Forest Perception and Knowledge of Hikers and Mountain Bikers in Two Different Areas in Northwestern Switzerland

Recreational activities can have major impacts on vegetation and wildlife in frequently visited forests. We assessed forest perception and knowledge (state, functions, and species diversity) among hikers and mountain bikers in a frequently visited, seminatural suburban recreation forest (Muttenz) and in a more distantly situated, naturally grown excursion forest (Wasserfallen) in northwestern Switzerland. In all, 239 hikers and 126 mountain bikers were interviewed. Mountain bikers in both forests and hikers in the more intensely used recreation forest at Muttenz assessed the state of the forest less optimistically and showed a higher awareness of the negative impact of recreational activities on the flora and fauna than hikers at Wasserfallen. Furthermore, mountain bikers seemed aware of the social conflicts caused by their activity, since they appreciated neutral or positive encounters with other forest visitors. In contrast, 57% of hikers at Muttenz reported on negative experiences with other forest visitors, particularly with mountain bikers. In general, the interviewees ecological and biological forest knowledge (forest type and function, species diversity) was rather high. A large proportion was aware of the pros and cons of different forest conditions for plants and animals, and could name or recognize at least some plant and/or animal species typical for the visited forest. The forest knowledge was neither influenced by the type of recreational activity carried out nor by any aspect of forest visit behavior (frequency and duration of forest visits, means of transportation and travel distance to forest). However, the interviewees forest knowledge was influenced by their age and educational level.     

A CODED ALGORITHM FOR CAPACITY EXPANSION OF A WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM1

ABSTRACT: This paper describes a mathematical model, an algorithm and a computer program that were specially developed to study the problem of a water quality management system undergoing a rapidly increasing environmental stress. The model output will determine the locations, sizes and the timing of construction of new treatment plants plus an overall treatment plant operating policy so that environmental standards are maintained at a minimum cost. The model, as formulated, is a 0-1 mixed integer programming problem which is solved by decomposing it into a capital budgeting problem (solved by Little's branch and bound algorithm) and an operational policy problem (solved by linear programming). The coded algorithm (in FORTRAN 10) has been tested with a semi-realistic example.     

Rethinking receiver operating characteristic analysis applications in ecological niche modeling

The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) has become a dominant tool in evaluating the accuracy of models predicting distributions of species. ROC has the advantage of being threshold-independent, and as such does not require decisions regarding thresholds of what constitutes a prediction of presence versus a prediction of absence. However, we show that, comparing two ROCs, using the AUC systematically undervalues models that do not provide predictions across the entire spectrum of proportional areas in the study area. Current ROC approaches in ecological niche modeling applications are also inappropriate because the two error components are weighted equally. We recommend a modification of ROC that remedies these problems, using partial-area ROC approaches to provide a firmer foundation for evaluation of predictions from ecological niche models. A worked example demonstrates that models that are evaluated favorably by traditional ROC AUCs are not necessarily the best when niche modeling considerations are incorporated into the design of the test.     

Determination of explosion limits – Criterion for ignition under non-atmospheric conditions

Many industrial processes are run at non-atmospheric conditions (elevated temperatures and pressures, other oxidizers than air). To judge whether and if yes to what extent explosive gas(vapor)/air mixtures will occur or may be generated during malfunction it is necessary to know the safety characteristic data at the respective conditions. Safety characteristic data like explosion limits, are depending on pressure, temperature and the oxidizer. Most of the determination methods are standardized for ambient conditions. In order to obtain determination methods for non-atmospheric conditions, particularly for higher initial pressures, reliable ignition criteria were investigated. Ignition tests at the explosion limits were carried out for mixtures of methane, propane, n-butane, n-hexane, hydrogen, ammonia and acetone in air at initial pressures up to 20 bar. The tests have been evaluated according to different ignition criteria: visual flame propagation, temperature and pressure rising. It could be shown that flame propagation and occasionally self-sustained combustion for several seconds occurred together with remarkable temperature rise, although the pressure rise was below 3%. The results showed that the combination of a pressure rise criterion of 2% and a temperature rise criterion of 100 K seems to be a suitable ignition criterion for the determination of explosion limits and limiting oxidizer concentration at higher initial pressures and elevated temperatures. The tests were carried out within the framework of a R&D project founded by the German Ministry of Economics and Technology.     

运行参数对水蚯蚓生物吸持六价铬性能影响研究

水蚯蚓能通过摄食剩余污泥而使污泥减量,但剩余污泥中常含有各种重金属污染物.本文以颤蚓科蠕虫(Tubificidae)为研究对象,以六价铬为典型重金属污染物,考察运行工艺参数:初始铬浓度、p H、水蚯蚓投加量和温度对水蚯蚓吸持六价铬的影响.实验结果表明,在研究浓度范围内(0.1~8.0 mg·L-1),水蚯蚓对六价铬的吸持速率随铬浓度的增大而加快,单位质量吸持量从14.4 mg·kg-1(以干重计,下同)增加到312.7 mg·kg-1,但六价铬的吸持率却随Cr6+初始浓度的增加而降低;p H从6.0增加到8.0,水蚯蚓对六价铬的吸持速率随p H的上升而提高,吸持率和单位质量吸持量先明显增强,p H达到7.5后逐渐趋于平衡,即吸持最佳p H为7.5;水蚯蚓投加量从1.0 g(以湿重计,下同)增加到5.0 g时,吸持速率及吸持率均上升,但单位质量吸持量却随着水蚯蚓投加量的增加而减少;当温度在10~20℃范围内时,水蚯蚓对六价铬的吸持速率相对较慢,到25℃时,吸持速率明显加快,吸持率和单位质量水蚯蚓的吸持量的变化趋势与吸持速率的变化相一致,但当温度达到30℃,水蚯蚓会大量死亡,综合考虑,处理系统最佳温度宜控制在25℃.     

基于GB/T 29309标准的HALT测试技术分析

本文以标准GB/T 29309-2012为基础,以某款开关电源为例,对HALT试验设备、工作极限与破坏极限、试验步骤及设备运行中注意点等方面展开介绍,为电子产品可靠性测试提供相关探讨。     

航空安全文化运行模式研究

依据安全文化基本原理,对航空安全文化模式进行系统化设计。将安全精神文化、制度文化、行为文化和物态文化4个子系统置于安全文化模式的大系统中,综合分析各子系统之间的互动关系及其对管理模式变革的影响。结合航空安全管理的特点,设计安全文化运行机制的结构框架。通过分析安全文化模式的运行过程和运行功能模块,实现航空安全文化模式的动态管理,使零散的安全文化模式得以系统化。航空安全文化模式的构建为航空运输企业建立了一个程序化、系统化、动态循环的管理过程,并以持续改进的思想指导企业系统地实现其安全目标。     

Evaluation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains as probiotic agent with aflatoxin B1 adsorption ability for use in poultry feedstuffs

In this study the aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) removal capacity, the tolerance to salivary and gastrointestinal conditions, autoaggregation and coaggregation with pathogenic bacteria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from broiler feces, were evaluated. Only four of twelve isolated strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae using molecular techniques. The results obtained in AFB₁ binding studies indicated that the amount of AFB₁ removed was both strain and mycotoxin-concentration dependent. Therefore, a theoretical model was applied in order to select the most efficient strain to remove AFB₁ in a wide range of mycotoxin concentration. The results indicated that S. cerevisiae 08 and S. cerevisiae 01 strains were the most efficient microorganisms in the mycotoxin removal. Viability on simulated salivary and gastrointestinal conditions was investigated and S. cerevisiae 08 strain showed the best results, achieving 98% of total survival whereas S. cerevisiae 01 reached only 75%. Autoaggregation and coaggregation assays showed S. cerevisiae 08 as the most appropriate strain, mainly because it was the unique strain able to coaggregate with the four bacterial pathogens assayed. Consequently, S. cerevisiae 08 is the best candidate for future in vivo studies useful to prevent aflatoxicosis. Further quantitative in vitro and in vivo studies are required to evaluate the real impact of yeast-binding activity on the bioavailability of AFB₁ in poultry. However, this study could be useful in selecting efficient strains in terms of AFB₁ binding and provide an important contribution to research into microorganisms with potential probiotic effects on the host.     

固定化白地霉处理高硬度及高矿化度岩溶水的研究

为了使白地霉固定化小球处理太原市地下岩溶水达到最佳絮凝效果,分别研究了白地霉菌体的最佳扩大培养条件.同时,分别选用海藻酸钠(SA)、聚乙烯醇-海藻酸钠(PVA-SA)及聚乙烯醇-海藻酸钠-明胶(PVA-SA-明胶)作为固定化剂,固定化白地霉菌体,进行絮凝性能分析.最后,确定了固定化小球处理岩溶水的最佳搅拌时间及投加量,并与六水合氯化铝、自制三元复合吸附剂及壳聚糖的5%冰醋酸溶液的絮凝效果进行了比较.结果表明,将白地霉种子培养基按3%的接种量接入白地霉扩大培养基3中进行扩大培养,可在第2d获取活性较好的大量白地霉菌体进行固定化.处理岩溶水时应选用PVA-SA-明胶固定化的白地霉小球,并在其投加量为4g·L-1、搅拌时间为60min时,对岩溶水矿化度、硬度的最大絮凝率分别为96.88%、50.00%.经与化学混凝剂絮凝性能对比发现,微生物絮凝剂具有操作简便、无二次污染、絮凝效果较好的优点.     

厌氧微网反应器处理生活污水膜污染物研究

采用涤纶网加工的微网膜组件与厌氧反应器结合构成厌氧微网生物反应器用于处理城市生活污水。在不同反应器形式和水力停留时间条件下反应器稳定运行了144 d。研究结果表明完全搅拌反应器在膜通量12 L/(m2.h)条件下跨膜压差变化较小,整体出水水质高于无搅拌式反应器。通过膜面SS含量测定、粒径和三维荧光光谱分析等方法对膜面污染物进行了系统分析。无搅拌式AnFBR随着停留时间的延长,膜面污染物的SS减少,粒径减小;完全搅拌式AnFBR膜面污染物的SS最少,粒径最小。三位荧光分析表明SMP主要有2个类蛋白质荧光峰A和B,中心位置(Ex/Em)分别位于230~235/335~350 nm及280~290/330~355 nm,EPS样品中除了峰A和峰B外还有2个峰,峰C位置(Ex/Em)在340~350/435~445 nm,与类富里酸物质有关,峰D位于420~440/465~515 nm,与类腐殖酸物质有关。