Analysis of two schemes using micro hydroelectric power (MHPs) in the Amazon with environmental sustainability and energy and economic feasibility

A major problem for sustainable development in the Amazon is the difficulty of supplying electric power to isolated communities, which represent a considerable share of the population. This problem has been a major obstacle to productive activities (especially extractive and agricultural) in such communities, thus significantly contributing to rural drift and creating social problems in larger cities. In that case, one way to supply electric power would be to use the huge network of small rivers in the region by implementing Micro Hydroelectric Power Plants (MHPs). However, this type of hydropower project requires a set of technical assessments in order to obtain better value for its cost-effectiveness from the perspective of sustainable development. Thus, based on a survey of energy demand and the local hydrological and topographical characteristics, two possible MHP designs for the hydrological site under analysis were suggested. Assessments of hydropower, economic and environmental aspects were developed. MHP designs were compared with the diesel generator design of the community under focus. Comparison showed that the MHP designs are feasible in terms of energy to meet local demand; economically, they are more feasible than the diesel generator and are environmentally sustainable, mainly because such designs involve low-head, run-of-river MHPs and the flooded areas were simulated and are not larger than 0.02 km². Therefore, the information provided by these assessments constitutes important data, serving as subsidies for MHP implementation projects, which shall contribute to sustainable development in the region.     

Recurrent disease outbreaks in corneous demosponges of the genus Ircinia: epidemic incidence and defense mechanisms

During 2008 and 2009, an epidemic affected sponges of the genus Ircinia in the Western Mediterranean. Investigations at a site on the European coast (6o43′08.80′′N; 3o43′52.20′′W) and another on the African coast (35o10′51.00′′N; 2o25′33.00′′W) revealed healthier African populations. The disease started with small pustules on the sponge surface, which subsequently coalesced forming larger, extensive lesions. An ultrastructural study suggested that a twisted rod is the etiological agent. It infected the sponges from the outside, initially killing the cells below the ectosome and then penetrating deeper into the body. The sponges responded to the bacterial progression by secreting concentric barriers of collagen and concentrating phagocytic cells at the diseased zones. This primitive immune system successfully resisted the disease in many instances, although mortality reached 27% in the studied populations. Epidemic outbreaks recur each year in September through November, arguably favored by abnormally high seawater temperatures in August.     

Territorial User Rights for Fisheries as Ancillary Instruments for Marine Coastal Conservation in Chile

Territorial user rights for fisheries have been advocated as a way to achieve sustainable resource management. However, few researchers have empirically assessed their potential as ancillary marine conservation instruments by comparing them to no‐take marine protected areas. In kelp (Lessonia trabeculata) forests of central Chile, we compared species richness, density, and biomass of macroinvertebrates and reef fishes among territorial‐user‐right areas with low‐level and high‐level enforcement, no‐take marine protected areas, and open‐access areas in 42 100‐m subtidal transects. We also assessed structural complexity of the kelp forest and substratum composition. Multivariate randomized permutation tests indicated macroinvertebrate and reef fish communities associated with the different access regimes differed significantly. Substratum composition and structural complexity of kelp forest did not differ among access regimes. Univariate analyses showed species richness, biomass, and density of macroinvertebrates and reef fishes were greater in highly enforced territorial‐user‐right areas and no‐take marine protected areas than in open‐access areas. Densities of macroinvertebrates and reef fishes of economic importance were not significantly different between highly enforced territorial‐user‐right and no‐take marine protected areas. Densities of economically important macroinvertebrates in areas with low‐level enforcement were significantly lower than those in areas with high‐level enforcement and no‐take marine protected areas but were significantly higher than in areas with open access. Territorial‐user‐right areas could be important ancillary conservation instruments if they are well enforced. Derechos de Usuario Territoriales para Pesquerías como Instrumentos Accesorios para la Conservación Marina Costera en Chile     

Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds Using Catalytic Oxidation

Catalytic oxidation is an air pollution control technique in which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and vapor-phase air toxics in an air emission stream are oxidized with the help of a catalyst Design of catalytic systems for control of point source emissions is based on stream-specific characteristics and desired control efficiency. This paper discusses the key emission stream characteristics and VOC characteristics that affect the applicability of catalytic oxidation. The application of catalytic oxidation technology to four types of air emission sources is discussed: (1) groundwater stripping operations; (2) graphic arts facilities; (3) flexographic printing plants; and (4) latex monomer production. The characteristics of each of these emissions are discussed along with the catalytic technology used to control these emissions.     

Implication of nitric oxide in the heat-stress-induced cell death of the symbiotic alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Symbiodinium microadriaticum</Emphasis>

One of the major consequences of global warming is a rise in sea surface temperature which may affect the survival of marine organisms including phytoplankton. Here, we provide experimental evidence for heat-induced cell death in a symbiotic microalga. Shifting Symbiodinium microadriaticum from 27 to 32°C resulted in an increase in mortality, an increase in caspase 3-like activity, and an increase in nitric oxide (NO) production. The caspase-like activity was strongly correlated with the production of NO in thermally challenged microalgae. For this experiment, the application of Ac-DEVD-CHO, a mammalian caspase 3-specific inhibitor, partly prevented (by 65%) the increase in caspase-like activity. To verify the relationship between NO and the caspase-like activity, S. microadriaticum were subsequently incubated with 1.0 mM of the following chemical NO donors: sodium nitroprusside (SNP), S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and 3,3bis(Aminoethyl)-1-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-triazene (NOC-18). The supplementation of both SNP and NOC-18 caused a significant increase in caspase-like activity compared to the control treatment. Pre-treatment of the microalgae with the inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO before the supplementation of the different NO donors completely prevented the increase in caspase-like activity. These results suggest that NO could play a role in the induction of cell death in heat-stressed S. microadriaticum by mediating an increase in caspase-like activity.     

Recycled blocks with improved sound and fire insulation containing construction and demolition waste

The environmental problem posed by construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) is derived not only from the high volume produced, but also from its treatment and disposal. Treatment plants receive C&D waste which is then transformed into a recycled mixed aggregate. The byproduct is mainly used for low-value-added applications such as land escape restoration, despite the high quality of the aggregate. In the present work, the chemical composition properties and grading curve properties of these aggregates are defined. Furthermore, the resulting recycled concrete with a high proportion of recycled composition, from 20% to 100% replacement of fine and coarse aggregate, is characterized physically and mechanically. An environmental study of the new construction material when all aggregates are substituted by C&D waste shows a low toxicity level, similar to that of other construction materials. The new material also has improved properties with respect to standard concrete such as high fire resistance, good heat insulation, and acoustic insulation.     

Reduction in toxicity and generation of slag in secondary lead process

This paper focuses on the improvement of a secondary lead recycling processing plant, giving special attention to the generation of lead slag. The study was conducted using two different industrial rotary furnaces that together produce three different slag types, which depend on charge composition and lead-containing raw material obtained from a lead-acid battery recycling process. First, characterization of three slag types from different batches was performed, and such characterization included chemical, mineralogical, and structural analyses. By analyzing these data and the operational conditions of the process, it was possible to identify certain deficiencies in the recycling process and implement modifications in order to improve it. A reduction of up to 25% in the quantity of slag generated could be achieved with certain charges. In addition to this process improvement, it was possible to reduce the toxicity of the slag produced when processing a charge containing the same proportion of paste and grid as the lead-acid battery. This improvement lessens the overall environmental impact of the process. By applying this methodology, it was possible to determine some principles of cleaner production in the lead recycling process. So, waste generation could be reduced via improvements in the process and slag characteristics were modified to decrease its toxicity (as determined by lead content in leaching tests).     

Environmental and social determinants of anuran lekking behavior: intraspecific variation in populations at thermal extremes

Environmental and social factors are critical to determine the timing and duration of lekking behavior since they provide species with signs to maximize benefits over costs in sexual displays. However, these factors have rarely been studied under different environmental conditions, and thus, it remains unclear whether exogenous factors affecting group displays show a general species-specific pattern or whether they are population-specific. Using audio-trapping techniques, we compared factors influencing the daily occurrence and duration of lekking behavior in two populations of Hyla molleri and two populations of Hyla meridionalis located at the thermal extremes (coldest vs. hottest) of their Iberian distribution range. From 12,240 hourly recordings over one season, multimodel inference revealed that the major determinants of chorus occurrence were similar between populations and species (i.e., chorus size the previous day, daytime air temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure), and accounted for 51–79 % of its deviance. In contrast, the major determinants of chorus duration differed between populations and species (i.e., chorus size, number of day, and air temperature and relative humidity at the onset of the chorus), and accounted for 38–69 % of its variance. Our findings suggest that the decision making related to lek attendance is environment-dependent, takes place at time between lekking events, and is associated with exogenous factors that may be both stable across species ranges and population-specific when populations are under different climatic conditions. This intraspecific variation might be underlain by plasticity mechanisms providing tree frogs with means to cope with changing environments. Moreover, social facilitation related to male-male acoustic competition seems to play a relevant role on the daily time invested by males in lek attendance.     

Governance reform,external support,and environmental regulation enforcement in rural China: The case of Guangdong province

This paper examines how configurations of external support factors have evolved alongside governance reform in recent years and how these evolving configurations have affected regulatory enforcement in four counties in Guangdong Province in China. Based on in-depth interviews with leading officials in the local environmental protection bureaus (EPBs), we show that there have been increases in government and societal support for local EPBs in their regulatory work, thanks partly to a number of recent governance reform efforts, but many problems have remained. Based on a questionnaire survey of enforcement officials, we examine how the perceptions of government and societal support are related to EPB officials’ self-perception of effectiveness. It is found that both local government support and societal support have an influence on enforcement officials’ self-assessment of effectiveness, but the relationships varied considerably depending on various dimensions of effectiveness and the patterns of interactions between government and societal support.