Economic aspects of natural resource exploitation

Low entropy accumulations of matter and energy are more economic for humans to exploit as natural resources. This accumulation of a resource takes place over time and the most concentrated resources, such as fossil fuels, are created over geological ages. As the most concentrated resources become depleted it may be possible for technology to enable the exploitation of less concentrated resources, such as low-grade metal ores or thinly populated fishing grounds. Analysis of the timescales necessary to create different types of natural resource reveals three distinct groups. Further consideration of economic characteristics of resources, including ownership and access, and rate of consumption relative to rate of supply confirms the grouping of resources into the three distinct groups. Rate of change of entropy as a resource is exploited is an indicator of its impact on the environment. Consideration of this again suggests three distinct groups of resources, and this paper identifies them as: continuous natural resources (CNR), such as solar power and wind power; potentially renewable resources (PRR), such as fish and forests; and non-renewable resources (NRR), such as fossil fuels and metals.     

Application of polysaccharide-based biopolymers as supports in photocatalytic treatment of water and wastewater: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Rising health issues of Worldwide pollution by fossil fuel products are Fostering the development of safer materials such as biopolymers in many sectors such as...     

Pharmacological significance of marine microbial bioactive compounds

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The continuous growth of the world population has raised heatlh issues such as the inefficiency of common drugs, such as antibiotics, due to...     

土壤锌自然消减的研究进展

从影响土壤锌自然消减的因素方面，阐述了锌自然消减的研究进展。土壤锌自然消减受温度、水分、pH值、有机质、改良剂、化学肥料、栽培植物等因素的影响。温度降低、pH升高和淹水均使土壤中锌的有效性降低。种植超积累植物如遏蓝菜、紫花苕子、印度芥菜等，可以超量吸收土壤中的锌，加速锌的消减。土壤中的某些动物和微生物有吸收利用锌的特性，蚯蚓对锌有良好的富集作用。采取农业措施如施用有机肥、化肥、加入改良剂，栽培植物等，都能降低污染土壤中锌的有效性。文章还提出了该方面今后的研究重点。     

茉莉酸类物质(JAs)的生理特性及其在逆境胁迫中的抗性作用

以茉莉酸(JA)和茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)为代表的茉莉酸类物质(JAs)是广泛存在于高等植物体内的一种新型植物生长调节物质,在调节植物生长发育、光合特性、抗逆反应等起着重要的作用。茉莉酸类物质能抑制植物生长,抑制种子和花粉粒萌发,促进叶片和果实衰老,加速细胞的分裂和膨大,促进气孔关闭,诱导禾本科植物的颖花开放;此外还能调节植物的光合作用和呼吸作用及保护酶活性。目前更多的研究表明,茉莉酸(酯)类物质是与抗性密切相关的植物生长物质,它作为内源信号分子参与植物在机械伤害、病虫害、干旱、盐胁迫、低温等条件下的抗逆反应。在植物受到伤害时,植物体内茉莉酸及其衍生物的含量显著增加,进而诱导一系列与抗逆有关的基因表达,如蛋白酶抑制剂、硫蛋白和苯丙氨酸转氨酶(PAL)等,提高酯氧合酶活性,从而增强植物的抗性。研究还发现,在干旱逆境胁迫条件下,与脱落酸(ABA)的表现相似,茉莉酸类物质大量积累,外施能增强植物的抗旱性。茉莉酸与脱落酸在抑制生长、促进衰老和逆境胁迫的反应上作用极为相似,两者可协同起作用或独立发挥,而茉莉酸与水杨酸(SA)二者之间则大多研究认为存在相互抑制的拮抗作用,但也有一定协同作用。而茉莉酸与各种激素的信号传导途径的相互作用机制仍有待进一步深入研究。     

Effects of algal grazing and aggressive behaviour of the fishes Pomacentrus lividus and Acanthurus sohal on coral-reef ecology

Aggressive behaviour of the fishes Pomacentrus lividus Bl. Schn. and Acanthurus sohal Forskal from the Red Sea is briefly described, and its effect on intensity of algal grazing by herbivorous fish is demonstrated by settlement experiments. Green filamentous alga settles and grows at shallow depths over large areas of coral reefs, but is cropped by fishes to such an extent that it forms only a thin patchy matting on dead corals. Within pomacentrid territories, the alga forms a thicker matting on loosely cemented coralline rubble. Optimum depth range for growth occurs at less than 20 m. Rich growths of green filamentous alga, such as those which occur within pomacentrid territories or on settlement plates protected by wire netting cages, inhibit settlement of “lithothamnion” and invertebrates. While rasping and grazing fish feeders such as parrot fish and surgeon fish limit the distribution of certain invertebrates such as spirorbids, in shallow water it is also true that, were it not for such active removal of green filamentous alga, “lithothamnion” and many invertebrates would find ewer surfaces suitable for settlement.     

纤维素基吸附剂——绿色、经济的水处理材料

介绍了一类基于天然纤维素的水处理用吸附剂.对纤维素修饰羧基等阴离子基团,可以用来吸附水中的重金属阳离子(如cd(2+)、Cu(2+)、Hg(2+)、Ni(2+)、Pb(2+).对纤维素修饰铝铁或胺基等成分,可以吸附水中含砷阴离子、氟离子等有害阴离子.在纤维素上修饰疏水链,可以吸附水中氯苯、染料等危害健康的有机物.     

高硬度矿泉水的软化研究

采用加药沉淀－离子交换法，结合实例对高硬度矿泉水进行软化研究。试验结果和工艺计算表明，加药沉淀－离子交换法对高硬度矿泉水具有良好的软化效果，方法简单、投资少，成本低，水质好等优点，是一种既能降低矿泉水的硬度和碱度，火能保持水中微量元素含量的理想方法。     

Geomorphology as an indicator of the biophysical vulnerability of estuaries to coastal and flood hazards in a changing climate

Climate change is increasing the need to characterise the vulnerability of coastal landscapes to coastal and flood hazards that result in erosion and inundation. Indices, such as the Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI), have emerged as useful tools with which coastal managers can prioritise areas for further detailed assessment of vulnerability, risk, resilience and adaptation options. Approaches, such as the use of an index, efficiently characterise the vulnerability of linear, one-dimensional coastal features such as coastlines; however, they do not capture variability in coastal processes affecting more complex, non-linear features, such as estuaries, or interactive effects of coastal processes between linear (e.g. coastlines) and non-linear (e.g. estuaries) landforms. We present an approach that uses geomorphology to indicate biophysical vulnerability of estuaries to coastal and flood hazards. The approach is applied to the South Coast of NSW; a wave-dominated coastline of approximately 400 km length that contains more than 100 estuaries. We demonstrate the simplicity of the approach and its utility in identifying areas requiring higher resolution assessments. Although this approach does not include socio-economic factors, we demonstrate the capacity to incorporate socio-economic components of vulnerability using regional land use mapping. We infer that the most vulnerable estuaries are characterised by large catchment areas, broad estuarine valleys, mature stages of infill, or entrances oriented towards the prevailing wave direction. The area below 15 m elevation was identified as a robust indicator of the total area of vulnerability within a catchment. This approach can be applied to one-dimensional and more complex two-dimensional landscapes, such as estuaries; integrates varying sea-level rise projections; and incorporates a wider range of hazards that operate in the coastal zone.     

Exigency for fusion of graphene and carbon nanotube with biomaterials

Biomaterial industry is a widely growing field that is closely related to advanced materials. With development in fabrication techniques new materials are being created by researchers daily. The currently used biomaterials for biomedical applications have some limitations. This review examines those limitations such as corrosion, short fatigue life, less wear resistance, and inadequate mechanical properties. These limitations may lead to adverse effects. To overcome these limitations carbon-based nanomaterials may be incorporated such that these biomaterials reach the level of ideal biomaterials. Upgrade of biomaterials with graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) needs to be done only after checking the safety profile of these materials. Biocompatibility of functionalized graphene and CNT is found to be adequate for the use in many applications such as drug delivery, biosensing and imaging, cancer therapeutics, and tissue regeneration whereas pristine graphene and CNT may produce adverse effects. The potential of carbon-based nanomaterials and graphene (and its derivatives) in overcoming those limitations and enhancing biological activities of ongoing biomaterials by acting as composites and coating material is examined. In addition, nanomaterials employ new techniques in biomedical application such as cancer therapy for more efficient results.     

江苏省流域水生态功能分区

水生态功能区划是科学开展水生态环境保护工作的重要手段,是指导产业布局、水资源开发的重要依据。江苏省流域水生态功能分区在近中远期结合时间尺度原则、集中式生活饮用水水源地优先保护原则等分区原则的指导下对全省水资源进行了一级分区和二级分区的划分,一级分区包括长江流域、淮河流域、太湖流域和近岸海域4个分区,二级分区包括宁镇扬丘陵平原水生态亚区、长江三角洲平原水生态亚区、徐宿淮丘陵平原水生态亚区等10个分区。同时,本文对江苏省流域水生态功能分区的分区体系如等级体系、分区方法体系进行了讨论。     

Diversity and distribution of cold-seep fauna associated with different geological and environmental settings at mud volcanoes and pockmarks of the Nile Deep-Sea Fan

The Nile Deep-Sea Fan (NDSF) is located on the passive continental margin off Egypt and is characterized by the occurrence of active fluid seepage such as brine lakes, pockmarks and mud volcanoes. This study characterizes the structure of faunal assemblages of such active seepage systems of the NDSF. Benthic communities associated with reduced, sulphidic microhabitats such as sediments and carbonate crusts were sampled by remotely operated vehicles during two cruises in 2006 (BIONIL) and 2007 (MEDECO). Environmental conditions and biological factors including family-level faunal composition, density and diversity were measured at local and regional scales. Significant differences were detected at different spatial scales: (1) the fauna of reduced habitats differed substantially in activity, diversity and biomass from the non-seep environment at similar water depth, (2) cold seep microhabitats showed differences in community structure and composition related to substratum type as well as to the intensity and location of fluid emissions.     

Nickel and cadmium inhibition of activated sludge at extreme substrate levels

Traditionally, mathematical models defining the inhibition of the activated sludge use modified enzyme kinetics. For experimental support, some methods such as the BOD test itself, involve very low substrate concentrations. Others, such as the bacterial growth inhibition test which measures an inhibition potential blocking activity by 50%, use very high substrate concentrations. This paper outlines a series of inhibition experiments with BOD and bacterial growth inhibition tests, using nickel and cadmium as inhibitors. The results are comparatively evaluated by means of appropriate mathematical interpretation.     

扎龙河滨湿地水体营养化污染特征及水环境恢复对策

对扎龙湿地水体富营养化污染状况进行调查，指出沼泽湿地、湖泊湿地TN、TP、BOD，等多项水质指标都已严重超标；阐明了营养物年季变化特征；总结了扎龙湿地水体富营养化发展趋势；提出了保障湿地供水、生态工程恢复及控制流域地表水污染的多项管理策略。     

白银区沿黄灌区盐碱土的现状调查及改良措施

通过对甘肃省白银区沿黄灌区土地盐碱化的现状调查和成因分析 ,提出节水灌溉、治理废水、生物排盐等改良盐碱土的综合措施     

Environmental aspects of biofuels in road transportation

Energy is a vital and growing need for human activities such as transport, agriculture and industry. The transport and agriculture sectors are major consumers of fossil fuel. However, availability of fossil fuels is limited. The use of fossil fuels is of increasing environmental concerns because it produces toxic airborne particulates and greenhouse gases such as CO₂. The increasing industrialization and motorization of the world led to a steep rise for the demand of petroleum-based fuels. Hence, it is necessary to seek alternative fuels, which can be produced from resources available locally within the country such as alcohol, biodiesel and vegetable oils. Biodiesel is defined as the mono alkyl esters of vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel is the best candidate for diesel fuels in the diesel engines. The advantage of biodiesel over gasoline and petroleum/diesel is its eco-friendly nature. This article reviews the production, characterization and current status of biofuels mainly biodiesel along with the environmental impacts of particulate matter, greenhouse gas emissions originated from biodiesel.     

A review of the distribution of particulate trace elements in urban terrestrial environments and its application to considerations of risk

We review the evolution, state of the art and future lines of research on the sources, transport pathways, and sinks of particulate trace elements in urban terrestrial environments to include the atmosphere, soils, and street and indoor dusts. Such studies reveal reductions in the emissions of some elements of historical concern such as Pb, with interest consequently focusing on other toxic trace elements such as As, Cd, Hg, Zn, and Cu. While establishment of levels of these elements is important in assessing the potential impacts of human society on the urban environment, it is also necessary to apply this knowledge in conjunction with information on the toxicity of those trace elements and the degree of exposure of human receptors to an assessment of whether such contamination represents a real risk to the city’s inhabitants and therefore how this risk can be addressed.     

Effect of increasing salinity on the acute toxicity of a commercial endosulfan formulation to the bdelloid rotifer Philodina acuticornis odiosa

Pesticides, such as endosulfan, can enter surface waters such as lakes and rivers, potentially posing an ecological risk. Rotifers are a dominant zooplankton species in many inland freshwater lakes in Australia; such lakes can also experience increased salinities. Acute toxicity tests (24?h) were conducted to determine the toxicity of a commercial formaulation of endosulfan to the freshwater rotifer Philodina sp. and to investigate the influence of increasing salinity on endosulfan toxicity. Rotifers were found to be relatively tolerant to endosulfan with an EC50 of 1.75?mg?L^?1 (a.i.), with results also suggesting that there are no interactive effects of salinity on endosulfan toxicity.     

监测水体重金属污染的分子生物标志物研究进展

水体重金属污染具有持久性、高度危害性和难治理性,如何快速、准确监测并对其进行科学评价,成为当今环境科学关心的热点问题。大量研究表明,水生生物体内某些生理指标的变化可以反映水体重金属的污染程度。综述了乙酰胆碱酯酶、抗氧化防御系统、腺苷三磷酸、DNA损伤以及金属硫蛋白等几种分子水平上的生物标志物监测重金属污染的原理、国内外研究进展以及应用现状。认为分子生物标志物具有特异性、敏感性等优势,可以较快指示水体重金属污染对生物体的影响,在实际应用中需注意各种干扰因素。在进行野外研究时,要注重混合重金属与多途径暴露下,分子生物标志物的变化规律。生物体之间差异性会导致标志物在同样暴露条件下产生不同的变化规律,需要加强＂离体＂标志物和＂标准化＂标志物的研究,确保监测结果的可靠性和可重复性。生物标志物较为敏感,容易受到外界环境及体内生理因素影响,可考虑综合运用多种生物标志物指示重金属污染。目前,有关重金属对水生生物毒性效应的研究较多,但重金属对生物体的致毒机理方面研究并不深入,这将是今后研究的重点问题之一。     

人工湿地的磷去除机理

人类生产和生活所产生的磷负荷导致了全中国范围湖泊的富营养化,控制此磷负荷的廉价而有效的具有非常广阔的应用前景技术是人工湿地技术。人工湿地中的磷的存在形态主要有有机磷(生物态和非生物态的)、磷酸、可溶性磷酸盐和不溶性磷酸盐。文章总结了人工湿地中的磷去除机理,在防渗人工湿地系统中,主要的磷去除机理包括化学作用(如沉淀作用和吸附作用);生物作用(如植物吸收作用和微生物吸收与积累作用)和物理作用(如沉积作用)。在未防渗的人工湿地系统中,湿地系统和周围水体(如地下水)的交换量对湿地的磷去除有重要的影响。通常情况下,物理作用和化学作用是人工湿地中最主要的磷去除途径。人工湿地中微生物对磷的去除作用的大小和其所处环境中的氧状态密切相关,植物吸收对磷的去除作用的大小和收割频率与时期、进水负荷、植物物种和气候条件等有关。