Comparison of some homogeneity tests in analysis of over-dispersed binomial data

This paper compares the procedures based on the extended quasi-likelihood, pseudo-likelihood and quasi-likelihood approaches for testing homogeneity of several proportions for over-dispersed binomial data. The type I error of the Wald tests using the model-based and robust variance estimates, the score test, and the extended quasi-likelihood ratio test (deviance reduction test) were examined by simulation. The extended quasi-likelihood method performs less well when mean responses are close to 1 or 0. The model-based Wald test based on the quasi-likelihood performs the best in maintaining the nominal level. The score test performs less well when the intracluster correlations are large or heterogeneous. In summary: (i) both the quasilikelihood and pseudo-likelihood methods appear to be acceptable but care must be taken when overfitting a variance function with small sample sizes; (ii) the extended quasi-likelihood approach is the least favourable method because its nominal level is much too high; and (iii) the robust variance estimator performs poorly, particularly when the sample size is small.     

Fitness benefits of multiple mating versus female mate choice in the cellar spider (Pholcus phalangioides)

Recent studies have demonstrated that mating with multiple males can be beneficial for females and her offspring even if males contribute nothing but sperm. This was mainly established for species in which sperm from several males mix in the reproductive tract of the female, thus allowing sperm competition and/or female sperm choice. However, in species with last male sperm precedence, female re-mating decides against the previous male by strongly limiting his reproductive success. We tested the effect of female re-mating behaviour using the cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides, which shows strong last males sperm precedence and moderate levels of polyandry under natural situations. We predicted that females prevented from remating even though they are receptive would show reduced reproductive success compared to females that accept two copulations and females that reject a second male, since the latter two treatments were allowed to behave according to their decisions. However, if the number of matings per se had an effect on oviposition or on offspring performance, double-mated females should perform better compared to both treatments of once-mated females. We measured female fecundity and fertility over a period of 140 days, comparable to the species' natural reproductive peak season. Two thousand one hundred and fifty-two offspring from 67 first egg sacs were reared under two feeding levels. We registered development time and survival, and measured offspring adult size and mass. We found a positive effect of double mating, as in this treatment, oviposition probability was higher compared to the other treatments. Interestingly, adult female offspring of the DM treatment that were raised under low food level had a higher condition index compared to those from FS and RM, but development time, size and mass at adulthood were not affected by mating treatment. Female choice only seemed to affect hatching latency of the offspring. Overall, the main predictor of female reproductive output and success was female body size.     

中国电子废物循环利用空间优化

基于2014年和2015年环保部发布的省级回收数据,分析了现有传统回收体系下,各省的电子废物回收率变化,发现省级尺度电子废物的回收率呈现较大波动,这与电子废物的跨省流动有密切关系.为此,本文基于现有回收渠道的省际流动网络格局,采用网络分析中的层次聚类方法,揭示全国电子废物流动的区域化特征.结果显示根据区域化特征重新划分市场区,可以使主要市场区的整体回收率波动明显降低,从而为制定合理的回收目标提供参考.针对这一研究结果,提出基于市场区域化特征,建立全国一体化的回收利用市场和差异化的区域性回收目标,有助于充分利用市场机制优化中国电子废物循环利用的空间格局.最后,讨论了生产者主导和处理企业主导两种治理机制对空间优化的潜在影响.     

我国对大湄公河次区域国家投资与贸易环境影响的估算研究

本文运用改进的IPCC延伸法,将资源环境要素引入投资与贸易核算,将经济价值量引入排放因子,将CO2排放量作为环境影响的一个指标,从国家层面估算投资贸易的环境影响。结果表明:我国对大湄公河次区域国家投资与贸易带来的环境影响,总体利好,各国有差异。     

不同pH值下腐殖酸反渗透膜污染中的界面相互作用解析

应用extended derjaguin-landau-verwey-overbeek (扩展DLVO) 理论评价不同pH值下范德华力、静电力、疏水性力3种界面相互作用对腐殖酸反渗透(reverse osmosis, RO)膜污染的贡献,探究pH值影响腐殖酸RO膜污染的主控机制.对3种常规RO膜的理论分析结果表明,静电力对腐殖酸RO膜污染的贡献很小,范德华力使膜污染加剧;疏水性力会减缓膜污染.与前期粘附阶段相比,后期粘聚阶段中范德华力的贡献有所增大,疏水性力在2个污染阶段中均起主导作用.膜污染随pH值的降低而加重,疏水性力作用能的改变是pH值影响系统界面自由能的主控机制.相应pH值下3种RO膜过滤实验数据及其相关性分析结果表明,扩展DLVO理论能定量评价3种界面相互作用的贡献,界面自由能和膜污染之间有很好的相关关系,RO膜纯水接触角的数值不宜作为评价膜污染的指标.     

广州市南部拓展区大气环境保护规划

面向城市可持续发展的环境规划需要新的理念和原则作指导。生态优先作为指导生态城市建设的崭新理念和原则,要求城市环境规划应该以保护和完善城市生态功能为重点。结合广州市南部拓展区大气环境规划,探讨生态优先原则在城市大气环境规划中的应用。     

基于企业自愿信息披露的生产者责任延伸履责绩效评价

企业自愿信息披露旨在通过公共对话和组织策略,促进企业与社会沟通,探索合作创新途径。这种机制体现了当前社会治理机制转型的方向。生产者责任延伸制度(Extended Producer Responsibility,简称EPR)中的信息责任是这一转型趋势的具体表现。基于企业自愿披露的可持续发展信息评价其EPR履责绩效,可以促进企业主动从产品全生命周期的角度全面履行生产者改善产品环境属性,尤其是废弃产品管理的责任,从而改变目前过度依赖政府监管和推动的局限。本文针对2017年国务院办公厅发布的“生产者责任延伸制度推行方案”中所涉及的电器电子、汽车、铅酸蓄电池和包装材料四大产品领域,以全球报告倡议组织(Global Reporting Initiative,简称GRI)数据库中的企业可持续发展报告资料为基础,辅以企业官方网站上自愿发布的可持续发展报告,采用文本分析方法,结合EPR制度的具体要求,建立生产者EPR履责绩效评价体系。结果显示:①按照GRI信息披露框架开展信息披露的企业,其可持续发展报告中的信息可以覆盖EPR制度的各项具体要求;②信息披露质量在企业之间和行业之间存在较大的差异,电器电子产品领域的信息披露和得分情况明显好于其他三个产品领域。结论中提出以企业自愿信息披露为切入点,构建企业与公共交流的平台,推动生产企业主动参与EPR制度建设,不断提升产品全生命周期的环境表现。     

Mosaicism of isochromosome 18p.

The first case of isochromosome 18p as a mosaic in a male fetus diagnosed by amniocentesis is reported. After termination of the pregnancy at 21 weeks gestation biopsies from different fetal organs as well as from the placenta were taken and set up for long term cell cultures. The distribution of the normal and abnormal cell-line in fetal organs was unequal. Unexpectedly the metaphases in the placenta and the lymphocyte culture all showed a normal karyotype. The tetrasomy 18p is associated with a uniform phenotype, even in fetal life, characterized by a small head with protuberant occiput, low-set ears with posterior rotation, epicanthic fold, sharp pinched nose, convex and poorly formed philtrum, high-arched palate, retrognathia, flexion contractures of fingers, short and broad hallux, hypoplastic penis, angulation of clavicles and mild scoliosis. The propositus showed no growth retardation.     

Interstitial deletions without phenotypic effect: Prenatal diagnosis of a new family and brief review

A 39-year-old woman (G4P1SAB2) was referred for amniocentesis for advanced maternal age. An interstitial deletion of the G-dark band 11 pi 2 was found in the fetus. Blood from the mother and her previous son was cultured and the same deletion was found in both. The absence of phenotypic effect in this family further confirms that G-dark euchromatic deletions are compatible with a normal phenotype, and underlines the importance of checking familial karyotypes even when apparently unbalanced structural rearrangements are found at prenatal diagnosis.     

Defensive anointing: extended chemical phenotype and unorthodox ecology

Summary. Many animals acquire substances on their integument from heterospecifics through anointing. In active or self-anointing, animals rub against scent sources or they apply them by appendage or mouth. In passive anointing, animals adsorb emitted chemicals. Most investigators suggest that chemicals appropriated via anointing deter predators, ectoparasites, and/or microbial pathogens. Similarly, nesting birds and brood parasites of social insects acquire chemicals from and reside unmolested near or within insect colonies. The acquisition through anointing of chemicals that deter predators, ectoparasites, microbial pathogens, and other offenders, i.e. defensive anointing, constitutes an extended phenotype: the genetic machinery by which defensive compounds are synthesized does not reside with the anointing organisms, but the sensory mechanisms and/or behavioral tendencies by which chemicals are appropriated from heterospecifics do. The ecological relationships between anointing organisms and chemical donors, and between chemical donors and those responding to chemicals appropriated via anointing, may be unorthodox. Interactions between anointing organisms and chemical donors typically entail abrasive contact with or other damage to the latter. These encounters sometimes are evidenced by telltale marks on chemical donors or by chemicals deposited on the integument of anointing organisms. The organisms furnishing chemicals and those affected by them may not interact, and they may even occupy different habitats, because mobile anointing organisms are the medium by which chemicals are disseminated. Thus, in allelochemical studies where anointing is involved, species can be tested, with ecological legitimacy, using chemicals from organisms they might fail to interact with in nature. Practical implications of anointing stem from its potential importance in conservation and captive management, where consideration is given to the protection that animals derive by accessing topically acquired chemicals from heterospecifics.