Concerns regarding the scientific evidence informing impact risk assessment and management recommendations for invasive birds

Invasive species can be a major threat to biodiversity and economy. Given the large number of introduced invasive species and the limited resources available, a rigorous assessment of the potential impact of these species is of vital importance for prioritizing management programs. Often, general scoring systems in which certain criteria are used to assess the impact of an invader along several impact categories are applied to obtain a ranking of troublesome invaders. Likewise, Kumschick and Nentwig (2010) provided a first categorization of invasive bird impacts in Europe, and argued that several invasive birds should be eradicated because of the threat they pose to biodiversity.This is surprising, as recent reviews suggest that there is little evidence that invasive birds strongly impact biodiversity. We therefore re-evaluated this risk assessment. We found that in the majority of cases, the evidence presented to support impact claims is weak, as they are generally not based on direct scientific research but on often anecdotal observations relating to small areas only. Moreover, even if all claims would materialize, this does not necessarily justify a call for eradication. Previous experiences with eradications have learnt that a feasibility study, encompassing all aspects of biological invasions (including public opinion and possible benefits of the invader) is critical for the achievement of any strategy against invasive species. This is essential, as ill-conceived calls for eradication could result in a public backlash, causing funding agencies and managers to shy away from the problems posed by invasive species.     

基于序相关的作物育种评价性状特征选择方法

将育种家对作物性状表现的综合评价融入作物育种评价中,提出了一种基于序相关的作物育种评价性状特征选择方法。首先,从育种数据中筛选训练样本集及候选性状特征集合,计算候选性状特征集合中各性状与育种材料评价结果的相关性和作物在性状特征间表现的相似性,然后,利用计算的相关系数同时综合考虑性状表现的相似性系数,以期望选择的性状特征的相关性最大、相似性最小为目标,建立基于序相关的作物育种评价性状特征选择模型。该模型可为不同育种目标提供重点关注的性状特征集合,为数据化育种提供支持及依据。利用该方法对2013年大豆品系鉴定试验中早熟、中熟、毛豆3类育种材料进行了性状特征选择试验,结果验证了方法的有效性。该方法可以作为育种评价方法的前置步骤,与现有的综合评价、模糊综合评价等方法结合作为性状特征权重的确定手段,提高权重确定的科学性。     

Response to conventional and organic environment of thirty-six lentil (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lens culinaris</Emphasis> Medik.) varieties

Thirty-six lentil varieties were evaluated under organic and conventional environment for three consecutive years in order to see whether the promising genetic material for an organic plant breeding program are different from those of a conventional system. The genetic material studied originated from various countries. In the conventional trial plots standard cultural practices (P mineral fertilization & pest control) were applied throughout the growing season, while in the organic ones no fertilizers or pest agrochemicals were applied. Significant regression, but of low value, between grain yield ranking and earliness or harvest index ranking was detected. Combined ANOVA indicated significant differences between genotypes, years, environments and genotype × environmental interactions (GEI). It was observed that under conventional management most of the genotypes had a higher yield compared to the organic one. The mean grain yield ranking of the genotypes in each of the environments revealed that some of the genotypes occupied the same ranking position at both the organic and the conventional environment (non-crossover GEI), while others exhibited a significant alteration in their ranking (crossover GEI) under the two environments. Crossover GEI and non-cross over GEI revealed two types of lentil varieties. Varieties with specific adaptation and varieties with broad adaptation. It was concluded that grain yield was in general higher when lentil varieties were grown under a conventional environment compared to the grain yield produced under an organic environment. Yet, there are lentil genotypes with a higher yielding ability under the organic management and therefore should be targeted by the breeder.     

Evaluation Modeling of the Best College Coaches

We construct several models to select the best five coaches in different files at college for the previous century.Frist of all,aiming at the college coaches’major diathesis,a scientific questionnaire is built up.we select reasonably four aspects:ability,career,personal achievement,matches played,to compare coaches’achievement by predigesting the integrated evaluation index system based on the online data from NCAA[1].Finally,we get the rough relative weight of the four aspects.Then we study the accurate weight.First,we use AHP to get more accurate weight at the foundation of the rough relative weight.However,the weight is slightly subjective.Therefore,we filter the collected data,and employ Entropy Method to get weight.Finally,the Meta Synthesis Weight Approach is stipulated to combine the two methods and get the ultimate weight.In the end,we calculate the score every coach get and obtains the ranking..Then,we calculate the scores in weighted way based on the weight of Model.     

Greening potential of derelict and vacant lands in urban areas

This research proposes a more complete, easy and unique method to assess the greening potential of derelict and vacant urban lands in order to prioritize them for reclamation. Greening these lands can convert a problem into an opportunity, assuming that green spaces must fulfill multiple functions, being part of a green infrastructure. The evaluation cover a wide range of criteria that reflect the complexity of the city and consider environmental, ecological, social and economic aspects related to the local urban structure. The criteria were organized into three groups: ecology, stormwater, and community. For each criterion, there are quantitative or qualitative indicators, measured by continuous, binary or multi-categorical parameters converted into numerical values in order to create a ranking score from highest to lowest potential of greening. The city São Bernardo do Campo, in the Metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil, was chosen as the case study to apply this method. The city is experiencing a post-industrial process and has few urban green spaces accessible to the community, while there are several empty and abandoned areas. We identified and mapped sixty derelict and vacant lands, of which ten were chosen as samples to evaluate. The results revealed that 40% of evaluated lands have high potential to reclaim into green spaces, 40%, medium potential and 20%, low potential. Nature or vocation as green spaces was also evaluated: 50% of them have social importance, 20%, environmental, and 30% socio-environmental. The vocation is an important information since it identifies some areas that despite their medium-low potential, they should not be rejected due to their social value. The results can drive a preliminary environmental planning decision making, to be applied in any city that faces similar problems of land dereliction, offering support to professionals to prioritize the reclamation of new urban green spaces.     

Dehorning and disbudding distress and its alleviation in calves

Dehorning and disbudding are routine painful procedures carried out on cattle to facilitate management. The pain caused by these procedures and its alleviation may be evaluated by monitoring behaviour and physiological responses, and by measuring their effects on weight gain. The cortisol response to cautery disbudding is significantly smaller than that to amputation dehorning which infers that the latter is more painful. Amputation dehorning stimulates a defined cortisol response with a rapid rise to a peak value within 30 min followed by a decline to a plateau which then declines to pre-treatment values after about 8 h. A cornual nerve blockade using lignocaine virtually eliminates the escape behaviour seen during disbudding and dehorning and reduces the plasma cortisol response to dehorning for about 2 h. Thereafter there is an increase in the plasma cortisol concentration, a delayed response, which lasts for about 6 h. A cornual nerve blockade, using lignocaine combined with cauterizing the wound caused by amputation dehorning, virtually eliminates the cortisol response as does combining a lignocaine blockade with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketoprofen. When xylazine is combined with a cornual nerve blockade using lignocaine before dehorning, the cortisol response is virtually eliminated for about 3 h. When this regime is used before cautery disbudding and includes a NSAID given before and after disbudding the behaviour of calves so treated suggests that pain may be alleviated for 24 h. Cautery disbudding is preferable to amputation dehorning, but for optimal pain relief xylazine sedation, local anaesthesia and a NSAID should be used with both procedures.     

竹类植物种质资源圃抗寒性竹种的选择

通过对江苏省林业科学研究院收集引种的竹类植物22属108个竹种(含变种或变型)生长情况和冻害程度调查,将该院竹类植物种质资源圃的竹种抗寒性划分成5个等级,提出了一批值得发展推广的抗寒性强和比较强的观赏、经济竹种;同时,对抗寒性一般及抗寒性弱和极弱的竹种的引种与栽培提出了较好的建议。     

A comparison of different ranking schemes for assessing the effect of large point sources of pollution in the UK

The availability of national maps of critical loads for soils, vegetation and freshwaters helpsenable the assessment of the effects of large point sources of pollution in the UK. The deposition footprint of most major sources has been modelled and combined in a GIS with a national critical loads database. As part of an integrated pollution control strategy (IPC) it may be helpful to rank point sources in order of their effects on the environment. A comparison of the discriminating power and effectiveness of several ranking schemes has been carried out. A variety of ranking schemes were investigated, such as; total area where sulphur deposition exceeds the critical load or average mass deposited on areas where the critical load is exceeded. Their relative merits were compared for several current and future scenarios, such as, actual 1993 emissions or predicted emissions for 2001. Rankings for the unit emissions provided a measure of the pollution potential of each source and were a complex function of the location of sensitive areas and meteorological conditions. Rankings under other scenarios tended to be dominated by the relative magnitude of the emissions. Comparison between the ranking schemes was made using non-parametric statistics. The comparisons reveal complex interactions between different schemes. The approach is providing practical solutions to a pollution control strategy based on maximising environmental benefits.     

营养复合米品质评价方法研究

[目的]研究排序感官检验法与评分感官检验法在营养复合米感官评价中的应用.[方法]从学生中挑选20名感官评价员,初步培训后,采用排序法和评分法分别对5种营养复合米进行感官评价,分析2种方法的相关性.[结果]5种营养复合米的品质存在显著性差异,其中,样品E品质最好,样品C品质最差,样品A、B、D居中,且3个样品间无显著性差别.[结论]2种感官评价方法得到的结果一致,制定的营养复合米品质评价评分表具有可行性,通过米粒形状、色泽、香气和均匀度可以较准确反映营养复合米的品质.     

A fuzzy logic-classification of sediments based on data from in vitro biotests

Background, aim, and scope  Ecotoxicological risk assessment of sediments is usually based on a multitude of data obtained from tests with different endpoints. In the present study, a fuzzy logic-based model was developed in order to reduce the complexity of these data sets and to classify sediments on the basis of results from a battery of in vitro biotests. Materials and methods  The membership functions were adapted to fit the specific sensitivity and variability of each biotest. For this end, data sets were categorized into three toxicity levels using the box plot and empirical methods. The variability of each biotest was determined to calculate the range of the gradual membership. In addition, the biotests selected were ranked according to the biological organisation level in order to consider the ecological relevance of the endpoints measured by selected over- or underestimation of the toxicity levels. In the next step of the fuzzy logic model, a rule-base was implemented using if...and...then decisions to arrive at a system of five quality classes. Results  The results of the classification of sediments from the Rhine and Danube Rivers showed the highest correlation between the biotest results and the fuzzy logic alternative based on the empirical method (i.e. the classification of the data sets into toxicity levels). Discussion  Many different classification systems based on biological test systems are depending on respective data sets; therefore, they are difficult to compare with other locations. Furthermore, they don‘t consider the inherent variability of biotests and the ecological relevance of these test systems as well. In order to create a comprehensive risk assessment for sediments, mathematical models should be used which take uncertainties of biotest systems into account, since they are of particular importance for a reliable assessment. In the present investigation, the variability and ecological relevance of biotests were incorporated into a classification system based on fuzzy logic. Furthermore, since data from different sites and investigations were used to create membership functions of the fuzzy logic, this classification system has the potential to be independent of locations. Conclusions  In conclusion, the present fuzzy logic classification model provides an opportunity to integrate expert knowledge as well as acute and mechanism-specific effects for the classification of sediments for an ecotoxicological risk assessment. Recommendations and perspectives  In order to achieve a more comprehensive classification, further investigation is needed to incorporate results of chemical analyses and in situ parameters. Furthermore, more discussions are necessary with respect to the relative weight attributed to different ecological and chemical parameters in order to obtain a more precise assessment of sediments.