Effect of maternal dietary hexachlorocyclohexane exposure on pup survival and growth in albino rats

Abstract

In adult albino rats, maternal dietary. ß‐ and ?‐hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) intake during gestation upto 400 ppm level did not affect the number of litters produced. But about 50 and 100% pup mortality was found in 200 and 400 ppm ß ‐HCH group within 5 days of birth. Maternal mortality was observed in 800 ppm ß ‐HCH group during third week of gestation. The effect of maternal dietary intake of HCH isomers at 50 and 250 ppm level during gestation and/or lactation on perinatal development was also studied. The body weights and sizes of the newborn litters of mother rats exposed to dietary HCH isomers did not. differ from controls. Similarly, the growth and development of the litters of HCH exposed mother rats that survived 28 day lactation period were found to be comparable to controls as evidenced by the body weight and weight of vital organs. However, liver weight increases were found in the 28 day weaned litters wherever the mothers had been exposed to HCH isomers during lactation. Lowered kidney weight was seen in litters of mother rats fed 250 ppm ?‐HCH during gestation and lactation. The brain and testis weights were not affected in the litters of any experimental groups.     

Method Development for Determination of Fluroxypyr in Soil

Abstract

Four methods were developed for the analysis of fluroxypyr in soil samples from oil palm plantations. The first method involved the extraction of the herbicide with 0.05 M NaOH in methanol followed by purification using acid base partition. The concentrated material was subjected to derivatization and then cleaning process using a florisil column and finally analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) equipped with electron capture detector (ECD). By this method, the recovery of fluroxypyr from the spiked soil ranged from 70 to 104% with the minimum detection limit at 5 µg/kg. The second method involved solid liquid extraction of fluroxypyr using a horizontal shaker followed by quantification using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with UV detector. The recovery of fluroxypyr using this method, ranged from 80 to 120% when the soil was spiked with fluroxypyr at 0.1–0.2 µg/g soil. In the third method, the recovery of fluroxypyr was determined by solid liquid extraction using an ultrasonic bath. The recovery of fluroxypyr at spiking levels of 4–50 µg/L ranged from 88 to 98% with relative standard deviations of 3.0–5.8% with a minimum detection limit of 4 µg/kg. In the fourth method, fluroxypyr was extracted using the solid liquid extraction method followed by the cleaning up step with OASIS® HLB (polyvinyl dibenzene). The recovery of fluroxypyr was between 91 and 95% with relative standard deviations of 4.2–6.2%, respectively. The limit of detection in method 4 was further improved to 1 µg/kg. When the weight of soil used was increased 4 fold, the recovery of fluroxypyr at spiking level of 1–50 µg/kg ranged from 82–107% with relative standard deviations of 0.5–4.7%.     

Learning About the History of Landscape Use for the Future: Consequences for Ecological and Social Systems in Swedish Bergslagen

Barriers and bridges to implement policies about sustainable development and sustainability commonly depend on the past development of social–ecological systems. Production of metals required integration of use of ore, streams for energy, and wood for bioenergy and construction, as well as of multiple societal actors. Focusing on the Swedish Bergslagen region as a case study we (1) describe the phases of natural resource use triggered by metallurgy, (2) the location and spatial extent of 22 definitions of Bergslagen divided into four zones as a proxy of cumulative pressure on landscapes, and (3) analyze the consequences for natural capital and society. We found clear gradients in industrial activity, stream alteration, and amount of natural forest from the core to the periphery of Bergslagen. Additionally, the legacy of top-down governance is linked to today’s poorly diversified business sector and thus municipal vulnerability. Comparing the Bergslagen case study with other similar regions in Russia and Germany, we discuss the usefulness of multiple case studies.     

Solving Problems in Social–Ecological Systems: Definition, Practice and Barriers of Transdisciplinary Research

Translating policies about sustainable development as a social process and sustainability outcomes into the real world of social–ecological systems involves several challenges. Hence, research policies advocate improved innovative problem-solving capacity. One approach is transdisciplinary research that integrates research disciplines, as well as researchers and practitioners. Drawing upon 14 experiences of problem-solving, we used group modeling to map perceived barriers and bridges for researchers’ and practitioners’ joint knowledge production and learning towards transdisciplinary research. The analysis indicated that the transdisciplinary research process is influenced by (1) the amount of traditional disciplinary formal and informal control, (2) adaptation of project applications to fill the transdisciplinary research agenda, (3) stakeholder participation, and (4) functional team building/development based on self-reflection and experienced leadership. Focusing on implementation of green infrastructure policy as a common denominator for the delivery of ecosystem services and human well-being, we discuss how to diagnose social–ecological systems, and use knowledge production and collaborative learning as treatments.     

基于F-AHP的产业转移后可持续发展评价模型构建与实证研究

本着系统思想, 运用F AHP法,依据现有相关数据和多位专家意见,从产业自身发展、产业与区域经济发展、产业与区域社会发展、产业与区域资源环境发展4个模块30个指标构建产业转移后可持续发展评价指标体系,建立包含指标间模糊关系矩阵和面向参评产业的模糊评价矩阵的评价模型。通过模型评价了2006～2009年江苏苏北各市转移产业的可持续发展水平和能力。模型结果表明：苏北五市近年来承接的产业已获得较好的生存能力和可持续发展能力,但从可持续发展度的分值来看,苏北各市转移产业的可持续发展水平还不高;相比于传统产业,各市目前转移产业的可持续发展水平普遍较高,但苏北五市承接的产业有较大的同构性。因此,苏北各市下一阶段应优先发展比较优势产业,错位承接转移产业并考虑其可持续发展能力的培育     

大连市农业循环经济发展主要途径与模式

简要总结国内外农业循环经济发展概况及成功经验,简要介绍＂十二五＂期间,大连发展农业循环经济的主要途径与模式,为我国农业循环经济发展提供参考借鉴。     

循环农业是发展循环经济的基础

论述了发展循环农业是发展循环经济的基础,以及发展循环农业应采取的方针政策及具体措施。指出发展农业循环经济是我国实现农业经济可持续发展的必然选择。     

甘肃省风力发电现状及发展对策

介绍了甘肃省的风力资源及风力发电的发展现状,重点阐述了白银地区、玉门地区、酒泉瓜州、金昌地区、敦煌地区和武威地区等几个具有代表性地区的风能资源优势及风电建设情况,指出了甘肃省风力发电在技术和政策等方面目前还存在的主要问题,分析了产生这些问题的原因,提出了促进甘肃省风力发电事业发展的对策。     

创新体制 |转变发展方式

没有发展方式的转变,我们为环境改善所作的一切努力将成为徒劳！发展方式的转变为什么在中国是“一场深刻的革命”？无序竞争、产能过剩、高耗资源、损害环境的现象有增无减？发展方式的转变,这对于中国是千载难逢的机遇,我们敞开大门,招商引资,引入了社会主义建设需要的许多要素,我们也取得了令世界瞩目的伟大成就。我们的口号是“保增长、保就业、保民生、保稳定”,我们别无选择。其实还有一个视角去观察“中国模式”,即三组动力叠加的发展模式：千万个企业靠内在冲动和外在强制推动这个国家的发展,这是大多数国家共同的特征。我们会清晰地发现,政治文明、文化文明建设是最不需要消耗多大物质财富的     

Comprehensive Appraisal of Provincial Low Carbon Development： A Case Study of China

In this research,the Factor Analysis model of measuring provincial low carbon development in China has been constructed.Based on data from 30 provinces,an empirical study was developed to measure comprehensive low carbon development using the Factor Analysis model(Principal Components method and Normalized Varimax Rotation).The results reveal that the provincial marks of low carbon development are generally low and only nine provinces have high marks(more than 0.80).The results also show significant regional disparity.The provincial marks of the eastern region are higher than both the middle and western provinces of mainland China.All of the provinces with high marks(more than 0.90) are located in the eastern region,and those with the lowest marks(0.60) are located in the middle region.Furthermore,regional disparity in low carbon development follows the same pattern as economic development in China.Finally,some suggestions for decision-makers are presented.