Evaluating weather effects on interannual variation in net ecosystem productivity of a coastal temperate forest landscape: A model intercomparison

Forest productivity is strongly affected by seasonal weather patterns and by natural or anthropogenic disturbances. However weather effects on forest productivity are not currently represented in inventory-based models such as CBM-CFS3 used in national forest C accounting programs. To evaluate different approaches to modelling these effects, a model intercomparison was conducted among CBM-CFS3 and four process models (ecosys, CN-CLASS, Can-IBIS and 3PG) over a 2500 ha landscape in the Oyster River (OR) area of British Columbia, Canada. The process models used local weather data to simulate net primary productivity (NPP), net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and net biome productivity (NBP) from 1920 to 2005. Other inputs used by the process and inventory models were generated from soil, land cover and disturbance records. During a period of intense disturbance from 1928 to 1943, simulated NBP diverged considerably among the models. This divergence was attributed to differences among models in the sizes of detrital and humus C stocks in different soil layers to which a uniform set of soil C transformation coefficients was applied during disturbances. After the disturbance period, divergence in modelled NBP among models was much smaller, and attributed mainly to differences in simulated NPP caused by different approaches to modelling weather effects on productivity. In spite of these differences, age-detrended variation in annual NPP and NEP of closed canopy forest stands was negatively correlated with mean daily maximum air temperature during July-September (T_amax) in all process models (R² = 0.4-0.6), indicating that these correlations were robust. The negative correlation between T_amax and NEP was attributed to different processes in different models, which were tested by comparing CO₂ fluxes from these models with those measured by eddy covariance (EC) under contrasting air temperatures (T_a). The general agreement in sensitivity of annual NPP to T_amax among the process models led to the development of a generalized algorithm for weather effects on NPP of coastal temperate coniferous forests for use in inventory-based models such as CBM-CFS3: NPP′ = NPP − 57.1 (T_amax − 18.6), where NPP and NPP′ are the current and temperature-adjusted annual NPP estimates from the inventory-based model, 18.6 is the long-term mean daily maximum air temperature during July-September, and T_amax is the mean value for the current year. Our analysis indicated that the sensitivity of NPP to T_amax was nonlinear, so that this algorithm should not be extrapolated beyond the conditions of this study. However the process-based methodology to estimate weather effects on NPP and NEP developed in this study is widely applicable to other forest types and may be adopted for other inventory based forest carbon cycle models.     

Identifying different types of bulking in an activated sludge system through quantitative image analysis

The present study proposes an image analysis methodology for the identification of different types of disturbances in wastewater treatment activated sludge systems. Up to date, most reported image analysis methodologies have been used in activated sludge processes with the aim of filamentous bulking detection, however, other disturbances could be foreseen in wastewater treatment plants. Such disturbances can lead to fluctuations in the biomass contents, affecting the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), and in the sludge settling ability, affecting the sludge volume index (SVI). Therefore, this work focuses on predicting the MLSS and SVI parameters for different types of disturbances affecting an activated sludge system. Four experiments were conducted simulating filamentous bulking, zoogleal or viscous bulking, pinpoint floc formation, and normal operating conditions. Alongside the MLSS and SVI determination, the aggregated and filamentous biomass contents and morphology were studied as well as the biomass Gram and viability status, by means of image analysis.     

硝氮胁迫对不同沉水植物生理生长的影响

沉水植物是水生生态系统的初级生产者,对调控生态系统能量的循环和传递,维持水生态系统的结构和功能。都有极为重要的作用。为了解硝态氮浓度对不同种类沉水植物生理生长的综合影响,实验采用6种浓度的硝态氮对苦草和黑藻进行胁迫处理,在实验开始后的6、24h测定植株抗氧化物酶（SOD、POD、CAT）的活性;并于实验处理7d后考察植株的叶绿素含量和各项生长指标。结果表明,缺氮条件下苦草和黑藻的SOD、POD反应强烈,40mg／L下苦草和黑藻的SOD、CAT酶活性几乎无变化;从处理时间上看,苦草总体表现为各浓度处理的SOD、CAT随胁迫时间增加活性上升,POD活性下降;黑藻生理活性表现则相反。胁迫处理7d后,苦草5mg／L处理下生物量积累最大,1～20mg／L内黑藻生物量积累没有差异,苦草的叶绿素、鲜重增量生长指标总体远低于黑藻。研究表明,10mg／L是苦草能够耐受的最高硝态氮浓度．黑藻在1～20mg／L内均能较好生长;黑藻较苦草对硝态氮胁迫具有更大的耐受性。     

Translocation and biotoxicity of metal (oxide) nanoparticles in the wetland-plant system

• Aquatic plants are more likely to absorb TiO₂ NPs that are beneficial to them. • Ag NPs inhibited the growth of aquatic plants under both 5- and 60-day exposure. • CeO₂ NPs had positive/negative impact on plant in 5/60-day exposure, respectively. • TiO₂ NPs presence could enhance the photosynthesis and increase the plant biomass. • The ENPs changed plant activity, which resulted in changes of wetland performance. Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) threaten the environment through wastewater discharging. Generally, constructed wetlands (CWs) are efficient methods for ENPs removal. However, the biotoxicity of ENPs on plants in CWs is unclear. Here, we investigated the distribution and bio-impacts of different ENPs (Ag NPs, TiO₂ NPs, and CeO₂ NPs) in plants under 5- and 60-day exposure to 1 and 50 mg/L concentrations. Results showed that ENPs appeared in the vascular bundle and mesophyll cell space, which induced the variation in antioxidase activities (e.g., superoxide dismutase [SOD], peroxidase [POD], and catalase [CAT] activities) as well as overproduction of malondialdehyde (MDA). Additionally, Ag NPs inhibited photosynthesis rate and root activity during two exposure phases. CeO₂ NPs had positive and negative impacts on plants in 5- and 60-day exposure, respectively. Inversely, TiO₂ NPs enhanced photosynthesis and root activity under 60-day exposure. Finally, the contents of the C, N, and P elements in plants fluctuated in response to ENPs stress. All results have a positive correlation with the wetland performance under ENPs exposure except for TiO₂ NPs treatment. Overall, our study systematically reveals aquatic plants' responses to ENPs and provides a reference for building ecological treatment systems to purify wastewater containing ENPs.     

Microclimate influence in a physiological model of cattle-fever tick (Boophilus spp.) population dynamics

Since their official eradication from the US in 1943, the cattle-tick species Boophilus microplus and Boophilus annulatus, vectors of bovine babesiosis, frequently have penetrated a quarantine zone established along the Texas–Mexico border designed to exclude them. Inspection and quarantine procedures have eradicated reinfestations successfully within the US, but increasing acaricide resistance in Mexican B. microplus populations poses a threat to future eradication efforts. Better understanding of interrelationships among Boophilus populations, their hosts, and vegetation communities in south Texas could improve prediction of the behavior of reintroduced Boophilus populations and increase management options. To this end, we constructed a simulation model to evaluate how microclimate, habitat (i.e. vegetation) heterogeneity, and within-pasture cattle movement may influence dynamics of Boophilus ticks in south Texas. Unlike previous Boophilus tick models, this model simulates dynamics at an hourly time-step, calculates all off-host dynamics as functions of temperature and relative humidity, and runs with ground-level microclimate data collected bi-hourly in three different habitat types. Sensitivity analysis of the model showed that temperatures and relative humidities created by habitat type, as well as engorged female mass, influenced tick population dynamics most strongly. Host habitat selection, initial number of larvae per cow, and the number of cells into which the simulated pasture was divided also had a strong influence. Population dynamics appeared moderately sensitive to the proportion of Bos indicus in cattle genotypes and the larval attachment rate, while appearing relatively insensitive to factors such as mortality rate of engorged females. When used to simulate laboratory experiments from the literature, the model predicted most observed life-history characteristics fairly well; however, it tended to underestimate oviposition duration, incubation duration, and egg mortality and overestimate larval longevity, especially at low temperatures and high humidities. Use of the model to predict Boophilus population dynamics in hypothetical south Texas pastures showed that it reasonably generated qualitative patterns of stage-wise abundances but tended to overestimate on-host tick burdens. Collection and incorporation of data that appear not to exist for Boophilus ticks, such as larval lipid content and lipid-use rates, may improve model accuracy. Though this model needs refinements such as a smaller spatial resolution, it provides insight into responses of B. microplus or B. annulatus populations to specific weather patterns, habitat heterogeneity, and host movement.     

The effects of burial by sand on survival and growth of Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) along lake huron

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of sand burial on survival and growth of seedlings ofCirsium pitcheri. In 1992–1993, seedlings were buried to depths of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of their height while in 1993–1994, the seedlings were buried to depths of 0, 4 cm (single burial), 4 cm (repeated burial of 1 cm every 8 days), 8 cm (single burial) and 8 cm (repeated burial of 2 cm every 8 days). Several physiological traits, net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll a∶b ratio, leaf area, number and length of leaves, number of internodes, amount of tillering, and biomass, were measured. The results showed that all seedlings died in the complete (100%) burial, 20% died in the 75% burial and none died in the 0, 25 and 50% burial treatments. Burial of seedlings to a depth of 25% stimulated their growth but 75% burial significantly decreased the total dry weight. Repeated burial treatments exhibited significantly greater stimulation of growth than single burial. Surviving seedlings grew through the sand deposit by elongating the stem and leaf petioles, increasing the number of nodes and the length of internodes. This elongation occurred at the expense of development of the root system indicating that available energy was re-allocated to above-ground parts.     

安全教育培训工作者的过程管理研究

安全教育培训是安全生产领域一项重要的基础性工作,是贯彻＂安全第一,预防为主,综合治理＂方针的具体体现。为了使培训工作实现程序化控制、规范化操作、科学化管理,本文在分析了安全培训机构及培训过程管理现状的基础上,介绍了安全培训工作者的素质要求,根据ISO10015国际培训标准、现代安全培训管理工作的实践,提出了培训流程管理遵循的原则并建立了＂派班-交验＂螺旋式上升的循环培训管理流程。根据安全培训管理工作者应该具备的素质,结合胜任能力模型确定了培训管理工作者的考核和评价机制。采用＂派班-交验＂的方式对培训工作者进行管理,并得到有效运用。     

安全教育培训工作者的过程管理研究

安全教育培训是安全生产领域一项重要的基础性工作,是贯彻＂安全第一,预防为主,综合治理＂方针的具体体现。为了使培训工作实现程序化控制、规范化操作、科学化管理,本文在分析了安全培训机构及培训过程管理现状的基础上,介绍了安全培训工作者的素质要求,根据ISO10015国际培训标准、现代安全培训管理工作的实践,提出了培训流程管理遵循的原则并建立了＂派班-交验＂螺旋式上升的循环培训管理流程。根据安全培训管理工作者应该具备的素质,结合胜任能力模型确定了培训管理工作者的考核和评价机制。采用＂派班-交验＂的方式对培训工作者进行管理,并得到有效运用。     

Heavy metal accumulation characteristics and physiological response of Sabina chinensis and Platycladus orientalis to atmospheric pollution

Heavy metal(Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Cd) concentrations were measured in the leaves of Sabina chinensis and Platycladus orientalis collected from urban, suburban, and rural sites in Tianjin, China. Photosynthetic pigment contents, reactive oxygen species content, malondialdehyde(MDA) content and antioxidant enzyme activity were investigated, providing physiological response parameters. Our comparison of the sites revealed that urbanization significantly influenced the heavy metal concentrations in bo...     

女性驾驶人特性与行为机制研究现状及展望

为系统地认识女性驾驶人的驾驶特性,分析其驾驶行为,从女性驾驶人交通事故数据统计、致因和心理、生理、“药驾”等因素,梳理国内外女性驾驶人驾驶特性及行为机制的研究成果,总结主流研究角度、方法和内容,并展望其未来研究趋势。对文献的梳理和分析表明:导致女性驾驶人交通事故的因素主要包括人格、认知等心理特征和视觉能力、应激反应等生理特征,同时“药驾”也影响着驾驶特性与行为。剖析了女性驾驶人特性及行为机制研究目前存在的不足之处,对未来的研究提出了建议。并针对女性驾驶人群体在各种道路交通环境中开展有效的模拟驾驶培训和教育,进而全面提升中国女性驾驶人的交通安全水平。