Uncertainty, learning, and the optimal management of wildlife

Wildlife management is limited by uncontrolled and often unrecognized environmental variation, by limited capabilities to observe and control animal populations, and by a lack of understanding about the biological processes driving population dynamics. In this paper I describe a comprehensive framework for management that includes multiple models and likelihood values to account for structural uncertainty, along with stochastic factors to account for environmental variation, random sampling, and partial controllability. Adaptive optimization is developed in terms of the optimal control of incompletely understood populations, with the expected value of perfect information measuring the potential for improving control through learning. The framework for optimal adaptive control is generalized by including partial observability and non-adaptive, sample-based updating of model likelihoods. Passive adaptive management is derived as a special case of constrained adaptive optimization, representing a potentially efficient suboptimal alternative that nonetheless accounts for structural uncertainty.     

Perceptions of the security and attractiveness of urban parking lots

This study concerns design features of urban parking lots which can increase the perception of such areas as both safe and attractive. College students evaluated the attractiveness and perceived security associated with 180 scenes of parking lots adjacent to commercial and multi-family residential structures in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia, U.S.A. High intergroup correlations (r > 0·90) indicated the reliability of evaluations of both perceived features. Regressions of physical features on perceived security ratings and attractiveness ratings yielded highly predictive models (R² = 0·76 and 0·80, respectively). For both sets of ratings a Maintenance and Design factor accounted for the most variance. Although attractiveness ratings were higher as the total amount of vegetation increased in a scene, security was in general rated higher only when vegetation was well maintained and appeared to be installed as part of a landscape design. Attractiveness was generally higher for multi-family residential scenes than for commercial scenes. Perceived security was higher for frontal views of structures, especially when entrances were proximate to the viewer. Research implications are discussed in terms of the impact of natural features in urban areas for increasing attractiveness and reducing fear of crime.     

Small towns in the united states: a perspective

Small towns are an important part of the rural settlement fabric in the United States, but there is very little substantive research into their capacity to survive or their intrinsic importance. However, recently there has been increasing interest shown by social scientists in these problems. This paper looks at features of this research from the point of view of the population and economic structure of small towns. It concludes by arguing that the problems of small towns are not indigenous to the towns, and calls for a comprehensive national urban policy.     

On the moral acceptability of killing animals

According to a rights view it is acceptable to kill animals if they are innocent threats or shields or are in a lifeboat situation. However, according to advocates of such a view, our practices of killing animals for food or scientific research may be morally unacceptable. In this paper we argue that, even if we grant the basic assumptions of a rights view, a good deal of killing of animals for food and scientific research continues to be morally acceptable.     

WATER SUPPLY AS A LIMITING FACTOR IN WESTERN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT1

ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the consumptive water needs of the various energy conversion processes including oil shale retorting, coal gasification and liquefaction, electric power generation, and slurry pipelines. Projected energy development water needs in the upper Colorado River and Upper Missouri River basins are compared with projected agricultural needs and water available. The comparative cost and values of water to energy and agricultural development are discussed to emphasize this as well as the political and social factors entering into the picture.     

电化学间接氧化法处理H2S气体的研究

采用填料塔对铁盐溶液吸收H2S 的过程进行了初步研究,考察了气液比、填料层高度、吸收温度、Fe^3 浓度,进气H2S浓度和H^ 浓度等因素对H2S去除率的影响。结果表明,气液比、 填料层高度和吸收温度对吸收效率的影响比较显著。通过正交试验选出最佳工艺条件,在此工艺条件下H2S的去除率 接近100％。     

Genotoxicity of chromium in vitro on yeast: Interaction with DNA†

The genotoxicity of chromium chloride was investigated in cells of D₇ strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae harvested either from logarithmic or stationary growth phase.

A weak induction of mifotic gene conversion and point reverse mutation was obtained when the incubations were performed using phosphate buffer. No genetic effect was observed when the incubations were performed using Tris‐HCl buffer.

The experiments with ⁵¹Cr radiotracer demonstrated that Cr³⁺ ion enters the yeast cells and binds to DNA even if the incubation mixture was performed with Tris HCl buffer. This behaviour could be due to the highest concentration of CrCl₃ that cause some damages to cytoplasmatic membrane.     

高效降解环己酮红球菌JDM-3-12的分离及其系统发育分析

从岳阳巴陵石化公司环己酮生产车间总出水口的污泥中筛选到一株环己酮降解菌株,菌号为JDM-3-12;该菌能以环己酮为唯一碳源且能忍受5000 mg/L的环己酮,当环己酮的质量浓度为2000 mg/L时,在温度为30℃,转速为150 r/m in,pH=7的条件下,72小时内该菌株对环己酮的降解率达到97.91%。通过形态观察、生理生化特征检测和基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析,初步鉴定其为赤红球菌(Rhodococcus ruber)中的一个菌株,该菌最适生长温度为35℃,最适生长pH 7。     

半干法烟气脱硫中SO2排放控制研究

以某135MW机组循环半干法脱硫系统的SO2控制为例,分析了循环半干法烟气脱硫系统中SO2排放控制问题,提出了一种基于前馈加反馈的SO2排放控制方案。     

海洋石油降解菌的筛选与降解特性

用采自山东胜利油田的石油污染水体,以原油为唯一碳源,经人工海水培养基富集培养,得到lO株细菌.通过降解率的测定,发现其中一株细菌HB-1具有较强的石油降解能力,200 r/min振荡培养6 d,其原油的降解率达54.74%.根据菌落特征、菌体形态、生理生化特性和16S rDNA序列分析,确定HB-1为不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter sp.).进一步实验表明,该菌株最适宜牛长和降解石油的条件为:温度25～32℃,初始pH值6.5～7.5,盐度3%,此条件符合实际海洋环境的要求.图6表2参22