Controls on quartz silt formation by crystalline defects

Silt composed predominately of quartz occurs abundantly in the sedimentary material found in deposits worldwide. Its origin is still the subject of many debates, but one acknowledged source is due to glacial grinding. To examine this problem and test the apparent contradictory evidence in the literature, a series of experiments were performed. In these experiments, the Bromhead ring shear apparatus was used as it can simulate glacial grinding due to its uninterrupted shearing action; hence, it provides an effective reproduction of glacial grinding. Experiments conducted on unweathered sand-sized vein quartz produced little silt, while use of sand from a sedimentary deposit, Leighton Buzzard sand, produced plentiful silt. Experimental results suggest that there is an internal mineralogical control on the formation of quartz silt particles. It is argued that the processes involved in the formation of quartz introduce defects (Moss defects) into the low-quartz crystal structure, demonstrated by the presence of peaks in the particle size curve around 20 μm. This indicates that there is a lithological control for the silt yielded under weathering, and this could explain why a pronounced mode at around 20–60 μm is commonly observed in silts, such as loess.     

Performance evaluation of biodiesel from used domestic waste oils: A review

Global warming, high-energy demand and availability of new technologies are among the factors catalyzing the search for alternative sources of energy. Currently, there is renewed interest in obtaining energy from wastes hitherto meant for disposal. Increased costs of disposal and their attendant problems of heavy environmental loading are some aspects making the disposal option unattractive. These wastes are sources of energy and among the several sources of generating this energy are the waste-to-energy (WTE) categories with potentials for useable fuel production. The WTE materials are mainly used domestic waste oils (UDWOs), municipal solid waste (MSW), agricultural and industrial wastes. However, the latter wastes are not attractive as they consist of innumerable hazardous contaminants. The UDWOs are arguably a safe and cost effective source of useable fuel. Their conversion offers the merits of a reduction in greenhouse gas emission (GHG), enhancing fuel diversification and a qualitatively comparable energy output to fossil diesel fuels. Thus, UDWOs could significantly contribute towards achieving the 2020 and 2030 goals of substituting approximately 20% and 30% of petro-diesel with biofuels in US and EU, respectively. Moreover, attaining the forecasted annual production rate of 227 billion liters of biofuel by most active stakeholders in the biodiesel industry could be easily achieved.This review aims to analyze the performance of biodiesel fuels obtained from UDWO and to demonstrate the suitability of applying these fuels as substitutes to mineral diesel in various industries. Benefits of UDWO as a biodiesel feedstock were as well highlighted.     

不同生境产脂肪酶菌株的筛选及多样性

为发掘不同特性脂肪酶微生物资源,采用纯培养方法从青海高寒草地、雅安山区、成都平原分离得到产脂肪酶菌株54株.通过对菌株的DNA进行ERIC-PCR指纹图谱分析,按聚类树划分为5个操作分类单元.16S rDNA序列测定和聚类分析显示,分离菌株分布于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、克雷伯氏菌属(Klebsiella)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、葡萄球菌属(Staphylococcus)、肠杆菌属(Enterobacter).多样性分析表明,与青海高寒草地、雅安山区相比,成都平原产脂肪酶菌株遗传多样性更为丰富.在54株菌中都出现了300 bp和1 300 bp两个特异且稳定出现的条带,这两个特异条带可能是产脂肪酶菌株的SCAR标记条带.     

The development of sex differences in ring-tailed lemur feeding ecology

Sex differences in feeding ecology may develop in response to fluctuations in physiological costs to females over their reproductive cycles, or to sexual size dimorphism, or function to minimize feeding competition within a group via resource partitioning. For most mammal species, it is unknown how these factors contribute to sex differences in feeding, or how the development of males and females reflects these intraspecific feeding differences. We show changes in dietary composition, diversity, overlap, and foraging behavior throughout development in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) and test how the development of sex differences in feeding is related to female costs of reproduction and year-round resource partitioning. Sex differences in dietary composition were only present when females were lactating, but sex differences in other aspects of feeding, including dietary diversity, and relative time spent feeding and foraging, developed at or near the time of weaning. Sex difference in juveniles and subadults, when present, were similar to the differences found in adults. The low year-round dietary overlap and early differences in dietary diversity indicate that some resource partitioning may begin with young individuals and fluctuate throughout development. The major differences between males and females in dietary composition suggest that these larger changes in diet are closely tied to female reproductive state when females must shift their diet to meet energetic and nutritional requirements.     

Structure and Dynamics of Coarse Woody Debris Stocks in Middle-Taiga Bilberry Pine Forests

Russian Journal of Ecology - The purpose of this study was to ascertain the stocks of coarse woody debris (CWD) in bilberry pine forests in the southern part of the Republic of Karelia (the middle...     

Jordan’s climate change governance framework: from silos to an intersectoral approach

Jordan is not immune from climate change impacts. The complex characteristics (cross-boundary, multi-level, multi-sector, multi-agency settings, long-term challenges, and uncertainty) and long-term impacts of climate change confront Jordan’s decision-makers with a pressing question: Is the current governance framework adequate to respond coherently to the climate change impact, or is a new framework needed for future preparedness? To address this question, four qualitative research methods were applied to collect data reflecting diverse views about issues and in different contexts. Data were examined from different perspectives to aid in validating the conclusions. Results show that there are limitations in the current climate change governance framework. Better understanding of the intersectoral approach is necessary to develop appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies that recognize the full extent of climate change vulnerability, rather than viewing single sectors in isolation. Accordingly, an intersectoral coordination roadmap was proposed to support the implementation of Jordan’s climate change policy (2013–2020).     

Effects of environmental factors and species identity on oxygen and carbon isotope composition of teeth in recent small mammals of the Urals

The variation of carbon and oxygen isotope composition in the carbonate group of carbonated hydroxyapatite from the incisor teeth has been studies in six recent rodent species trapped in different latitudinal regions of the Urals. Specific features of variation in the carbon and oxygen isotope ratios are discussed in dependence of animal’s species identity, typical environment, mode of life, dietary features, and ambient air temperature.