方法 HAZOP技术对LNG接收站轻烃回收装置整个工艺流程和控制的危险与可操作性问题进行全面分析,并在HAZOP分析的基础上对LNG升压泵电力引线保压风险,低温蒸气中断风险、闪蒸罐和脱甲烷塔压力控制的风险、乙烷产品不外输工艺变更风等方面的风险进行了详细分析,并从安全设计、操作规程和安全管理等方面提出了相应的控制建议,以期为接收站轻烃装置的过程安全管理提供借鉴。     

A lake classification concept for a more accurate global estimate of the dissolved inorganic carbon export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters

The magnitude of lateral dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters strongly influences the estimate of the global terrestrial carbon dioxide (CO₂) sink. At present, no reliable number of this export is available, and the few studies estimating the lateral DIC export assume that all lakes on Earth function similarly. However, lakes can function along a continuum from passive carbon transporters (passive open channels) to highly active carbon transformers with efficient in-lake CO₂ production and loss. We developed and applied a conceptual model to demonstrate how the assumed function of lakes in carbon cycling can affect calculations of the global lateral DIC export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters. Using global data on in-lake CO₂ production by mineralization as well as CO₂ loss by emission, primary production, and carbonate precipitation in lakes, we estimated that the global lateral DIC export can lie within the range of \( {0.70}_{-0.31}^{+0.27} \) to \( {1.52}_{-0.90}^{+1.09} \) Pg C yr^?1 depending on the assumed function of lakes. Thus, the considered lake function has a large effect on the calculated lateral DIC export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters. We conclude that more robust estimates of CO₂ sinks and sources will require the classification of lakes into their predominant function. This functional lake classification concept becomes particularly important for the estimation of future CO₂ sinks and sources, since in-lake carbon transformation is predicted to be altered with climate change.     

基于灰色关联理论的民航事故影响因素分析

确定事故各影响因素对事故的影响程度,对提高民用航空安全至关重要。本文根据欧盟联合航空事故和事故征候报告系统分析模型,结合基元事件分析法构建了民航事故影响因素指标体系,并在此基础上依据1991—2010年间世界民航事故信息,运用灰色关联分析方法对其影响因素进行了关联度分析。结果表明:人自身因素对民航事故的影响程度最大,而其中的个人工作管理与人自身因素关系最为密切。最后针对个人工作管理层面提出了相应的改进建议。该研究可为民航安全管理工作提供决策依据。