Are savannas patch-dynamic systems? A landscape model

Savannas are ecosystems characterized by the coexistence of woody species (trees and bushes) and grasses. Given that savanna characteristics are mainly formed from competition, herbivory, fire, woodcutting, and patchy soil and precipitation characteristics, we propose a spatially explicit model to examine the effects of the above-mentioned parameters on savanna vegetation dynamics in space and time. Furthermore, we investigate the effects of the above-mentioned parameters on tree–bush–grass ratios, as well as the degrees of aggregation of tree–bush–grass biomass. We parameterized our model for an arid savanna with shallow soil depth as well as a mesic one with generally deeper and more variable soil depths. Our model was able to reproduce savanna vegetation characteristics for periods of time over 2000 years with daily updated time steps. According to our results, tree biomass was higher than bush biomass in the arid savanna but bush biomass exceeded tree and grass biomass in the simulated mesic savanna. Woody biomass increased in our simulations when the soil's porosity values were increased (mesic savanna), in combination with higher precipitation. Savanna vegetation varied from open savanna to woodland and back to open savanna again. Vegetation cycles varied over ∼300-year cycles in the arid and ∼220-year cycles in the mesic-simulated savanna. Autocorrelation values indicated that there are both temporal and spatial vegetation cycles. Our model indicated cycling savanna vegetation at the landscape scale, cycles in cells, and patchiness, i.e. patch dynamics.     

中小城镇防震减灾管理评价指标研究

依据中小城镇防震减灾管理体系,构建了中小城镇防震减灾管理评价指标体系,合理地确定了各个评价指标的相对权重,找出重点评价指标是制定防震减灾计划、行政监管与法律保障及建筑物和生命线工程抗震性能保证等,并给出具体的应用实例。对某特定中小城镇防震减灾管理能力进行模糊综合评价,评价结果揭示,中小城镇防震减灾管理的关键在于制定地方政府和社区防震减灾计划、建设规划管理和落实抗震法律法规及抗震设防要求等,最后给出了完善地方政府和社区等防震减灾计划、科学规划并合理选址、制定贯彻落实《防震减灾法》的地方配套法律法规、严格落实抗震设防要求等对策和建议。评价模型的推广应用将促进中小城镇防震减灾管理的系统化,提高中小城镇防震减灾管理的效率。     

中山市乡镇环境规划的初探

随着沿海地区乡镇经济的迅猛发展，开展乡镇的环境规划具有十分重要的意义。文章重点对中山市乡镇在发展过程中产生的环境污染问题进行分析，强调对乡镇进行环境规划的重要性，并对中山市开展乡镇环境规划的意义、内容和注意事项进行了深入的研究，并建议在开展乡镇环境规划中应避免盲目套用城市环境规划的方法，应根据乡镇发展的特殊情况，研究适合的环境规划方案。     

Spectroscopic studies and biological evaluation of some transition metal complexes of a novel Schiff base ligands derived from 5-arylazo-salicyladehyde and o-amino phenol

Synthesis and characterization of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) Schiff bases complexes resulted from the condensation of salicylaldehyde derivatives with o-amino phenol were discussed using elemental analysis (carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen), molar conductance, magnetic measurements, mass spectra, and electronic spectra. The essential bands of infrared, ¹HNMR, and UV-Vis spectra as well as thermogravimetric analysis corresponding to the active groups within the three ligands and their complexes were interpreted. The dehydration and decomposition processes of the [Cu(H₂L₁)(H₂O)](OAc)₂, [Ni(H₂L₁)(H₂O)]SO₄ · H₂O, [Zn(H₂L₁)(H₂O)]SO₄ · H₂O, [Cu(H₂L₂)(H₂O)](OAc)₂, [Ni(H₂L₂)(H₂O)]SO₄ · H₂O, [Zn(H₂L₂)(H₂O)]SO₄ · 2H₂O, [Cu(H₂L₃)(H₂O)](OAc)₂ · H₂O, [Ni(H₂L₃)(H₂O)]SO₄ · 2H₂O, [Zn(H₂L₃)(H₂O)]SO₄ complexes were studied thermodynamically using the integral method applying the Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger equations and the thermodynamic parameters were calculated. It was found from the elemental analysis and the thermal studies, that the ligand behaves as tridentate ligand forming chelates with 1 : 1 (metal : ligand) stoichiometrically. The molar conductance measurements of the complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide solvent indicate that the complexes have an electrolytic nature. The biological activities of the three ligands in comparison with metal(II) complexes were studied against different Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.     

Energy transition and its implications for environmentally sustainable development in Africa

SUMMARY

Energy transition is the process whereby there is an increase in the volume and proportion of commercial energy, to the extent that it replaces traditional fuels as the main source of energy and having enormous implications for the physical and biotic environment. This energy-environment process has rarely been the focus of research investigation in Africa. Using cross-national data drawn from the African continent, this paper examines and accounts for intercountry variations in the nature and extent of the energy transition process. The empirical analysis reveals that, for the continent as a whole, the extent to which commercial energy replaces traditional fuels is quite low. It varies between 33% and 39%. However, inter-country variations were found to be as high as 90% in countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and South Africa; and less than 15% for such countries as Benin, Burkina Faso, The Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Lesotho and Uganda. The key factors explaining intercounty variations in the energy transition process are the level of urbanization and the extent of forest and woodland resources. Other factors of secondary importance include economic growth, incidence of poverty, affordability of electrical appliances, energy trade status of the country in question and the price of commercial fuel. Finally, the paper shows that the identification of these key energy transition-inducing variables is a necessary prerequisite to an effective energy and environmentally sustainable development policy formulation in Africa.     

Tools for an enhanced solvent properties screening in the early stages of pharmaceutical process development

The objective of this research was the implementation of tools for the evaluation of solvents trough property screening in the early stages of process development. An important feature of the tools is that the implementation of indexes, scores, or weights is avoided. Information already available from the literature was stored in a database in order to turn raw data into decision making information. As a result, a solvent radar chart, a solvent representation table, and a solvent telescopying tool were developed in an ASP.NET application. The synthesis of Propranolol was used as study case in order to explore the selection of solvents in the early stages of process development. The replacement of diethyl ether was possible in the extraction step, while solvent choices were detected for potential telescoping for extraction and crystallisation steps. Solubility was found as a critical parameter in telescoping analysis. The methodology proposed enhanced the view towards a more holistic perspective and a more robust solvent screening process. As a consequence, the next steps into solvent evaluation and process development can be reduced.     

系统安全风险描述研究

从安全风险研究角度系统描述部件状态、部件状态向量、系统状态、风险和风险矩阵、风险分类、系统状态风险、风险状态集、风险状态概率、风险转移概率、临界状态、关键部件和风险重要度,对系统安全风险有了更加全面深刻而准确的呈现,得到基于部件状态向量的系统安全风险描述,给出系统处于低中高风险的概率、风险转移临界集和安全风险重要度的计算方法。     

从两起触电事故谈乡镇建筑企业安全管理

从分析事故原因入手,阐述对乡镇建筑企业的安全应如何进行管理.     

城市污水厂污泥高温好氧堆肥氮素转变行为研究

采用两段式高温好氧堆肥工艺 ,研究了污泥堆肥中氮素转变规律。研究表明 ,硝化作用受到温度和NH+ 4 N含量的影响显著。一次发酵中 ,堆料平均温度高于 4 0℃ ,硝化作用受到强烈抑制 ;二次发酵后期 ,由于NH+ 4 N浓度降低 ,故硝化过程减缓。不同调理剂及操作条件对氮素损失影响较大 ,利用腐熟堆肥作为调理剂可以减少氮素损失。适当降低堆料温度、增加初始含水率及适当减少初始挥发份含量等措施均可在一定程度上减少氮素损失     

高效离子色谱柱后衍生法测定环境水体中过渡金属离子含量

建立了可同时分析饮用水中铁、铜、镍、锌、钴、镉、锰等过渡金属离子的方法。优化后的离子色谱条件:选用 Dionex IonPac CS5A色谱柱(4 mm×250 mm),以7.0 mmol/L 吡啶-2,6-二羧酸＋66 mmol/L KOH＋74 mmol/L HCOOH＋5.6 mmol/L K₂SO₄为淋洗液,流速为1.2 mL/min,柱温为30 ℃;以0.5 mmol/L 4-(2-吡啶偶氮)间苯二酚＋1.0 mol/L 2-二甲醇胺＋0.5 mol/L氨水＋0.3 mol/L NaHCO₃为衍生液,流速为0.7 mL/min,紫外检测器波长为520 nm。结果表明,该离子色谱柱对以上过渡金属具有很好的保留和分离效果,衍生后的紫外检测手段具有优异的灵敏度和选择性。该方法稳定性良好,连续进样5针的相对标准偏差均小于0.79%;标准曲线线性关系良好,r≥0.998 8;方法检出限低,Fe³⁺为0.8 μg/L,Fe²⁺为4 μg/L,Cu²⁺为0.8 μg/L,Ni²⁺为3 μg/L,Zn²⁺为2 μg/L,Co²⁺为0.9 μg/L,Cd²⁺为16 μg/L,Mn²⁺为6 μg/L;检测结果准确,低、中、高3个水平的加标回收率均大于91.5%。该方法适用于环境水体中过渡金属离子的定量分析。