Fluctuating asymmetry and sperm transfer in male decorated field crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus)

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in limb size in female decorated field crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) was associated with a reduction in the size of the spermatophore and the amount of sperm transferred by males and an increase in the time taken to transfer a spermatophore following introduction of a female. There was a weaker negative relationship between limb asymmetry in males and sperm number but no significant relationship between asymmetry in either sex and spermatophylax size. In line with a previous study, female size did not appear to influence spermatophore production or mating decisions by males. The results imply that developmental instability affects both gamete production and mating decisions among males, although the relationships between spermatophore size, sperm number and asymmetry in females are unlikely to be the result of males perceiving differences in female FA. Received: 24 July 1999 / Received in revised form: 22 November 1999 / Accepted: 31 December 1999     

利用综合指标和一元分布拟合筛选重点污染源

首次将综合指标和数理统计一元分布拟合方法运用于重点污染源的筛选,通过筛选排污量离群单位来确定重点污染源.研究了污染物排放量的分布,污染源各污染物排放量之间的关系;在进行重点污染源的筛选时,针对污染源所处不同地理位置或不同排放去向,可造成不同危害程度的问题,采取了对污染源所处地理位置或排放去向进行加权的方法;针对当污染源排放多种污染物,多参数筛选难于综合考虑的问题,提出了采用综合参数进行筛选的方法.采用的重点污染源的筛选方法更具有理论依据和科学性.     

Study of high-frequency electromagnetic field effect on some somatic and neuro-behavioral characteristics in healthy and neurodefective mice

The effect of long-term exposure to high frequency electromagnetic field (HF EMF) on some somatic and neural characteristics was studied in neurodefective Lurcher mutant (+/Lc) and normal wild type mice (+/+). Both newborn and young adult (3 months) animals derived from two strains (C3H, B6CBA) were exposed to HF EMF (870 MHz) from 1st to 21st day or from 91st to 120th day respectively. In animals of both groups and controls we observed the development of body weight. Moreover, in the HF EMF exposed adult B6CBA animals we studied spatial learning ability, motor functions and the CNS excitability. To investigate specific energy absorption rate (SAR) in experimental animals we have done the basic 3D calculations of the electromagnetic energy distribution in the simplified model of the mouse. The HF EMF exposed animals exhibited mild differences of body weight between them and unexposed controls. The long-term exposure to HF EMF did not significantly influence the ability to learn in the Morris water maze. However, significant lower swimming speed was found in the irradiated +/Lc as well as lower motor activity of +/+ in the open field when compared to controls. No significant differences were found between HF EMF irradiated animals and controls in examination of the CNS excitability and motor functions.     

Time stress,predation risk and diurnal–nocturnal foraging trade-offs in larval prey

Insect larvae increase in size with several orders of magnitude throughout development making them more conspicuous to visually hunting predators. This change in predation pressure is likely to impose selection on larval anti-predator behaviour and since the risk of detection is likely to decrease in darkness, the night may offer safer foraging opportunities to large individuals. However, forsaking day foraging reduces development rate and could be extra costly if prey are subjected to seasonal time stress. Here we test if size-dependent risk and time constraints on feeding affect the foraging–predation risk trade-off expressed by the use of the diurnal–nocturnal period. We exposed larvae of one seasonal and one non-seasonal butterfly to different levels of seasonal time stress and time for diurnal–nocturnal feeding by rearing them in two photoperiods. In both species, diurnal foraging ceased at large sizes while nocturnal foraging remained constant or increased, thus larvae showed ontogenetic shifts in behaviour. Short night lengths forced small individuals to take higher risks and forage more during daytime, postponing the shift to strict night foraging to later on in development. In the non-seasonal species, seasonal time stress had a small effect on development and the diurnal–nocturnal foraging mode. In contrast, in the seasonal species, time for pupation and the timing of the foraging shift were strongly affected. We argue that a large part of the observed variation in larval diurnal–nocturnal activity and resulting growth rates is explained by changes in the cost/benefit ratio of foraging mediated by size-dependent predation and time stress.     

Supply and demand: causes and consequences of assortative mating in common terns <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sterna hirundo</Emphasis>

Although assortative mating is widespread among long-lived monogamous birds, the underlying mechanisms still remain unclear in many species. In this study, we analysed assortative mating by age and body mass in the common tern Sterna hirundo with special regard to mate choice decisions of newly paired birds. To assess whether assortative mating by age is an active decision involving either homotypic or directional preferences or rather a passive process due to restricted availability of potential mates, we analysed the influence of age-dependent arrival date and cohort size. Furthermore, we looked for direct benefits in terms of reproductive success. Common terns mated assortatively by age and arrival date but not by body mass at arrival. Assortative mating by age was age dependent and was detected mainly in younger birds, whereas birds older than 8 years rather re-paired with younger ones. The availability of same-aged mates was restricted by cohort size and arrival date. We found no general evidence for better reproductive performance of same-aged pairs. Instead, relative reproductive success was related to own age and the relative age of mate: It should be advantageous for any bird to acquire an old mate; hence, assortative mating by age seems to be beneficial only for old terns but not for young ones. Age-assortative mating in common terns occurred by both passive and active processes, which are not mutually exclusive. Our results do not indicate a homotypic but a directional preference and support the theory that high-quality (older/experienced) individuals tend to mate assortatively if same-aged mates are available, which leaves low-quality (young/inexperienced) individuals to mate among themselves.     

Impact of combining chlorine dioxide and chlorine on DBP formation in simulated indoor swimming pools

The main objective of this study was to assess the combined use of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and chlorine (Cl2) on the speciation and kinetics of disinfection by-product (DBP) formation in swimming pools using synthetic pool waters prepared with a body fluid analog (BFA) and/or fresh natural water. At 1:25 (mass ratio) of ClO2 to Cl2, there was no significant reduction in the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) for both BFA solution and natural water compared to the application of Cl2 alone. When the mass ratio of ClO2 to Cl2 increased to 1:1, substantial decreases in both THMs and HAAs were observed in the natural water, while there was almost no change of DBP formations in the BFA solution. Haloacetonitriles and halonitromethanes levels in both water matrices remained similar. In the presence of bromide, the overall DBP formation increased in both BFA solution and natural water. For the DBP formation kinetics, after 72 hr of contact time, very low formation of THMs and HAAs was observed for the use of ClO2 only. Compared to Cl2 control, however, applying the 1:1 mixture of ClO2/Cl2 reduced THMs by > 60% and HAAs by > 50%. Chlorite was maintained below 1.0 mg/L, while the formation of chlorate significantly increased over the reaction time. Finally, in a bench-scale indoor pool experiment, applying ClO2 and Cl2 simultaneously produced less THMs compared to Cl2 control and kept chlorite at < 0.4 mg/L, while HAAs and chlorate accumulated over 4-week operation period.     

安全生产是企业领导者的首要工作

本文结合鞍钢多年安全生产工作实践,从企业领导者的角度,阐述了安全生产在企业中的地位、作用及重要性,提出了一把手安全生产负责制的对策及实施方法,这对于提高企业领导者的安全素质,搞好企业的安全生产工作具有重要的指导作用。     

Culpable versus non-culpable traffic accidents; what is wrong with this picture?

INTRODUCTION: It is often implicitly or explicitly assumed in traffic accident research that drivers with accidents designated as non-culpable are a random sample from the population. However, this assumption is dependent upon differences in the criterion used for culpability. If drivers are erroneously categorized by assuming randomness, results could be grossly misleading. METHOD: The assumption of randomness leads to two predictions: first, no correlation should exist between culpable and non-culpable crashes; and second, the accident groups should differ on the variables known to be associated with accidents, such as amount of driving experience. These predictions were tested in two samples of bus drivers. RESULTS: It was found that in a sample with a harsh criterion (70% culpable accidents) for crash responsibility, the drivers with non-culpable accidents had the features expected, namely, they were more experienced for example, while in a sample with a lenient criterion (50 % culpable), this was not so. DISCUSSION: It was concluded that similar studies to the present one would need to be undertaken to establish exactly what percentage of drivers in a given population should be assigned culpable accidents, and construct a criterion that yields this ratio. Otherwise, the theoretical assumptions of randomness and non-responsibility will probably be violated to some degree. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Many estimates of risk of crash involvement may have been wrong. Given the potential for erroneous criteria, a number of studies may make invalid assumptions from their data.     

Sex,age, spleen size,and kidney fat of red deer relative to infection intensities of the lungworm <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaphostrongylus cervi</Emphasis>

We analyzed the relationships among spleen size, body condition (measured as kidney fat), and larval counts of the nematode Elaphostrongylus cervi in red deer (Cervus elaphus). The aim was to investigate the interaction between host body condition and intensity of infection with parasites. As red deer are highly polygynous, we also tested whether these relationships varied with sex and age of the hosts. Kidney fat and spleen size were positively correlated in subadults (2–3 years old) and adults (>3 years old), but not in calves (<1 year old) or yearlings (1–2 years old). Spleen size was negatively associated with nematode load in subadult females and in adult males. These two age classes are potentially the most nutritionally stressed, as subadult hinds are still growing and often engaging in rearing their first calf, and adult stags were sampled just after the rut, which is recognized as a substantial energy drain in this age–sex class, as they compete to hold females during the mating season. Body condition related negatively to parasite count only in adult males. In the context of red deer life history, these findings suggest that spleen size is dependent on body condition and that it could be affected by variation in resource partitioning among immune defense, growth, and reproductive effort in red deer. For the first time in a wild mammal, the spleen mass is shown to be positively related to body condition and negatively related to parasite infection. We conclude that elucidating whether spleen mass reflects immune defense investment or a measure of general body condition should contribute to understanding topical issues in mammal ecology.     

浅析污染源自动监测系统应用现状与发展思路

通过对污染自动监测系统应用现状和存在问题进行了分析,提出了污染源自动监测系统今后的发展思路。