Comparative acute toxicity of two phytosanitary molecules,lambda-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid,on Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) juveniles

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the toxicity for fish of two active ingredients (lambda-cyhalothrin-20?g L^?1, a pyrethroid, and acetamiprid-15?g L^?1, a neonicotinoid) which are components of a commercial insecticide (Acer 35 EC) used in cotton crop in many West African countries. The juveniles of Oreochromis niloticus (4.01?±?0.34?g, mean body weight) were exposed for 96?h to increasing concentrations of active ingredients (lambda-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid) or a mixture similar to Acer 35 EC (composed by 20?g of chemical compound lambda-cyhalothrin and 15?g of acetamiprid dissolved in 1?L of acetone). The experiments were carried out under controlled conditions in aquaria according to OECD Guidelines. During the experiments, the behavioral responses (loss of balance, color change, hyperactivity, etc.) that usually precede death were observed in exposed fish. Mortalities were recorded in each aquarium and the LC₅₀-96h of each chemical was determined. The LC₅₀-96h obtained were respectively 0.1268, 0.0029, 182.9 and 0.5685?ppm for Acer 35 EC, lambda-cyhalothrin, acetamiprid and mixture. All insecticides used in this study had profound impact on Nile tilapia behavior which may confirm the neurotoxicity of each single active compound as well as of their mixture.     

Arctic Tipping Points: Governance in Turbulent Times

Interacting forces of climate change and globalization are transforming the Arctic. Triggered by a non-linear shift in sea ice, this transformation has unleashed mounting interest in opportunities to exploit the region’s natural resources as well as growing concern about environmental, economic, and political issues associated with such efforts. This article addresses the implications of this transformation for governance, identifies limitations of existing arrangements, and explores changes needed to meet new demands. It advocates the development of an Arctic regime complex featuring flexibility across issues and adaptability over time along with an enhanced role for the Arctic Council both in conducting policy-relevant assessments and in promoting synergy in interactions among the elements of the emerging Arctic regime complex. The emphasis throughout is on maximizing the fit between the socioecological features of the Arctic and the character of the governance arrangements needed to steer the Arctic toward a sustainable future.     

Glocalization of COVID-19 responses and management of the pandemic in Africa

ABSTRACT

The study explores how glocalization of COVID-19 responses affects the management of the pandemic in Africa. Using data from 20 selected African countries, the study found that the reliance on local medicines alongside other salient global initiatives for containment of COVID-19 is effective in managing the pandemic in Africa. It concluded that despite the high vulnerabilities of African countries to COVID-19, the glocal approach has yielded positive outcomes by increasing the number of patients that recover from COVID-19 and scaling down the fatalities compared with the other regions.     

饱和软土刚性长短桩复合地基——强度及变形实用计算公式

刚性长短桩复合地基有许多特点，如桩体均为刚性、短桩及长桩桩端为低压缩或中压缩性土等。长短桩复合地基的设计理论目前仍处于研究阶段，现行规范中尚无有关其强度及变形的具体计算方法。重点探讨了饱和软粘土体上采用刚性长短桩复合地基的强度及变形理论，并提出了适用于工程应用的实用计算方法。     

The Contribution of Pre-impact Posture on Restrained Occupant Finite Element Model Response in Frontal Impact

Objective: The objective of this study was to discuss the influence of the pre-impact posture to the response of a finite element human body model (HBM) in frontal impacts.

Methods: This study uses previously published cadaveric tests (PMHS), which measured six realistic pre-impact postures. Seven postured models were created from the THUMS occupant model (v4.0): one matching the standard UMTRI driving posture as it was the target posture in the experiments, and six matching the measured pre-impact postures. The same measurements as those obtained during the cadaveric tests were calculated from the simulations, and biofidelity metrics based on signals correlation (CORA) were established to compare the response of the seven models to the experiments.

Results: The HBM responses showed good agreement with the PMHS responses for the reaction forces (CORA = 0.80 ± 0.05) and the kinematics of the lower part of the torso but only fair correlation was found with the head, the upper spine, rib strains (CORA= 0.50 ± 0.05) and chest deflections (CORA = 0.67 ± 0.08). All models sustained rib fractures, sternal fracture and clavicle fracture. The average number of rib fractures for all the models was 5.3 ± 1.0, lower than in the experiments (10.8 ± 9.0).

Variation in pre-impact posture greatly altered the time histories of the reaction forces, deflections and the rib strains, mainly in terms of time delay, but no definite improvement in HBM response or injury prediction was observed. By modifying only the posture of the HBM, the variability in the impact response was found to be equivalent to that observed in the experiments. The postured HBM sustained from 4 to 8 rib fractures, confirming that the pre-impact posture influenced the injury outcome predicted by the simulation.

Conclusions: This study tries to answer an important question: what is the effect of occupant posture on kinematics and kinetics. Significant differences in kinematics observed between HBM and PMHS suggesting more coupling between the pelvis and the spine for the models which makes the model response very sensitive to any variation in the spine posture. Consequently, the findings observed for the HBM cannot be extended to PMHS. Besides, pre-impact posture should be carefully quantified during experiments and the evaluation of HBM should take into account the variation in the predicted impact response due to the variation in the model posture.     

A critical and empirical analysis of the national-local ‘gap’ in public responses to large-scale energy infrastructures

A national-local ‘gap’ is often used as the starting point for analyses of public responses to large scale energy infrastructures. We critique three assumptions found in that literature: the public's positive attitudes, without further examining other type of perceptions at a national level; that local perceptions are best examined through a siting rather than place-based approach; that a gap exists between national and local responses, despite a non-correspondence in how these are examined. Survey research conducted at national and local levels about electricity transmission lines in the UK confirm these criticisms. Results do not support a gap between national and local levels; instead, both differences and similarities were found. Results show the value of adopting a place-based approach and the role of surveys to inform policy making are discussed.     

随机不确定性影响下某航炮发射动力学仿真

目的研究随机不确定性对航炮发射动力学响应的影响,提高其射击密集度。方法建立某航炮刚柔耦合动力学模型,利用ADAMS软件进行发射动力学仿真分析。考虑航炮射击过程中的不确定因素,采用非概率凸集模型进行量化,揭示缓冲器弹簧刚度、平衡机弹簧刚度、炮膛合力等参数不确定性对航炮射击密集度的影响规律。结果炮口振动在不确定性因素的影响下,出现振动幅值增大,在区间范围内波动的现象。结论航炮射击时的炮口振动严重影响了射击密集度,因此在设计时必须考虑不确定性因素,所得结果对于提高航炮系统射击密集度具有一定的指导意义。     

基于模态叠加法的振动响应修正方法研究概述

针对模态叠加法受模态选取和截断等影响,往往导致动力学计算精度不高,尤其是对高频响应难以预测这一缺点,对多个基于模态叠加的修正方法研究的现状和发展趋势进行了概述,简要分析了各个修正方法的优劣,并结合目前的大规模并行计算技术探讨了添加这些修正方法的可能性。研究表明,模态加速度法是目前相对容易实现的一种修正算法,最易于在大规模并行计算和实际工程应用中实现。     

基于PSD法的船载雷达随机振动响应分析

目的 优化以经验为主的船载雷达结构设计流程,缩短设计周期,提高设计的准确性。方法 提出基于模态分析和PSD法的新的设计流程,利用ANSYS软件对雷达天线和转台结构进行系统的随机振动分析,得到其模态、应力分布、位移云图及响应谱曲线,验证设计的准确性、合理性。结果 得到雷达系统在1σ下的最大应力值和最大变形量分别为14.847 MPa和0.367 mm。结论 新的设计流程可以得到可靠性更高的产品,能有效缩短产品的设计周期,具有重要的借鉴意义。     

综合生态安全格局构建与城市扩张模拟的城市增长边界划定——以天水市规划区（2015—2030年）为例

传统的城市增长边界划定方法,一般仅考虑生态安全格局,并未考虑在现有客观条件下的城市扩张趋势,划定结果具有一定的主观性;或仅对城市的扩张进行模拟,忽略了城市的生态安全问题。针对上述问题,论文通过耦合城市综合生态安全格局与基于CA_Markov模型的城市扩张模拟结果,提出了一种新的城市增长边界划定方法:首先,合理选取因子构建研究区的综合生态安全格局,利用禁建区对综合生态安全格局的结果进行修正,获得研究区的刚性增长边界;其次,合理选取城市扩张驱动因子,通过CA_Markov模型预测城市扩张边界;最后,综合考虑刚性增长边界、模拟获得的城市扩张边界及近期城市拓展方案等,获得最终的城市增长边界。并以天水市规划区（2015—2030）为案例,对方法的科学性进行了说明。结果表明,论文划定的城市增长边界内总面积370.56 km²,占规划区总面积的7.7%。此方法能够有效解决城市增长与生态保护之间的矛盾,对河谷型城市等建设用地匮乏、生态环境脆弱城市的增长边界划定具有良好的应用价值,也可为其他类型城市的城市增长边界划定提供参考。