Choosing a home: how the scouts in a honey bee swarm perceive the completion of their group decision making

This study considers the mystery of how the scout bees in a honey bee swarm know when they have completed their group decision making regarding the swarm's new nest site. More specifically, we investigated how the scouts sense when it is appropriate for them to begin producing the worker piping signals that stimulate their swarm-mates to prepare for the flight to their new home. We tested two hypotheses: "consensus sensing," the scouts noting when all the bees performing waggle dances are advertising just one site; and "quorum sensing," the scouts noting when one site is being visited by a sufficiently large number of scouts. Our test involved monitoring four swarms as they discovered, recruited to, and chose between two nest boxes and their scouts started producing piping signals. We found that a consensus among the dancers was neither necessary nor sufficient for the start of worker piping, which indicates that the consensus sensing hypothesis is false. We also found that a buildup of 10–15 or more bees at one of the nest boxes was consistently associated with the start of worker piping, which indicates that the quorum sensing hypothesis may be true. In considering why the scout bees rely on reaching a quorum rather than a consensus as their cue of when to start preparing for liftoff, we suggest that quorum sensing may provide a better balance between accuracy and speed in decision making. In short, the bees appear to begin preparations for liftoff as soon as enough of the scout bees, but not all of them, have approved of one of the potential nest sites.

加速遗传算法及其在暴雨强度公式参数优化中的应用

提出了一般非线性自然灾害模型参数优化的一种通用的数值方法———加速遗传算法,分析了该算法控制参数的优化特性,总结出了这些参数的简便设置技术,并给出了它在暴雨强度公式参数优化中的应用实例。该方法可广泛应用于各种自然灾害模型的优化问题。     

RUNOFF RESPONSE FROM TWO RECLAIMED WATERSHEDS1

ABSTRACT: Detailed studies of the surface hydrology of reclaimed surface-mined watersheds for both rainfall and snowmelt events are non-existent for central Alberta yet this information is crucial for design of runoff conveyance and storage structures. A study was initiated in 1992 with principal objectives of quantifying surface runoff for both summer rainfall and spring snowmelt events and identifying the dominant flow processes occurring in two reclaimed watersheds. Snowmelt accounted for 86 and 100% of annual watershed runoff in 1993 and 1994, respectively. The highest instantaneous peak flow was recorded during a summer rainfall event with a return period of greater than 50 years. Infiltration-excess overland flow was identified as the dominant flow process occurring within the Sandy Subsoil Watershed, whereas saturation overland flow was the principal runoff process occurring within the West Watershed.     

采煤塌陷地复垦的环境经济分析——以开滦煤矿为例

将环境经济学引入复垦活动的分析和评价，着重考虑了复垦的生态社会效益，复垦土地资源的价值、市场价格变化对复垦经济收益的影响和复垦效益对时间的依赖性，以期为复垦项目的选择和相关政策的制定提供经济方面的依赖和指导。     

海河平原农业供水的决策分析模型

本文根据海河平原水源不足的问题,采用系统分析的方法,探讨了农业供水的对策。提出的决策分析模型可望适用于不同大小的区域。通过实际资料的分析得出实行节流、管理与开源的具体方案及经济效益。分析成果表明推行节水灌溉技术与管理措施是完全可行的。在建立节流系统(包括管带与滴灌及调整耕作制度、作物布局)和加强水管理的基础上,实行开源引江、引黄,可大大缩减调水规模,降低开源工程投资,缓和工农与城乡供水的矛盾。     

一种新型复合球填料在低浓度污水再生回用中的应用研究

新型复合球填料为沸石与悬浮球填料的有机组合体,密度约为0.92～0.97g/cm3,比表面积为711～1185m2/m3,表面粗糙,物化性能稳定.在曝气量为20∶1,停留时间为6 h时,装有新型复合球填料的反应柱挂膜容易,成膜时间短,膜不易脱落,且生物相丰富.膜成熟时对生活污水中的氨氮和COD都有很好的去除效果,出水氨氮浓度≤2 mg/L,去除率≥93%;出水COD浓度≤22 mg/L,去除率≥80%.新型复合球反应柱在稳定状态处理低浓度的二级出水时,出水氨氮浓度≤2 mg/L,去除率≥89%,出水COD浓度为10～36 mg/L,去除率为48%～81%.出水水质符合GB50335-2002标准.     

不同深度处理工艺去除污水处理厂出水中氮磷的比较研究

城市污水厂出水直接进入天然水体、或经过深度处理后回用于灌溉、补充景观水体和回灌地下水,均需要进行安全性评价.针对北京市北小河污水处理厂出水经过深度处理后回用于奥运公园的安全性,比较了不同深度处理工艺对营养盐(氮、磷)总量和不同形态的去除效果.研究表明,二级处理本身对氮磷的去除效果十分有限,回用水需经过深度处理.在所研究的生物活性炭吸附、微滤、超滤、反渗透以及上述技术的组合工艺中,使用超滤和反渗透联用的工艺路线对脱氮除磷的效果较为理想,其他工艺对去除氮磷的效果十分有限.     

不同深度处理工艺去除污水处理厂出水中氮磷的比较研究

城市污水厂出水直接进入天然水体、或经过深度处理后回用于灌溉、补充景观水体和回灌地下水,均需要进行安全性评价.针对北京市北小河污水处理厂出水经过深度处理后回用于奥运公园的安全性,比较了不同深度处理工艺对营养盐（氮、磷）总量和不同形态的去除效果.研究表明,二级处理本身对氮磷的去除效果十分有限,回用水需经过深度处理.在所研究的生物活性炭吸附、微滤、超滤、反渗透以及上述技术的组合工艺中,使用超滤和反渗透联用的工艺路线对脱氮除磷的效果较为理想,其他工艺对去除氮磷的效果十分有限.     

改进的DEMATEL法在航空公司外委维修安全风险分析中的应用

为有效识别和分析外委维修安全风险因素间复杂的影响关系,提出了群决策DEMATEL分析方法。该方法以语言变量和三角模糊数之间的转换为基础,通过群决策理论集结专家信息建立直接影响矩阵;利用DEMATEL分析法对外委维修的安全风险因素进行辨识,实现定性定量相结合的分析。以某航空公司为例,采用该方法分析了14个对外委维修安全影响显著的风险因素。结果表明,在外委维修过程中,航空公司和承修商应重点监控7个原因型因素和中心度排序靠前的6个因素。     

荣钢节水减排集成技术研究与实践

针对钢铁企业耗水量大、供水资源匮乏等问题,以荣钢集团为研究实体,调查其用水分布与工序,进行水量平衡测试及基础数据的统计,在分析荣钢水资源利用状况基础上,优化水资源配置,研究钢铁行业节水减排集成技术与实施措施,通过一水多用、串级使用、加强节水控污、建立多水源处理再生系统等方法,节约了水资源,提高了水资源的利用率,使企业节水减排取得较好的成效。