Catastrophic Reproductive Failure, Terrestrial Survival, and Persistence of the Marbled Salamander

Abstract:  Wide variation in reproductive success is common among amphibians that breed in seasonal ponds, but persistence of adults can buffer against these fluctuations, particularly for long-lived species. We hypothesized that the frequent episodes of catastrophic failure of the marbled salamander ( Ambystoma opacum ) enhance the importance of high terrestrial survival. At Rainbow Bay in South Carolina reproductive success was poor (<1 metamorph/breeding female) in nearly half of the 22 years that the species bred. Complete failure occurred in 6 of 22 years. To study catastrophic failure, we adapted an age-structured, individual-based model with density-dependent growth and survival of larvae. The model was based on extensive data from local field studies and experiments. With consistently good survival in the pond stages, the simulated population required survival probabilities in the upland stages (juveniles and adults) near 0.5/year to persist and near 0.8/year to achieve the increases observed. Catastrophic failure, occurring randomly with probability 0.5/year, created additional fluctuations in the population, raised the thresholds of survival required for persistence, and caused extinction under conditions that were otherwise favorable. The marbled salamander at Rainbow Bay is not at great risk of extinction because of catastrophic failure, but the risk increases dramatically if life span is decreased or frequency of failure is increased. Any reduction in terrestrial survival will have deleterious consequences by reducing the breeding populations at equilibrium, even if it does not jeopardize persistence. Our model provides assessments of risk that can be applied to poorly studied species with similar life histories, such as the endangered flatwoods salamander ( A. cingulatum ).     

电解浮选用于活性污泥固液分离的研究

在装有Ti/RuO₂-IrO₂-TiO₂阳极、Ti阴极的电解浮选槽中进行了活性污泥固液分离的研究.考察了影响电解浮选性能的操作参数,这些参数包括水力停留时间、电流密度、进水SS浓度和进水pH值.研究表明,电解浮选是高效的固液分离单元,水力停留时间和电流密度是主要的影响因素.SS的去除率随着水力停留时间和电流密度的增加而增大;污泥负荷增加,SS的去除率下降;pH值影响电解产生微气泡的尺寸和污泥性质,但对SS的去除影响不大,实际应用中可以不调节pH值.进水SS约1 000mg/L时,当水力停留时间为20min,接触室电流密度为5 mA/cm²,分离区电流密度为2.5 mA/cm²,SS的去除率可达97%以上,此时的能耗为0.4～0.5(kW.h)/m³废水.电解浮选产生的浮渣含水率为95.9%,低于溶气气浮和二沉池的污泥含水率,对污泥减量化及其最终处置有较大的意义.     

电极构型对空气阴极生物燃料电池发电性能的影响

在空气阴极生物燃料电池(ACMFC)中,从阴极扩散进入阳极的氧气能够被兼性微生物作为电子受体还原,进而导致电子损失严重.本研究利用葡萄糖作底物,对2种不同电极构型的空气阴极生物燃料电池ACMFC1和ACMFC2的功率输出和电子回收进行了比较研究.结果表明,ACMFC1的内阻为302.14Ω,阳极电位为-323mV,最大功率密度为3 070 mW/m³;ACMFC2的内阻为107.79Ω,阳极电位为-442mV,最大功率密度达到9 800 mW/m³.在间歇条件下,ACMFC2可以连续运行220h,电子回收率为30.1%;而ACMFC1只能运行不到50h,电子回收率为9.78%.因此,合理的设计空气阴极生物燃料电池电极构型可以减小内阻,增大电池电动势进而增大功率输出,提高电子回收率.     

膜吸收器吸收CO2的影响因素研究

采用聚丙烯中空纤维膜吸收器,用水、NaOH和K2CO3 水溶液作为吸收剂进行高浓度CO2 吸收试验,考察了气体流率、吸收剂流率、质量分数以及流动方式对吸收率、传质系数和传质速率的影响.结果表明,随着气体流率增大,CO2的吸收率递减,总传质系数和总传质速率增加.在一定的气体流率下,吸收液流率增大,CO2的吸收率、总传质系数和总传质速率增大;吸收液浓度提高,吸收率增大,总传质系数和总传质速率提高.在气体流率较低时,质量分数为5%和8%的NaOH水溶液为吸收剂时的吸收率、总传质系数和总传质速率比较接近.随着气体流率增大,NaOH质量分数为8%时的吸收率、总传质系数和总传质速率增加的值大大超过NaOH质量分数为5%时增加的值.以水为吸收剂时,气体与吸收剂的流动方式为逆流时的吸收率、总传质系数和总传质速率高于并流时的值.     

Influence of super-absorbent polymer on the growth rate of gas hydrate

The growth rate of hydrate and morphology of methane hydrate formation were studied in a visual pressure cell at 5.5 MPa. The gas hydrate formation was carried out (coal mine methane (CMM) + tetrahydrofuran (THF) + sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) + H₂O) with and without SAP. Experimental data on the hydrate growth rate and induction time were obtained for three different CMM samples. The influence of SAP on hydrate growth rate was determined. Results showed that after the addition of SAP, with the methane concentration increased in CMM, the induction time was reduced by 9 min, 10 min and 3 min, and the growth rate was shortened by 0.56 × 10⁻⁶/m³ min⁻¹, 0.53 × 10⁻⁶/m³ min⁻¹ and 1.42 × 10⁻⁶/m³ min⁻¹, respectively. This study could be useful for the recovery of methane from CMM by forming hydrate in the chemical and mining industry.     

不同接种密度蚯蚓堆肥处理有机垃圾混合剩余污泥的比较研究

为了探讨接种密度对蚯蚓的生物量及其堆肥效率的影响,按蚯蚓/基质比进行了1/5,1/10,1/20,1/40和1/80共5个接种密度蚯蚓堆肥处理有机垃圾混合剩余污泥的比较研究。结果表明,蚯蚓的生长和繁殖都与其接种密度呈显著的负相关关系,但蚯蚓堆肥效率只在高密度组(1/5,1/10)和低密度组(1/20,1/40和1/80)之间存在显著差异。从产业应用的角度,1/20可能是赤子爱胜蚓处理有机垃圾混合剩余污泥的最佳接种密度。     

无起爆药雷管内管装药密度对燃烧转爆轰的影响研究

起爆药雷管生产中产生大量有毒废水,且其运输、贮存存在安全隐患。为克服这些困难,笔者自行制备无起爆药雷管。采用圆筒式金属内管中装填超细PETN(季戊四醇四硝酸酯),作为起爆元件,代替起爆药部分,研究装药密度对内管燃烧转爆轰(DDT)的影响。研究结果表明,在内管壁厚1～2 mm,内径Φ4.0 mm,长25 mm,装压密度为0.8～1.14 g/cm3的范围内,内管能可靠实现燃烧转爆轰。     

聚丙烯酰胺对聚合物驱含油污水中油珠沉降分离的影响

研究发现阴离子聚丙烯酰胺(HPAM)对聚合物驱含油污水处理有正反2方面影响.聚合物能增加污水粘度,降低油珠上浮速度,而且聚合物能增加油水界面水膜强度,延缓油珠聚并时间,这是聚合物对油珠沉降分离的不利影响;同时,聚丙烯酰胺具有絮凝性,能将水中油珠连接到一起,有利于油珠聚并.当聚丙烯酰胺相对分子质量为2.72×10⁶,浓度小于800mg/L时,絮凝作用大于粘度作用,有利于油珠的沉降分离.初始油珠粒径小是聚合物驱含油污水难处理的主要原因.横向流除油器可以加速油珠聚并,缩短沉降时间,适合处理聚合物驱含油污水.     

基于核密度估计的清代中国自然灾害时空分布特征

基于《清史·灾赈志》中的历史灾害信息,提取清代（1644-1911年）自然灾害共24 537县次,重建逐年灾害频次序列,以核密度估计法对5类主要灾害（水灾、旱灾、蝗灾、疫灾、冷害）的空间分布特征进行分析。结果表明:清代自然灾害频次序列没有明显的趋势性特征,而体现为阶段性波动,基于灾害频次30年滑动平均值可提取出4个峰值时段（1644-1673、1721-1750、1812-1841和1872-1901年）;相比于现代,清代灾害类型更加集中在农业灾害,最为多发的是水灾和旱灾,合计占总数的近80%,其次是蝗灾、疫灾和冷害;灾害最为多发的高风险区分布在黄淮海平原和长江三角洲,前者集中了水灾、旱灾、蝗灾的极端多发区,后者除了水旱多发,还是疫灾和冷害的极端多发区; 4个峰值时段的灾种类型组合和灾害多发区均有明显差异,时空变化受到致灾因子、暴露度和脆弱性因素的共同作用。上述工作有助于更好地认识历史灾害发生规律,对于当前及未来的防灾减灾工作具有重要参考价值。     

Numerical simulation of far-field blast loads arising from large TNT equivalent explosives

Large TNT equivalent explosions usually arise from accidents occurring during the transportation, storage, and manufacturing of chemicals relevant to process industries. The blast wave generated by the explosion will spread and interact with the surrounding factories and storehouses, damaging the building structures within several kilometers and causing significant casualties and property losses. This study aims to develop an efficient numerical simulation method to predict blast loads to estimate the consequences of accidents involving far-field free air bursts or surface burst explosions. Before its interaction with the interested target, a blast wave is generated in the numerical model by specifying the initial and boundary conditions of the disturbed air. Based on empirical data of incident overpressure, an explicit formula to calculate the air particle velocity is derived from the governing equations of a perfect inviscid gas. A simplified path line method is proposed to calculate the air density. The proposed method is applied to the LS-DYNA CESE solver to simulate the blast loads on building structures in the far field. Validations against empirical data and experiments indicate that the proposed method is sufficiently accurate for engineering applications and, through a case study, presents a more efficient performance than the LOAD_BLAST_ENHANCED (LBE) and mapping methods.