A comparative approach to assess drivers of success in mammalian conservation recovery programs

The outcomes of species recovery programs have been mixed; high‐profile population recoveries contrast with species‐level extinctions. Each conservation intervention has its own challenges, but to inform more effective management it is imperative to assess whether correlates of wider recovery program success or failure can be identified. To contribute to evidence‐based improvement of future conservation strategies, we conducted a global quantitative analysis of 48 mammalian recovery programs. We reviewed available scientific literature and conducted semistructured interviews with conservation professionals involved in different recovery programs to investigate ecological, management, and political factors associated with population recoveries or declines. Identifying and removing threats was significantly associated with increasing population trend and decreasing conservation dependence, emphasizing that populations are likely to continue to be compromised in the absence of effective threat mitigation and supporting the need for threat monitoring and adaptive management in response to new and potential threats. Lack of habitat and small population size were cited as limiting factors in 56% and 42% of recovery programs, respectively, and both were statistically associated with increased longer term dependence on conservation intervention, demonstrating the importance of increasing population numbers quickly and restoring and protecting habitat. Poor stakeholder coordination and management were also regularly cited by respondents as key weaknesses in recovery programs, indicating the importance of effective leadership and shared goals and management plans. Project outcomes were not influenced by biological or ecological variables such as body mass or habitat, which suggests that these insights into correlates of conservation success and failure are likely to be generalizable across mammals.     

Recycling of tailings from Korea Molybdenum Corporation as admixture for high-fluidity concrete

The main objective of this study is to develop an eco-friendly and a large recycling technique of flotation Tailings from korea (TK) from metal mines as construction materials such as admixtures for high-fluidity concrete (HFC). TK used in this study was obtained from the Korea Molybdenum Corporation in operation. TK was used as the alternative material to adjust flowability and viscosity of HFC in the form of powder agent which enables adjustment of concrete compressive strength. In this study, we have performed concrete rheological tests and concrete flowability tests to obtain the quality characteristics of TK for using as the admixture in producing HFC. The results indicated that the adequate mix ratio of cement to TK should be 8:2 (vol%). It is more effective to use the TK as admixture to control flowability, viscosity and strength of HFC than the normal concrete. It was found that TK could be recycled construction materials in bulk such as admixture for HFC, in terms of the economic and eco-friendly aspects.     

Degradation of different pesticides in water by microplasma: the roles of individual radicals and degradation pathways

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Pesticides are emergent toxins often identified in aquatic environments. In the present study, microplasma was employed to reduce the pesticide...     

Explicitness of consequence information in warnings

Four experiments were carried out to assess effects of product warning explicitness on purchase preferences and caution in use. Explicitness was defined as the specificity or detail with which potential injury consequences were described. All experiments employed a paradigm in which warnings varying in explicitness were described for familiar products. Subjects rated various perceptions of the products, purchase preferences, and intent to act cautiously in using the product. Results indicated that more explicit warnings were associated with greater levels of perceived dangerousness, hazard understanding, injury severity, and manufacturers' concern. While explicit warnings were also associated with an increased intent to act cautiously in using products, no clear relationship was found between explicitness and purchase preferences. It is recommended that product warnings should be explicit regarding injury consequences, especially where injuries may be severe. Given such information, product users, particularly those less familiar with a product, are more likely to exercise greater caution during use. Further, manufacturers' concern that explicit warnings may negatively impact sales appears to be unwarranted.     

Gametogenic periodicity in the chemosynthetic cold-seep mussel “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathymodiolus” childressi</Emphasis>

The gametogenic periodicity of the cold seep mussel “Bathymodiolus” childressi was analysed from a time series of samples from depths of ∼ 650 m surrounding the Brine Pool cold seep on the continental slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Occasional samples were retrieved from Bush Hill and GC 234 for comparison. At the Brine Pool, both females and males showed strong reproductive periodicity with the initiation of gametogenesis from December to March, followed by a period of gamete growth or proliferation and spawning from October to February. Gametogenesis was synchronized at all three sites. Gametogenic periodicity appears to be correlated with surface production that peaks during the winter months. Downward flux of detritus during this period may provide food for the planktotrophic larvae and also supplementary nutrition for the adult, which has chemosynthetic bacterial symbionts but is also capable of filter feeding. Individuals in all three populations carried parasites and these were especially common at Bush Hill and GC234, where it is suggested they have a major impact on reproductive output.     

Solid recovery rate of food waste recycling in South Korea

Source-separated collection system of household food waste has been implemented national wide in South Korea. Food waste recycling rate that means conversion rate to recycle is over 90 % in present. However, over the value of 90 %, we need to enhance the efficiency of food waste recycling process. We analyzed material flow of 24 food waste recycling facilities and calculated solid recovery rate to key-process. We found that 3–13 % of the solids from food waste outflows with foreign materials and 27–33 % of the solids outflow with wastewater. As a result, solid recovery rates are 65.3, 60.9, and 56.3 % in wet feed facility, dry feed facility, and composting facility, respectively. Alternative ways to recovery solid from wastewater or collection tools to exclude plastic bags, salt, and moisture content are required to make food waste recycling more efficient.     

Combined steam-dry reforming of toluene in syngas over CaNiRu/Al2O3 catalysts

Cracking, steam reforming, dry reforming, and combined steam and dry reforming of toluene in model syngas were performed using catalysts to simulate tar removal produced during biomass gasification. The catalysts were prepared by adding Ru, Ca, and Mn to Ni-based catalysts, and their properties were measured using BET, pulse CO chemisorption, XRD and TG. In steam and dry reforming of toluene, a high toluene conversion was observed with increasing Ca content in the catalyst and catalysts containing Ca showed a higher activity than those containing Mn. In combined steam-dry reforming with syngas, 1%CaNiRu/Al₂O₃ indicated a conversion of 93.9% at 800°C.