Presentation and background

~~Presentation and background     

Water — and nutrient and energy — systems in urbanizing watersheds

Driven by considerations of sustainability, it has become increasingly difficult over the past 15?C20 years ?? at least intellectually ?? to separate out the water infrastructure and water metabolism of cities from their intimately inter-related nutrient and energy metabolisms. Much of the focus of this difficulty settles on the wastewater component of the city??s water infrastructure and its associated fluxes of nutrients (N, P, C, and so on). Indeed, notwithstanding the massive volumes of these materials flowing into and out of the city, the notion of an urban nutrient infrastructure is conspicuous by its absence. Likewise, we do not tend to discuss, or conduct research into, ??soilshed?? agencies, or soilshed management, or Integrated Nutrient Resources Management (as opposed to its most familiar companion, Integrated Water Resources Management, or IWRM). The paper summarizes some of the benefits (and challenges) deriving from adopting this broader, multi-sectoral ??systems?? perspective on addressing water-nutrient-energy systems in city-watershed settings. Such a perspective resonates with the growing interest in broader policy circles in what is called the ??water-food-energy security nexus??. The benefits and challenges of our Multi-sectoral Systems Analysis (MSA) are illustrated through computational results from two primary case studies: Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and London, UK. Since our work is part of the International Network on Cities as Forces for Good in the Environment (CFG; see www.cfgnet.org), in which other case studies are currently being initiated ?? for example, on Kathmandu, Nepal ?? we close by reflecting upon these issues of water-nutrient-energy systems in three urban settings with quite different styles and speeds of development.     

Cleanup by solid‐phase extraction and HPLC of organochlorine insecticides and PCBS in various nonfatty and fatty samples

An accurate, simple and cheap extraction and cleanup procedure for capillary GC analysis of organo‐chlorine insecticides (OCs) in vegetables (cabbage and carrots) at the ng/g level, and for soil at the μg/g level is presented. The cleanup is carried out on solid‐phase extraction (SPE) cartridges, filled with 500 mg silica, 1 g of deactivated Florisil (10% w/w water), and 100 mg of anhydrous sodium sulphate. Recoveries >90% are obtained. The cleanup of OCs in fatty samples on an HPLC LiChrosorb Si 100 column is evaluated for subsequent capillary GC analysis. Fractionation of OCs and Aroclor 1254 and 1260 on an HPLC Nucleosil 100 column appears to be satisfactory.     

DID YOU KNOW...？ Facts and figures on water and sanitation

<正>Water-related diseases,including diarrhea,are a leading cause of death in children of developing countries.However,they can be prevented and controlled by improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation,     

Are naked and common mole-rats eusocial and if so, why?

Eusociality in mammals is defined in the present paper by the following criteria: reproductive altruism (which involves reproductive division of labor and cooperative alloparental brood care), overlap of adult generations, and permanent (lifelong) philopatry. We argue that additional criteria such as the existence of castes, colony size, reproductive skew, and social cohesion are not pertinent to the definition of eusociality in mammals. According to our definition of mammalian eusociality, several rodent species of the African family Bathyergidae can be considered eusocial, including the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), Damaraland mole-rat (Cryptomys damarensis), and several additional, if not all, species in the genus Cryptomys. Furthermore, some species of social voles (like Microtus ochrogaster) may also fulfill criteria of mammalian eusociality. Understanding the evolution of eusociality in mole-rats requires answers to two primary questions: (1) What are the preconditions for the development of their eusocial systems? (2) Why do offspring remain in the natal group rather than dispersing and reproducing? Eusociality in mammals is by definition a special case of monogamy (more specifically: monogyny one female breeding), involving prolonged pair bonding for more than one breeding period. We argue that eusociality in mole-rats evolved from a monogamous mating system where cooperative brood care was already established. A tendency for group living is considered to be an ancestral (plesiomorph) trait among African bathyergid mole-rats, linking them to other hystricognath rodents. A solitary lifestyle seen in some genera, such as Bathyergus, Georychus, and Heliophobius, is assumed to be a derived trait that arose independently in different lineages of bathyergids, possibly as a consequence of selective constraints associated with the subterranean environment. In proximate terms, in eusocial mole-rats either puberty is assumed to be developmentally delayed so that under natural conditions most animals die before dispersal is triggered (e.g., in the case of Heterocephalus) or dispersal is induced only by an incidental encounter with an unfamiliar, yet adequate sexual partner (e.g., in the case of Cryptomys). Ultimately, a combination of strategies involving either dispersal and/or philopatry can be beneficial, especially in a highly unpredictable environment. If genetic relatedness among siblings is high (e.g., a coefficient of relatedness of 0.5 or more), then philopatry would not invoke an appreciable loss of fitness, especially if the cost of dispersing is higher than staying within the natal group. High genetic relatedness is more likely in a monogamous mating system or a highly inbred population. In this paper, we argue that the preconditions for eusociality in bathyergid mole-rats were a monogamous mating system and high genetic relatedness among individuals. We argue against the aridity food-distribution hypothesis (AFDH) that suggests a causal relationship between cooperative foraging for patchily distributed resources and the origin of eusociality. The AFDH may explain group size dynamics of social mole-rats as a function of the distribution and availability of resources but it is inadequate to explain the formation of eusocial societies of mole-rats, especially with respect to providing preconditions conducive for the emergence of eusociality.     

Comments on the Carcinogenicity and Mutagenicity of metals and their compounds†

The carcinogenicity of metals has received extensive study, both epidemiologically and in the laboratory. These have included case reports of occasional human occurrence or clusters of cancer cases as well as extensive epidemiologic studies; in addition, there has been significant laboratory research on the whole animals and in vitro systems. This body of information will be examined selectively.

I will not in this paper attempt a comprehensive review of the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of metals and their compounds. Rather, I will attempt to set forth some historical perspectives, and to comment on some current gaps and needs.

Other papers in this workshop have presented thorough and very current reviews of most of the topics briefly noted in this presentation and do not require repetition here.

The cancer issue has been studied and reported on far more extensively than that relating to heritable mutations. There has been in recent years increasing interest in the use of short term tests for mutagenicity and cell transformation. These, however, are primarily with respect to their relationship to cancer production rather than to germ cell injury. Interest in cancer from metal compounds goes back a long time; in fact, one of the earliest reports was on the carcinogenicity of arsenic not many decades after the pioneering report of Sir Perceval Pott on cancer in chimney sweeps. Since then cancer has been definitely associated in humans with chromium compounds, nickel, and with less assurance but probably definitely with beryllium and cadmium. The confirmation of these findings in laboratory animals has been uneven. In the case of arsenic, for example, there has been only limited success in the production of cancer in laboratory animals with arsenic.

Many other metals have been found in laboratory studies to produce cancer, although with most of these, evidence of production of cancer in humans is either absent or extremely uncertain.

The extensive body of recent information relating to the testing of metals with a variety of short term tests will be briefly reviewed.     

Aerogels and metal–organic frameworks for environmental remediation and energy production

Environmental pollution and climate change are requiring new methods to clean pollutants and produce sustainable energy. Aerogels and metal organic frameworks are emerging as advanced porous materials with higher functionality, high surface area, high porosity and flexible chemistry. Aerogels are dried gels prepared using the sol–gel procedure, whereas metal organic frameworks are networks of organic ligands and metal ions connected by coordination bonds. Applications of aerogels include the removal of heavy metals, CO₂ capture and reduction, photodegradation of pollutants, air cleanup and water splitting. This article reviews the synthesis and types of aerogels and metal organic frameworks, and the application to pollutant removal, energy production including hydrogen, methane reforming, CO₂ conversion and NOx removal.     

“Pheromones and Animal Behaviour” - Communication by Smell and Taste”

Summary.  ((no summary.))A corrected version of the appendix is available for free download from     

Reciprocal altruism and food sharing decisions among Hiwi and Ache hunter–gatherers

The common occurrence of food transfers within human hunter–gatherer and forager–horticulturalist groups presents exciting test cases for evolutionary models of altruism. While kin biases in sharing are consistent with nepotism based on kin selection, there is much debate over the extent to which reciprocal altruism and tolerated scrounging provide useful explanations of observed behavior. This paper presents a model of optimal sharing breadth and depth, based on a general non-tit-for-tat form of risk-reduction based reciprocal altruism, and tests a series of predictions using data from Hiwi and Ache foragers. I show that large, high variance food items are shared more widely than small, easily acquired food items. Giving is conditional upon receiving in pairwise interactions and this correlation is usually stronger when the exchange of value rather than quantities is considered. Larger families and low producing families receive more and give less, consistent with the notion that marginal value may be a more salient currency than quantity.

Occupational exposures,delivered doses and exposure limits for chromium and nickel†

The interaction of HCH (50 mg/kg) and dietary protein levels on microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes system and liver lipids were studied in the rats for 90 days. The results indicated that rats fed a lower protein diet and HCH has a higher rate of mortality, lower rate of growth and an increased liver weight. A significant induction in the hepatic microsomal aminopyrine‐N‐demethylase, p‐nitroanisole‐O‐dealkylase, benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase and glutathione‐S‐transferase activity was observed in pesticide treated animals as compared to control animals. The pathological changes observed in liver of HCH treated animals consisted mainly of necrosis and fatty degeneration of hepatocytes. HCH also induced the significant accumulation of cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipid and total lipid in liver in low protein diet animals. Protein accelerates the metabolism of HCH, resulting in a decrease of HCH concentration with the increase of dietary protein level. A close correlation existed between lipid accumulation, induction of drug metabolizing enzyme system and deposition of HCH in liver.     

Constitutive and herbivore‐induced volatiles in pear,alder and hawthorn trees

Summary. Qualitative and quantitative differences among pear cultivars were found in constitutive and Cacopsylla-induced volatiles, depending on experimental treatment of the trees (i.e., uninfested and partly or completely infested by psyllids). Blend differences were also found between pear cultivars and wild-type pear, alder and hawthorn–the latter trees are frequently present in pear orchard hedgerows. ?Interesting differences were found in the presence of methyl salicylate and (E,E)-α-farnesene, two compounds previously found to mediate attraction of predatory bugs towards psyllid-infested pear trees. Methyl salicylate is expressed constitutively and is induced systemically by infestation in the whole plant of all four cultivars. (E,E)-α-farnesene on the other hand showed also systemic induction in Bartlett, NY10355 and Beurré Hardy, but in partially infested Conference trees it was induced locally, only in herbivore-damaged leaves. No methyl salicylate or (E,E)-α-farnesene were identified in honeydew. In field collected headspace samples of alder leaves infested by aphids and leaf beetles we found methyl salicylate but no (E,E)-α-farnesene, whereas in uninfested hawthorn neither were identified. Insight in the variability of damage-related pear volatiles will have important implications for integrated pest management in the field. Received 27 August 2002; accepted 28 November 2002 R1D=" Correspondence to: Petru Scutareanu, e-mail:scuterea@science.uva.nl     

Interactions between NH+4 and NO−3 uptake and assimilation: comparison of diatoms and dinoflagellates at several growth temperatures

Ammonium concentrations of ∼1 M are commonly cited as being the threshold for inhibition of NO₃ ⁻ uptake, but the applicability of this threshold to phytoplankton from different taxonomic classes has rarely been examined. Additionally, little is known about the influence of environmental variables (e.g. growth temperature) on the interaction between ambient NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ⁻ uptake. Four species of estuarine phytoplankton, two diatom [Chaetoceros sp., and Thalassiosira weissflogii (Grunow) Fryxell et Hasle] and two dinoflagellate [Prorocentrum minimum (Pavillard) Schiller, and Gyrodinium uncatenum Hulburt], were grown on NO₃ ⁻ at several different temperatures (4, 10, 15, or 20 °C), and the impact of NH₄ ⁺ additions on NO₃ ⁻ uptake/assimilation (non-TCA-extracted) and assimilation (TCA-extracted) was assessed. For all species at all temperatures, NO₃ ⁻ uptake/assimilation and assimilation rates decreased in a roughly exponential manner with increasing NH₄ ⁺ concentrations but were not completely inhibited even at elevated NH₄ ⁺ concentrations of 200 μM. Estimated half-inhibition concentrations (K _i) were significantly greater in the diatom species (mean ± SE; 2.70 ± 0.67 μM) than in the dinoflagellate species (1.26 ± 0.55 μM). Half-inhibition constants were positively related to temperature-limited relative growth rate although not significantly. The observed inhibition of NO₃ ⁻ uptake and assimilation, as a percentage of NO₃ ⁻ uptake in the absence of NH₄ ⁺, averaged about 80% and ranged from 49 to 100%. For all species, a significant (P < 0.001) positive correlation was found between percent inhibition of NO₃ ⁻ assimilation and temperature-limited relative growth rate. Two experiments on Chesapeake Bay phytoplankton during an April 1998 diatom bloom showed that in short-term (∼1 h) temperature manipulation experiments, percent inhibition of NO₃ ⁻ uptake/assimilation was also positively related (P = 0.05) to experimental temperature. The observed relationships between temperature-limited relative growth rate and percent inhibition of NO₃ ⁻ assimilation rates for the species tested suggest that at the enzyme level, the inhibitory mechanism of NO₃ ⁻ assimilation is similar among species, but at the whole cell level may be regulated by species-specific differences in the accumulation of internal metabolites. These findings add not only to our understanding of species-specific variability and the role of growth temperature, but also provide additional data with which to evaluate current models of NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ⁻ interactions. Received: 31 August 1998 / Accepted: 7 December 1998     

Improvement of sampling and analytical methods for polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans in environmental samples and its quantitative evaluation

Sampling of PCDDs/Fs in flue gas from a MSW incinerator was conducted using a modified apparatus of the 5 train method, which has been widely used for the sampling of PCDDs/Fs emission. In the atmosphere a high volume air sampler with special packings was used. Collection efficiencies of PCDDs/Fs were more than 98% for both samplers, using ¹³C₁₂—PCDD reference standard isomers. It was suggested that these sampling methods were adaptable for the measurements of PCDDs/Fs at sources and in the environment. To validate the applicability of existing methodologies on the PCDD/F determination, interlaboratory comparisons were undertaken. From high resolution GC/MS analysis, 2,3,7,8‐TCDD concentrations in reference ash samples were 0.052±0.013 ng/g as comparable results between the laboratories. In addition, the daily intakes of PCDDs/Fs for exposed persons in the MSW incineration facilities in Japan were estimated ranging of 0.053 to 0.28 pg/kg/day by the international toxic equivalent calculations.     

Quantity and activity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria and their contribution to ammonia oxidation in farmland soil of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau北大核心CSCD

Ammonia oxidation, the first and rate-limiting step of nitrification, is mainly performed by ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). However, the activities of AOA and AOB in soil and their relative contribution to ammonia oxidation are unclear, and whether there is a significant correlation between the quantity of AOA and AOB and the ammonia oxidation rate is also controversial. In this study, quantitative PCR combined with acetylene (C2H2) and 1-octyne inhibition methods were used to determine the quantity and activity of AOA and AOB in wheat, highland barley, and oilseed rape soils in Nyingchi, Lhatse, Sangzhuzi, and Sangri counties on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results showed that the quantity of AOB ((2.34 ± 0.84) ×105 - (2.65 ± 1.07) ×106 copies g-1 dry soil) was significantly higher than that of AOA ((0.20 ± 0.10) ×104 - (4.02 ± 0.39) ×104 copies g-1 dry soil) in all the soil samples. Soil pH was the key factor affecting the quantity of AOB, and the total phosphorus and ammonium nitrogen in soil were the key factors affecting the quantity of AOA. The rates of ammonia oxidation in the farmland soils of Lhatse (2.42 ± 0.73 mg kg-1 d-1) and Sangzhuzi (3.24 ± 1.15 mg kg-1 d-1) were significantly higher than those in the soils of Nyingchi (1.17 ± 0.43 mg kg-1 d-1) and Sangri counties (0.88 ± 0.57 mg kg-1 d-1). The rates of ammonia oxidation in the farmland soils of Lhatse and Sangzhuzi were dominated by AOB, while those in the farmland soils of Nyingchi and Sangri counties were dominated by AOA. For crops, the ammonia oxidation rates of wheat and oilseed rape soils in all four regions were significantly higher than those of highland barley soil, whereas the activity of AOA and AOB was not influenced by crops. The ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus was the key factor influencing AOA activity, whereas soil pH and total carbon were the main factors influencing AOB activity. Additionally, the quantities of AOA and AOB were not significantly correlated with the total ammonia oxidation rates and AOA and AOB activity. Overall, our study suggests that both AOA and AOB play important roles in ammonia oxidation in farmland soils of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Moreover, it is unreliable to predict the activity of AOA and AOB and their relative contribution to ammonia oxidation directly based on their number of amoA genes, and the activity of AOA and AOB should be directly and accurately measured. These results are important for understanding ammonia nitrogen removal processes, slowing nitrate loss, and reducing the emission of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide in the farmland ecosystem of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Metsulfuron‐methyl soil persistence and mobility in winter wheat and following green manure crops

A procedure has been developed for the analysis of metsulfuron‐methyl in the soil of field crops. The soil extracts are cleaned by repeated TLC, and metsulfuron‐methyl is simultaneously separated from its soil metabolites. Metsulfuron‐methyl is transformed by diazomethane into its N,N ‘‐dimethyl derivative which in the GC (electron capture detection) and GC‐MS apparatus is transformed into a benzisothiazole compound which is measured with great sensitivity. The sensitivity limit is 0.3 μg metsulfuron‐methyl kg^‐1 dry soil. The results of the chemical analyses are confirmed by bioassays using sugar beet as test plant. Metsulfuron‐methyl was measured in the soil of two winter wheat crops after post‐emergence application in the spring of 6 g metsulfuron‐methyl ha^‐1. In the 0–8 cm surface soil layer, the metsulfuron‐methyl soil half‐life was 78 days in 1997, and 67 days in 1998. During crop, metsulfuron‐methyl remained in the 0–8 cm surface soil layer. There, it was at a maximum concentration and herbicide efficiency in a 2 cm‐thick soil layer. This maximum concentration soil layer progressively moved down during crop, attaining the 4–6 cm surface soil layer at crop end. After the winter wheat harvest at the end of July, and the rotary‐tilling of the 0–10 cm surface soil layer before sowing of the green manures, 27% of the metsulfuron‐methyl initial dose still remained in the 0–10 cm surface soil layer. This residue progressively disappeared, and was no more detected at the middle of November. It had no, or only very low inhibiting effect on the growth of the green manures. Thus there is no concern about the possible phytotoxicity of persistent metsulfuron‐methyl soil residues towards the following crops, when metsulfuron‐methyl is applied at the rate of 6 g a.i.ha^‐1.     

Parent–offspring and sibling conflict in Galápagos fur seals and sea lions

Parent–offspring conflict theory is well supported by theoretical arguments. However, empirical observations are often difficult to interpret and have contradicted one of its most appealing predictions that parent and offspring should disagree over killing of nest or littermates. We present the first examples of deadly conflict between siblings of different cohorts. In Galápagos fur seals (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) and sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki), mothers often wean their single offspring at 2 years. This leads to a situation where up to 23% of all pups are born while the older sibling is still being nursed. Younger siblings are disadvantaged by being born lighter than neonates without older still dependent siblings. Pups born while an older sib is still dependent grow less in early life (fur seal) and suffer increased early mortality (both species) through direct aggression or scramble competition with the older sibling. This effect is much stronger in years of high sea surface temperature (El Niño) indicating low marine productivity and if the older offspring is a male. In both species, mothers interfere aggressively in this conflict by defending the younger offspring. In years of El Niño, intense resistance to maternal aggression by the older offspring happens frequently in the fur seal. Such resistance against weaning can induce maternal neglect of the newborn. Given substantial year to year variation in offspring growth, maternal aggression forces weaning in the older sibling only if it has reached sufficient size to support itself by foraging. In Galápagos fur seals, pups with older siblings can either represent insurance against loss of older offspring or extra reproductive value.     

Dimethylsulphide and ocean–atmosphere interactions

Dimethylsulphide (DMS) is a trace sulphur gas found in most atmospheric and surface water samples, which is derived from dimethylsulphonioproprionate (DMSP). Although it has been extensively studied over the last 50 years, its natural production, consumption and cycling are still not completely understood. Until recently, DMS was believed to originate mainly from marine waters, but later studies have shown that estuaries and lakes are also an important source of DMS. DMS also originates from terrestrial plants such as maize, wheat and lichen, but it is not fully understood why. DMS is believed to have an important impact on the global environment by influencing factors such as the acidity of the atmosphere, cloud condensation nuclei (CNN) and solar insolation. The impact that humans have on the cycling of DMS and on its environmental impact is not well understood either. DMS is affected by temporal and geographical factors, as well as physical factors such as salinity and wind speed, yet when studied under El Niño conditions which modify these physical factors in vivo, there was found to be no fluctuation in the concentration of DMS in the water column. This review outlines our current state of knowledge on DMS.     

Carbon dioxide and methane emission from subsurface peatlands and its controlling factors北大核心CSCD

Peatland is an efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) sink on the continent and plays an important role in global carbon cycle. Climate change and human activities, two of the notable global environmental issues, have accelerated the degradation of peatlands during recent years. Global warming will increase the rate of aerobic decomposition in the surface of peatlands. Carbon stored in the subsurface of peatlands will be metabolized if the climatic conditions become favorable for decomposition. This study reviewed the carbon circle of subsurface peatland in natural environment and in environments disturbed by human activity or climate change. Furthermore, the major factors (environmental and human factors) that affect the carbon cycle were also discussed. According to a previous study, subsurface peatland will rapidly participate in the carbon cycle when the peatland is degraded. Water level, vegetation, and temperature were the main natural factors affecting the carbon cycle, whereas drainage, farming, and grazing were the main anthropogenic factors. Further studies should focus on different soil layer carbon dynamics, inorganic carbon content, and conservation and restoration of peatlands. The study methods should be a combination of macro with micro scale and focus on developing deep peat research techniques. Most of the previous studies focused on greenhouse gas emission and their response factors in short-term experiments. Thus, the mechanism and process of subsurface carbon are not clear and needs further study. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.