Bioremediation of Chromate by Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria, Cytochromes c3 and hydrogenases

The treatment of soils and ground waters polluted by heavy metals is of economical and environmental interest. Reduction of Cr(VI) to the less toxic Cr(III) associated to its precipitation is a potentially useful process for bioremediation. In order to develop ecological processes using micro-organisms, we have compared various sulfate-reducing bacteria for enzymatic reduction of chromate. The best Cr(VI) reductase activity was obtained with Desulfomicrobium norvegicum. Despite morphological changes induced by the presence of chromate, this strain can grow in the presence of up to 500 M Cr(VI) and can decontaminate waters polluted by Cr(VI) when seeded in bioreactors. We have demonstrated the ability of several metalloenzymes (cytochromes c ₃ and hydrogenases) to reduce chromate. Biophysical investigations of the chromate/protein interaction in order to get further informations on the mechanism of metal reduction by cytochromes c ₃ are under the way.     

Emergency seed aid in Kenya: some case study insights on lessons learned during the 1990s

This article reviews the effectiveness of seed-aid distributions in Kenya during the 1990s. It analyses the internal process and effects, i.e. the performance of the aid itself as well as the external process and effects, i.e. how seed-aid intervention affected farmers' broader agricultural management strategies. During the drought emergency of 1997, Kenyan farmers favourably judged many of the immediate seed-aid features such as crop and variety appropriateness and seed quality--even through the overarching goals of the seed assistance were muddled, ranging from assistance to the poor, to generalised gift-giving to stimulating progressive farming practice. However, the longer term analyses, drawn from recollections of a decade of relief activity, showed no concrete evidence that seed aid, per se, had strengthened their farming systems, nor that those who have received it once were less likely to receive it again. Thus, while seed aid has been promoted to lessen the effects of an 'acute' stress, drought, Kenyan farmers, in practice, have been experiencing much wider, 'chronic' seed system problems. This article ends by exploring this distinction between acute and chronic seed system stress and suggests a range of interventions appropriate to each.     

General prevention and risk minimization in LCA A combined approach

Methods for life cycle assessment of products (LCA) are most often based on the general prevention principle, as opposed to the risk minimization principle. Here, the desirability and feasibility of a combined approach are discussed, along with the conditions for elaboration in the framework of LCA methodology, and the consequences for LCA practice. A combined approach provides a separate assessment of above and below threshold pollution, offering the possibility to combat above threshold impacts with priority. Spatial differentiation in fate, exposure, and effect modelling is identified to play a central role in the implementation. The collection of region-specific data turns out to be the most elaborate requirement for the implementation in both methodology and practice. A methodological framework for the construction of characterization factors is provided. Along with spatial differentiation of existing parameters, two newly introduced spatial parameters play a key role: the sensitivity factor and the threshold factor. The practicability of the proposed procedure is illustrated by an example of its application. Providing a reasonable data availability, the development of separate LCA characterization factors for the respective assessment of pollution levels above and below environmental threshold values seems to be a feasible task that may add to LCA credibility.     

核磁共振方法在湖北某地找水的效果

应用核磁共振技术找水是核磁共振技术应用的新领域,核磁共振找水是一种直接探测地下水的地球物理方法。本文介绍了在贫水地区一个指定范围内探测地下水例子。比较所做的三个僚共振测点的工作结果,确定出含中水情况较好部位,配合做了率对四极测探,其工作结果指示出一低阻区域,是地下水富集带。在设计的钻井位置钻探探打出了优质 下水,验证了核磁共振找水方法的推断结果。在对该磁共振找水方法研究和实践的基础上,指出：核磁共     

超临界水氧化中设备腐蚀的研究现状

超临界水氧化（SCWO）技术是近年发展起来的处理有机难溶废物的安全高效的新技术。在阐述超临界水的物理、化学性质的基础上，介绍了SCWO反应的工作原理和流程，分析总结了世界范围内开展的SCWO环境中设备腐蚀及监测技术等方面的研究动态，提出了我国SCWO技术研究的未来发展方向。     

企业资源管理拓展问题评述

企业资源管理问题是关系到提升企业核心价值和保持企业持续竞争优势的重要问题，企业资源管理的拓展是企业管理理论和实践的共同需要。在文献综述的基础上，从企业广义资源环境划分、企业资源管理范畴拓展、企业资源形式和属性等几个不同角度，对企业资源管理拓展问题进行了讨论和分析。     

国家级名镇(村)的旅游价值与开发模式探析

阐述了历史文化名镇（村）的概念和意义，并对80个国家级名镇（村）进行了划分，在此基础上分析了历史文化名镇（村）的开发现状与存在的问题。指出在80个历史文化名镇（村）中，有的已经创建了等级旅游区点，或被评为优秀旅游城市等，已将资源优势转化为产品优势；有的目前则少有开发成效。基于区域经济学的增长极、点轴、网络开发理论和可持续发展理念，提出了历史文化名镇（村）可持续开发的模式与建议。     

Status of recycling end-of-life vehicles and efforts to reduce automobile shredder residues in Korea

The present end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycle rate and management status during the dismantling stage were investigated to aid the establishment of policies for the management of ELVs by surveying information and using the results gained from questionnaires given to dismantlers. The average recycle rate at the dismantling stage was 44% of the mass of a new vehicle and the rest of the ELV was then compressed and transported to shredding companies to recover mainly the iron content, which averaged 38.7% of the mass of a new vehicle. Nonferrous metals such as copper, antimony, zinc, and aluminum accounted for only 1.5%. The automobile shredder residues (ASRs) were composed of light and heavy fluffs and soil/dust and amounted to 15.8% based on the mass of a new vehicle. The dumping of fluff and inorganic residues in landfill sites, however, will be restricted when new regulations are implemented to reduce the disposal amount to less than 5% of a new car, as has been done in European countries and in Japan. The detailed characteristics of ASR were investigated to suggest appropriate means of treatment such as volume reduction or the utilization of thermal technologies to meet future expected enforcement. Also, some concerns on hazardous pollutant release such as that of dioxins while utilizing such thermal treatment methods were considered. The present on-going research and development projects to meet such future management targets are also introduced.     

Compostability of Poly(lactide): Degradation in an Inert Solid Medium

Commercial poly(lactide) degradation was studied in an inert solid medium simulating compost conditions, with the aim to achieve a complete carbon balance of the polymer degradation. The mineralisation rate at the end of the test was compared to those obtained for poly(lactide) degradation in compost. It was shown that the mineralisation rate after 45 days of degradation was quite lower in inert solid medium than in compost but the standard deviation of data was enhanced. A protocol for both extraction and quantification of the carbon included in the different degradation by-products was proposed and the carbon balance of the polymer degradation was followed during the test with a satisfactory accuracy. The non-degraded PLA material was recovered during the test, hence the evolution of the glass transition temperature and the molecular weight was followed. A two-step degradation mechanism was highlighted in inert solid medium, showing the fundamental role of abiotic reactions for PLA degradation in compost.     

模糊聚类法在大气环境质量评价中的应用

通过对2004年甘肃省5个有代表性城市的大气质量监测数据进行分析,较为详细地介绍了将模糊聚类法应用于大气环境质量综合评价的过程,从而展示了模糊聚类在环境评价和管理中的积极作用和重要意义.