Comparing wildlife habitat suitability models based on expert opinion with camera trap detections

Expert knowledge is used in the development of wildlife habitat suitability models (HSMs) for management and conservation decisions. However, the consistency of such models has been questioned. Focusing on 1 method for elicitation, the analytic hierarchy process, we generated expert-based HSMs for 4 felid species: 2 forest specialists (ocelot [Leopardus pardalis] and margay [Leopardus wiedii]) and 2 habitat generalist species (Pampas cat [Leopardus colocola] and puma [Puma concolor]). Using these HSMs, species detections from camera-trap surveys, and generalized linear models, we assessed the effect of study species and expert attributes on the correspondence between expert models and camera-trap detections. We also examined whether aggregation of participant responses and iterative feedback improved model performance. We ran 160 HSMs and found that models for specialist species showed higher correspondence with camera-trap detections (AUC [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve] >0.7) than those for generalists (AUC < 0.7). Model correspondence increased as participant years of experience in the study area increased, but only for the understudied generalist species, Pampas cat (β = 0.024 [SE 0.007]). No other participant attribute was associated with model correspondence. Feedback and revision of models improved model correspondence, and aggregating judgments across multiple participants improved correspondence only for specialist species. The average correspondence of aggregated judgments increased as group size increased but leveled off after 5 experts for all species. Our results suggest that correspondence between expert models and empirical surveys increases as habitat specialization increases. We encourage inclusion of participants knowledgeable of the study area and model validation for expert-based modeling of understudied and generalist species.     

单纤维捕集过程中亚微米颗粒的布朗团聚

针对亚微米颗粒（0.1~0.5μm）在单纤维捕集过程中的布朗团聚规律,基于计算流体动力学-颗粒群平衡模型（CFD-PBM）对粉尘颗粒在单纤维捕集过程中的布朗团聚行为进行了数值模拟研究,采用分区法对颗粒群平衡方程（PBE）进行求解,综合考虑了停留时间、入口粉尘粒径、气流温度、Pe数对布朗团聚的影响,并将数值模拟与实验结果进行对比.结果表明,布朗团聚核UDF符合数值模拟计算要求.粉尘颗粒的布朗团聚贯穿整个过程,团聚有效时间t=L/v（速度方向模型尺寸长度/入口流速）;粉尘颗粒越小,布朗团聚越强,Bin-7与Bin-0区间的数量浓度差距越小,粒径与布朗团聚强度呈负相关;气流温度是通过改变气流动力黏度以及聚并系数来影响布朗团聚,与布朗团聚强度呈正相关,当T=300K,d_p≥0.5μm时,颗粒的布朗团聚效应可以忽略;Pe数通过扩散系数的变化影响布朗团聚,与布朗团聚强度呈负相关.     

天然有机物和电解质对水中 C60凝聚行为的影响

以富勒烯(C60)纳米颗粒稳定悬浮液为对象,采用动态光散射技术研究了天然有机物和电解质对其在水中凝聚行为的影响.结果表明,采用甲苯溶剂替换法制备的稳定悬浮液中C60浓度为20 mg·L-1左右,表面呈较高的电负性,粒径在120 nm左右,具有较强的稳定性.投加简单电解质可通过压缩双电层机制使其发生凝聚,并符合经典的胶体稳定性(DLVO)理论.Mg Cl2和Ca Cl2的临界凝聚浓度分别为9.6 mmol·L-1和6.7 mmol·L-1.腐殖酸(humic acid,HA)存在时,投加Na Cl和Mg Cl2可使C60颗粒间有效碰撞概率及凝聚反应速度降低,临界凝聚浓度提高;HA可通过增大C60颗粒间的空间位阻效应,抑制凝聚反应发生,提高其在水中的稳定性.但Ca2+可与HA间发生络合反应,并对C60纳米颗粒产生吸附架桥作用,导致凝聚速度大幅提高,强化凝聚反应发生.水中C60纳米颗粒的凝聚和分散行为将受到有机物性质和电解质种类等复杂因素的影响.     

WebGIS 与Mashup 在黑河流域信息化平台构建中的应用

随着eScience 的发展,大量的科研信息化。如何综合应用共享的信息资源,再次产生新的科研成果,为科研问题的解决提供决策支持,是信息化研究需解决的问题。本文设计了基于信息聚合与WebGIS 技术支持的黑河流域信息化平台,主要通过Mashup 与WebGIS 技术搭建该信息化平台,重点研究科研信息的聚合应用。基于WebGIS 与信息聚合的黑河流域信息化平台,能够实现黑河流域空间信息的聚合共享,以更直观快捷的方式实现科研信息化,数据与应用服务的共享与交换,使科研成果服务于大众,便于数据的共享与互操作,形成多学科交叉的新组织模式和协作环境。以地下水、土壤等数据的信息聚合应用为案例,基于ArcGIS 云平台,通过WebGIS 技术实现数据资源信息的聚合共享应用。     

STOCHASTIC ANALYSIS OF TIME-AGGREGATED HYDROLOGIC DATA1

Stochastic models fitted to hydrologic data of different time scales are interrelated because the higher time scale data (aggregated data) are derived from those of lower time scale. Relationships between the statistical properties and parameters of models of aggregated data and of original data are examined in this paper. It is also shown that the aggregated data can be more accurately predicted by using a valid model of the original data than by using a valid model of the aggregated data. This property is particularly important in forecasting annual values because only a few annual values are usually available and the resulting forecasts are relatively inaccurate if models based only on annual data are used. The relationships and forecasting equations are developed for general aggregation time and can be used for hourly and daily, daily and monthly or monthly and yearly data. The method is illustrated by using monthly and yearly streamflow data. The results indicate that various statistical characteristics and parameters of the model of annual data can be accurately estimated by using the monthly data and forecasts of annual data by using monthly models have smaller one step ahead mean square error than those obtained by using annual data models.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of the adsorption of pesticide endosulfan on gold nanoparticles

The absorption of pesticide endosulfan on the surface of gold nanoparticles results from the formation of micrometric structures (1–10 μm) with irregular shape because of the aggregation of individual particles. Such aggregation of gold nanoparticles after absorption of pesticide shows a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum, whose intensity depends on the concentration of endosulfan. In addition, the discoloration of the colloidal solution and a diminishing of the intensity of the surface plasmon resonance absorption from individual particles were observed by UV-visible spectroscopy. At the same time, a second band between 638 and 700 nm confirms the formation of aggregates of gold nanoparticles as the concentration of endosulfan increases. Finally, we used the SERS intensity of the S?O stretching vibration at 1239 cm^?1 from the SO₃ group as a measure of concentration of pesticide endosulfan. This method could be used to estimate the level of pollution in water by endosulfan in a simple and practical form.     

Purification of Aspergillus fumigatus (Pdf1) Poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) Depolymerase Using a New, Single-Step Substrate Affinity Chromatography Method: Characterization of the PHB Depolymerase Exhibiting Novel Self-Aggregation Behavior

The extracellular poly(-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase of Aspergillus fumigatus Pdf1 was purified by a new, simple, one-step affinity chromatography method using the substrate PHB. The purified enzyme was glycosylated, with the molecular mass of 40 KD, and exhibited a novel self-aggregation behavior by means of hydrophobic interaction that was resolved by Triton X-100 (TX-100) pretreatment of enzyme and also TX-100 incorporation in the native gel. The apparent K _m value of purified enzyme for PHB was 119 g/mL and 3-hydroxybutyrate was detected as the main endproduct of PHB hydrolysis. The depolymerase was insensitive to phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), sodium azide, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and para-chloromercuric benzoic acid (PCMB), but was inactivated by dithioerythritol (DTT) and showed specificity for short chain-length poly(-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) such as PHB, poly(hydroxyvalerate) (PHV), and copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV). Medium-chain-length PHA failed to get hydrolyzed. The enzyme, however, exhibited strong cross reactivity with the Comamonas sp. PHB depolymerase antibodies, but not with PHV depolymerase antibodies of Pseudomonas lemoignei. Southern hybridization and dot blot analysis of A. fumigatus Pdf1 genomic DNA with alkaline phosphatase labeled probes of P. lemoignei PHB and PHV depolymerase genes revealed no homology, although the enzyme hydrolyzed both PHB and PHV.     

A FUZZY SETS MODEL FOR MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN WATER RESOURCES PLANNING1

Mathematical modeling of complex water resources System problems, particularly water pollution control, is aided by fizzy set theory. Public participation in large scale federally funded water resources and pollution control projects is now a federal requirement and practice of various planning agencies. However, no systems based model for quantifying and measuring the effectiveness of public participation is known to exist. In this paper, we report a fuzzy set based model developed for doing this in areawide water resources planning The model is essentially cascade in nature and employs the concepts of fuzzy pessimistic and optimistic aggregations to cluster and analyze the evaluations of the basic factors. Sample computations of the model are provided.     

基于非对称场流分离技术的水环境腐殖酸聚集特性研究

腐殖酸的聚集特性是影响其去除率及与其它污染物相互作用的重要因素,本文采用非对称场流分离技术对腐殖酸组分进行分离,配合示差折光检测器及多角度激光光散射器,对腐殖酸分子量的分布规律进行研究,探讨了水环境的化学条件对腐殖酸荷电状态和聚集状态的影响规律.结果表明,腐殖酸具有自我凝聚的特性;在p H较低和溶液离子强度较高时,腐殖酸胶粒的Zeta电位绝对值减小而分子量增大,腐殖酸胶粒聚集程度增大;随腐殖酸浓度增大,腐殖酸胶粒的Zeta电位绝对值减小,腐殖酸分子发生聚集而使胶粒分子量增大.当离子强度达到0.08mol·L-1,或浓度达到15 mg·L-1时,腐殖酸分子不仅靠氢键聚集在一起,还可能发生分子间的缔合.     

Adaptation of a four-arm olfactometer for behavioural bioassays of large beetles

Summary. We adapted a four-arm olfactometer (55 × 55 × 5.5 cm) for bioassays of large insects and its usefulness was evaluated by testing the responses of three beetles, the palm weevil Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidea) and two Dynast scarabs Strategus aloeus (L.) and Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to plant odours and aggregation pheromones. This olfactometer was coupled to a volatile delivery system dispensing highly volatile semiochemicals at constant concentrations. We materialized airflows in the olfactometer by discolouring sensitive papers with acid vapours under various conditions (air straighten by stainless steel grids in inputs and output, 500 ml/min per arm) to visualize air turbulence and to test air-tightness. The volatile delivery system can be used to mix and dispense a broad range of concentrations of semiochemicals in air from diluted aqueous solutions. It was calibrated by measuring the release of the pheromone using solid phase-microextraction (SPME). Dose-response curves to synthetic pheromone were obtained for O. rhinoceros of both sexes. Coupling the volatile delivery system to the fourarm olfactometer provided a system with which the responses of R. palmarum and S. aloeus to their synthetic aggregation pheromones and to natural plant volatiles could be readily observed and studied.