Resource exploitation and cross-region growth trajectories: nonparametric estimates for Chile

As a sector of primary concern for national development strategies, mining keeps stimulating an intensive debate in Chile, regarding its role for long-term growth. Partly drawn on theoretical contributions to growth and mineral resource accounting, this analysis assesses patterns of economic growth across Chilean regions. The theoretical and methodological rationale for focusing on weak sustainability, by testing convergence across regions in a distribution dynamics perspective, is first discussed. This is followed by a brief review of policy issues and previous empirical findings of concern to Chile's mining and regional growth. Panel data over the period 1960-2001 are analysed, with growth measured in terms of both income per capita as such, and sustainable measures of this variable. Kernel density and quantile regression estimates indicate persistent bimodal (if not possibly trimodal) distribution of nationally standardised regional incomes per capita, whereby conditions for cross-region convergence are matched only within the inner range of this distribution.     

Enhancing anoxic denitrification of low C/N ratio wastewater with novel ZVI composite carriers

External organic carbon sources are needed to provide electron donors for the denitrification of wastewater with a low COD/NO₃^--N（C/N） ratio, increasing the treatment cost. The economic strategy is to enhance the bioactivity and/or biodiversity of denitrifiers to efficiently utilize organic substances in wastewater. In this study, novel zero-valent iron（ZVI） composite carriers were prepared and implemented in a suspended carrier biofilm reactor to enhance the bioactivity an...     

不同施肥措施对热带地区稻菜轮作体系土壤CH4和N2O排放的影响

研究稻菜轮作模式下土壤甲烷（CH₄）和氧化亚氮（N₂ O）排放对不同施肥措施的响应,对补充我国热带地区CH₄和N₂ O排放研究的不足具有重要的指导意义.在辣椒季设置4种施肥处理：磷钾肥（PK）、氮磷钾肥（NPK）、等氮条件下50%有机肥替代化肥（NPK+M）和100%有机肥替代（M）,水稻种植季未设置施肥处理,研究辣椒季不同施肥条件下CH₄和N₂ O的排放规律以及对早稻生长季水稻产量、CH₄和N₂ O排放的后续影响.采用密闭静态箱-气相色谱法测定稻菜轮作土壤CH₄和N₂ O,同时测定作物产量,并估算全球增温潜势（GWP）和温室气体排放强度（GHGI）.结果表明：①辣椒季和早稻季4种施肥处理下土壤CH₄的累积排放量分别为0.9~2.7 kg ·hm^-2和5.5~8.4 kg ·hm^-2,与NPK处理相比,辣椒季NPK+M和M处理CH₄累积排放量分别减少35.3%和7.6%;而早稻季NPK+M和M处理CH₄累积排放量均增加37.5%和55.1%,其中早稻季M处理达到显著水平.②辣椒季和早稻季4种施肥处理下N₂ O的累积排放量分别为0.5~3.0 kg ·hm^-2和0.3~0.5 kg ·hm^-2,相对NPK处理,辣椒季NPK+M和M处理降低33.7%和16.0%的N₂ O累积排放量,其中NPK+M处理达到显著差异,早稻季NPK+M处理N₂ O累积排放量降低23.5%,M处理却增加9.1%,但均未达到显著水平.③ 4种施肥处理下辣椒和早稻的产量分别为3055.6~37722.5 kg ·hm^-2和5850.9~6994.4 kg ·hm^-2,与NPK处理相比,NPK+M和M处理显著增加辣椒产量.各施肥处理GWP为508.0~1864.4 kg ·hm^-2,NPK+M和M处理相对NPK处理分别下降25.7%和5.7%,其中NPK+M处理达到显著差异.辣椒季各处理的GWP对总GWP的贡献率为69.2%~78.1%,N₂ O对总GWP的贡献率为77.3%~85.3%.辣椒季和早稻季GHGI分别为0.03~0.09 kg ·kg^-1和0.04~0.24 kg ·kg^-1,与NPK处理相比,辣椒季M和NPK+M处理使GHGI显著下降71.5%和54.7%,早稻季NPK+M和M处理GHGI值分别下降44.0%和20.8%,其中NPK+M处理达到显著差异.综合作物产量及温室气体减排效果考虑,化肥和有机肥配施（NPK+M）可推荐为海南稻菜轮作模式下一种最优的减排稳产的施肥措施.     

基于生物质能的芒属（Miscanthus）植物碳动态和收支研究进展

生物质能（Biomass energy）是最为广泛的可再生能源，其中多年生芒属C4植物（Miscanthus）由于具有巨大碳固定能力而成为潜力巨大的生物质能植物。中国是芒属植物芒草起源中心，但相对于欧洲国家应对能源危机和温室效应而采取的芒草研究与应用来说，仍处于起步阶段。我国长期以来传统的草地利用模式，决定了在南方草地的研究显著少于北方，近年来芒草在华南地区的运用研究集中于生态修复，对草本植物群落基于生态系统水平的 CO2气体交换能力的研究仍然相当缺乏，在二氧化碳浓度持续增长及全球变暖背景下，生物质能植物及其碳汇功能的相关研究尤显重要。我国南方近6700万hm2退化丘陵草坡急待恢复或处于恢复中，草坡地芒属植物符合生物质能植物标准，施肥少，害虫少，农药输入少，能够有效地利用光、水等自然资源。考虑到C4植物具有比C3植物更强的光合作用能力，高光能利用率C4芒属植物的碳固定能力及能源潜力值得重视，但缺乏科学的碳动态和碳收支评估。综述了国内外芒草生物量特征与生物质能潜力研究现状，重点论述芒属植物生态系统水平的碳动态和收支能力研究，探讨了系统水平更客观评估芒属碳源汇（Carbon sequestration）功能的方法，基于生物量过程的研究结果及华南地区草坡研究历史和现状，为草坡地生物质能的合理开发利用提出了相关对策，强调在我国南方开发和利用芒属植物资源具有重要能源价值和经济、环境效益。     

Innovative policy practices to advance building energy efficiency and retrofitting: Approaches,impacts and challenges in ten C40 cities

This study examines ten programmes to advance energy efficiency and retrofitting of existing, private sector buildings in C40 cities in Asia-Pacific and USA. We set out to identify differing policy approaches, together with potential impacts and implementation challenges for each. Findings unearthed six policy models – both mandatory and voluntary – with unique impacts and challenges. We demonstrate that innovation occurs without new policy inventions and largely by necessity, as new features are added and generic models are adapted to local circumstances. Our sample demonstrated experimentation with benchmarking in the USA, comprehensive regulation in Asia, and voluntary approaches in Australia. Overall, environmental impacts are particularly slow to emerge and plagued with attribution challenges. We found limited evidence of benchmarking programme effectiveness in reducing energy consumption in the short-term, but some indication of mid-term outcomes. Driven by unique local circumstances, the cap-and-trade model stood out by fostering large, sustained and attributable GHG emission reductions and retrofitting. Market and social impacts are highly significant across all programmes, highlighting needs to consider non-environmental impacts in policy evaluation. We emphasise the complementary potential of voluntary and regulatory approaches to advancing energy efficiency and climate resilience. We also underscore the potential for reporting or benchmarking programmes to later transition to models mandating performance improvements, such as cap-and-trade.     

Prenatal diagnosis in three cases of iniencephaly with unusual postmortem findings

Iniencephaly is a rare and lethal congenital malformation of the neural tube characterized by occipital bone defect, cervical dysraphism, fixed retroflexion of the fetal head and severe lordosis of the cervicothoracic spine. The etiology is unknown. Prenatally diagnosed cases of iniencephaly are rare because careful and early ultrasonographic evaluation is necessary. We present three cases of iniencephaly prenatally diagnosed by sonography at 20–22 weeks' gestation in which therapeutic abortion was induced. The sonographic findings were compatible with the postmortem findings. The present cases of iniencephaly were found to carry unusual associated malformations such as two lobes in the right lung and chorangiosis of the placenta. Only hypoplastic lungs have been reported by previous authors. We also studied the 677C→T mutation on the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene in the parents in one of the present cases. The mother was found to be heterozygous for the 677CT polymorphism. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of land management on soil microbial N supply to crop N uptake in a dry tropical cropland in Tanzania

In Sub-Saharan Africa, conservation of available soil N during early crop growth, when N loss by leaching generally occurs, is important to improve crop productivity. In a dry tropical cropland in Tanzania, we assessed the potential role of soil microbes as a temporal N sink-source to conserve the available soil N until later crop growth, which generally requires substantial crop N uptake. We evaluated the effect of land management [i.e., no input, plant residue application before planting (P plot) with or without fertilizer application, fertilizer application alone, and non-cultivated plots] on the relationship between soil N pool [microbial biomass N (MBN) and inorganic N] and crop N uptake throughout the ∼120-d crop growth period in two consecutive years. In the P plot, MBN clearly increased (∼14.6-29.6 kg N ha⁻¹) early in the crop growth period in both years because of immobilization of potentially leachable N, and it conserved a larger soil N pool (∼10.5-21.2 kg N ha⁻¹) than in the control plot. Especially in one year in which N leaching was critical, increased MBN maintained a larger soil N pool in the P plot throughout the experimental period, and a delay of increased MB C:N ratio and a substantial decrease in MBN was observed, indicating better soil microbial N supply for crop N uptake during later crop growth. Therefore, plant residue application before planting should enhance the role of soil microbes as a temporal N sink-source, leading to the conservation of potentially leachable N until later phase of crop growth, especially in years in which N leaching is relatively severe. Although further studies are necessary, our results suggest that plant residue application before planting is a promising option to achieve better N synchronization.     

13C在草原土壤呼吸区分中的应用

区分草原土壤呼吸的主要目的在于准确估算草原生态系统土壤碳蓄积和碳源、 汇潜力,为预测气候变化提供科学依据。论文主要论述了稳定同位素¹³C在草原土壤呼吸区分方面的应用。主要在以下几个方面进行了阐述:①碳同位素区分土壤呼吸的两种主要标记方法——脉冲标记法和持续标记法,其中脉冲标记法包括单次脉冲标记法和重复脉冲标记法,持续标记法包括FACE实验标记法和¹³C自然丰度标记法,也介绍了利用核爆产生的¹⁴C标记;②应用碳稳定同位素区分土壤呼吸的理论依据和计算方法;③土壤呼吸稳定同位素组成的取样方法和测定,包括静态箱-Keeling Plot法、 静态箱平衡状态法和动态箱连接红外分析仪法等;④指出了减小静态箱-Keeling Plot法测定土壤呼吸碳同位素值的误差需采取的措施。     

三维有序介孔铈钴铜催化剂的制备及其降解邻二甲苯的机制

以PMMA为模板,通过聚乙二醇(PEG400)和柠檬酸辅助的溶胶凝胶法制备三维有序介孔铈钴铜(3DOM 3C)催化剂,应用BET、SEM、XRD和XPS等对不同煅烧温度的3DOM 3C催化剂进行表征分析,研究了催化剂活性及其影响因素,并利用FT-IR和GC-MS对降解产物进行分析,推测出催化降解邻二甲苯的机理.结果表明,煅烧温度500℃时制备的3DOM 3C催化剂表面具有三维介孔结构,且分散均匀,表面的晶体氧化物最少,存在大量的Cu~(2+)、Ce~(3+)和表面氧,催化剂表面存在更多的固溶体、表面活性位点和氧空位,有利于提高催化活性.在邻二甲苯初始浓度600 ppm、空速16000 h~(-1)、50%O_2条件下,煅烧温度500℃时制备的3DOM 3C催化效果最佳,在260℃时,3DOM 3C催化剂对邻二甲苯的转化率达98%,T_(90)为250℃. 3DOM 3C对邻二甲苯的转化率随着初始浓度、空速和相对湿度的升高而呈下降趋势,随着O_2含量的增加而增加.气流中混入150 ppm的乙酸乙酯能够提高邻二甲苯的转化率,提高其低温催化性能.邻二甲苯催化反应后催化剂表面的O—H、■、C—H和金属—氧键都相应的减少,降解中间产物主要有邻甲基苯甲醛和邻甲基苯甲酸.邻二甲苯降解反应涉及Mars Van Krevelen机理(MVK),先被氧化成邻甲基苯甲醛,再进一步氧化成邻甲基苯甲酸,最终生成CO_2和H_2O.     

炭化压力对编织C/C复合材料致密过程及结构的影响

目的研究不同炭化压力环境对C/C复合材料致密过程及结构的影响。方法通过浸渍/高压炭化工艺在不同炭化压力下制备高温煤沥青炭块及沥青基C/C复合材料,并研究不同炭化压力环境下对其密度和孔隙的影响。结果制备沥青炭的炭化压力由20 MPa增大至60 MPa时,沥青炭体积密度由1.08 g/cm~3增加至1.39g/cm~3,质量比表面积由14.74增加至16.51,开孔率由26.73减少至7.94,孔隙填充效果明显改善,浸渍-炭化的增密效率得到提升。结论在编织C/C材料的致密过程中,压力越大,其孔隙越小,分布越均匀,故产品致密效果越好。