Experimental evidence for helping and hindering by previous offspring in the cooperative-breeding Seychelles warbler Acrocephalus sechellensis

Prebreeding Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis) frequently act as helpers on their natal territory, aiding in territory defence, predator mobbing, nestbuilding, incubation (only females) and feeding dependent young of their parents. In some cases helpers could attain breeding status (e.g. by joint-nesting) in their natal group and become co-breeders. Comparisons of group size and reproductive success on a given quality territory suggest that the presence of alloparents (helpers and cobreeders) significantly affects the reproductive success of their parents. The influence of alloparents on reproductive success was examined by removing alloparents from breeding units and comparing the success of natural-sized and artificially reduced groups. Removal experiments, controlled for territory quality, group size and breeder age, showed that the presence of one alloparent significantly improved the reproductive success of its parents. Analysis strongly suggests that this was entirely due to helping behaviour (i.e. providing care to offspring of their parents), thereby improving the helper's inclusive fitness benefits from staying at home. However, these experiments showed also that the presence of two or more alloparents in medium-quality territories significantly decreased reproductive success, compared with groups with one alloparent. Several lines of evidence suggest that this may have been due to the joint-nesting and reproductive competition that could occur in breeding groups, or simply to resource depression when a large number of previous offspring remained on their natal territory.     

微生物絮凝剂净化废水实验研究

采用微生物絮凝剂（ＭＢＦ）对于多种康２进行了净２化实验研究，结果表明，从活性污泥中分离出的Ｑ３－２菌株，由其产生的絮凝剂较曲霉产生的絮凝剂有更好的净化效果，最高絮凝率可达到９９．５％。将传统的无机絮凝剂碱式氯化铝与微生物絮凝剂配合使用不仅可以降低絮凝剂的总投加量，而且还可减少污泥量及污泥中铝残留量，这有利于絮凝后废渣的综合利用。     

高温环境下薄壁结构声疲劳失效验证技术研究

目的针对高温环境下薄壁结构声疲劳失效问题,研究分析薄壁结构在高温环境下的声疲劳失效特征,验证薄壁结构热声响应计算方法与疲劳寿命预估模型的有效性。方法较系统地阐述高温环境下薄壁结构声疲劳失效试验验证技术,重点总结热声疲劳试验环境建立与加载、高温环境下噪声测试、高温环境下动态响应测试和疲劳破坏寿命测试方法,并通过具体案例说明工程中试验验证方法的有效性。结果试验件在仿真计算与试验中的破坏位置一致,响应频率吻合较好,应力水平一致,疲劳寿命量级相当。结论薄壁结构热声响应计算方法与疲劳寿命预估模型的有效性高。     

Determination of optimum operating conditions for industrial dye wastewater treatment using adaptive heuristic criticism pH control

For a pilot-scale application, pH control in the treatment of highly contaminated dye industrial wastewater containing metallic compounds as the main pollutants has been investigated with a method using adaptive heuristic criticism control (AHCC). Subsequent experimentation on between 12 and 18 l of the wastewater was carried out using statistical experimental design methodology to evaluate the effects of three critical factors: slaked lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)(2)) concentration, iron chloride (FeCl(3)) concentration and wastewater volume. With these critical factors, the wastewater treatment process is modeled as an appropriate quadratic cost function of the turbidity of the clarified water. The model is optimized with Rosenbrock's method. Response surface topology of the wastewater treatment is given in terms of optimal concentrations of lime water and FeCl(3) and optimal wastewater volume at pH 11.     

Modelling feeding flow related shrinkage defects in aluminum castings

The process modelling of shape casting is geometrically complex and computationally very challenging. Besides the three-dimensional complex shapes with multiple domains, the defects of interest to industry arise as a consequence of the interaction amongst a range of phenomena. Conventionally, the key phenomena and defect prediction are modelled through empirical relations applied to the simulation results. Such approaches are neither comprehensive nor reliable. This paper presents a 3-D model that is capable of predicting the formation of shrinkage defects explicitly as a function of the interacting continuum phenomena, i.e. free surface flow, heat transfer, and solidification, in complex three-dimensional geometries which allows to identify the distinction between surface depression, surface connected cavities and internal cavities.The model solves the coupled macroscopic conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy with a phase change during solidification. In the model, the volume deficit due to solidification can either be compensated by depression of the outside surface or by creating a cavity that initiates either on the surface or in the interior of the casting. The solidification morphology is taken into account by using a parameter, which depends on the fraction solid, in the momentum equation. By using an adapted free surface algorithm, it is suitable to predict surface connected defects: depressed surfaces and caved surfaces. A critical pressure serves as a criterion to open internal shrinkage cavities. The model does not need to search for connected zones to feed shrinkage, but the shrinkage distribution will automatically emerge from the continuity equation.This advanced shrinkage model has experimentally been validated successfully using two Al-Si alloys, a skin freezing eutectic alloy and a mushy freezing hypo-eutectic alloy.     

Reducing multiple-use conflicts on public lands through experimental stewardship

Implementation of a consensus-based management and planning process on three pilot areas has reduced conflicts among interest groups. There are insufficient data to demonstrate biological improvement in range condition on the pilot areas at this time. Economic analysis indicates that recreation values exceed all other resource values in all three pilot areas.     

长沙市城市公共安全综合试点方案

简要介绍了城市公共安全综合试点项目的启动背景 ,分析了长沙市目前的公共安全现状 ,提出了综合试点方案 ,包括建立长沙市公共安全基础数据库 ,开展重大危险源辨识和生命线应急能力评估 ,建立长沙市重大事故预防控制体系 ,建立长沙市应急联动系统 ,编制长沙市公共安全规划等五部分。该方案既结合了长沙的实际又具有较高的起点 ,实施思路清晰 ,它的实施对提高长沙市的公共安全水平具有重要意义且试点成果具有一定的典型性和示范性。     

建筑材料火灾烟气减光性能的试验研究

笔者以木材、纺织品和塑料(聚苯乙烯) 3类材料作为高层建筑常用的可燃性建筑材料,对其在燃烧状态下释放的烟气进行了减光性能试验,研究了3种建筑材料在燃烧状态下,释放烟气的光学密度、减光系数、能见度及其相互关系,并建立了简明的函数关系式。通过试验,其结果表明,3种建筑材料释放烟气的光学密度随时间呈线性增长,烟场内疏散标志的能见度与烟气的减光系数、燃烧建材的性质、室内其他照明装置的开闭、疏散标志自身的亮度有关     

Effects of low concentrations of the phenylurea herbicide diuron on biofilm algae and bacteria

A system of recirculating channels was used in this study to examine the long-term effects (29 d) of environmentally realistic concentrations of the herbicide diuron (from 0.07 to 7 μg L⁻¹) on biofilm communities. The autotrophic activity of biofilms was affected by this herbicide, as reflected by a marked decrease in the photosynthetic efficiency. Diuron exposure also increased chlorophyll-a content and reduced the biovolume of diatom taxa at low concentrations. The effects on bacteria were also remarkable. Bacterial abundance was reduced after a week of exposure to the herbicide at a range of concentrations. Effects were on the number of live bacteria and on the increase in the leucine-aminopeptidase activity. It is suggested that inputs of herbicides to the river ecosystem at low concentrations may cause a chain of effects in the biofilm, which include inhibitory effects on algae but also indirect effects on the relationships between biofilm components.     

Study on recycled asphalt concrete for use in surface course in airport pavement

This research investigated the possibility of using recycled asphalt concrete as surface course in airport pavement. The basic properties of recycled asphalt binder after short- and long-term aging were firstly tested and compared with those of the virgin asphalt. Then, a series of laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the performance of recycled asphalt concrete (containing 40% and 70% RAP), in which the HMA mixture without RAP was used as a control. Furthermore, an experimental pavement consisting of three sections (corresponding to 0%, 40% and 70% RAP content) was constructed to verify the laboratory test results. These results indicated that the recycled asphalt could achieve the similar properties against long-term aging as virgin asphalt. Recycled asphalt concrete containing 40% RAP could be used as surface course in airport pavement as it exhibited similar performance as control mixture both from the laboratory and experimental pavement test results. On the contrary, recycled asphalt concrete containing 70% RAP was not recommended as its fatigue property was much poorer compared with that of virgin asphalt mixture.