Estimating the complexity of bird song by using capture-recapture approaches from community ecology

Repertoire size, the number of unique song or syllable types in the repertoire, is a widely used measure of song complexity in birds, but it is difficult to calculate this exactly in species with large repertoires. A new method of repertoire size estimation applies species richness estimation procedures from community ecology, but such capture-recapture approaches have not been much tested. Here, we establish standardized sampling schemes and estimation procedures using capture-recapture models for syllable repertoires from 18 bird species, and suggest how these may be used to tackle problems of repertoire estimation. Different models, with different assumptions regarding the heterogeneity of the use of syllable types, performed best for different species with different song organizations. For most species, models assuming heterogeneous probability of occurrence of syllables (so-called detection probability) were selected due to the presence of both rare and frequent syllables. Capture-recapture estimates of syllable repertoire size from our small sample did not differ significantly from previous estimates using larger samples of count data. However, the enumeration of syllables in 15 songs yielded significantly lower estimates than previous reports. Hence, heterogeneity in detection probability of syllables should be addressed when estimating repertoire size. This is neglected using simple enumeration procedures, but is taken into account when repertoire size is estimated by appropriate capture-recapture models adjusted for species-specific song organization characteristics. We suggest that such approaches, in combination with standardized sampling, should be applied in species with potentially large repertoire size. On the other hand, in species with small repertoire size and homogenous syllable usage, enumerations may be satisfactory. Although researchers often use repertoire size as a measure of song complexity, listeners to songs are unlikely to count entire repertoires and they may rely on other cues, such as syllable detection probability.Communicated by A. Cockburn     

Probability distributions and statistical inference for axial data

Observations on axes which lack information on the direction of propagation are referred to as axial data. Such data are often encountered in enviromental sciences, e.g. observations on propagations of cracks or on faults in mining walls. Even though such observations are recorded as angles, circular probability models are inappropriate for such data since the constraint that observations lie only in [0, π) needs to be enforced. Probability models for such axial data are argued here to have a general structure stemming from that of wrapping a circular distribution on a semi-circle. In particular, we consider the most popular circular model, the von Mises or circular normal distribution, and derive the corresponding axial normal distribution. Certain properties of this distribution are established. Maximum likelihood estimation of its parameters are shown to be surprisingly, in contrast to trigonometric moment estimation, numerically quite appealing. Finally we illustrate our results by several real life axial data sets. Received: September 2004/ Revised: December 2004     

用黑麦幼苗法测定土壤中污染元素的生物有效性

本文对全国污灌区１２个土样中Ｃｄ形态与生物有效性的试验表明，Ｃｄ的交换态，吸附态，有机结合态均有效，且有机结合态最为有效，对紫阳县富硒土壤的试验表明：黑麦幼苗中的总Ｓｅ量与０．１ｍｏｌ／１ＫＨ２ＰＯ４的浸提量最为相关，从而推荐该法为酸性土壤有效Ｓｅ的浸提方法，对西安污水厂污水污泥在娄土上不同施用量的试验表明：幼苗中Ｎ，Ｐ随施用量增加而增加，Ｎ，Ｐ的有效率分别为５０－７０％及１５－２８％；黑麦幼苗中     

试论冶金企业职业安全卫生评价技术和方法

介绍了安全卫生评价的目的和要求,同时介绍了职业安全卫生评价的方法。     

活性污泥二次污染问题的探讨(Ⅱ)

讨论了城市污水经过A／O工艺处理时活性污泥的二次污染问题。将原水、处理后的出水及活性污泥用甲苯萃取，萃取相经过真空浓缩后，采用GC／MS测定了样品中的有机化合物，结果表明，在A／O工艺处理城市污水过程中，活性污泥的吸附作用是主要的，降解作用是次要的；A／O工艺所排放的活性污泥仍然是一种危险的污染物。     

Sensitivity evaluation of the visual,tactile, and auditory detection response task method while driving

Objectives: In this article, we evaluate the sensitivity to cognitive load of 3 versions of the Detection Response Task method (DRT), proposed in ISO Draft Standard DIS-17488.

Methods: We present a user study with 30 participants in which we compared the sensitivity to cognitive load of visual, audio, and tactile DRT in a simulated driving environment. The amount of cognitive load was manipulated with secondary n-back tasks at 2 levels of difficulty (0-back and 1-back). We also explored whether the DRT method is least sensitive to cognitive load when the stimuli and secondary task are of the same modality. For this purpose, we used 3 forms to present the n-back task stimuli: visual, audio, and tactile. Responses to the task were always vocal. The experiment was based on a between-subject design (the DRT modalities) with 2 levels of within-subject design study (modalities and difficulty of the secondary n-back tasks). The participants' primary task in the study was to drive safely, and a second priority was to answer to DRT stimuli and perform secondary tasks.

Results: The results indicate that all 3 versions of the DRT tested were sensitive to detecting the difference in cognitive load between the reference driving period and driving and engaging in the secondary tasks. Only the visual DRT discriminated between the 0-back and 1-back conditions on mean response time. Contrary to expectations, no interaction was observed between DRT modality and the stimuli modality used for presentation of the secondary tasks.

Conclusions: None of the 3 methods of presenting DRT stimuli showed a consistent advantage in sensitivity in differentiating multiple levels of cognitive load if all response times, hit rates, and secondary task performance are considered. If only response time is considered, the visual presentation of the DRT stimulus used in this study showed some advantages. In interpreting these data, it should be noted that the methods of DRT stimulus presentation varied somewhat from the currently proposed draft ISO standard and it is possible that the relative salience level of the visual DRT stimulus influenced the findings. It is further suggested that more than 2 levels of difficulty of the n-back task should be considered for further investigation of the relative sensitivity of different DRT stimuli modalities. Parameters that indicate change in cognitive load (response time, hit rate, task performance) should be analyzed together in assessing the overall impact on the driver and not individually, in order to obtain a fuller insight of the assessed cognitive load.     

国际间绿色GDP核算方法评述

绿色GDP核算是通过将资源环境成本纳入国民经济核算中来实现环境管理的一种有效的经济手段。本文分析了世界各主要核算体系下的编制方式,探讨目前各种核算方式所存在问题及缺失,以加深各方面对绿色GDP核算的理解与实践拓展。     

水体中磺酸类有机物的检测分析进展

针对水体中磺酸类有机化合物的分离分析,较为系统地总结了近年来国内外学者在磺酸类化合物检测方面所作的研究工作,主要介绍了高效液相色谱、气质联用和电位等检测方法的应用。     

Molecular Study of the Persistence of Infectious Human Norovirus on Food-Contact Surfaces

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of relative humidity (RH) and temperature on norovirus (NoV) persistence as infectious particles on food-contact surfaces such as stainless steel and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). For this purpose, a new method combining enzymatic digestion with molecular beacon-based NASBA targeting the ORF1-ORF2 domain was developed to discriminate between infectious and noninfectious NoV. Stainless steel and PVC disks were contaminated with known amounts of human NoV and kept for 56 days at 7 and 20°C at high (86% ± 4%) and low (30% ± 10%) RH. NoV retained its putative infectivity for 56 days on PVC and for 49 days on stainless steel at 7°C and for 7 and 28 days, respectively, at low and high RH at 20°C on both tested surfaces. These results confirm that NoV persists in an infective state on inert surfaces for long periods of time and consequently may cause illness. The new molecular approach to detecting infectious NoV on inert surfaces may provide valuable information for evaluating environmental surface decontamination strategies.     

基于物料衡算法的复杂化工过程产排污量核算软件的开发及应用

物料衡算法是污染源普查技术规定的污染物排放量核算的一种重要方法,但对于复杂的化工过程,物料衡算法的难度和计算工作量均很大,难以为基层环境监察人员掌握和运用,同时运用物料衡算进行污染物排放量核算的可靠性,也很难保证。结合排污量核定实践,综合进行物料衡算的技巧和一般方法,科学地模化物质转化转移过程,以此为基础,应用Visual Basic高级计算机语言编制了针对复杂化工过程的物料衡算计算软件,并以沈阳某制药有限公司的脑复康生产过程为原型,利用实测资料对计算模型进行了验证,应用该软件计算某制药厂VC生产线等4条生产线的产排污量核算。该软件应用简便,可以方便快捷地进行复杂化工过程的物料衡算,并可以分析生产过程中的主要产污环节,为提高清洁生产水平提供科学依据。