Epidemiologic Analysis of Factors Associated with Local Disappearances of Native Ranid Frogs in Arizona

Abstract:  We examined factors that may independently or synergistically contribute to amphibian population declines. We used epidemiologic case–control methodology to sample and analyze a large database developed and maintained by the Arizona Game and Fish Department that describes historical and currently known ranid frog localities in Arizona, U.S.A. Sites with historical documentation of target ranid species ( n = 324) were evaluated to identify locations where frogs had disappeared during the study period (case sites) and locations where frog populations persisted (control sites). Between 1986 and 2003, 117 (36%) of the 324 sites became case sites, of which 105 were used in the analyses. An equal number of control sites were sampled to control for the effects of time. Risk factors, or predictor variables, were defined from environmental data summarized during site surveys and geographic information system data layers. We evaluated risk factors with univariate and multifactorial logistic-regression analyses to derive odds ratios (OR). Odds for local population disappearance were significantly related to 4 factors in the multifactorial model. Disappearance of frog populations increased with increasing elevation (OR = 2.7 for every 500 m, p < 0.01). Sites where disappearances occurred were 4.3 times more likely to have other nearby sites that also experienced disappearances (OR = 4.3, p < 0.01), whereas the odds of disappearance were 6.7 times less (OR = 0.15, p < 0.01) when there was a source population nearby. Sites with disappearances were 2.6 times more likely to have introduced crayfish than were control sites (OR = 2.6, p = 0.04). The identification of factors associated with frog disappearances increases understanding of declines occurring in natural populations and aids in conservation efforts to reestablish and protect native ranids by identifying and prioritizing implicated threats.     

基于形态与in vitro方法的铬污染土壤生物可给性研究

铬（Cr）是电镀类场地的主要污染物.开展土壤中Cr（III）和Cr（VI）的生物可给性研究对于准确评估Cr污染场地风险,克服污染场地过度修复问题十分关键.本研究采集我国栗钙土、红壤、潮土3种典型土壤,通过添加相同浓度污染物的方式制备成Cr（III）或Cr（VI）污染土壤.随后利用5种体外方法（in vitro）,对3种土壤经口摄入的Cr生物可给性进行比较与健康风险评估.进而从土壤理化性质、Cr赋存形态、土壤矿物组成方面,对不同土壤在溶解度生物可给性研究联盟（SBRC）方法中的生物可给性差异进行分析.结果表明,基于生物可给性的Cr污染土壤健康风险评估能够显著降低风险水平,提高风险控制值,其中,SBRC方法在评估中更具有保守性.3种土壤在相同的Cr（III）和Cr（VI）污染浓度下,栗钙土相较于红壤和潮土在肠期具有更高的生物可给性和健康风险.此外,土壤黏粒、有机质含量及迁移系数能够影响土壤Cr的生物可给性,土壤矿物种类赋存不同也是造成Cr（III）和Cr（VI）在不同土壤中生物可给性差异的重要因素.     

煤炭开发建设项目环境影响后评价初步研究

环境影响后评价作为环境影响评价的延伸,是提高环评有效性的有力手段,目前我国环境影响后评价仍处于起步阶段,其理论和实践都具有很强的探索性。煤炭在我国的能源地位突出,但对煤炭开采建设项目的环境影响后评价研究甚少,文章介绍了国内外环境影响后评价的研究进展,并针对煤炭项目,通过识别煤炭开采的环境影响,概述了其评价指标的选取原则、指标体系的构建和评价方法。     

关于排污总量监测有关问题的探讨

分析了排污总量监测过程中关于实施总量监测排污口的规范化、优化设置总量监测点位、监测频次和采样方法、超标污染物判别等方面与污染源监督监测的区别以及存在的问题,并提出了相应的对策和措施。     

Repeatability of electromyography normalization of the neck and shoulder muscles in symptomatic office workers

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to examine the repeatability of electromyography (EMG) normalization in office workers with neck and shoulder symptoms. Methods. Fifteen female office workers with neck/shoulder symptoms were recruited to participate in two separate days of testing. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) was used for the normalization of EMG data on the following muscles: cervical erector spinae, upper trapezius, lower trapezius and anterior deltoid. Repeatability was calculated using the intra-class correlation (ICC), relative standard error of measurement (%SEM) and relative coefficient of variation (%CV). Results. Peak root mean square (rms) and median frequency (MF) showed good to high repeatability in the UT, AD and CES (ICC?=?0.87–0.95, %SEM=?2.65–9.48, %CV=?0.2–5.9). The repeatability of peak rms was good (ICC?=?0.87, %SEM?=?12.56, %CV?=?3.3) and the MF of the LT was fair (ICC?=?0.76, %SEM?=?5.71, %CV?=?2.9). Conclusion. Peak rms and MF from the MVIC normalization method can be measured with sufficient repeatability in symptomatic office workers.     

Best Practices in Environmental Communication: A Case Study of Louisiana's Coastal Crisis

This mixed-method case study of environmental communication best practices in Louisiana, USA, identifies trends and approaches as informed by environmental psychology. The results provide key insights for environmental communicators, especially communicators in coastal regions. In-depth interviews with both environmental psychologists and environmental communicators showed that both groups emphasized knowing the audience, telling local stories, building relationships with target audiences and targeted messaging. Both psychologists and communicators also frequently mentioned general messaging concerns of source credibility, avoiding controversial terms and talking about issues, impacts and solutions to which the target audience can relate. A representative survey revealed that Louisiana residents are most interested in hearing about how environmental issues such as climate change, coastal land loss and flooding are affecting their own communities. This finding supports the idea that environmental communicators could do a better job tapping into strong place attachment and sense of community among coastal residents to promote action.     

Size-Dependent Selective Leaf Damage by Insects and Some Methodological Implications of This Phenomenon

The area of leaves on birch (Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa) auxiblasts and brachyblasts and the degree of their damage by the complex of leaf-gnawing and leaf-mining insects were studied in a light birch forest. The results showed that phyllophagous insects, primarily snout beetles, prefer young leaves on the apexes of auxiblasts. Thus, selective damage is inflicted on smaller leaves, both on the auxiblasts and in the entire sample. This phenomenon is widespread and may manifest itself in different ways, depending on the pattern of leaf area distribution along the extended shoot and the feeding preferences of the insects. Thus, it is necessary to reconsider research methods and approaches based on the assumption that insects damage leaves nonselectively, irrespective of their size.     

机动车排放污染的主要监测方法和手段

笔者重点介绍了中国的机动车污染监测方法 (包括怠速法、工况法、汽油机排放污染物测量方法、柴油机自由加速及全负荷烟度测量方法等 ) ,同时简要介绍了欧美及日本机动车排放污染的主要监测方法。另外 ,简述了公路隧道法等机动车排放污染的间接监测方法。      

不同运行策略下厌氧氨氧化的脱氮性能

采用厌氧氨氧化反应器(ASBR)处理模拟生活污水,考察低基质比、降温方式及pH对系统脱氮性能的影响.结果表明,温度为30℃时,控制进水NO_2~--N浓度为(30±0.2)mg·L~(-1),基质比(NO_2~--N/NH_4~+-N)由0.9升至1.4,系统NH_4~+-N和NO_2~--N去除率均值分别从54.4%和65.3%升至95.8%和92.5%;当基质比继续升高至1.6时,NH_4~+-N去除率基本不变,而NO_2~--N去除率降至54.6%,即基质比接近理论值1.32时,其厌氧氨氧化脱氮性能较强.当反应温度一次性从30℃降低至15℃时,NH_4~+-N和NO_2~--N的去除率由97.5%和98.5%分别降至35.2%和40.1%,当采用阶梯式降温方式(30℃→25℃→20℃→15℃)时,NH_4~+-N和NO_2~--N的去除率分别由97.7%和98.6%逐渐降至52.7%和62.4%.控制NO_2~--N/NH_4~+-N为1.4,逐步升高pH由7.7至8.5时,NH_4~+-N和NO_2~--N的去除率先增大后减小,当pH为8.3时系统脱氮性能最佳.     

喷灌和沟灌方式对农田土壤NH3挥发的影响

研究了2016和2017年传统灌溉（沟灌）和节水灌溉（喷灌）方式氨（NH₃）挥发的季节年际动态变化特征及其影响因素.采用通气法进行原位监测,分析了土壤温度、体积含水量、铵态氮（NH₄⁺-N）、硝态氮（NO₃^--N）以及气温降水等因素对NH₃挥发的影响.结果表明,NH₃挥发速率的峰值出现在施用氮肥后1~2周,喷灌有效降低NH₃挥发峰值,喷灌和沟灌的NH₃挥发速率峰值在2016年分别为2.67kg/（hm²·d）和11.11kg/（hm²·d）,2017年分别为2.42kg/（hm²·d）和11.73kg/（hm²·d）;马铃薯生长季NH₃挥发存在明显的季节变化,挥发高峰主要发生在7~8月,追肥期高于基肥期.2016~2017年农田土壤NH₃累积挥发量均表现为喷灌<沟灌,与沟灌相比,喷灌分别减少58.15%和43.55%.NH₃挥发速率与土壤温度呈显著正相关（P<0.05）,与体积含水量、NH₄⁺-N、NO₃^--N浓度呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）.