Toxicity of cadmium to the green alga Parachlorella kessleri: Producing Cd-loaded algae for feeding experiments

The effects of Cd at environmental concentrations (0–32 µg/L) on the green alga Parachlorella kessleri were investigated. At about 3 µg Cd/L, toxic effects of Cd are becoming evident, much lower than reported previously. At 8 µg/L and higher, pronounced adverse effects on growth, cell morphology, size, and physiological state are seen. Therefore, levels lower than 2 µg Cd/L should be employed to produce Cd-carrying algae for feeding experiments with organisms on the next trophic level, e.g. mussels, to avoid reduced food uptake. These findings also suggest that aquatic ecosystem conditions can be indirectly influenced via the impairment of the nutritional value of algae since they are the basic organisms of aquatic food chains.     

Rice straw-base power generation: a potential and economic cost–benefit analysis for a small power plant (10 MWe) in Vietnam

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The main objective of the study is to explore the economic feasibility of power generation from rice straw, a potential biomass energy resource, in...     

Responses of community to the possible use of recycled water for washing machines: A case study in Sydney, Australia

Recycled water is a valuable resource that has potential to free up potable water supplies and recharge systems while improving the environment. Recycled water for washing machine could be one of the options as new end use of recycled water to alleviate the demand on existing and limited water supplies. This paper summarizes the findings of a research survey in Sydney, Australia to explore the attitudes and opinions of community towards the use of recycled water for different purposes, especially for the washing machine. The survey showed that 97% of the respondents were aware of the persisting water shortage problem while more than 60% of the respondents supported the use of recycled water for washing clothes. This paper exposes the basic concern of participants for using recycled water in washing machine. Health issue was found as the most concerns of the community. The survey also presents the further conditions to be considered for using recycled water for washing machine according to the participants’ opinions. Correlation between knowledge and attitudes of respondents was also found in this survey.     

Is Diversification a Suitable Option to Reduce Drought-Induced Risk of Forest Dieback? An Economic Approach Focused on Carbon Accounting

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - Extreme or recurrent drought events are the principal source of stress on forests, impairing their overall health. They result in financial losses for...     

粘土矿物比率对沙尘源区的指示

为了探讨中国北方沙尘源区矿物组成特征并建立沙尘气溶胶的矿物示踪指标,在亚太地区气溶胶特征实验(ACE-Asia)期间对新疆阿克苏、甘肃敦煌、陕西榆林和内蒙古通辽沙尘气溶胶的矿物组成进行了研究.结果显示,中国主要沙尘源区沙尘气溶胶中高岭石与绿泥石的比率存在明显差异,西部沙尘源区(以阿克苏站点为代表)高岭石与绿泥石的比值较小(平均值为0.3),而北部沙尘源区(以榆林站点为代表)高岭石与绿泥石的比值相对较高(平均值为0.7).沉降区长武尘暴样品的粘土矿物比率和气团轨迹分析证实,在区域范围,高岭石与绿泥石的比值为较好的沙尘源区矿物示踪指标.而亚洲沙尘与撒哈拉沙尘的对比显示,高岭石与绿泥石的比值在全球范围有着沙尘源区指示的意义.     

Correction to: Water‑induced erosion potentiality and vulnerability assessment in Kangsabati river basin,eastern India

Environment, Development and Sustainability -     

Nitrous oxide generation in denitrifying phosphorus removal process: main causes and control measures

Despite the many benefits of denitrifying phosphorus removal process, the significant generation of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas, remains a problem for this innovative and promising process. To better understand and more effectively control N₂O generation in denitrifying phosphorus removal process, batch experiments were carried out to investigate the main causes of N₂O generation, based on which the control measures were subsequently proposed. The results showed that N₂O generation accounted for 0.41 % of the total nitrogen removal in denitrifying phosphorus removal process, whereas, in contrast, almost no N₂O was generated in conventional denitrification process. It was further demonstrated that the weak competition of N₂O reductase for electrons and the high nitrite accumulation were the two main causes for N₂O generation, evidenced by N₂O production and reduction rates under different conditions. Accordingly, the reduction of N₂O generation was successfully achieved via two control measures: (1) the use of continuous nitrate addition reducing N₂O generation by around 91.4 % and (2) the use of propionate as the carbon source reducing N₂O generation by around 69.8 %.     

Identification of 1-methyloctyl butanoate as the major sex pheromone component from females of the saddle gall midge,Haplodiplosis marginata (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

The saddle gall midge, Haplodiplosis marginata (von Roser) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), has undergone a resurgence recently as a pest of cereals in Belgium and other European countries. An effective monitoring tool of saddle gall midge flights is needed to understand the enigmatic population dynamics of this pest, and to design an integrated management strategy. Therefore, volatile compounds emitted by females (alkan-2-ols and alk-2-yl butanoates) were identified, and the chirality of the emitted esters was determined to be the R absolute configuration. In field-trapping experiments, racemic non-2-yl butanoate attracted substantial numbers of H. marginata males. Thus, this compound will be useful in baited traps for monitoring seasonal flight patterns, and improving integrated management of the saddle gall midge in agricultural systems.