Efficacy of extracting indices from large‐scale acoustic recordings to monitor biodiversity

Passive acoustic monitoring could be a powerful way to assess biodiversity across large spatial and temporal scales. However, extracting meaningful information from recordings can be prohibitively time consuming. Acoustic indices (i.e., a mathematical summary of acoustic energy) offer a relatively rapid method for processing acoustic data and are increasingly used to characterize biological communities. We examined the relationship between acoustic indices and the diversity and abundance of biological sounds in recordings. We reviewed the acoustic‐index literature and found that over 60 indices have been applied to a range of objectives with varying success. We used 36 of the most indicative indices to develop a predictive model of the diversity of animal sounds in recordings. Acoustic data were collected at 43 sites in temperate terrestrial and tropical marine habitats across the continental United States. For terrestrial recordings, random‐forest models with a suite of acoustic indices as covariates predicted Shannon diversity, richness, and total number of biological sounds with high accuracy (R² ≥ 0.94, mean squared error [MSE] ≤170.2). Among the indices assessed, roughness, acoustic activity, and acoustic richness contributed most to the predictive ability of models. Performance of index models was negatively affected by insect, weather, and anthropogenic sounds. For marine recordings, random‐forest models poorly predicted Shannon diversity, richness, and total number of biological sounds (R² ≤ 0.40, MSE ≥ 195). Our results suggest that using a combination of relevant acoustic indices in a flexible model can accurately predict the diversity of biological sounds in temperate terrestrial acoustic recordings. Thus, acoustic approaches could be an important contribution to biodiversity monitoring in some habitats.     

Effects of age and sex ratios on offspring recruitment rates in translocated black rhinoceros

Success of animal translocations depends on improving postrelease demographic rates toward establishment and subsequent growth of released populations. Short‐term metrics for evaluating translocation success and its drivers, like postrelease survival and fecundity, are unlikely to represent longer‐term outcomes. We used information theory to investigate 25 years of data on black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) translocations. We used the offspring recruitment rate (ORR) of translocated females—a metric integrating survival, fecundity, and offspring recruitment at sexual maturity—to detect determinants of success. Our unambiguously best model (AICω = 0.986) predicted that ORR increases with female age at release as a function of lower postrelease adult rhinoceros sex ratio (males:females). Delay of first postrelease reproduction and failure of some females to recruit any calves to sexual maturity most influenced the pattern of ORRs, and the leading causes of recruitment failure were postrelease female death (23% of all females) and failure to calve (24% of surviving females). We recommend translocating older females (≥6 years old) because they do not exhibit the reproductive delay and low ORRs of juveniles (<4 years old) or the higher rates of recruitment failure of juveniles and young adults (4–5.9 years old). Where translocation of juveniles is necessary, they should be released into female‐biased populations, where they have higher ORRs. Our study offers the unique advantage of a long‐term analysis across a large number of replicate populations—a science‐by‐management experiment as a proxy for a manipulative experiment, and a rare opportunity, particularly for a large, critically endangered taxon such as the black rhinoceros. Our findings differ from previous recommendations, reinforce the importance of long‐term data sets and comprehensive metrics of translocation success, and suggest attention be shifted from ecological to social constraints on population growth and species recovery, particularly when translocating species with polygynous breeding systems.     

Competition of Hydrogen and Manganese Ions for Adsorption Sites in Sitka Spruce Litter

The competition of hydrogen and manganese ions for adsorption sites in Sitka spruce litter was investigated in a factorial design, simulated acid rain experiment, which involved leaching of litter with simulated throughfall solutions at three pH levels (5.3, 4.3 and 3.3) and three manganese concentrations (0 to 0.2 mg1^-1). the throughfall solution at the lowest pH was the most efficient in removing exchangeable manganese from litter. the manganese concentration in the leachates was approximately proportional to the hydrogen ion concentration in the simulated throughfall solution. Under field conditions, throughfall manganese concentration also naturally tends to increase as a consequence of enhanced foliar leaching of manganese in response to increasing precipitation acidity. the manganese concentration in the simulated throughfall also affected manganese concentration in the leachates, however, and contributed to a buildup of exchangeable manganese in litter, thus counteracting to some extent possible adverse effects of excess leaching due to increased throughfall acidity.     

Biodegradability and compostability of polymers—test methods and criteria for evaluation

The treatment of solid waste in controlled composting facilities is an important possibility for reducing garbage. Natural and synthetic polymeric materials can be used for many purposes, for example, as packaging materials, where compostability is required. A prerequisite for official regulations and the decision as to which materials may be composted is investigations on their biodegradability and the quality of the compost produced. Several standardization groups at the ISO, CEN, and DIN are developing definitions, test methods, and classification systems for differentiating compostable from noncompostable materials. The concept which will be standardized and used in Germany is described in detail. It includes characterization of the test material, determination of the biodegradability using laboratory tests such as simple aquatic batch tests and a controlled aerobic composting test, investigation of the disintegration of the test material in industrial or bench-scale composting facilities, and finally, chemical and ecotoxicological analysis of the compost produced.     

Prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia major by fetal blood analysis: Experience with 1000 cases

In this report we have summarized our experience with the prenatal diagnosis of β-thalassemia in 1000 pregnancies followed at least until 12 months after birth. In the majority of these cases, the thalassemia lesion was the nonsense mutation at the codon corresponding to amino acid 39, which produces the hematological phenotype of β-thalassemia. Fetal blood sampling was carried out by placental aspiration, by which a sufficient amount of fetal blood for analysis was obtained in the majority of cases (99 per cent). The fetal mortality associated with fetal blood sampling was 6·3 per cent. Those placental samples contaminated by maternal cells were successfully purified by Ørskov lysis. Fetal blood was analysed by globin chain synthesis on CM–52 columns, which gave reliable results. Two misdiagnoses (0·2 per cent) have been made of which one was due to a non-globin protein co-migrating with the β-chains while the other resulted from a misclassification of the type of thalassemia segregating in the family.     

长永高速公路建建工程的美化与绿化设计

公路的绿化、美化设计是公路景观设计的重要组成部分。长永高速公路在改建过程中，充分利用沿线的水文、地形、气候、地理等特点，从环境学、园林植物学、园林美学及建筑学的角度，阐述了沿线绿化、美化的设计思想及设计方案。该方案的实施，将实现长永高速公路沿线绿化、美化与环境的和谐统一。     

5B—1型COD快速测定仪测试污水中COD

本文通过对废水中ＣＯＤ的两种分析方法的对比实验， 结果表明： 用仪器法测废水中的ＣＯＤ， 方法简便， 节约能耗， 数据准确， 比用普通的化学法更为实用， 适合于大批量的废水检测。     

磷化铝生产废气的治理

论述了磷化铝生产废气的治理工艺、吸收剂选择及填料塔主要设计参数。水、液碱均可以作为吸收剂。以水为吸收剂,塔底出液pH<1时可用石灰乳中和后循环使用;当液碱作为吸收剂时P2O5被NaOH溶液吸收,当循环液中磷酸盐浓度较高时,可用来制作混合肥。     

"威望"号轮油污事件对航运业的警示

通过对“威望”轮油污事件的分析，提出当务之急是从有关薄弱环节着手，强化安全责任链意识和机制，创建船舶安全信息保障系统，常抓不懈，跳出事故周期律等的相应对策，以遏止目前海上频发的油轮事故。     

Prenatal diagnosis of a new syndrome: Holoprosencephaly with hypokinesia

Markedly decreased fetal activity (akinesia/hypokinesia) is usually readily apparent to experienced mothers, and frequently this concern leads to attempts at prenatal diagnosis. We report prenatal diagnosis of two fetuses with congenital contractures, markedly decreased fetal movement, and microcephaly due to severe holoprosencephaly. Such familial recurrence to phenotypically normal parents suggests a newly recognized autosomal recessive or X-linked syndrome that is readily detectable by prenatal ultrasonography.