Baronia brevicornis caterpillars build shelters to avoid predation

In at least 18 Lepidoptera families, caterpillars build shelters that mainly serve to regulate microclimate (humidity, temperature) and/or to avoid predation. We aimed to explore the function of the tubular structures built with the leaves of the host plant, Acacia cochliacantha Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willdenow (Fabaceae), by a lepidopteran endemic to Mexico, Baronia brevicornis Salvin. We experimentally evaluated whether tubular structure building behaviour is induced by high temperature or predator odour, and if shelters reduce or enhance predation of B. brevicornis caterpillars. We used Calosoma angulatum as predator. Our analyses showed that caterpillars did not make the tubular structures in response to high temperature. We also found no difference in predators’ visual recognition of sheltered versus unsheltered caterpillars. Caterpillars did not build shelters but they moved more often when exposed to predator odour. Unsheltered caterpillars were more frequently consumed when predators were allowed to interact with sheltered and unsheltered caterpillars. Hence, the tubular structures built by B. brevicornis are most likely a strategy for reducing predation, for example by C. angulatum.     

Theoretical Studies of Thermodynamic Properties of Clusters

正As an extension of our earlier study on the structural properties of the clusters,a recently developed method to calculate the low-temperature vibrational heat capacities of clusters shall be presented.Subsequently,it shall be applied to Aun,Nan,Sin,Gen,and SinGen clusters.Our approach does not attempt to identify phase transitions but focuses on the low temperature behaviour,we find that the vibrational heat capacity of the clusters is strongly     

Notes on the natural history of Stizus perrisii ibericus Beaumont (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

A study of the biology of Stizus perrisii ibericus revealed some aspects about the behaviour of males, the nesting behaviour of females, and larval development. The slow mass provisioning of this species is compared with the provisioning behaviour of S. continuus and S. pulcherrimus. Cocoons are constructed in seven stages although, compared with other species, there are differences in the duration of each stage. Natural enemies of the wasp include miltogrammine flies, several cuckoo wasps, and velvet ants.     

燃烧源PM2.5微粒润湿性能

利用W ashburn动态渗透压力法研究了燃煤电厂与垃圾焚烧发电厂PM2.5微粒的润湿性能及其与微粒形态和组分的关系,并考察了添加润湿剂(十二烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)、十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)、JFC、FS-310、Silanol w22)对水润湿燃烧源PM2.5的改善作用.利用扫描电镜和X-射线能谱分析了微粒的形态和化学组分.结果表明:微粒的形态和组分对润湿性能有较大影响,垃圾焚烧发电厂PM2.5微粒的水润湿性能优于燃煤电厂PM2.5;不同润湿剂改善燃烧源PM2.5微粒润湿性的效果与微粒特性密切相关,SDS,Silanol w22可明显改善燃煤电厂PM2.5微粒的润湿性能,而FS-310,JFC则对垃圾焚烧电厂PM2.5微粒有显著改善作用;研究结果可为利用蒸汽相变提高燃烧源PM2.5脱除效果及湿法除尘提供重要基础.     

具有储能功能的聚氨酯固-固相变材料的研究

以高分子量聚乙二醇(PEG)为软段,4,4′-二苯基甲烷二异氰酸酯(MD I)、1,4-丁二醇(BDO)为硬段,采用两步溶液法合成了一种具有固-固相变储能性能的聚氨酯材料,通过差示扫描量热仪(DSC)、热重分析仪(TGA)、广角X射线衍射仪(WAXD)、偏光显微镜(POM)等手段分析了该材料的形态结构和相变行为,并对其储能机理进行了初步探讨。结果表明:该聚氨酯型相变材料具有良好的储热性能,相变焓较大,相变温度适中,热性能稳定,相变过程中不产生液体,其相变实质是聚氨酯软段PEG由结晶固态转变为非晶固态的过程。     

企业员工-管理者互动行为的定性模拟实现

采用定性模拟方法研究了企业员工一管理者互动行为．根据定性模拟和组织行为学相关理论,将管理者任职后与下属员工相处的过程视为相互影响的动态变化过程,建立了能够表达这种动态变化的定性状态变量和作用规则;采用C＋＋语言实现了定性模拟程序QSHR;通过一个例子的有效性验证说明所设计程序能够表达互动行为的定性模型,所得结论符合管理原则．通过一个对比不同状态下管理者和员工群体行为表现实际应用,论述了QSHR的应用方法和对管理实践的重要参考意义．     

锈蚀钢筋混凝土桥梁力学性能研究综述(Ⅱ)

根据国内外已有的锈蚀钢筋混凝土构件力学性能研究成果,分析了各种研究锈蚀钢筋混凝土构件力学性能的试验方法的特点及其适用性,总结了各种不同受力形式锈蚀钢筋混凝土构件的承载力模型,讨论了各种模型的优缺点和适用范围.最后根据存在的问题,对锈蚀钢筋混凝土构件的力学性能的研究进行了展望和建议.     

Breeding biology of the Pale-bellied Tyrant-manakin Neopelma pallescens (Aves: Pipridae) in south-eastern Brazil

The Pale-bellied Tyrant-manakin (Neopelma pallescens) inhabits semi-deciduous and riparian forests in central-north South America. Contrary to most manakins, there is no evident sexual dichromatism in the species and little is known about its breeding biology. We studied the breeding biology of a colour-banded population of the species from August to December 2016 and from August to October 2017 in the Campus Florestal of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, south-eastern Brazil. The breeding season extended from early September to late November. The species is promiscuous, with males exhibiting simple courtship displays (exploded leks) in individual arenas. The nest (n = 13) is a cup attached by its top lip between forked branches and is very simple, with a structural layer made with dry grass stems and heads, attached to the branch with spider silk. The outer and lining layers are absent. The mean clutch size was 1.8 eggs (n = 11), which are oval and pale coloured, covered with spots of different shades of brown, often concentrated in the larger pole. Mean egg length and width (± SD) were 21.0 ± 0.9 × 15.8 ± 0.7 mm (n = 14) and the mean weight was 2.8 ± 0.4 g (n = 10). The incubation period could not be estimated, but the nestling period was 15 days (n = 2). The simple percentage of successful nests was 15.4%, with 76.9% of the nests depredated and 7.7% abandoned. This is the first detailed study about the breeding biology of any Neopelma species, providing relevant data for the study of the evolution of life history strategies not only for the genus, but for the whole family Pipridae.     

Natural history of the Lined Seedeater Sporophila lineola (Aves: Thraupidae) in southeastern Brazil

The Lined Seedeater (Sporophila lineola) is a migratory species that inhabits a variety of open habitats in South America. We studied the breeding biology and territorial behaviour of a colour-banded population of the species in the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Florestal (1–19,8808ºS, –44,4136ºW), during two breeding seasons (2014/2015 and 2015/2016), which spans from December to April. We monitored 74 nests of this species. The nest is a low cup supported between a fork. Nests are mainly built with grass stems and rootlets, with spider-web used to hold the material together and to bind the nest to its supporting plant. Females are solely responsible for nest building and incubation, which is synchronic, and also for feeding nestlings to a large extent. Males are responsible for defending the territory, which corresponds to a small portion of the home range restricted to the nest environs, and also feed the nestlings. Mean clutch size is two eggs (78% of nests monitored), with clutches of three (20.3%) and four (1.7%) eggs also observed. Eggs are whitish, covered with dark brown blotches and spots to a variable extent. Mean incubation period, considered as the period between the onset of incubation and hatching of the first egg, is 11 days. Nestling period, considered as the period between hatching of the first egg and fledging of the last young, is 10 days. During the first breeding season, the simple percentage of successful nests was 34.1%, while the Mayfield success was 29.8%, with slightly higher values observed during the second breeding season, with 39.4% and 35.7%, respectively. We recorded, for the first time, three cases of polygamy in the species. We also recorded breeding site fidelity for the first time in the species, with males returning to the same territory owned in a previous breeding season.