Consumers’ willingness to pay an environmental fee for e-waste recycling in Vietnam: integrating the theory of planned behaviour and the norm activation model

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - E-waste is becoming a concern due to its toxic content and serious pollution effect. Many studies have focused on the detrimental impacts of...     

黄土丘陵区土壤抗水蚀能力变化的动态评估

以黄土丘陵区典型小流域纸坊沟为研究对象,建立了土壤抗水蚀能力动态评价的指标体系,利用层次分析法对1938～2000年间研究区域的土壤抗水蚀能力进行了动态评估。引入土壤相对抗水蚀能力指标,并采用生态系统健康和承载力相关概念,研究了流域土壤抗水蚀能力偏离理想状态程度的变化情况,分析了其健康状态变化、恢复力和可恢复程度;通过与土地利用结构状态变化过程与恢复特性的比较,揭示了土壤抗水蚀能力对于土地利用结构变化的响应关系,指出了响应曲线中的滞后特点并对其产生的原因进行了分析。研究结果与前人所得的结果吻合较好,说明研究中采用的方法能够有效预测土壤抗水蚀能力,也可为水土保持恢复和管理工作提供科学支持。     

Sonographic findings in Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome related to H19 hypermethylation

Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is an overgrowth syndrome associated with congenital malformations and tumour predisposition. BWS results from variable mutations or epigenetic modifications of imprinted genes in the 11p15 chromosomal region. We present a fetus with mild general overgrowth and bilateral enlarged echogenic kidneys with loss of the corticomedullary differentiation in which prenatal diagnosis of BWS was suspected. The rest of the fetal anatomy and the amniotic fluid volume appeared normal. After termination of the pregnancy, molecular analysis confirmed the diagnosis of BWS by showing an isolated hypermethylation of the H19 gene. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modèle de détection rapide des effets sublétaux des polluants. II. Un exemple in situ: anomalie métabolique du copépode hyponeustonique Anomalocera patersoni en coïncidence avec une marée noire

An unusual correlation has been observed between the amylase and trypsin content of a natural zooplankton population and of the hyponeustonic copepod Anomalocera patersoni and the oil spill of the Amoco Cadiz in 1978. This anomaly has also been observed in Artemia sp. cultures (San Francisco Bay strain) poisoned by copper. This phenomenon could originate from a general physiological perturbation. Such a non-specific perturbation could explain the anormal correlation between parameters which are usually independent and specifically regulated. The determination of such anomalous regulation could lead to detection of the sublethal effect of pollutants in the field. The method requires no prior knowledge of the area and can be applied for detection of a new perturbation; in fact, if organisms adapt to the new conditions, the anomaly disappears. The method has enabled physiological perturbations of zooplankton to be recorded 1 yr after the Amoco Cadiz oil spill. The hyponeustonic copepod Anomalocera patersoni was particularly perturbed, even at residual hydrocarbon concentrations usually considered by chemists as approaching normal values.     

Water Retention Capacity of Polysaccharides from Prickly Pear Nopals of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opuntia Ficus Indica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opuntia Litoralis</Emphasis>: Physical–Chemical Approach

Polysaccharides were isolated from nopals mucilage pulp and peel of Opuntia Ficus Indica (OFI) and Opuntia litoralis (OL) by aqueous extraction and purified by ultrafiltration. Studying the glycosyl residue composition, these polysaccharides were assumed to be rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I). The macromolecular features of these compounds have been characterized by SEC/MALLS and by low shear viscosimetry. In the present work, we have undertaken a comparative study about different polysaccharides resulting from OFI and OL growing in different area. This comparison is to see the influence of the geographical area in which these two plants push on the mechanism of retention of water by the different polysaccharides extract. The polysaccharides resulting from the nopal peels of the two plants are highly methylated (>70%), thus they are much more hydrophobic especially for peels of OFI growing in the desert area than those resulting from pulps. Consequently, they probably prevent the evaporation of water in nopals by increasing their water retention capacity. Prickly pear nopals of OFI and OL contain a significant amount of water (>80%), carbohydrates (75% compared to the soluble matter), proteins (8% compared to the soluble matter) and salt (17% compared to the soluble matter). Thus, they represent an important source of water and alimentation especially in the arid and semi-arid areas.     

火灾数值模拟技术在核电厂防火设计中的应用研究

火灾数值模拟技术作为新兴的火灾分析手段,近年来得到越来越广泛的应用.旨在分析我国主要在役、在建各类型核电厂所使用的火灾分析技术,从技术成熟度、知识产权情况、研发关键技术等角度,全面分析火灾数值模拟技术在我国核电厂推广应用的可行性和亟待解决的问题,并探讨形成自主化的分析评价方法的思路和方向.     

The osphradium in Placopecten magellanicus and Pecten maximus (Bivalvia,Pectinidae): histology,ultrastructure, and implications for spawning synchronisation

The bivalve osphradium is a band of putatively sensory tissue located in the gill axis, whose function is uncertain. In the present study, extending from 1987 to 1994, anatomical, histological, and electron microscopical techniques were used to elucidate the structure and ultrastructure of the osphradium in hatchery Pecten maximus L. and Placopecten magellanicus (Gmelin) (collected from Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick, Canada). The osphradium consists of two distinct regions which run longitudinally on both sides of each gill axis: the osphradial ridge, and the dorsal tuft cilia region. The osphradial ridge was largely devoid of cilia other than those of the few free nerve fibres. The dorsal tuft cilia region contained free nerve fibres and ciliary tufts, separated by undifferentiated epithelial cells. No paddle cilia were observed under isosmotic fixation conditions, although under hypotonic conditions such cilia were quite common, suggesting an artefactual nature. Most of the cells of the osphradial ridge were highly secretory, the principal products being large pigment granules (in Pecten maximus) directly secreted by the Golgi bodies, and numerous small, electron-dense vesicles. These vesicles were arranged along extensive microtubule arrays in the basal region, indicative of axonal transport. These data support and extend Haszprunar's hypothesis of the role of the osphradium in the reception of chemical spawning cues and in the synchronization of gamete emission. Together with independent data on nerve pathways, osphradial sensory modalities, and monoamine localisation, an anatomical pathway and neurophysiological mediator are postulated.     

Integration of the recycling processes to the life cycle analysis of construction products

The life cycle analysis of a product enables one to assess its environmental quality. A simple, transparent method taking into account the processes of recycling in the life cycle is developed here. It permits dealing with all types of open loops of all sectors. The principles on which the proposed method is grounded are discussed.     

Survival of Nucella lapillus in a tributyltin-polluted area in west Brittany: a further example of a male genital defect (Dumpton syndrome) favouring survival

A male genital defect was reported in a Nucella lapillus (L.) population at Dumpton Gap (England). This defect was termed Dumpton syndrome (DS) and appears to be a genetic feature. Its main characteristic is the absence of penis (aphally) in males and in females. In 1992, such a phenomenon was discovered in populations in the vicinity of Brest (Brittany, France). DS-affected females exhibit fewer tributyltin-induced imposex characteristics than expected in normal individuals. The percentage of female sterilization is thus lower, favouring population survival. In consequence, the DS is considered to be a pollution-resistance feature. Comparison with the Dumpton population revealed similarities and differences in the DS characteristics. It is thus hypothesized that the DS observed at the two locations is due to two different biological mechanisms. Indeed, aphallic males with a split prostate were observed but no underdevelopment of their vas deferens and testis was noted in the present study. In this gonochoristic gastropod species, the most DS-affected males in Brest possess an ovotestis and it is thus hypothesized that feminity is remnant in N. lapillus. Incidence of abnormality is ten times higher in females than in males. This suggested that a sex-difference operates in the Brest phenomenon.     

电解强化人工湿地处理低碳氮比污水的效能及机制

针对人工湿地对低碳氮污水处理效果差这一问题,本研究构建了电解强化潮汐流人工湿地系统,通过对比电解强化前后湿地系统脱氮除磷的效果,从微生物群落结构及污染物电化学去除机制等角度揭示电解潮汐流人工湿地强化脱氮脱磷的机制.研究结果表明：电解潮汐流人工湿地对废水中NH₄⁺-N、TN和TP的去除率（分别为88.30%、82.10%和87.74%）均高于未强化的湿地系统.纯电解过程对氨氮的去除没有影响,但是对硝态氮具有还原作用.相比于未强化的湿地系统,电解潮汐流人工湿地阳极附近基质中含有更多的铁氧键、磷氧键、羟基聚合铁等含磷沉淀物,细菌群落结构更为丰富多样,异养反硝化细菌和基于氢气的自养反硝化细菌（Rhodoblastus）丰度都较高,从而实现氮磷的高效同步去除.