Radioactive Contamination in the Italian Seas: An Overview Also in the Light of the European Marina-Med Project

Following a similar project performed for the Northern European Seas in the years 1985-1990, a study on the radioactive contamination of the Mediterranean Sea has recently been conducted by a group of experts of the European Union (MARINA-MED Project). Its aim was to assess the radiological exposure of the population of the European Union, due both to natural and man-made radionuclides in the Mediterranean Sea. A review of the conclusions of this study is presented, with special attention to the environmental radioactive data. the Italian radioactive monitoring organisation is described. Starting from this experience, some proposals for new research projects are presented.     

High individual variation in pheromone production by tree-killing bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Aggregation via pheromone signalling is essential for tree-killing bark beetles to overcome tree defenses and reproduce within hosts. Pheromone production is a trait that is linked to fitness, so high individual variation is paradoxical. One explanation is that the technique of measuring static pheromone pools overestimates true variation among individuals. An alternative hypothesis is that aggregation behaviour dilutes the contribution of individuals to the trait under selection and reduces the efficacy of natural selection on pheromone production by individuals. We compared pheromone measurements from traditional hindgut extractions of female southern pine beetles with those obtained by aerating individuals till they died. Aerations showed greater total pheromone production than hindgut extractions, but coefficients of variation (CV) remained high (60-182%) regardless of collection technique. This leaves the puzzle of high variation unresolved. A novel but simple explanation emerges from considering bark beetle aggregation behaviour. The phenotype visible to natural selection is the collective pheromone plume from hundreds of colonisers. The influence of a single beetle on this plume is enhanced by high variation among individuals but constrained by large group sizes. We estimated the average contribution of an individual to the pheromone plume across a range of aggregation sizes and showed that large aggregation sizes typical in mass attacks limit the potential of natural selection because each individual has so little effect on the overall plume. Genetic variation in pheromone production could accumulate via mutation and recombination, despite strong effects of the pheromone plume on the fitness of individuals within the aggregation. Thus, aggregation behaviour, by limiting the efficacy of natural selection, can allow the persistence of extreme phenotypes in nature.     

在噪声治理中二次隔振的应用实例

在噪声治理工程中应用二次隔振降低固体传声,可以起到较理想的隔振效果。二次隔振系统固有频率低,可以隔绝低频振动。对制冷系统的压缩机组进行二次隔振,取得了满意的隔振效果。     

Judgement days: moral attitudes in the wake of local disasters

The deaths and destruction stemming from a disaster are traumatic enough to implicate victims' beliefs not only about disasters themselves but also about other social and political concerns. In particular, disasters are associated with the scapegoating of out‐groups, suggesting that even deep‐rooted moral concerns may shift, at least temporarily, after disasters. This study uses exposure to local natural disaster fatalities to examine moral judgements regarding gays¹ in United States surveys from 1984–98. Survey respondents whose county has suffered a disaster feel appreciably more negatively towards gays, even though most of the disasters in this data set are relatively small and local. The increased antipathy towards gays dissipates within months, and is most marked among those who had, before the disaster, considered themselves more religious. These results raise the possibility that some groups, especially those already marginalised by society, may suffer in a backlash in the wake of a natural disaster.     

自然资源结构在地区产业结构演进中的宏观作用——以环渤海地区为例

在我国产业结构演进的现阶段和今后较长的时期中,地区自然资源结构仍然是影响产业结构的关键因素之一。本文分别从时间、空间和结构等三种尺度,分析了自然资源结构在地区产业结构演进中的宏观作用。主要包括:自然资源结构在产业结构发展不同阶段的作用程度和形式;地区内部区域间自然资源结构的差异性和地区间自然资源结构的互补性对制定地区产业发展总体和区域战略的主要影响;不同自然资源结构形式与产业结构组织的可能性和合理性的相互关系。     

自然资源结构在地区产业结构演进中的宏观作用——以环渤海地区为例

在我国产业结构演进的现阶段和今后较长的时期中,地区自然资源结构仍然是影响产业结构的关键因素之一。本文分别从时间、空间和结构等三种尺度,分析了自然资源结构在地区产业结构演进中的宏观作用。主要包括:自然资源结构在产业结构发展不同阶段的作用程度和形式;地区内部区域间自然资源结构的差异性和地区间自然资源结构的互补性对制定地区产业发展总体和区域战略的主要影响;不同自然资源结构形式与产业结构组织的可能性和合理性的相互关系。     

辽东半岛自然资源的优势及其在农业中的利用

辽东半岛是东北东部山地的南延部分,属于暖温带落叶阔叶林景观。由于受到海洋的影响,气候比我国同纬地区温和、湿润,为太区农业、林业及果蚕业的发展提供了有利条件,同时本区海岸曲折,港湾众多,富海上交通和渔业之利。在东北地区,本区是一个自然环境较优越,自然资源较丰富的区域。本文主要阐述辽东半岛自然地理的基本特征和自然资源的优势,并对其利用方向作了初步探讨。     

Integrated biogeochemical modelling of nitrogen load from anthropogenic and natural sources in Japan

This study proposed an integrated biogeochemical modelling of nitrogen loads from anthropogenic and natural sources in Japan. Firstly, the nitrogen load (NL) from different sources such as crop, livestock, industrial plant, urban and rural resident was calculated by using datasets of fertilizer utilization, population distribution, land use map, and social census. Then, the nitrate leaching from soil layers in farmland, grassland and natural conditions was calculated by using a terrestrial nitrogen cycle model (TNCM). The Total Runoff Integrating Pathways (TRIP) was used to transport nitrogen from natural and anthropogenic sources through river channels, as well as collect and route nitrogen to the river mouths. The forcing meteorological and hydrological data is a 30-year (1976–2005) dataset for Japan which were obtained by the land surface model, Minimal Advanced Treatments of Surface Interaction and Runoff (MATSIRO). For the model validation, we collected total nitrogen (TN) concentration data from 59 rivers in Japan. As a comparison result, calculated TN concentration values were in good agreement with the observed ones, which shows the reliability of the proposed model. Finally, the TN loads from point and nonpoint sources were summarized and evaluated for 59 river basins in Japan. The proposed modelling framework can be used as a tool for quantitative evaluation of nitrogen load in terrestrial ecosystems at a national scale. The connection to land use and climate data provides a possibility to use this model for analysis of climate change and land use change impacts on hydrology and water quality.     

京尼平对丝素蛋白交联的染色作用

京尼平是一种环烯醚萜类化合物,能够与氨基酸反应生成蓝色素.制备的无色丝素蛋白溶液与京尼平溶液混合后,溶液显蓝紫色.利用紫外可见光光谱和荧光光谱,分析了整个反应过程,考察了温度、酸碱度等影响因素,并对颜色产物对光照的稳定性进行了分析,初步探讨了京尼平对丝素蛋白交联染色作用的机制.结果显示:生成的颜色产物在590 nm处具有特征光吸收,高温和碱性条件有利于反应的进行;交联产物的颜色与反应时pH相关,酸性条件下偏蓝色,碱性条件下偏紫色;生成的颜色产物具有较高的稳定性,于自然光强下放置一个月或5 000 lx光强照射6 h.590 nm吸收值减小不显著.丝素蛋白的内源荧光显著降低,表明反应导致丝素蛋白构象的剧烈变化.京尼平可能与丝素蛋白中某些氨基酸侧链基团反应形成稳定的颜色产物.研究结果对环烯醚萜类化合物用于蚕丝染色具有一定的指导意义.图5表1参18     

Recreation benefits of natural area characteristics at the El Yunque National Forest

The paper applies the Contingent Valuation Method using a visitor survey to determine trip values to three rivers in northeastern Puerto Rico. Sample data were obtained from 984 interviews conducted in 13 sites during the summer months. The trip value is statistically decomposed into components representing natural features and recreation activities. The median net economic value of a river visit without waterfalls or foot trails is $96. Recreation at rivers with both waterfalls and foot trails has a median value of $138 per trip. The presence of waterfalls accounts for $23 and foot trails $19 per trip. This information can be pertinent for managers in selecting recreation site locations and protecting them from competing uses.