Geese and dietary allelochemicals — food palatability and geophagy

Summary The palatability of plants was studied in young, immature and adult geese of three species,Anser anser, Anser indicus andBranta canadensis, with respect to secondary plant metabolites. In their first 1–4 weeks of life, hand-reared goslings feed on a wide variety of plants, more or less irrespective of their allelochemical contents. Older birds become more selective, but still consume plants which are normally considered to be unpalatable or even toxic for other animals. Choice experiments were performed with pure secondary metabolites which were offered on otherwise highly palatable food items, such as leaves ofTaraxacum officinale. These experiments revealed a similar trend, in that very young goslings discriminate their food much less than older goslings or adult geese. In general, food contaminated with essential oils was rejected, whereas alkaloids, glycosides, amines and sulfur compounds were tolerated to a remarkable degree. In consequence, especially young, but also adult geese must have a high capacity to tolerate and/or to detoxify dietary allelochemicals. Another detoxification mechanism became evident during the experiments: geese ingest soil and mud quite regularly. It could be shown experimentally that the respective soil had a high capacity to bind alkaloids. We assume that geophagy is a means (besides a presumed active detoxification in the liver) to adsorb and thus reduce the contents of dietary allelochemicals.     

Solute transport in crystalline rocks at Äspö — I: Geological basis and model calibration

Water-conducting faults and fractures were studied in the granite-hosted Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (SE Sweden). On a scale of decametres and larger, steeply dipping faults dominate and contain a variety of different fault rocks (mylonites, cataclasites, fault gouges). On a smaller scale, somewhat less regular fracture patterns were found. Conceptual models of the fault and fracture geometries and of the properties of rock types adjacent to fractures were derived and used as input for the modelling of in situ dipole tracer tests that were conducted in the framework of the Tracer Retention Understanding Experiment (TRUE-1) on a scale of metres. After the identification of all relevant transport and retardation processes, blind predictions of the breakthroughs of conservative to moderately sorbing tracers were calculated and then compared with the experimental data. This paper provides the geological basis and model calibration, while the predictive and inverse modelling work is the topic of the companion paper [J. Contam. Hydrol. 61 (2003) 175].The TRUE-1 experimental volume is highly fractured and contains the same types of fault rocks and alterations as on the decametric scale. The experimental flow field was modelled on the basis of a 2D-streamtube formalism with an underlying homogeneous and isotropic transmissivity field. Tracer transport was modelled using the dual porosity medium approach, which is linked to the flow model by the flow porosity. Given the substantial pumping rates in the extraction borehole, the transport domain has a maximum width of a few centimetres only. It is concluded that both the uncertainty with regard to the length of individual fractures and the detailed geometry of the network along the flowpath between injection and extraction boreholes are not critical because flow is largely one-dimensional, whether through a single fracture or a network. Process identification and model calibration were based on a single uranine breakthrough (test PDT3), which clearly showed that matrix diffusion had to be included in the model even over the short experimental time scales, evidenced by a characteristic shape of the trailing edge of the breakthrough curve. Using the geological information and therefore considering limited matrix diffusion into a thin fault gouge horizon resulted in a good fit to the experiment. On the other hand, fresh granite was found not to interact noticeably with the tracers over the time scales of the experiments.While fracture-filling gouge materials are very efficient in retarding tracers over short periods of time (hours–days), their volume is very small and, with time progressing, retardation will be dominated by altered wall rock and, finally, by fresh granite. In such rocks, both porosity (and therefore the effective diffusion coefficient) and sorption K_ds are more than one order of magnitude smaller compared to fault gouge, thus indicating that long-term retardation is expected to occur but to be less pronounced.     

Distinct potential aerosol masses under different scenarios of transport at a suburban site of Beijing

In order to evaluate the secondary aerosol formation potential at a suburban site of Beijing,in situ perturbation experiments in a potential aerosol mass(PAM) reactor were carried out in the winter of 2014.The variations of secondary aerosol formation as a function of time,OH exposure,and the concentrations of gas phase pollutants and particles were reported in this study.Two periods with distinct secondary aerosol formation potentials,marked as Period Ⅰ and Period Ⅱ,were identified during the observation.In Period Ⅰ,the secondary aerosol formation potential was high,and correlated well to the air pollutants,i.e.,SO_2,NO_2,and CO.The maximal secondary aerosol formation was observed with an aging time equivalent to about 3 days of atmospheric oxidation.In period Ⅱ,the secondary aerosol formation potential was low,with no obvious correlation with the air pollutants.Meanwhile,the aerosol mass decreased,instead of showing a peak,with increasing aging time.Backward trajectory analysis during the two periods confirmed that the air mass in Period Ⅰwas mainly from local sources,while it was attributed mostly to long distance transport in Period Ⅱ.The air lost its reactivity during the long transport and the particles became highly aged,resulting in a low secondary aerosol formation potential.Our experimental results indicated that the in situ measurement of the secondary aerosol formation potential could provide important information for evaluating the contributions of local emission and long distance transport to the aerosol pollution.     

A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Animal Experiments with Guidelines for Reporting

To maximize the findings of animal experiments to inform likely health effects in humans, a thorough review and evaluation of the animal evidence is required. Systematic reviews and, where appropriate, meta-analyses have great potential in facilitating such an evaluation, making efficient use of the animal evidence while minimizing possible sources of bias. The extent to which systematic review and meta-analysis methods have been applied to evaluate animal experiments to inform human health is unknown. Using systematic review methods, we examine the extent and quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of in vivo animal experiments carried out to inform human health. We identified 103 articles meeting the inclusion criteria: 57 reported a systematic review, 29 a systematic review and a meta-analysis, and 17 reported a meta-analysis only. The use of these methods to evaluate animal evidence has increased over time. Although the reporting of systematic reviews is of adequate quality, the reporting of meta-analyses is poor. The inadequate reporting of meta-analyses observed here leads to questions on whether the most appropriate methods were used to maximize the use of the animal evidence to inform policy or decision-making. We recommend that guidelines proposed here be used to help improve the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of animal experiments. Further consideration of the use and methodological quality and reporting of such studies is needed.     

逐级提取试验研究岩石中氟的化学活动性

使用逐级化学提取方法对岩石中氟元素的化学活动性进行了研究.结果表明,不同时代、不同类型岩石中氟的化学活动性具有很大的差异,碳酸盐岩中氟均具有很强的化学活动性,其中氟的可淋失比例一般高于75%;下寒武统黑色岩系中氟的化学活动性与岩石变质程度有关,变质程度较高的黑色碳质板岩中氟的可淋失比例一般小于黑色页岩、黑色硅质岩中氟的可淋失比例.磷块岩中氟的可淋失比例较高,而千枚岩中氟的可淋失比例一般较低;辉绿岩中氟的可淋失比例与原岩中氟含量存在正相关关系.不同时代的石煤中氟的化学活动性具有较大差异.下志留统石煤中氟的可淋失比例(平均为47.39%)一般高于下寒武统石煤中氟的可淋失比例(平均为29.43%).     

The effect of a biofilm on solute diffusion in fractured porous media

At sites in fractured rock where contamination has been exposed to the rock matrix for extended periods of time, the amount of contaminant mass residing in the matrix can be considerable. Even though it may be possible to diminish concentrations by the advection of clean water through the fracture features, back diffusion from mass held in the matrix will lead to a continuing source of contamination. In such an event, the development of a biofilm (a thin film of microbial mass) on the wall of the fractures may act to limit or prevent the back diffusion process. The objective of this preliminary study is to explore the influence imparted by the presence of a biofilm on the process of matrix diffusion. The investigation was conducted using radial diffusion cells constructed from rock core in which biofilm growth was stimulated in a central reservoir. Once biofilms were developed, forward diffusion experiments were conducted in which a conservative solute migrated from the central reservoir into the intact rock sample. Diffusion experiments were performed in a total of 11 diffusion cell pairs where biofilm growth was stimulated in one member of the pair and inhibited in the other. The effect of the presence of a biofilm on tracer diffusion was determined by comparison of the diffusion curves produced by each cell pair. A semi-analytical model that accounts for the presence of a biofilm was used to investigate the effect of the biofilm on mass transfer due to changes in the effective porosity, effective diffusion coefficient, and the depth of penetration of the biofilm into the intact rock. The results show that the biofilm acted to plug the rock matrix, rather than forming a discrete layer on the reservoir surface. The reduction in effective porosity due to the biofilm ranged from 6% to 52% with the majority of the samples in the 30% to 50% range. Based on the present results, with more efficient biofilm stimulation, it is reasonable to assume that a more complete plugging of the microcrack porosity might be possible, leaving a much thicker and efficient barrier than could be achieved via a surface biofilm.     

Applying choice experiments to valuing the different types of environmental issues in Japan

In this study, improvements of different types of environmental issues in Japan, (i) reduction of mortality risk due to exposure to suspended particulate matter (SPM), (ii) improvement of the water quality of an urban river, and (iii) protection of goshawks, were evaluated in monetary terms using choice experiments. It was found that the reduction of mortality risk and the improvement of the water quality were highly valued, while residents did not place high value on the protection of goshawks. However, scope sensitivity was not observed in the evaluation of each issue and the presence of moral satisfaction was revealed. Excluding the effect of lexicographic choices could partly solve the problem concerning scope sensitivity. The results suggested that non-scope sensitive values that were unrelated to or inconsistent with the level of environmental improvement could be estimated through choice experiments in this research.     

3种地被竹对重金属复合污染农田土壤的修复潜力

选用菲黄竹、箬竹和鹅毛竹这3种地被竹在Cu、Zn、Cd和Pb复合污染农田上进行为期2 a的田间试验,分析其在污染条件下的生长富集特征,并结合土壤中重金属含量变化情况,对比3种地被竹对重金属复合污染的修复潜力.结果表明,菲黄竹在重金属复合污染农田上适应性最好,生长株数为种植时的63.8倍.3种地被竹体内重金属含量均集中在根部,且对Cd的富集效果最好,对Pb的富集能力最差.3个竹种的根部和鞭部的Cd富集系数均远大于1,其中菲黄竹和箬竹根部富集系数分别为17.68和14.63.重金属累积量则主要集中在根部和鞭部,其中菲黄竹对Cu、Zn和Cd的累积量分别为157.14、363.3和7.18 g·hm^-2,高于鹅毛竹和箬竹.种植2 a后,地被竹周围表层土壤中重金属含量较种植前均有下降,其中Cd含量下降最多,为39.6%~40.4%.此外,菲黄竹和鹅毛竹根际土壤中Cu、Zn和Cd含量均显著小于表层土壤（P<0.05）.试验证明,3种地被竹对Cd均有较强富集能力,可作为Cd修复植物继续深入研究;菲黄竹在生长状况、重金属富集量和累积量等方面均优于箬竹和鹅毛竹,对土壤重金属复合污染修复潜力最高.     

Fe3O4/GO对水溶液中Cd(II)去除的影响因素

为探索高效且快速去除水溶液中Cd （Ⅱ）污染方法,采用自制磁性四氧化三铁负载氧化石墨烯（Fe₃O₄/GO）纳米复合材料对水溶液中Cd （Ⅱ）进行去除,利用单因素实验确定影响因素水平范围（初始Cd （Ⅱ）浓度、温度、反应时间、初始pH值）,并采用响应面法（RSM）及人工神经网络-遗传算法（ANN-GA）对去除水溶液中Cd （Ⅱ）的影响因素（4因素3水平）进行优化,利用等温吸附、动力学及热力学参数研究吸附剂性能.通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、X射线衍射仪及超导量子干涉器件（SQUID）对复合材料表征.结果表明,平均粒径为30.9nm的磁性Fe₃O₄/GO纳米复合材料被成功制备.RSM用于磁性Fe₃O₄/GO纳米复合材料对水溶液中Cd （Ⅱ）去除条件优化,预测去除率达到86.451%,验证试验为82.220%,对应条件：温度为20.14℃,反应时间为57.78min,初始pH值为6.41和初始Cd （Ⅱ）浓度为11.18mg/L; ANN-GA优化条件后的预测去除率为89.722%,验证试验为87.723%,相应条件：温度为29.96℃,pH值为5.49,初始Cd （Ⅱ）浓度为28.36mg/L,反应时间为65.78min.根据模型R²值,预测的最大去除率及验证试验,ANN-GA模型性能及预测能力均高于RSM.RSM方差分析表明4个因素对磁性Fe₃O₄/GO纳米复合材料去除水溶液中Cd （Ⅱ）的影响大小为：初始Cd （Ⅱ）浓度>温度>反应时间>pH值.吸附机理分析结果显示,Fe₃O₄/GO纳米复合材料对Cd （Ⅱ）吸附过程同时存在着物理吸附和化学吸附.结合ANN-GA优化,利用磁铁实现且快速分离,磁性Fe₃O₄/GO纳米复合材料用于去除Cd （Ⅱ）是可行的.关键字：Cd （Ⅱ）;四氧化三铁负载氧化石墨烯;单因素实验;响应面法;人工神经网络-遗传算法中图分类号：X53     

Tying enforcement to prices in emissions markets: An experimental evaluation

We present results from laboratory emissions permit markets designed to investigate the transmission of abatement cost risk to firms' compliance behavior and regulatory enforcement strategies. With a fixed expected marginal penalty, abatement cost shocks produced significant violations and emissions volatility as predicted. Tying the monitoring probability to average permit prices effectively eliminated noncompliance, but transmitted abatement cost risk to monitoring effort. Tying the penalty to average prices reduced violations, but did not eliminate them. Some individuals in these treatments sold permits at low prices, presumably in an attempt to weaken enforcement. While tying sanctions directly to prevailing permit prices has theoretical and practical advantages over tying monitoring to prices, our results suggest that tying sanctions to prices may not be as effective as predicted without additional modifications.