Social network theory in the behavioural sciences: potential applications

Social network theory has made major contributions to our understanding of human social organisation but has found relatively little application in the field of animal behaviour. In this review, we identify several broad research areas where the networks approach could greatly enhance our understanding of social patterns and processes in animals. The network theory provides a quantitative framework that can be used to characterise social structure both at the level of the individual and the population. These novel quantitative variables may provide a new tool in addressing key questions in behavioural ecology particularly in relation to the evolution of social organisation and the impact of social structure on evolutionary processes. For example, network measures could be used to compare social networks of different species or populations making full use of the comparative approach. However, the networks approach can in principle go beyond identifying structural patterns and also can help with the understanding of processes within animal populations such as disease transmission and information transfer. Finally, understanding the pattern of interactions in the network (i.e. who is connected to whom) can also shed some light on the evolution of behavioural strategies.     

Onsets of schooling behavior and social transmission in chub mackerel Scomber japonicus

Grouping behavior has various types of antipredator functions. Some of these functions require social transmission of information, such as the many-eyes effect, whereas others do not, such as the dilution and confusion effects. Functions of grouping behavior would enhance with social transmission among group members. We investigated and compared the onsets of schooling behavior and social transmission of information in chub mackerel Scomber japonicus. Onset of schooling behavior was observed in rearing tanks by calculating the degree of parallel swimming. Onset of social transmission was examined by using visual cues from conspecifics. A group of five individuals was put in each of three experimental chambers from which they could see a group of conspecifics in the neighboring chamber. A weak electric stimulus was given to one of these chambers, and information transfer among individuals was observed. We found that social transmission by visual cues started on 30 days posthatching (25.1 mm in standard length), which was 2 weeks after the onset of schooling behavior. The late onset of social transmission relative to schooling behavior might be attributed to different predation pressure with development, or by underdevelopment of optic tectum, as the volume of the optic tectum did not increase just after the onset of schooling behavior.     

Propagation of olfactory information within the honeybee hive

Transfer of information about food source characteristics within insect societies is essential to colony-foraging success. The food odor communicated within honeybee hives has been shown to be important for food source exploitation. When successful foragers return to the nest and transfer the collected nectar to hive mates through mouth-to-mouth contacts (trophallaxis), potential recruits receiving these samples learn the food odor by associative learning. The food then becomes rapidly distributed among colony members, which is mainly a consequence of the numerous trophallaxes between hive-mates of all ages during food processing. We tested whether the distribution of food among hive mates causes a propagation of olfactory information within the hive. Using the proboscis extension response paradigm, we show that large proportions of bees of the age groups representing the main worker castes, 4 to 9-day-old bees (nurse-aged bees), 12 to 16-day-old bees (food processor-aged bees), and actual foragers (about 17+ day old bees) associatively learn the food odor in the course of processing food that has been collected by only a few foragers. Results further suggest that the information is shared more or less equally between bees of the three age groups. This shows that olfactory information about the flower species exploited by foragers is distributed within the entire colony and is acquired by bees of all age groups, which may influence many behaviors inside and outside the hive.     

斜坡稳定性的二级模糊推断

根据对斜坡稳定性影响的大小,选取了七个主要因于,引用了山西明水河流域几个斜坡样点实测数据．应用模糊近似推论方法及信息分配原理,对斜坡稳定性进行了单因子灰色隶属度分析及综合二级模糊近似推论,该方法克服了传统单因子评价的弊端,能比较真实地反映实际,为布设护坡工程提供了理论依据。     

知识经济与环境保护

阐述了知识经济的概念及其主要特征，分析了知识经济给环境保护带来的机遇，为迎接知识经济的挑战，上海制定出以发展高技术环保不业和培养高技术环保人才 中心的战略目标，为争２０１０年在达到申城环境保护第三阶段目标的同时，出现适应知识经济时代 环保新雏型。     

电子信息产品的生命周期评价

电子信息产品的大量生产与使用造成严重的环境污染,影响着人类健康和生态安全。利用生命周期评价技术对电子信息产品的原材料获取、生产、销售运输和使用阶段进行环境影响分析,并得出电子产品在使用阶段的环境影响最为重要。生产商不但要关注生产过程中的环境影响,更应该注重生产低能耗产品。     

企业环境信息公开的激励经济学研究

企业环境信息公开的意愿以及真实性成为了环境信息公开工作中面临的一个重要问题。本文从激励经济学的角度出发,分析了企业在环境信息公开过程中面临着的外部性内化、公众的逆向选择以及道德风险等问题,提出了政府主导,企业完善,多元参与的对策建议,以期实现环境保护与经济发展的"双赢"。     

自动监控技术在环境监测中的应用

介绍了自动控制技术、在线监测技术以及现代信息和多媒体技术在环境监测工作中的应用,并阐述了自动监控技术在环境监测中应用价值及存在的困难。     

GIS技术在化学事故应急指挥系统中的应用研究

以地理信息系统（简称GIS）的技术特点为基础,结合应急指挥系统中的功能需求,探讨化学事故应急指挥系统GIS平台能够实现的功能,以及为实现这些功能而构建的数据库的建设。将GIS技术应用在化学事故应急指挥系统中,能够迅速、直观地了解事故装置和设备情况,获得有关信息,进行事故模拟。对提高事故处理速度,缩短反应时间,减少事故损失具有重要意义。     

Evolution of working conditions under the impact of ICTs

IntroductionInformation and communication technologies (ICTs) play a major role in the current evolution of work. They are both a great tool for emancipating human beings from the most tedious and most dangerous tasks and an effective vector for intensifying work.MethodsOn the basis of three foresight exercises carried out in recent years and by describing concrete examples of work organizations, the authors highlight the main possible trends for the changes to come.ConclusionsThey conclude on a few general principles that could allow the establishment of a win–win policy.