GOLDEN AGES OR MAGIC MOMENTS?

ABSTRACT. The paper is an attempt to refute Quinn's ‘the Golden Age of fisheries population models has ended “hypothesis. The approach is to show it is possible to provide simple matrix based theory for use with delay difference equations applied to products of the 0th to 4th powers of length and numbers at length (Alias” proto‐moments“). It compares these to models just based upon numbers and biomass. It also shows examples (of comparatively little moment) indicating how using multiple proto‐moments could improve the ability of delay difference equations to handle the size dependent processes of maturity, selection, natural mortality rates and predation rates and thus improving the biological reality of these models.     

Raman Method in Identification of Species and Varieties,Assessment of Plant Maturity and Crop Quality—A Review

The present review covers reports discussing potential applications of the specificity of Raman techniques in the advancement of digital farming, in line with an assumption of yield maximisation with minimum environmental impact of agriculture. Raman is an optical spectroscopy method which can be used to perform immediate, label-free detection and quantification of key compounds without destroying the sample. The authors particularly focused on the reports discussing the use of Raman spectroscopy in monitoring the physiological status of plants, assessing crop maturity and quality, plant pathology and ripening, and identifying plant species and their varieties. In recent years, research reports have presented evidence confirming the effectiveness of Raman spectroscopy in identifying biotic and abiotic stresses in plants as well as in phenotyping and digital selection of plants in farming. Raman techniques used in precision agriculture can significantly improve capacities for farming management, crop quality assessment, as well as biological and chemical contaminant detection, thereby contributing to food safety as well as the productivity and profitability of agriculture. This review aims to increase the awareness of the growing potential of Raman spectroscopy in agriculture among plant breeders, geneticists, farmers and engineers.     

Monte Carlo simulation of GM probe and NaI detector efficiency for surface activity measurements

This paper deals with the direct measurement of total (fixed plus removable) surface activity in the presence of interfering radiation fields. Two methods based on Monte Carlo simulations are used: one for a Geiger–Muller (GM) ionisation probe and the other for sodium iodide (NaI) detector with lead collimators; equations for the most general case and the geometry models for Monte Carlo simulation of both (GM and NaI) detectors are employed. Finally, an example of application is discussed.     

Some Aspects of the Mobility and Distribution of Toxic Heavy Metal Contaminants Insoil Profiles and River Sediments

Abstract

Investigations of the distribution and mobility of Pb, Ni, Cd and Hg have shown that Pb is strongly associated with humic substances in the top layer of soils and in river sediments, and that Pb shows the highest organophilicity. Ni is very organophilic, and Cd, somewhat less so. The hydrophilicity of Hg highly influences its movement in soil profiles and river sediments. The risk of contamination by these metals is characterized through the environment protection capacity (EPC_G) values which combine humus content and the quality and thickness of the humus layer in one parameter. The risk of contamination is highest at low EPC_G values. Increase of EPC_G decreases the risk of environmental contamination through binding of heavy metals to humic substances, decreasing their mobility.     

The Occurrence of Pesticides in Groundwater—Results of Case-studies

Abstract

A comparative review of pesticide survey endosing 16 waterworks in the FRG tries to increase the understanding about interferences of pesticide utilization and pesticide occurrence in ground- and drinkingwater, which includes characterization of sampling points, subsurface situation, land use and pesticide application. Between 1986 and 1991, 5772 samples were measured and led to 219094 data about the occurrence of various pesticides. 5% of these analyses showed pesticide or metabolite concentrations above the particular detection limits. This result does not vary in large extent considering groups of different characterized sampling points like groundwater dominated or surface water sampling points. As the herbicide atrazine and its metabolite desethylatrazine as well as the herbicide simazine were detected most often in all samples independent whether considering groundwater und surface water samples, this fact confirms the FRG-application ban for atrazine as well as the application restriction for simazine.     

Assessment and Prediction of Water Resources Vulnerability Based on a NRS-RF Model: A Case Study of the Song-Liao River Basin,China

The vulnerability of water resources is an important criterion for evaluating the carrying capacity of water resources systems under the influence of climate change and human activities. Moreover, assessment and prediction of river basins’ water resources vulnerability are important means to assess the water resources security state of river basins and identify possible problems in future water resources systems. Based on the constructed indicator system of water resources vulnerability assessment in Song-Liao River Basin, this paper uses the neighborhood rough set (abbreviated as NRS) method to reduce the dimensionality of the original indicator system to remove redundant attributes. Then, assessment indicators’ standard values after dimensionality reduction are taken as the evaluation sample, and the random forest regression (abbreviated as RF) model is used to assess the water resources vulnerability of the river basin. Finally, based on data under three different future climate and socio-economic scenarios, scenario predictions are made on the vulnerability of future water resources. The results show that the overall water resources vulnerability of the Song-Liao River Basin has not improved significantly in the past 18 years, and the overall vulnerability of the Song-Liao River Basin is in the level V of moderate to high vulnerability. In the future scenario 1, the overall water resources vulnerability of the river basin will improve, and it is expected to achieve an improvement to the level III of moderate to low vulnerability. At the same time, the natural vulnerability and vulnerability of carrying capacity will increase significantly in the future, and the man-made vulnerability will increase slowly, which will deteriorate to the level V of moderate to high vulnerability under Scenario 3. Therefore, taking active measures can significantly reduce the vulnerability of nature and carrying capacity, but man-made vulnerability will become a bottleneck restricting the fragility of the overall water resources of the river basin in the future.     

Studies upon Qualification of Meat from Animals Irradiated and Contaminated with Radiocaesium

Abstract

The problem concerning qualification of food originated from animals irradiated and contaminated with ¹³⁷caesium appeared especially after the Chernobyl accident. So, it was a reason to undertake respective studies on 108 rabbits divided into three groups: group I – non-irradiated rabbits, group II – irradiated with a dose of 103 mCkg^?1 (400 R), group III – irradiated with a dose of 206 mCkg^?1 (800 R). All animals were contaminated intragastrically with an aqueous solution of ¹³⁷CsCl. After slaughter samples of the muscles were cured in 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15% brine or were cooked for 2 hrs. In the case of curing the radioactivities of meat and brine, and the concentrations of salt in cured meat were estimated after 7, 14, and 21 days. The radioactivities of cooked meat, broth, and condensed water vapour were estimated after 1 and 2 hrs. Taking into account the decrease of the radioactivities, duration of curing, and concentrations of salt in cured meat the optimum results were achieved when the meat from non-irradiated rabbits was cured for 7 days in 3% brine, and that of irradiated rabbits in 5% brine with regard to a lower stability of this meat. The decontamination effectiveness of cooking was similar in all examined rabbits. Radiocaesium penetrates into the brine or broth and escapes with water vapour thereafter.     

Development of low concentrated solar photovoltaic system with lead acid battery as storage device

Energy storage system powered by renewable energies is a viable option to meet energy requirement without addition of carbon footprints to the environment. This study involves development of theoretical and computational models for a solar photovoltaic (PV) system coupled with a lead acid battery. The study commenced with selection of most appropriate lead acid battery and PV system for installation in a representative location in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Various technical and economic parameters were assessed and calculated by computational approach. The optimized lead acid battery was integrated with low concentration solar PV panels (CPV) followed by a feasibility study. Theoretical model was developed for the integrated system to calculate various parameters of the CPV and lead acid battery. Technical and economic assessment of this coupled unit was calculated using a theoretical approach. The developed model was then subjected to computational approach for verification and validation analysis of the integrated system. The detailed assessment of batteries and integrated system show the applicability of this system in Riyadh region. The research will be extended to develop energy storage systems for remote areas using lead acid batteries.     

Defect assessment procedure based on ductile tearing process

Strain hardening, crack growth resistance and nonuniform load distribution have significant effects on the ductile tearing process. A defect assessment procedure incorporating with the above features is proposed in the present paper, with the final appearance of “design curves” to facilitate engineering applications.     

宁波港北仑港区自然环境综合评价

本文对宁波港北仑港建港自然环境中的气象、水文、地质地貌、水陆域和其他主要影响因素及地理位置,进行了系统分析和综合评价,认为该港区具有建设深水港的优良自然环境.