Biochemical changes during the reproductive cycle of the deep-sea decapod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nephrops norvegicus</Emphasis> on the south coast of Portugal

The objectives of the present study were to characterize the changes in the proximate chemical composition, lipid classes, fatty-acid profiles, glycogen and cholesterol contents of the muscle, ovary and hepatopancreas of Nephrops norvegicus (L.), during the reproduction cycle of this species. The gonadosomatic index increased significantly in May and June and during maturation, suggesting that spawning may start in late spring or summer. The hepatosomatic index also increased throughout the ovarian maturation, suggesting that the hepatopancreatic resources are not depleted. Positive correlations between lipid levels in the ovary and the gonadosomatic index (r=0.51, P<0.05) and the hepatopsomatic index (r=0.27, P<0.05) were found. In fact, ovarian lipid levels increased with maturation, but no concomitant decrease occurred in hepatopancreatic lipids. The muscle showed very low lipid levels (mainly polar lipids), presenting a significant increase during May and June (P<0.05). Higher proportions of neutral lipids, mainly triacylglycerols, were observed in the ovary and the hepatopancreas. Since both ovarian and hepatopancreatic cholesterol increased with maturation, the mobilization of hepatopancreatic cholesterol stores to build up ovarian cholesterol was not clear. On the other hand, protein and glycogen contents in the muscle, ovary and hepatopancreas did not vary as a function of ovary maturity stage. Among the various tissues analysed, the glycogen was mainly stored in the hepatopancreas and to a lesser extent in the muscle. In both ovary and hepatopancreas the major fatty acids were 16:0, 18:1(n-7), 18:1(n-9), 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3), and significant increases (P<0.05) in the levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were observed in the ovary during sexual maturation, which indicates these compounds are the major sources of energy during embryonic and early larval development. It was evident that reproduction has profound effects upon the biochemistry of this species, because there are large associated energy costs, owing to the increase in biosynthetic work, which will support the lecithotrophic strategy of the embryos and first larval stages.     

Processing and Properties of Mixtures of PHB-V with Post-consumer LDPE

Mixtures of poly-β-(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) PHB-V with virgin and post-consumer low density polyethylene (LDPE) were prepared by melt mixing in proportions of 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30 and 0/100 (wt/wt%). The mixtures were analysed by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), melting flow index (MFI), tensile tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and biodegradation in simulated soil. The DMTA and DSC curves of post-consumer LDPE suggested that this polymer was a mixture of LDPE and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Virgin and post-consumer LDPE had lower MFI than PHB-V, but the blends showed higher index as the content of LDPE increased. The addition of LDPE reduced the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the mixtures compared with PHB-V. SEM indicated poor interfacial adhesion between PHB-V and LDPE. PHB-V degraded slow and gradually, while both LDPE showed virtually no degradation under the conditions studied. The biodegradability of the blends depended on their composition and of the type of LDPE. LDPE improved the biodegradability of the mixtures.     

Treatment and use of air pollution control residues from MSW incineration: an overview

This work reviews strategies for the management of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) residues, particularly solid particles collected from flue gases. These tiny particles may be retained by different equipment, with or without additives (lime, activated carbon, etc.), and depending on the different possible combinations, their properties may vary. In industrial plants, the most commonly used equipment for heat recovery and the cleaning of gas emissions are: heat recovery devices (boiler, superheater and economiser); dry, semidry or wet scrubbers; electrostatic precipitators; bag filters; fabric filters, and cyclones. In accordance with the stringent regulations in force in developed countries, these residues are considered hazardous, and therefore must be treated before being disposed of in landfills. Nowadays, research is being conducted into specific applications for these residues in order to prevent landfill practices. There are basically two possible ways of handling these residues: landfill after adequate treatment or recycling as a secondary material. The different types of treatment may be grouped into three categories: separation processes, solidification/stabilization, and thermal methods. These residues generally have limited applications, mainly due to the fact that they tend to contain large quantities of soluble salts (NaCl, KCl, calcium compounds), significant amounts of toxic heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Cd) in forms that may easily leach out, and trace quantities of very toxic organic compounds (dioxin, furans). The most promising materials for recycling this residue are ceramics and glass-ceramic materials. The main purpose of the present paper is to review the published literature in this field. A range of studies have been summarized in a series of tables focusing upon management strategies used in various countries, waste composition, treatment processes and possible applications.     

Percolation and batch leaching tests to assess release of inorganic pollutants from municipal solid waste incinerator residues

In this study, percolation and batch leaching tests were considered in order to characterize the behaviour of air pollution control (APC) residues produced in a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) as a function of the liquid to solid ratio (L/S). This waste is hazardous, and taking into account their physical and chemical properties, leaching of contaminants into the environment is the main concern. In our work the leaching behaviour of toxic heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni and Cu) and inorganics associated with soluble salts (Na, K, Ca and Cl) was addressed. Although pH of the leaching solution is the most important variable, L/S may also play an important role in leaching processes. In our work, results from column and batch tests were compared in terms of concentration (mg/L) and releasing (mg/kg). The APC residues revealed to be hazardous according to both tests, and both Pb and Cl⁻ far exceeded the regulatory thresholds. The material exhibits high solubility, and when the liquid to solid ratio was high, more than 50% can be solubilised. The patterns of release may be in some cases availability or solubility controlled, and the former was easier to identify. When the results from column and batch experiments were compared by representing the cumulative released amounts (in mg/kg) as a function of L/S, both curves match for Zn, Ni, Cu, K, Na, Cl and Ca, but for Cr and Pb a significant difference was observed. In fact, the column experiments revealed that under percolation conditions it should be expected slow releasing of Pb along time. From this study, it can be concluded that the released amounts obtained in batch experiments for a certain L/S should be considered as the worst case for medium term. Some simple models proposed on the literature and based on local equilibrium assumption showed good fitting to experimental data for soluble species (non-reactive solutes).     

Analysis of time-scaling properties in forest-fire sequence observed in Italy

The investigation of the temporal fluctuations in forest fires is an important topic in the context of environmental sciences. Time-scaling scale-invariant methodologies have been used to characterize the temporal properties of forest-fire sequences detected in the Italian territory. Our findings reveal that the fire sequences can be considered as fractal processes with a high degree of time-clusterization of the events. The time-clustering phenomenon is clearly visible from timescales of order of days. Furthermore the fire sequences observed with decreasing latitude tend to be more time-clusterized.     

Regional-scale meteorological characteristics of the Vento Norte phenomenon observed in Southern Brazil

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - The sudden increase in air temperature associated with strong gusty winds of northerly direction is a phenomenon occasionally observed during the cold season in the...     

Economic assessment of managing processionary moth in pine forests: a case-study in Portugal

This paper assesses the private and social profitability of current strategies for managing processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) in Portuguese pine forests, looking at economic and environmental costs and benefits. Costs include the expenses for forest treatment and the social costs of threats to human health (dermatitis amongst others); benefits are assessed in terms of both revenue and social benefits such as carbon fixation and recreation. The evaluation was done using Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) as an analytical framework. While this tool is currently applied to forest and environmental assessment and specific applications to pest management strategies are to be found in agricultural economics, rather few attempts have been made in the field of forest pest management. In order to assess and compare with--without options, a case-study was analysed for the Setúbal Peninsula, south of Lisbon, an area where extensive stands of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) grow. The exercise has shown that CBA can be a valuable tool for assessing the economic and social profitability of pest management. The results demonstrate that the loss of revenues in the no-management option is not sufficient to make pest management profitable for private forest owners in the short-term. Conversely, a social profit is gained as pest management minimizes health risks for humans and avoids possible recreational losses.     

Climate change and human health in Latin America: drivers, effects, and policies

Many people would be increasingly affected by living under critical conditions in Latin America if, as expected, global warming aggravates disease and pest transmission processes. Heat waves and air pollution would increase heat-related diseases and illness episodes in large cities. Fire smoke has been associated with irritation of the throat, lung and eyes, and respiratory problems. Climate extreme increases associated with climate change would cause physical damage, population displacement, and adverse effects on food production, freshwater availability and quality. It would also increase the risks of infectious and vector-borne diseases. Climate change impacts the geographical range, seasonality, and the incidence rate of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria. Climate-related ecological changes may expand cholera transmission, particularly among populations in low-laying tropical coastal areas. El Niño conditions may affect the incidence of infectious diseases, such as malaria. Ocean warming would increase temperature-sensitive toxins produced by phytoplankton, which could cause more frequent contamination of seafood. A clearer understanding on the current role of climate change in disease patterns will be able to improve forecasts of potential future impacts of projected climate change and support action to reduce such impacts.     

Atmospheric composition change research: Time to go post-normal?

For more than two decades a number of frameworks for scientific knowledge production are being proposed by science and technology researchers. They all advocate an extended involvement of non-specialists, in particular when it comes to knowledge production applicable to practical societal problems. We look to what extent these new frameworks have taken ground within a particular research community: the ACCENT Network of Excellence which coordinates European atmospheric chemistry and physics research applicable to air pollution and climate change. We did so by stimulating a debate through a “blog”, a survey and in-depth interviews with ACCENT scientists about the interaction between science, policy making and civil society, to which a great deal of ACCENT member contributed in writing or verbally. Most of them had interactions with policy makers and/or the general public, and they generally believe that interactions with spheres other than the scientific are needed. While such interactions give personal insight and satisfaction, they seem to have little impact on the goals and the practice of the scientific work itself. Extended frameworks of science production that go beyond the disciplinary mode seem to emerge at the level of individual scientists, yet they still need to find their way to the level of scientific project management. In this paper we discuss the justifications and barriers to implement a higher degree of extended knowledge integration in applied science projects such as ACCENT. It is felt that the community of atmospheric chemists and physicists is mature for such an implementation and recommendations are given to help and make this happen.