Environmental disasters,migration and displacement. Insights and developments from L’Aquila's case

This paper analyses the environmentally-induced migration and displacement resulting from L’Aquila's earthquake of 2009. After a general critical overview of the social science literature on this topic, the main changes in the migration system are analysed looking at the roots and trajectories of the forced human displacement that followed the earthquake, and reflecting on the challenges related to post-earthquake demographic movements and post-disaster resettlement. Through the analysis of the pre disaster (2002–2008) and recovery period (2009–2013) data, this paper offers a general model of how environmental disaster might affect migration and displacement and suggests the main challenges related to the post-disaster governance. Relying on ISTAT data on internal migration in Italy this paper argues that the post-seismic recovery period is characterized by a strong increase of out-flows from L’Aquila to other provinces, within the Abruzzo region and outside it, in particular toward the closest regions (Latium, Campania).     

Double-brooded great tits (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Parus major</Emphasis>) in Mediterranean oak habitats: Do first broods always perform better than second broods?

Although mistimed reproduction (i.e., time-lag between peak food supply and offspring food demand) has been attributed to habitat modifications or climate change in recent avian investigations, earlier breeding parents have higher reproductive success in many habitats. Here we compare first and second broods in great tits (Parus major L.) from two Mediterranean oak habitats differing significantly in the timing (about 5 weeks), but not the amount of caterpillar supply required to rear chicks. The study indicates that both the extent of mistimed reproduction and the breeding date per se influence breeding performance in this study system. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

A novel L1CAM mutation with L1 spectrum disorders

X-linked hydrocephalus, HSAS (hydrocephalus due to stenosis of aqueduct of Sylvius), MASA (mental retardation, aphasia, shuffling gait, and adducted thumbs), and CRASH (corpus callosum hypoplasia, retardation, adducted thumbs, spastic paraplegia, and hydrocephalus) syndromes are allelic disorders. X-linked hydrocephalus and associated phenotypes are due to mutations in the L1CAM gene, which has been identified as a coding neural cell adhesion molecule. We report two cases of L1 spectrum disorders within the same family. The first case was diagnosed by ultrasonographic examination prenatally and the second case was diagnosed postnatally. Both patients and their mothers carry a novel mutation of the L1CAM gene. In this family, nine X-linked hydrocephalus and five female carriers were found in three generations, and molecular genetic analysis was performed to detect the asymptomatic carriers. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of rice cultivars with low brown rice mixed cadmium and lead contents and their interactions with the micronutrients iron, zinc, nickel and manganese

Paddy fields in mining areas are usually co-contaminated by a cocktail of mixed toxic heavy metals (e.g., Cd and Pb in Pb/Zn mines). However, previous studies on rice cultivars screened for effective metal exclusion have mostly focused on individual metals, and have been conducted under pot-trial or hydroponic solution conditions. This study identified rice cultivars with both low Cd and Pb accumulation under Cd-and Pb-contaminated field conditions, and the interactions of the toxic elements Cd and Pb with the micronutrient elements Fe, Zn, Mn and Ni were also studied. Among 32 rice cultivars tested, there were significant differences in Cd (0.06-0.59 mg/kg) and Pb (0.25-3.15 mg/kg) levels in their brown rice, and similar results were also found for the micronutrient elements. Significant decreases in concentrations of Fe and Mn were detected with increasing Cd concentrations and a significant elevation in Fe, Mn and Ni with increasing Pb concentrations. A similar result was also shown by Cd and Ni. Three cultivars were identified with a combination of low brown rice Cd and Pb, high micronutrient and grain yield (Wufengyou 2168, Tianyou 196 and Guinongzhan). Present results suggest that it is possible to breed rice cultivars with low mixed toxic element (Cd, Pb) and high micronutrient contents along with high grain yields, thus ensuring food safety and quality.     

美洲商陆和籽粒苋对接种伯克氏菌的生理生化响应及其对富集铯的影响

利用盆栽试验研究一株具有重金属耐性的伯克霍尔德氏菌(Burkholderia sp.D54)对美洲商陆和籽粒苋生长及对铯富集的影响.结果表明,接种菌株D54,美洲商陆和籽粒苋总干物重分别比对照处理增加19.8%～33.4%和22.9%～76.6%,美洲商陆和籽粒苋地上部铯含量分别增加4.9%～22.4%和8.1%～19.4%,根中铯含量分别增加6.8%～15.7%和1.1%～10.8%.同时,接种微生物还增加了植物对钾的吸收,提高供试植物的光合反应速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率和水分利用率,增加铯胁迫条件下植物的抗氧化酶CAT、POD、SOD的活性,降低了MDA的含量.     

植物释放挥发性有机物(BVOC)向二次有机气溶胶(SOA)转化机制研究

利用自制玻璃生态罩,研究植物挥发性有机物（BVOC）的释放机制.在紫外光诱导条件下,BVOC经历一系列的光氧化反应,最终产生了二次有机气溶胶（SOA）.运用固相微萃取（SPME）和气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）技术,对目标植物（驱蚊草）释放出的BVOC进行采样分析,共检测出7种主要化合物,其中主要为单萜类、倍半萜类、醇类和酮类物质.研究发现,在紫外光的照射下,这些BVOC可以发生光氧化反应转化为SOA.利用串联差分淌度分析仪（TDMA）测定SOA的粒径分布和SOA颗粒物的吸湿性.结果表明粒径范围大致是50～320 nm,吸湿性研究发现这些SOA具有吸湿性,生长因子可以从1.05增长到1.11.     

蜈蚣草中芘与砷的赋存特征及其相互作用

超富集植物蜈蚣草能够累积土壤环境中的砷,为探明蜈蚣草植株中芘的赋存特征及其与砷的相互作用,采用双光子激光共聚焦扫描显微技术检测观察芘在该植物中赋存和分布规律.结果表明,添加芘导致蜈蚣草各部位砷含量显著降低,其中叶部和茎部砷含量下降幅度达35%左右,根部砷含量减少20.5%.芘的添加使得植物各部位三价砷比例下降,五价砷比例升高,蜈蚣草叶部三价砷和五价砷赋存浓度下降幅度最大,下降幅度分别为42.2%和32.49%.添加砷可促进蜈蚣草根部和茎部中芘的积累,每株分别增加了9.8μg和139 ng,但对叶部中芘的积累无显著影响.芘主要分布于蜈蚣草细胞膜与细胞内部的细胞器膜结构及细胞核核膜附近,但细胞质中芘的含量较少,茎部韧皮部与皮层以及叶部栅栏组织和海绵组织中几乎没有检测到芘.     

镉-八氯代二苯并呋喃复合污染土壤中紫茉莉对镉的修复能力

针对土壤重金属-持久性有机物复合污染日益严重的现象,本研究以镉(Cd)和1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-八氯代二苯并呋喃(OCDF)为典型的重金属和持久性有机污染物,选取紫茉莉为修复植物,通过温室盆栽实验研究Cd-OCDF复合污染土壤中植物的耐性以及有机物对植物提取土壤中Cd能力的影响.结果表明种植3个月期间,紫茉莉在Cd浓度≤200 mg·kg-1的复合污染土壤中具有较强的耐性,株高和生物量降低有限;与Cd单一污染相比,OCDF对紫茉莉株高、根部生物量无显著影响,Cd浓度200 mg·kg-1,OCDF浓度500μg·kg-1时,OCDF存在使紫茉莉地上生物量降低22.19%,其它处理组,OCDF对紫茉莉地上生物量无显著抑制作用,反而某些处理组增加紫茉莉地上生物量.Cd-OCDF复合污染效应与Cd单一污染相比,Cd浓度为200 mg·kg-1,OCDF浓度为100μg·kg-1时,紫茉莉根部Cd积累量降低了34.44%,Cd浓度为400 mg·kg-1,OCDF浓度为100μg·kg-1时,根部和叶部Cd积累量分别降低了7.93%和18.09%;其它处理组,OCDF不同程度地提高了紫茉莉根、茎、叶提取和积累土壤中Cd的能力.可见,用紫茉莉修复高浓度Cd-OCDF复合污染土壤中的Cd具有实践上的可行性.     

The behavioral component in the meaning of places

How do people think about the physical setting in the world around them? Part of the answer to this question may be in terms of the behaviors that occur there. To explore people's knowledge of behavior—place associations, twenty places (shown via color photographs) were assessed in five ways: (a) ratings of the place's suitability for each of eleven behaviors, (b) ratings of the expected frequency of occurrence of the eleven behaviors, (c) free listings of reasons for going to each place, (d) free listings of activities-while-there and (e) free listings of activities associated with the place. Results showed that people can distinguish places on the basis of behaviors, that the behavioral component of place meaning is composed of distinct aspects, and that knowledge of behavior is related to a global, overall representation of a place.     

Recent Levels of Radionuclide Contamination in the Eastern Ural Radioactive Trace and Biological Effects in Local Populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plantago major</Emphasis> L.

The results of the study have shown that the stocks of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in the frontal part of the EURT are 6700–15000 and 200–400 kBq/m², respectively. The coefficients of their accumulation in different herbaceous plant species in this impact zone are lower than in other areas. The accumulative capability of plants has probably decreased in the course of selection as an adaptation to the effect of radiation. The viability and growth parameters of Plantago major L. seeds from the EURT zone are similar to those of seeds from the background sample. Cenopopulations chronically exposed to radiation are characterized by a higher mutation rate in the progeny and an unstable response to additional acute irradiation in most characters studied. A high level of inbreeding is observed in all P. major cenopopulations of plantain. The cenopopulation of the impact zone is characterized by a lower variation of allozyme loci, which may be a result of stringent selection for individuals better adapted to the complex of conditions existing in its habitat.