Male approach and female avoidance as mechanisms of population discrimination in sagebrush lizards

Reproductive isolation and speciation can result from female choice for particular males. Isolation can also result, however, from male mating preferences or from aggressive encounters which then influence mating decisions. In this study, we use laboratory discrimination trials to study the behavioral mechanisms of population discrimination in sagebrush lizards (Sceloporus graciosus). We specifically ask three questions about population-level discrimination: (1) Does it vary in strength in relation to the geographic distance between the populations? (2) Is it more apparent in inter- or intra-sexual interactions? (3) Does it take the form of attraction or avoidance? We ran 890 trials that tested the ability of male and female sagebrush lizards from one population to discriminate their own population from four other populations. In addition, we utilized both sequential and simultaneous-choice designs, which enabled us to distinguish between attraction and avoidance. We found that most population-level discrimination was exhibited by male lizards preferring to associate with particular types of females, as well as female avoidance of particular types of males. The strength and direction of both discriminations depended on the populations compared and on whether the tests were conducted as sequential- or simultaneous-choice tests, producing a complex relationship between geographic distance and behavioral discrimination. Our results suggest that there are roles for male attraction and female avoidance in population discrimination, reproductive isolation, and speciation.     

The SeKT joint research project: definition of reference conditions, control sediments and toxicity thresholds for limnic sediment contact tests

- In current biotest approaches, intact organisms or in vitro systems are exposed to sediments using different exposure scenarios. The most important issue in sediment toxicity testing protocols is the question which test phase (solid or liquid) should be used. Whole-sediment exposure protocols represent the most realistic scenario to simulate in situ exposure conditions in the laboratory. However, until now there is no agreement in how to acquire and to evaluate the data of the various available sediment contact assays. The SeKT joint research project was initiated with the aim to compare recently developed sediment contact assays by addressing reference conditions, control sediments and toxicity thresholds for limnic sediment contact tests.     

直接测量法测试温度稳定性研究

阐述了温度试验中温度稳定的重要性。通过对测试方案、测试设备、测试过程及结果的分析,对如何应用直接测量法测试试验样品非工作状态下温度稳定进行了探索和研究。根据测试结果分析了影响试验样品温度稳定的因素,并指出了直接测量法的优越性。     

巷道冲击地压模拟试验及其过程动态演示

以巷道冲击地压灾害为典型案例,通过对巷道类冲击地压事故机理的分析,设计了一项巷道冲击地压试验装置,通过视频剪辑和动画制作技术,实现了对冲击地压试验的全程记录,并利用分频、字幕说明等形式对冲击地压试验动态过程进行了演示和说明。结果表明,该试验装置结合了巷道冲击地压发生原理,以动画方式演示,具有直观、简洁、易于理解的特点,为揭示冲击地压过程及其发生机制提供了一种新方法。     

垃圾渗滤液处理工艺改进的研究

针对武进夹山垃圾填埋场渗滤液处理工艺设计及运行过程中存在的问题 ,提出了厌氧与SBR 混凝法相结合的渗滤液处理工艺改进方案。研究表明 :SBR及混凝处理的CODCr最大降解率分别达 4 2 5 %、6 3 0 % ,SBR法正交试验得出的最佳工艺条件是 :曝气时间 30h ,闲置时间 6h ,污泥浓度 5 0mg L ;化学混凝对SBR法处理的出水有较好处理效果 ,其最佳进水pH值应控制在 9 0左右。最后 ,结合填埋场现有的处理工艺及运行现状 ,对处理工艺改进方案进行了讨论。     

Toward a green economy: The nexus between economic and environmental factors in MENA countries,ARDL bounds approach

With the transition of the global economy toward a green economy, it is important to analyze the elements that can either support or impede this transformation. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of the green economy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries by analyzing the correlation between economic and environmental factors. The objective of this study is to explore the potential of the green economy in MENA countries by analyzing key factors such as access to clean fuel, GDP, and CO₂ emissions. The study aims to distinguish between long- and short-term effects, assess the presence of a long-run relationship or co-integration between the parameter estimates, and evaluate the progress of MENA countries toward a green economy based on the impact of economic, and environmental factors. Using quarterly and seasonally adjusted data from 2000 to 2018, the auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique was employed to examine the co-integration of the factors in the long and short terms. Multiple cointegration techniques were also used to determine the feasibility of a green economy by analyzing the relationship between access to clean fuel for technology and cooking, GDP, and CO₂ emissions. The study's findings indicate a clear long- and short-term relationship between the analyzed factors, as confirmed by the error correction model (ECM) which suggests that the variables are cointegrated and potentially relevant. Additionally, the result of the autoregressive distributed lag bound test shows that the green economy variables, GDP, CO₂ emissions, and access to clean fuel, are cointegrated in the long-term.     

Toxic substances: Measures and measurements†

The formulation of a sound policy for environmental protection and toxic substances control requires knowledge of the presence and concentration of environmental contaminants. For this reason monitoring programs have been set up in the Netherlands for water, drinking water, and air pollution. The Netherlands system for air pollution, monitoring of the substances SO2, NOχ, CO, O₃ is now fully automated. Some examples will be given to show the acquisition and management and interpretation of air pollution measurements.

Various smaller projects, supported by the Department of Health and Environmental Protection include measurement of indoor air‐contaminants, contaminants in soil and hazardous waste sites, and contaminants in biotic samples such as for instance PCB's in eels and seals and mussels. Moreover a Coordinating Committee regularly collects measurements from various sources in the Netherlands regarding pesticide residues and contaminants in food.

For cost‐effective monitoring the accuracy of the measurements must be chosen with regard to the biological effect concentration of the pollutant. The necessity of proper control measurements to establish background levels and the necessity of ring‐tests to increase interlaboratory reproducibility is discussed. In cost‐effective monitoring the minimum number of measurements, which are necessary to check the effect of environmental protection measures, must be defined through proper sampling.     

Ammonia as confounding factor in toxicity tests with the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lmk)

The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of total ammonia towards sea urchin bioassays, in order to elucidate the role of ammonia as confounding factor in sediment quality assessment studies. New toxicity data, expressed as EC50, NOEC and LOEC are reported for Paracentrotus lividus based on experiments at differing pH values. Results confirmed that sperm cell toxicity test is not very sensitive to ammonia, while total ammonia embryotoxicity is strictly pH dependent. Accurate observations of embryotoxic effects at increasing total ammonia concentrations evidenced progressive shifts from malformed plutei to gastrula and blastula blockages. Toxicity data obtained for P. lividus are comparable with previous results with other echinoid species.     

3种克藻物质对蛋白核小球藻（Chlorella pyrenoidose）的组合抑制效应

通过世界经合组织推荐的藻类生长抑制实验方法,对气相色谱一质谱联机鉴定出的3种克藻物质进行对蛋白核小球藻的克藻效应的组合实验,得出棕榈酸＋琥珀酸、棕榈酸＋琥珀酸＋乙酸丁酯,这两种组合对蛋白核小球藻的克藻效应为协同作用;棕榈酸＋乙酸丁酯、琥珀酸＋乙酸丁酯组合出现拮抗作用。光学显微镜照片显示,克藻物质组合作用后,蛋白核小球藻...     

Performance on a Work-Simulating Firefighter Test Versus Approved Laboratory Tests for Firefighters and Applicants

Aim. Firefighters must meet minimum physical demands. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (NLIA) has approved a standardised treadmill walking test and 3 simple strength tests for smoke divers. The results of the Trondheim test were compared with those of the NLIA tests taking into account possible effects of age, experience level and gender. Methods. Four groups of participants took part in the tests: 19 young experienced firefighters, 24 senior male firefighters and inexperienced applicants, 12 male and 8 female. Results. Oxygen uptake (V_O2) at exhaustion rose linearly by the duration of the treadmill test. Time spent on the Trondheim test was closely related to performance time and peak V_O2 on the treadmill test. Senior experienced firefighters did not perform better than equally fit young applicants. However, female applicants performed poorer on the Trondheim test than on the treadmill test. Performance on the Trondheim test was not closely related to muscle strength beyond a minimum. Conclusion. Firefighters completing the Trondheim test in under 19 min fit the requirements of the NLIA treadmill test. The Trondheim test can be used as an alternative to the NLIA tests for testing aerobic fitness but not for muscular strength. Women’s result of the Trondheim test were poorer than the results of the NLIA treadmill test, probably because of their lower body mass.