Spondyloarthropathy in vertebrae of the aquatic Cretaceous snake <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lunaophis aquaticus</Emphasis>, and its first recognition in modern snakes

Inflammatory arthritis is documented for the first time in snakes. Ossification of the intervertebral capsule and zygapophyseal joints resulting in segmental vertebral fusion was observed in the aquatic Cretaceous snake Lunaophis aquaticus. Such pathologic alterations are pathognomonic for the spondyloarthropathy form of inflammatory arthritis. A survey of 2144 snakes in recent collections, performed to identify Holocene prevalence, revealed only two occurrences in extant snakes. The findings in Bitis gabonica and Elaphe taeniura were indistinguishable from those noted in Lunaophis aquaticus and identical to those previously recognized in modern varanids. The pathology likely represents a form of reactive arthritis related to enteropathic infection. While the disease probably did not affect general locomotion, its vertebral column position may have compromised mating.     

Application of Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) Macroporous Microparticles as a Catalyst Support in the Enzymatic Synthesis of Biodiesel

Macroporous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) microparticles, with three different structural characteristics, have been synthesized and used as supports in the immobilization of lipase from Burkholderia cepacia. The best immobilization yield was found upon using microparticles with 35 % of divinylbenzene and the immobilized lipase on this type of particles was used as a catalyst to obtain biodiesel from soybean oil and ethanol. From the experimental results of the transesterification reaction, an empirical model quantitatively relating the temperature, the concentration of the enzyme and the transesterification yield was obtained. Statistical analysis of this model indicated that within the range of values of the variables studied (35–47 °C and 231–788 U/mg respectively) only the enzyme concentration exerted a significant influence on the reaction yield. Additionally, the good fit of a Michaelis–Menten-type model to the experimental results suggests that the limiting step of the reaction was the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex.     

Environmental practices and firm performance: an empirical analysis in the Spanish hotel industry

The impact of environmental practices on firm performance raises an ongoing debate in which the review of the existing literature yields no conclusive results. Different methods have been used to study this relationship and most of the analyses have focused on manufacturing companies. This paper examines the link between environmental practices and firm performance in the Spanish hotel industry using two methods: a cluster analysis and a regression analysis. First, three groups were defined according to their environmental proactivity, and hotels showing a stronger commitment to environmental practices proved to reach higher performance levels. Second, through the regression analysis, findings showed that environmental practices impact significantly on several performance variables.     

Liver alterations in Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces) induced by insecticide imidacloprid: Histopathology and heat shock protein in situ localization

Liver is very sensitive to environmental contaminants such as pesticides, it being the first target of toxicity of a substance. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effects of the insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) on the liver of Oreochromis niloticus according concentrations used for growing sugarcane. A semi-quantitative analysis of histopathological alterations of IMI on liver was performed by light microscopy and cellular labeling of heat shock proteins (HSP70) by immunohistochemistry. The most common changes in liver at all concentrations of IMI were hydropic degeneration, pyknotic nuclei, and loss of cell limits. Steatosis and increased levels of HSP70 were detected in hepatocytes with the highest concentration of IMI. In conclusion, the tested concentrations of IMI induced histopathological changes in the liver of O. niloticus and active defence mechanisms to maintain the morphophysiological integrity of the liver. This insecticide has a toxicity potential for these fish, which is a non-target organism of its action.     

火地岛森林管理：是对环境的又一个威胁 还是可持续发展的一个机会?

为这片世界最南端的森林提出的一个主要森林管理和家具木材生产方案的可能影响，已经引起广泛关注.对这些原始森林的未来所给予的注意，突出说明了环境保护/生物多样性保护与经济效益之间的冲突.火地岛的公共当局和居民处在一个能指定他们合意的生活方式与环境质量的地位，而且能参与旨在以适合于其社会、经济和生态的条件和期望的方式确保可持续性的决策.     

The drivers for contractors’ green innovation: an industry perspective

In the construction industry, contractors have been facing the challenge to meet the emerging needs related to the reduction of environmental impacts during the construction process. Generally, the commitment of efforts and resources from contractors to meet these needs is motivated by the influence exerted from environmental regulations and stakeholder demands. However, managerial environmental concerns and size of firms also account as key factors affecting the adoption of green construction practices. Therefore, the aim of this research is to identify those factors influencing contractors to adopt green construction practices by using data gathered from a survey. From the results, it has been found that managerial concern is the most important driver for the adoption of green practices. Significant relationships have also been found between government regulations and business size with the adoption of green construction practices. However, there is no significant evidence on the relationship among the adoption of green construction practices with perceived stakeholders’ pressures. The findings from this study are significant in the understanding on the factors of green construction management. This knowledge may contribute to better decision-making towards implementing green construction practices.