The Pioneers

Abstract

This study surveyed emissions from 2- and 4-stroke new and in-use motorcycles. Emission tests were carried out on a dynamometer following the designated test procedure of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). Samples were derived during various driving stages, which included idle, acceleration, 30 km/hr cruise, 50 km/hr cruise, and deceleration. All test motorcycles (10 new and 15 in-use) complied with Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration’s Phase III Motorcycle Emission Standards. The dominant volatile organic carbon (VOC) species were isopentane (53 and 295 mg/km, 2- and 4-stroke, respectively), 2-methylpentane (75 and 83 mg/km), 3-methylpentane (34 and 66 mg/km), and toluene (30 and 100 mg/km). The VOC emission factors for the 2-/4-stroke motorcycles were 311/344 (new) and 1479/433 (inuse) mg/km, respectively. In addition, the dominant carbonyl species for the new and in-use motorcycles were formaldehyde (0.4 and 0.7 mg/km, respectively), acetaldehyde (0.6 and 1.2 mg/km), and acetone (0.5 and 0.7 mg/km). The carbonyl compound emission factors for the 2- and 4-stroke motorcycles were 3.2/3.1 (new) and 5.3/4.6 (in-use) mg/km, respectively. The ozone formation potentials, based on an ECE test cycle, show that the values from the in-use motorcycles were higher than those from the new motorcycles. The dominant VOC species for the ozone formation potential were propylene (65 and 502 mg-O₃ /km, respectively), isopentane (98 and 501 mg-O₃ /km), 2-methylpentane (152 and 167 mg-O₃ /km), 3-methylpentane (79 and 253 mg-O₃ /km), and toluene (127 and 398 mg-O₃ /km). Further, the dominant carbonyl species were formaldehyde (4.1 and 6.2 mg-O₃ /km, new and in-use, respectively) and acetaldehyde (4.8 and 9 mg-O₃ /km).     

The Production of Pure Peroxyacyl Nitrates

The peroxyacyl nitrates, a series of eye-irritating plant toxicants, are synthesized by gasphase reactions at low concentrations. They are purified by preparative-scale gas chromatography. The preparation and purification of the first member of the series by photolysis of ethyl nitrite vapor (ca 400 ppm) in oxygen is described in some detail. The entire procedure is designed to minimize factors which might cause decomposition of this extremely unstable product. Pure PAN is stored as a vapor diluted with dry nitrogen at about 100 psig and 40°F. Such mixtures (about 1000 ppm) can be analyzed by infrared spectrophotometry using a 10 cm cell. The product is used in studies of its toxicity toward biological materials, in instrument calibration, and for studies of air pollution chemistry.     

Culling recolonizing mesopredators increases livestock losses: Evidence from the South African Karoo

Populations of adaptable mesopredators are expanding globally where passive rewilding and natural recolonization are taking place, increasing the risk of conflict with remaining livestock farmers. We analysed data from two social surveys of farmers in the Karoo, South Africa, where black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) and caracals (Caracal caracal) have re-emerged as a threat to sheep farms in the context of falling agricultural employment and the expansion of natural areas. We show that irrespective of measurement approach, lethal control of mesopredators in this fragmented socio-economic landscape was associated with increased livestock losses the following year. Terrain ruggedness was positively, and number of farmworkers negatively, associated with livestock losses. Our study provides further evidence that lethal control of mesopredators in this context is probably counter-productive and supports calls to develop, share and financially support a range of non-lethal methods to protect livestock, especially where natural recolonization of mesopredators is occurring. A graphical abstract can be found in Electronic supplementary material.

     

The simultaneous modelling of metal ion and humic substance transport in column experiments

Pulsed column experiments using Co, fulvic acid and porous sediment packing, along with up/down-flooding experiments using Eu, humic acid and intact sandstone blocks have been performed. The elution of metal and humic and their distribution along the sandstone columns have been measured. A mixed equilibrium and kinetic coupled chemical transport model has been used to simulate the results. In both cases, one exchangeable and one non-exchangeable component have been used to simulate the interaction of metal and humic substance. For the pulsed experiments, a simple equilibrium approach was used to model humic sorption, while a two component, kinetic model was required for the sandstone columns.     

Uptake of organic material by aquatic invertebrates. VI. Role of epiflora in apparent uptake of glycine by marine crustaceans

Soft-bodied marine invertebrates from most invertebrate phyla are capable of taking up amino acids from seawater. Marine crustaceans were originally reported not to accumulate amino acids. Artemia salina, Limnoria tripunctata, Tigriopus californicus, and Corophium acherusicum were examined for their ability to accumulate C¹⁴-labelled glycine from dilute solution in seawater. In initial experiments with Artemia and Limnoria the organisms were found to become very radioactive. When animals were preincubated in streptomycin or in a mixture of antibiotics, uptake of the C¹⁴-glycine was drastically reduced. Microorganisms associated with the arthropods and in the culture media were found capable of accumulating C¹⁴-labelled glycine. Efforts to demonstrate removal of amino acids from seawater by colorimeteric determination of material remaining in the medium were unsuccessful. The microorganisms responsible for the uptake are apparently associated with the exoskeleton of the organisms and not the gut. There is probably no substantial contribution to the nutrition of these crustaceans by the epiflora. Preincubation in the antibiotic mixture depressed the uptake of C¹⁴-glucose and C¹⁴-acetate by about an order of magnitude. It is concluded that there is no evidence for accumulation or assimilation of small organic compounds by the small crustaceans examined.     

Effect of nitrogen deprivation on amino acid uptake by the chlorophyte Platymonas subcordiformis

Platymonas subcordiformis (UTEX 171) was cultured axenically for 4 d in constant light in a nitrate-containing medium and harvested in the log-phase of cell division. Cells were resuspended in artificial sea water without nutrients and either kept in constant light or placed in constant darkness. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the free amino acid pools of the cells and to determine rates of net entry of each of a mixture of 18 amino acids at daily intervals for 5 d. Free amino acid pools decreased both in light and darkness in the absence of a nutrient sypply. The influx of amino acids in cells maintained in the light increased selectively. Comparison of the rate of entry of ¹⁴C-labeled glycine and net disappearance of glycine from the medium indicated extrusion of non-volatile labeled carbon that did not interact with reagents specific for amine groups. Light was required for synthesis of additional transporter protein which was apparently responsible for increased influx in cells maintained in the light. This response was blocked in the presence of cycloheximide. Cells maintained in the dark for prolonged periods retained the capacity to respond to light by synthesis of new transporter protein. Analysis of incorporation of amino acids into macromolecules indicated that both the overall rate and the pattern of amino acid incorporation were modified in the light. Analysis of the kinetics of glycine entry at a series of temperatures indicated that the concentration of glycine at which entry is half the maximum rate is approximately 2.7 M at the cell surface.