Arthropods associated with fungal galls: do large galls support more abundant and diverse inhabitants?

Fungus-induced galls can attract spore-feeding arthropods as well as gall-feeding ones, resulting in diverse communities. Do large fungal galls support more abundant and diverse arthropod communities than small fungal galls? To address this question, we investigated the structure of the arthropod community associated with bud galls induced by the fungus Melanopsichium onumae on the tree species Cinnamomum yabunikkei (Lauraceae) in central Japan. Thirteen species of arthropods were associated with M. onumae galls. Dominant arthropod species were represented by the larvae of a salpingid beetle (a spore feeder), a nitidulid beetle (a spore feeder), a cosmopterigid moth (a spore feeder), an unidentified moth (a gall tissue feeder), and a drosophilid species (a gall tissue feeder). Arthropod abundance and species richness were positively correlated with gall diameter. The majority of the most abundant species were more frequently found in large galls than in small ones, indicating that large fungal galls, which have more food and/or space for arthropods, could support a more abundant and diverse arthropod community.     

Deer predation on leaf miners via leaf abscission

The evergreen oak Quercus gilva Blume sheds leaves containing mines of the leaf miner Stigmella sp. (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae) earlier than leaves with no mines in early spring in Nara, central Japan. The eclosion rates of the leaf miner in abscised and retained leaves were compared in the laboratory to clarify the effects of leaf abscission on leaf miner survival in the absence of deer. The leaf miner eclosed successfully from both fallen leaves and leaves retained on trees. However, sika deer (Cervus nippon centralis Kishida) feed on the fallen mined leaves. Field observations showed that deer consume many fallen leaves under Q. gilva trees, suggesting considerable mortality of leaf miners due to deer predation via leaf abscission. This is a previously unreported relationship between a leaf miner and a mammalian herbivore via leaf abscission.     

Fitness of occupational exposure data to inverse Gaussian distribution

Short-term exposure datasets of 10 workers exposed to organic solvents and daily average exposure datasets of seven workers exposed to cobalt and organic solvents were analyzed in order to clarify whether these exposure data fit an inverse Gaussian distribution. The goodness-of-fit test showed that time-weighted average (TWA) values with averaging times of 30 min, 60 min and 8 hours can be described by an inverse Gaussian distribution, but not those with averaging times of 7.5 min and 15 min.     

Treatment of bleaching wastewater from pulp paper plants in China using enzymes and coagulants

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Identification of odorous compounds in air and gas from painting and printing industries by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and library search system

A computer-assisted library search system is described consisting of a data base, pre-search and main search. Odorous air and effluent gas from painting and printing industries were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the library search system. Main components were 2-methylpropanol, three xylenes, toluene, ethyl acetate and butyl acetate.     

Dechlorination and destruction of PCDD,PCDF and PCB on selected fly ash from municipal waste incineration

The potential of fly ash to dechlorinate and destroy PCDD, PCDF and PCB was tested under oxygen deficient conditions in the laboratory. Specifically, two types of fly ash were compared, originating either from a fluidized bed incinerator using Ca(OH)₂ spray (FA1), or a stoker incinerator without Ca(OH)₂ impact (FA2).

Results from the present study indicate that on FA2 type fly ash, the degradation processes of OCDD, OCDF and D₁₀CB occurred primarily via dechlorination/hydrogenation up to temperature settings of 340 °C. In contrast, FA1 type fly ash was found to effect both dechlorination and destruction of these compounds already at temperature settings of 260 °C.

The dechlorination velocity of PCDD and PCDF did not differ significantly. However, the first dechlorination step of OCDF in the 1,9-position occurred faster compared to the first dechlorination step of OCDD.

The isomer pattern resulting from the dechlorination processes was quite similar on both FA1 and FA2, indicating that differences in alkalinity or elemental composition of the two types of fly ashes do not have a significant influence on the position of dechlorination. PCDD and PCDF dechlorination of the 2,3,7,8-positions was not favoured over dechlorination of the 1,4,6,9-positions on either type of fly ash. In contrast, dechlorination of PCB occurred predominantly on the toxicological relevant 3- and 4-positions.

The dechlorination/destruction processes were completed on both types of fly ash at 380 °C within one hour, which correlates well with results obtained from actual plant operation practices.     

Measurement of ethylene emission from Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) under field conditions in NOx-polluted areas

Emission of ethylene from the needles of Japanese red pine, Pinus densiflora, was measured in air-polluted areas in Hiroshima, Japan. We applied a suitable protocol to determine the rate of ethylene emission from the excised needles. The influence of excision of needles on ethylene emission was not detected during the first 4 h of incubation at 20 degrees C. Ethylene emissions were low in the unpolluted (clean) areas regardless of the altitude or season. The emission of stress ethylene increased with the atmospheric NO2 concentration, suggesting that atmospheric NOx or related substances induced the higher ethylene emission in the polluted areas (near urban and industrial areas). In all cases, 1-year-old needles emitted significantly larger amounts of ethylene than the current needles. Ethylene emission did not increase evenly in the polluted areas, but the frequency of trees emitting high ethylene increased. Therefore, threshold rates for the baseline ethylene emission were proposed.     

Shedding light on a neglected area: a new approach to knowledge creation

Awareness is needed of sustainability issues that are currently neglected but potentially important. A computer-based approach can highlight unconscious and neglected areas because it can structure vast amounts of knowledge. In this article, we propose a methodology to perceive unconscious areas of sustainability with the support of a computer-based approach, which creates a matrix, named the recognized-unrecognized matrix, which highlights both local and globally neglected problems. A case study is conducted to consider the potential contribution of the aviation industry to sustainability issues. We demonstrate that a citation network analysis is an effective methodology to chart the recognized-unrecognized matrix. We highlight issues of water use in the aviation industry by designing an innovative water and air circulation system, which significantly reduces water and fuel consumption on board airplane flights. We also suggest a new approach to integrating both explicit and tacit knowledge to enable knowledge creation.     

Ignitability of aluminous coating powders due to electrostatic spark

Electrostatic Powder coating which is a surface finishing technique has widely been used in paint industry since its invention in the 1960s. However, so far, insufficient attention has been paid to the powder fires and/or explosion hazards caused by electrostatic spark during coating process. This paper is a report of the electrostatic spark ignitability of aluminous coating powders (dry blend-type) used in practical electrostatic powder coating. The Hartman vertical-tube apparatus was used for the minimum ignition energy (MIE) test. Various aluminous coating powders, different with respect to the amount of aluminum pigment, were used in this study. Experimental results obtained in this study are as follows: (1) The aluminous coating powder was so sensitive that even an electrostatic spark with an energy as low as 10 mJ could ignite it. (2) The particle size of aluminous coating powder has a considerable effect on the ignitability when the aluminum pigment concentration is within 6 wt% of the practical coating powder manufacturing standards. Thus, the conventional expression for estimating the MIE can be useful when assessing the electrostatic hazards associated with aluminum coating powders.     

Multi-level perspectives with technology readiness measures for aviation innovation

Sustainability science requires the development of a theoretical framework to understand, analyze, and design innovation to solve social, economic, and environmental issues. This paper extends the framework of multi-level perspectives (MLP) by introducing a technology readiness level (TRL), and analyzes the innovation of the advanced turboprop (ATP) engine in the aviation industry, also known as a propfan or an open rotor engine, which is one of the most promising engine innovations expected to mitigate climate change. The concept of TRL was introduced to explain the mechanisms of ATP failure in the late 1980s as well as the transition of the geared turbofan (GTF). In this paper, we discuss why ATP and GTF faced different fates although both were developed under the same landscape in the aviation industry. We also discuss the different roles of the socio-technical regime, such as uneven and dynamic opportunity windows, technological readiness, niche stock, institutional support of export products, and the risk of a ‘launch’ customer, at different TRLs. As illustrated in this paper, MLP with TRL is expected to facilitate future interdisciplinary collaboration between social scientists and engineers, and also transdisciplinary expertise between academia and practitioners by supporting analysis and design of the industry’s transition toward a more environmentally friendly regime as well as its effective management.