联合多种荧光光谱和GC-MS研究高铁酸钾对菲的降解机理

研究了高铁酸钾对PAHs中的菲的降解反应过程,对该反应过程联合了时间扫描、偏振、偏振三维(PEEM)、三维(EEM)等多种荧光光谱模式进行了表征和分析,并结合GC-MS进一步检测分析了该反应过程的中间产物,最后系统探讨了高铁酸钾对菲降解的动力学反应规律及降解机理.实验结果表明,在设定的高铁酸钾-菲降解体系的物质的量之比为1∶1、1∶2、1∶3、2∶1、3∶1的各个降解反应过程均符合一级反应动力学特征,其拟合系数在0.905—0.995之间.通过不同摩尔比的高铁酸钾-菲降解过程的时间扫描荧光参数直接求得了各反应的动力学方程及曲线;菲降解过程的荧光偏振度值与PEEM共同揭示出高铁酸钾对菲的有效降解,且产物均为无偏振效应、无产生新的特征荧光的小分子结构,各特征光谱峰强与时间变化关系也与时间扫描荧光曲线相符合;最后结合GC-MS深入分析了菲的降解产物,并由此推测了高铁酸钾对菲的降解机理.降解产物中9,10-菲醌的大量存在表明菲结构中9,10位发生氧化而开始降解.     

高铁酸钾降解荧蒽和苯并[a]芘的偏振荧光光谱研究

考察了高铁酸钾对荧蒽和苯并[a]芘两种PAHs(多环芳烃)的降解反应过程,并应用偏振荧光光谱技术研究了荧蒽和苯并[a]芘两种PAHsr降解体系反应过程及其差别的识别,着重探讨了两种PAHs降解体系反应过程中的多种荧光波长模式与偏振度、三维荧光(EEM)与偏振三维荧光(PEEM)变化规律,最后由时间扫描荧光模式直接获得反应动力学拟合方程式.实验结果表明,各荧光识别模式一致地显示出高铁酸钾对荧蒽和苯并[a]芘的显著性降解作用及其对应的各荧光强度变化规律,即反应时间大于40 s后,两种PAHs(多环芳烃)的降解反应均不明显,且降解过程中均无新的荧光发色团结构生成.在高铁酸钾与荧蒽/苯并[a]芘摩尔比为1∶1、1∶4、4∶1的各降解体系的反应过程均符合一级反应动力学规律.荧蒽降解曲线的线性关系更高,苯并芘降解速率更快,多种荧光光谱相结合能够实现对PAHs的降解过程的便捷而有效的追踪,其揭示的结果与分子机理一致,即苯并[a]芘分子较荧蒽分子具有更大的π电子密度,因而在Fe(Ⅵ)夺电子过程中,更易于失去电子而被Fe(Ⅵ)氧化降解.     

城市污泥与稻草堆肥中多环芳烃的研究

将污泥与稻草进行翻堆、菌种 翻堆、连续通气和间歇通气 4种不同方式的堆肥 ,应用GC/MS对堆肥中的多环芳烃类化合物 (PAHs)进行分析 ,探讨堆肥产物中PAHs的含量分布模式以及不同堆肥方式对PAHs的降解效果 . 4种污泥堆肥中ΣPAHs在2 0 83—2 8 4 35mg·kg- 1之间 ,依次是菌种 翻堆 ( 2 8 4 35mg·kg- 1>翻堆 ( 7 30 3mg·kg- 1) >连续通气 ( 4 80 8mg·kg- 1) >间隙通气 ( 2 0 83mg·kg- 1) ,绝大部分化合物的含量都低于 0 2 0mg·kg- 1.堆肥前后ΣPAHs降解率在 6 5 5 %— 93 2 0 %之间 (平均为6 5 0 0 % ) ,绝大部分化合物的降解率都在 90 %以上 .通气堆肥尤其是间歇通气堆肥对污泥中PAHs的降解效果最好 .     

耐盐苯酚降解菌Staphylococcus sp.的分离及降解特性

从巴丹吉林沙漠盐湖表层沉积物中筛选到一株高效耐盐苯酚降解菌CL.测定了菌株CL的生理生化指标、16S rRNA基因序列,通过动力学模型探究了该菌株的生长和苯酚降解特性,同时考察了固定化对其耐受及降解苯酚能力的影响.结果表明,菌株CL属于葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus sp.),在温度30℃、pH 7.0—8.0、盐度0—10%和苯酚浓度100—200 mg·L~(-1)条件下,该菌株能高效降解苯酚,其降解率均在85%以上.菌株CL对不同浓度苯酚的降解符合Haldane模型,其最大比降解速率和抑制常数分别为0.32 h~(-1)和351.70 mg·L~(-1),同时该菌株在不同盐度下对苯酚的降解符合Ghose and Tyagi模型.固定化可以明显增加菌株CL对苯酚的降解和耐受能力.菌株CL在高盐环境下能够高效降解苯酚,具有生物处理高盐含酚废水的潜力.     

Pseudomonas fluorescens Z1999降解邻苯二甲酸酯的二级动力学特征

通过驯化富集培养,从处理焦化厂废水的活性污泥中分离获得一株可以在好氧条件下利用邻苯二甲酸酯(PAEs)作为唯一碳源和能源的荧光假单胞菌(Pseudomonasfluorescens编号Z1999),研究了P.fluorescensZ1999对PAEs的降解条件,揭示了P.fluorescensZ1999降解PAEs的动力学特征.试验结果表明,P.fluorescensZ1999对PAEs降解的最佳条件为pH65—80,温度20—35℃,菌种量002—45%,富集驯化时间18—24h.P.fluorescensZ1999可有效降解邻苯二甲酸二甲酯(DMP)、邻苯二甲酸二乙酯(DEP)和邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DnBP).在初始浓度为100—750mg·ml-1范围内,DMP,DEP,DnBP的降解反应遵循二级反应动力学方程∶-dS/dt=K2S2 K1S K0,r2=09686—09997.随PAEs浓度和支链烷基碳数的增加,P.fluorescensZ1999对PAEs的最大降解速率p下降,半衰期T1/2增大,抑制作用增强.     

催化剂对甲醛废水湿式氧化的增效作用

在设定的湿式氧化条件下 ,从若干种金属盐中筛选了Cu(NO3) 2 作为氧化甲醛废水的催化剂 ,考察了Cu(NO3) 2 用量、废水的初始浓度及温度对有机物去除率的影响 ,结果表明 :Cu(NO3) 2 以 5mg·l- 1 Cu2 计量投加为宜 ,甲醛初始浓度在 480mg·l- 1 — 1 5 0 0mg·l- 1 范围内一直保持较高的去除率 ,反应的适宜温度为 1 40℃以上 ;根据反应过程数据建立了该催化氧化反应的分段一级动力学模型 ,求得甲醛氧化动力学模型快、慢步骤的表观活化能分别为7 2 9kJ·mol- 1 和 1 4 45kJ·mol- 1 ;而COD降解动力学模型快、慢步骤的表观活化能则分别为2 0 47kJ·mol- 1 和 2 9 5 2kJ·mol- 1 .     

改性海绵铁降解四溴双酚A的特性及机理

在超声条件下通过置换反应制备钯海绵铁(Pd0-s-Fe0)双金属颗粒,采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和电子能谱仪(EDS)进行表征.Pd0-s-Fe0催化还原降解溶液中的四溴双酚A(TBBPA)的实验结果表明,Pd0-s-Fe0较s-Fe0(海绵铁)催化活性高,在p H值为6.7,100 m L初始浓度为15 mg·L~(-1)溶液投加5 g负载0.07%钯的改性海绵铁的条件下,反应120 min后TBBPA的去除率达到91.5%,且Pd0-s-Fe0降解TBBPA符合一级动力学规律.经高效液相色谱串联四极杆飞行时间质谱(LC-TOF-MS)分析鉴定降解产物,明确TBBPA的还原降解途径为TBBPA被脱去1—4个溴生成三溴双酚A、二溴双酚A、一溴双酚A、双酚A.     

邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯生物降解性研究

研究了从污水处理厂的活性污泥和塑料厂排污口土壤中分离到的两株邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯(DE-HP)降解菌CQ0110Y和CQ0110G对DEHP的适宜降解条件以及其降解特性．结果表明，CQ0110Y和CQ0110G的适宜pH范围分别为6．0—8．0和6．0—7．5；适宜温度范围分别为20-35℃和25—35℃．当DEHP初始浓度小于1350mg／L时，它们对DEHP的降解反应符合一级动力学特征，DEHP半减期分别为：t1/2(CQ0110Y)=1.59d,t1/2(CQ0110G)=2.00d.，两株菌对DEHP均具有高效降解能力．图2表2参7     

双金属Fe~0-Cu~0的合成及其催化过硫酸钠(PS)降解邻苯二甲酸二丁酯的研究

以铜金属有机骨架材料Cu_3(BTC)_2·12H_2O (Cu-BTC)为前驱体,通过浸渍还原方法成功制备出粒径为20-30 nm的Fe~0-Cu~0双金属催化剂.为评估该双金属催化剂对过硫酸钠(PS)的催化活性,对邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)进行氧化降解研究.考察了Fe~0/Cu~0的摩尔比、PS浓度、催化剂用量及初始pH对DBP降解的影响.结果表明在Fe~0/Cu~01.0时,DBP的降解去除率随着双金属催化剂Fe~0/Cu~0摩尔比的增加而增大.DBP的降解率随着PS和Fe~0-Cu~0双金属催化剂浓度的增加而增大,并在PS和Fe~0-Cu~0浓度分别为1.62 mmol·L~(-1)和0.3 g·L~(-1)时达到最佳去除效果.除pH值为7.0外,DBP的降解率随着初始pH值的增加而下降.     

Fe_3O_4@Graphite电极中性条件下电Fenton降解有机污染物

制备了Fe3O4复合石墨电极(Fe3O4@graphite),通过循环伏安测定,对自制电极的电化学特性进行了表征.在外加电压无隔膜反应池中,基于Fe3O4@graphite为阴极,铂网为阳极,在pH7.0中性条件下,探讨了降解有机染料罗丹明B(Rhodamine B,RhB)及无色小分子2,4-二氯苯酚(2,4-dichlorophenol,DCP)的电Fenton反应特性,结果表明,对1.0×10-5mol.l-1RhB在外加电压6 V和支持电解质Na2SO410 g.l-1条件下,电Fenton反应120 min,RhB降解率达100%.采用过氧化物酶催化反应吸光光度法和苯甲酸荧光分析法跟踪测定RhB降解反应过程中H2O2和羟基自由基(.OH)的变化,表明RhB降解过程涉及.OH历程.采用红外光谱分析和TOC测定RhB降解过程中深度氧化变化,表明电Fenton反应条件下,RhB反应过程中其分子结构被破坏,生成羧酸或者胺类小分子化合物,同时180 min矿化率达59.2%,对2,4-DCP而言,240 min降解率为98.6%,14h矿化率为86.8%.     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia

As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland where cashmere‐producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis. In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3‐fold increase in local profits for herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica).That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4‐fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)in trans‐Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China's Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard(Panthera uncia), khulan(Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic‐level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere. Globalización del Mercado de Cachemira y la Declinación de Mamíferos Mayores en Asia Central     

The lichen-rich coastal heath vegetation on the isle of Anholt, Denmark — conservation and management

The high conservational value of the lichen-rich vegetation and landscape of the marine foreland Ørkenen on the isle of Anholt is treated from a Danish as well as a European perspective. The sensitivity of the lichen-rich vegetation to physical disturbance is emphasized. The impact of invasive species such asPinus mugo as well as the effect of atmospheric deposition of nutrients on the heaths at Anholt is described. Considerations related to the development of a management plan for Ørkenen are presented.     

Behavior and ecology of Old World Luperini beetles of the genusAulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary The attraction of Old World leaf beetles in the genusAulacophora to kairomones and parakairomones which are effective lures for New WorldDiabrotica andAcalymma were investigated. Beetles captured on sticky traps baited with single and multicomponent lures were no different from the control traps for two species ofAulacophora. Yellow colored traps and squash blossoms are attractive toAulacophora beetles which detect sub-microgram quantities of cucurbitacins on silica gel. Leaf feeding behavior and flight activity data are correlated with varietal preference of threeAulacophora species. The common response byDiabrotica andAulacophora to cucurbitacins reinforces the two groups' coevolutionary association with the Cucurbitaceae. The apparent lack of a common response toCucurbita blossom volatiles suggests recent evolutionary pathways are substantially different for these two groups of beetles.     

Importance of greater interdisciplinarity and geographic scope when tackling the driving forces behind biological invasions

Invasive non-native species are important drivers of ecosystem change, yet the driving forces of biological invasions themselves are poorly understood. Such information is essential to ensure policies focus on the most relevant drivers, and that future scenarios capture the full range of potential outcomes for invasive non-native species. I carried out a bibliometric analysis of articles published from 2000 to 2020 that address either invasive non-native species or biodiversity and ecosystem services and that also mention 1 or more drivers of ecosystem change. I examined 5 indirect drivers (demographic, economic, governance, sociocultural, and technological) and 6 direct drivers (climate change, invasive non-native species, land-use or sea-use change, natural hazards, pollution, and resource extraction). Using the Web of Science core collection of citation indexes, I undertook searches of article titles and keywords and retrieved 27,462 articles addressing invasive non-native species and 110,087 articles dealing with biodiversity or ecosystem services. Most research to date on biological invasions as well as on biodiversity and ecosystem services has focused on anthropogenic direct drivers of ecosystem change rather than indirect drivers. Yet currently, less than 18% of articles addressing biological invasions examined drivers of ecosystem change, a similar level to that found over 20 years ago for biodiversity or ecosystem services. Knowledge of the drivers of biological invasions is limited, emphasizes tractable drivers over those that require an interdisciplinary approach, and is biased toward developed economies. Drivers generally deemed important for biological invasions, such as governance and resource extraction, accounted for less than 2% of research effort. The absence of a systematic understanding of the forces that drive invasive non-native species and how they interact means that attempts to mitigate or forecast biological invasions are likely to fail. To address biological invasions requires a much better orientation of national and international research on drivers in relation to both their actual importance as well as their policy relevance.