The communal crop: modulation of sucrose response thresholds of pre-foraging honey bees with incoming nectar quality

We examined whether the quality (concentration) of incoming sucrose solutions returned by foraging honey bees affected the response thresholds of pre-foraging members of the colony. Six pairs of colonies were given ad libitum access to sucrose solution feeders. A colony from each pair was switched from 20–50% sugar concentration feeders while the other continued to have access to 20% sucrose feeders. Proboscis extension response (PER) scores to an increasing series of sucrose concentrations were significantly higher in pre-foragers of colonies foraging on 20% sucrose throughout compared to pre-foragers in colonies where foraging was switched to 50% sucrose. Although all colonies had honey stores, the concentration of sugar solution in non-foraging bees crops were significantly lower in bees from colonies foraging on 20% sucrose compared to those from colonies foraging on 50% sucrose. Because response thresholds to sugar of young bees were modulated by the concentration of sucrose solution returned to colonies, we repeated the 2000 study of Pankiw and Page that potentially confounded baseline response thresholds with modulated scores due to experience in the colony. Here, we examined PER scores to sucrose in bees within 6 h of emergence, prior to feeding experience, and their forage choice 2 to 3 weeks later. Pollen foragers had higher PER scores as newly emerged bees compared to bees that eventually became nectar foragers. These results confirm those of the 2000 study by Pankiw and Page. Combined, these experiments demonstrate that variation in pre-forager sucrose response thresholds are established prior to emerging as adults but may be modulated by incoming resources later on. Whether this modulation has long-term effects on foraging behavior is unknown but modulation has short-term effects and the potential to act as a means of communication among all bees in the colony.Communicated by M. Giurfa     

污水排海工程设计的初步研究

本文结合我国国情根据混合区边缘污染物背景值以及海域功能，从而确定允许的污染物最大增加值，并具此推算出扩散器长度和起始稀释度。     

Multivariate Statistics of the Pyrolysis Products of High Molecular Components in Pulping Wastewaters to Explain Their Toxicity (6 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope At present, large-scale paper manufacture involves delignification and bleaching by elemental chlorine free (ECF) or totally chlorine free (TCF) processes. The wastewater is purified by secondary treatment (mechanical, chemical and biological) which removes most of the toxic substances from the discharge. However, we found residual toxicity in the high molecular (> 1000 D) matter (HMWM) of the discharge by test of the RET (reverse electronic transfer) inhibition. This fraction consists mainly of polydisperse lignin (LIG) and carbohydrate (CH) macromolecules. Structural units in these molecules are studied by pyrolysis gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS). In the present work, our aim was to find out those structural units which could explain the RET toxicity of LIG or CH molecules. We compared statistically RET toxicity values of the HMWM samples from treated wastewaters of pilot pulping experiments and intensity variation of the pyrolysis product gas chromatograms of these samples. This application is a novel study procedure. Methods Pyrolysis products (Py-GC/MS results) and inhibition of RET (reverse electronic transport toxicity) as TU50 and TU20 of HMWM (High Molecular Weight Material; Mw > 1000 D) were compared by multivariate statistics. The samples were from laboratory pilot stages of TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) and ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) manufacture of softwood pulp. Py-GC/MS was done without and with addition of TMAH (Tetra Methyl Ammonium Hydroxide). The name and structure of each abundant fragment compound was identified from its retention time and mass spectrum compared to authentic reference compounds or literature. Four sets of Toxicity Units (TUs) and GC peak areas of the pyrolysis fragments were obtained. The data were normalized by division with LIG (lignin content of each sample). TU values were dependent and the fragment values independent (explanatory) variables in statistical treatments by SPSS system. Separate analyses of correlations, principal components (PCA) and stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) were performed from the four sample sets TCF and ECF with and without TMAH. Results and Discussion From the CH fragments, 2-furfural in TCF, and from the LIG fragments, styrene in ECF showed the highest probabilities to originate from source structures of toxicity. Other possible compounds in concern were indicated to be CH fragment 2-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one in ECF and LIG fragments 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol, 4,5-dimethoxy-2-methylphenol and 2-methylphenol in TCF.     

教室声环境的主观反应及烦恼度阈限值的探讨

通过实测和问卷调查，采用模糊数学方法处理调查对象对教室声环境主观反应的所有信息，得出了在教室学习时的烦恼度阈值为49.2dB，并和国家标准值进行了比较。同时还采用了模糊数学综合评判方法－－Ridit分析，对调查结果进行检验，验证了所得烦恼度阈值的合理性，用模糊数学方法处理人们对噪声的主观反应，结果表明，该方法比传统的心理物理法计算更为理想。     

Ozone distribution in central Italy and its effect on crop productivity

The focus of the present study was to assess the ozone levels in a typical area of the Mediterranean basin, viz. Tuscany (central Italy). Eighty-thousand hourly mean ozone concentrations were recorded by 10 automatic analysers in the districts of Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Prato, from May to September 1995 to 1997. The highest daily mean concentrations were reached in Florence, with a maximum hourly average of 197 ppb. In Lucca and Pisa, the peaks were close to 100 ppb. Data from Prato were much lower. Long-term critical levels for vegetation, as set by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), were constantly exceeded in Florence and Pisa, occasionally in Lucca, never in Prato. The results were used to fit exposure/yield response relationships proposed by UNECE and US National Crop Loss Assessment Network for some important crops. The estimated yield losses varied in Florence from 8% for corn and alfalfa to 27% for soybean, in Pisa from 5% for corn to 24% for soybean, in Lucca from 3% for corn to 17% for soybean. A preliminary economic estimate for corn, wheat, barley, soybean, tomato and alfalfa, calculated annual damage to be 4.6 M Euro in Florence, 0.5 M Euro in Lucca and 3 M Euro in Pisa. The picture must be regarded as only partial, as exposure/yield response relationships for important Italian crops (such as grapevine and vegetables) are not available.     

13C同位素稀释法测定国产多氯联苯的2,3,7,8－TCDD毒性当量

应用质量控制方法测定了２种国产商品多氯联苯中１７个，２，３，７，８位有氯取代的二ｅｙｉｎｇ同族体，获得准确的定量结果，加入＾１３Ｃ标记物的ＰＣＢｓ样品用多级酸碱硅胶柱和氧化铝柱提取分离，用毛细管色谱／高分辨质谱定量，２种样品中都含有较多的２，３，７，８－ＴＣＤＦ和２，３，７，８Ｐ５ＣＤＦ，１＾＃ＰＣＢ的２，３，７，８－ＴＣＤＤ毒性当量值为２１７ｎｇ／ｇ，２＾＃ＰＣＢ为４１７ｎｇ／ｇ，毒性主要来自Ｐ     

~（13）C同位素稀释法测定国产多氯联苯的2，3，7，8－TCDD毒性当量

应用质量控制方法测定了２种国产商品多氯联苯（ＰＣＢｓ）中１７个２，３，７，８位有氯取代的二　同族体，获得准确的定量结果，加入￣（１３）Ｃ标记物的ＰＣＢｓ样品用多级酸碱硅胶柱和氧化铝柱提取分离，用毛细管色谱／高分辨质谱定量，２种样品中都含有较多的２，３，７，８－ＴＣＤＦ和２，３，７，８－Ｐ＿５ＣＤＦ。１￣＃ＰＣＢ的２，３，７，８－ＴＣＤＤ毒性当量值为２１７ｎｇ／ｇ，２￣＃ＰＣＢ为４１７ｎｇ／ｇ，毒性主要来自ＰＣＤＦｓ，并与国外同类商品ＰＣＢｓ作了比较。     

聚合氯化铝(PAC)对腐殖酸有机溶胶混凝机理的探讨

采用一定铝总量［Ａｌ］Ｔ的不同羟铝比（ｒ＝［ＯＨ］／［Ａｌ］）的ＰＡＣ溶液对有机溶胶进行混凝实验．结果表明，聚合氯化铝表面张力（σ）与有机溶胶的ＣＯＤ去除率呈正相关．根据溶液表面张力与溶质水合能力的关系和不同羟铝比的聚合氯化铝中各种羟铝配离子的相对含量，探讨聚合氯化铝对有机溶胶的混凝机理．     

BOD_5样品稀释度对测定结果的影响研究

通过实验研究样品稀释度对BOD5测定的影响。观察到样品稀释度对BOD5测定值和培养液耗氧率均有显著影响,选取合适的样品稀释度是提高BOD5分析准确度的关键。实验结果表明,最合适的样品稀释度所对应的培养液耗氧率为39%～63%。探讨了BOD5分析数据处理及结果表述方法,提出了相应的改进意见和建议。     

广平台地磁日变幅逐日比与地震关系的研究

分析了河北广平地磁台1982年至2006年地磁垂直分量日变幅逐日比值的高值异常与河北及邻区Ms≥5．0地震之间的关系，发现它们之间有较好的对应关系；同时给出了适用于广平地磁台的地震分析预报参数，并对其内检预报效能进行了评价，为今后广平台依磁报震提供了依据。