Foraging in the seed-harvester ant genus Pogonomyrmex: are energy costs important?

Energy intake and expenditure on natural foraging trips were estimated for the seed-harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex maricopa and P. rugosus. During seed collection, P. maricopa foraged individually, whereas P. rugosus employed a trunk-trail foraging system. Energy gain per trip and per minute were not significantly different between species. There was also no interspecific difference in energy cost per trip, but energy cost per minute was lower for P. maricopa foragers because they spent on average 7 min longer searching for a load on each trip. Including both unsuccessful and successful foraging trips, average energy gain per trip was more than 100 times the energy cost per trip for both species. Based on this result, we suggest that time cost incurred during individual foraging trips is much more important than energy cost in terms of maximizing net resource intake over time. In addition, because energy costs are so small relative to gains, we propose that energy costs associated with foraging may be safely ignored in future tests of foraging theory with seed-harvesting ant species.     

上海市松江镇饮用水水源区的保护与环境管理方案

保护集镇饮用水河流是当前水污染防治工作的重点。本文通过现状分析，针对城乡结合部河流以面源为主的特点，找出影响饮用水河流水质的主要污染源及污水排放特征．用系统分析方法，将集镇的经济、人口、环境统计资料作为环境管理模型的主要输入信息，经计算机仿真，得出保护水源水质应采取的对策与治理方案。     

Set-up costs and the existence of competitive equilibrium when extraction capacity is limited

Although set-up costs are prevalent and substantial in natural resource extraction, it is known that a Walrasian competitive equilibrium cannot exist in simple extraction models with set-up costs. This paper demonstrates that this result is sensitive to the assumption of unlimited extraction capacity and derives sufficient conditions for existence. An equilibrium exists if extraction is limited such that each firm earns sufficient surplus to cover its set-up costs or if firms choose extraction capacity subject to non-increasing returns. The resulting competitive equilibrium price either grows at the rate of interest when total extraction is below industry capacity or is constant when industry capacity is fully utilized. In the equilibrium, identical deposits are opened simultaneously, and set-up costs for new deposits are incurred when the industry has excess capacity rather than when capacity is fully utilized.     

Sequential development and exploitation of an exhaustible resource: do monopoly rights promote conservation?

This paper explores the problem of sequential exploitation of exhaustible resources by a monopolist, when a setup cost must be incurred to access the next pool. Under certain circumstances, the monopolist will always follow a more conservationist path of extraction and delay the introduction of new resource pools compared to a social planner. However, with other forms of consumer demand, the monopolist may exhaust the resource more quickly, especially if many new options will follow. These results may apply especially to depletable resources like antibiotics or biotech products, for which significant research and development costs are required, followed by monopoly rights conferred by patents.     

Safety and Cost-Effectiveness of Clearzones in Rockcuts

Clearzones are a feature of modern highways that have a dramatic impact on roadside safety. The purpose of these unobstructed spaces is to provide an area where an errant vehicle can safely stop or the driver can regain control of the vehicle without striking a hazardous object like a tree or utility pole. Many clearzone alternatives (e.g., removing trees, installing traversable culvert openings, and installing guardrails in front of untraversable hazards) are relatively inexpensive in comparison to other roadway construction costs. Roadways passing through rockcuts present an unusual case where the construction cost of providing the clearzone is very high. This article examines different clearzone alternatives in rockcuts and compares the likely effect on safety and construction costs. A method is described for determining the rockcut width that best balances the cost of construction with the improvements in safety that would result from a wider clearzone in the rockcut.     

ANALYSIS OF NITROGEN MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES USING EPIC1

ABSTRACT: This paper illustrates a method of using a hydrologic/water quality model to analyze alternative management practices and recommend best management practices (BMPs) to reduce nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃^--N) leaching losses. The study area for this research is Tipton, an agriculturally intensive area in southwest Oklahoma. We used Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC), a field-scale hydrologic/water quality model, to analyze alternative agricultural management practices. The model was first validated using observed data from a cotton demonstration experiment conducted in the Tipton area. Following that, EPIC was used to simulate fertilizer response curves for cotton and wheat crops under irrigated and dryland conditions. From the fertilizer response functions (N-uptake and N-leaching), we established an optimum fertilizer application rate for each crop. Individual crop performances were then simulated at optimum fertilizer application rates and crop rotations for the Tipton area, which were selected based on three criteria: (a) minimum amount of NO₃^--N leached, (b) minimum concentration of NO₃^--N leached, and (c) maximum utilization of NO₃^--M. Further we illustrate that by considering residual N from alfalfa as a credit to the following crop and crediting NO₃^--N present in the irrigation water, it is possible to reduce further NO₃^--N loss without affecting crop yield.     

冲压模CAE技术及软件选型方法

综述了国内外常用冲压模具CAE分析软件的内容和种类 ,从实用角度讨论了CAE系统应用中诸如规划、软件选型、人员培训、应用推广等问题 ,对其选型和实施方法作了重点介绍     

HKB—1型磁化率仪研制及计算机联机的实现

本文介绍了一种新研制的磁化率仪,它可测定自然界中大多数物质(良导体除外)的初始磁化率,特别适合于岩石的磁化率及其各向异性(AMS)测量。仪器工作磁场300A/m,频率920Hz,样机总磁化率测量灵敏度达到 2×10~(-12)m~3,读数采用数字显示方式并具有自动锁定功能。与计算机的联机采用了标准EIARS-232C串行接口,因此具有良好的通用性。在软件的控制下,计算机可自动完成测量数据的采集、计算处理、座标转换以及成图或存贮等工作,AMS参数的测量效率得到很大提高。     

AnnAGNPS模型在潋水河流域产水、产沙的模拟评价

日益严重的土壤侵蚀造成了土地退化、水体污染等一系列的环境和生态问题,利用基于过程的数学模型已成为流域土壤侵蚀状况定量评价和控制的有效方法.利用美国农业部开发的流域尺度AnnAGNPS模型,设计了基于地形特征的cell离散方案,在多种地理数据采集和参数化的基础上,对江西兴国潋水河流域1991～2005年的径流、产沙过程进行了分布式计算机模拟.在对产水量进行径流滤波分析的基础上,分别对模型模拟的地表径流和产沙量进行了校正和验证.地表径流模拟结果多年平均相对误差为11.8%,确定性系数R2为0.94,产沙量模拟结果的多年平均相对误差为19.71%,确定性系数R2为0.77.表明AnnAGNPS能较好地模拟潋水流域年、月尺度的地表径流和产沙过程.地下径流模拟结果误差较大,其原因和地下径流模拟模块在潋水流域的适用性有待进一步研究检验.对潋水流域土壤侵蚀定量分析表明,潋水流域的年平均侵蚀模数为1 150.29.t(km2.a)-1,属于轻度侵蚀等级,流域内侵蚀较严重的区域集中分布于居民地附近和公路沿线,其水土流失与人类活动有很大关系.     

天津市地热热泵联合供热方案的经济性分析

文章通过把地热热泵联合供热与燃气热水锅炉供热的经济指标对比,显示出地热热泵联合供热方式的投资是巨大的,但是运行成本比较低,可以在7年左右的时间收回全部成本,而燃气热水锅炉供热是不能回收成本的。