Energy performance certification and time on the market

This paper analyzes whether energy performance certificates (EPCs) serve as means to reduce the information asymmetry among market participants during the sale of homes. Using a sample of 876,000 single-family homes in the Netherlands, we examine the impact of EPC adoption on the speed of sale. Our results indicate that energy-rated homes sell faster than non-energy-rated homes, an effect that varies by 7–12 percent depending on model specifications and increases when positive (green) ratings are granted. The information conveyed by these certificates reduces the information asymmetry between buyers and sellers, which helps to reduce the uncertainty of quality.     

Spatial aggregation and the value of natural capital

Location matters for the value of capital assets. The value of changes in natural capital wealth can depend on whether natural capital asset prices are measured locally and then aggregated or whether average values are applied over aggregate representative areas. Spatial heterogeneity of resource characteristics and institutions impact approximations of the intertemporal welfare function and accounting price function because when spatial aggregation precedes valuation it implies greater arbitrage opportunities leading to more inelastic shadow (accounting) price functions than when valuation is done locally and then aggregated. Aggregation of observed values across varying resource and institutional characteristics can lead to omitted variables bias. We illustrate these results in the context of groundwater in the Kansas High Plains Aquifer and demonstrate that the accounting price function is less elastic when the accounting price is measured locally. Failure to measure locally and then aggregate could lead to undervaluing scarce resources and overvaluing plentiful ones, which biases wealth accounts in favor of passing the non-declining wealth sustainability test.     

Effects of stricter environmental regulations on resource development

This analysis seeks to understand whether changes in oil regulation brought about by the shale revolution have restricted the pace of drilling and production. This hypothesis is tested using data on North Dakota and Montana both before and after North Dakota increased regulations that raise fixed costs. Results generally find that the new regulations had no statistical impact on the pace of drilling and production, however it is found that smaller operators reduced their production and exited. These results are instructive for policymakers who weigh the loss of economic welfare against improved environmental quality when deciding on new regulations.     

Toxic effects of realgar transforming solution on the reproduction of Caenorhabditis elegans

Realgar transforming solution is an arsenic formulation which has shown anticancer effects with low toxicity both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, Caenorhabditis elegans was used to evaluate its reproductive toxicity and its possible mechanisms. Realgar transforming solution decreased the brood size and induced proliferation arrest and apoptosis significantly only at an elemental concentration of 37.5 mg/L, while arsenic trioxide reduced the brood sizes and induced proliferation arrest and apoptosis of both the wild type N2 and let-60 ras(gf) mutant worms in an arsenic concentration dependent manner. Mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein p53 pathways may be involved in reproductive toxicity as evidenced by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, RNA interference, and inhibition experiments with mitogen-activated protein kinases and p53. In conclusion, realgar transforming solution at the low arsenic (As) concentrations showed lower reproductive toxicity than arsenic trioxide, and a different molecular mechanism of reproductive toxicity is suggested.     

滏阳河河流水体中重金属污染特征及其对青海弧菌和斜生栅藻的毒性效应

为调查滏阳河水系的重金属污染状况,研究河流重金属污染对水生生物的毒性,根据河流结构、水文条件、排污口分布并考虑空间分布的均匀性,选取66个采样位点,采集河水及对应的表层沉积物样品,分析了样品中的重金属含量。用斜生栅藻和青海弧菌Q67作为模式生物,根据滏阳河水重金属污染较严重的邯郸近郊2号采样点采集水样的重金属含量配制系列重金属浓度的模拟河水进行重金属污染河水的生态毒性测试。结果表明,在全部66个采样点中,29个采样点河水重金属含量超过国家地表水III类水体重金属含量标准,主要污染元素是Hg、Pb、Cr、Zn。几乎所有采样点河水Mn和Fe含量都大大高于国家集中式生活饮用水地表水源地补充项目规定的标准限值。根据2号采样点河水样品中的重金属含量配成的模拟河水对青海弧菌Q67的EC₅₀值为6.65%,为毒性极强的污染物。模拟河水样品对斜生栅藻的抑制作用较小,在实验的最高浓度下(1000倍河水重金属含量)暴露4 d尚未引起半数藻细胞死亡。随河水重金属浓度上升,斜生栅藻超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性总体上呈现先升高后降低的趋势,丙二醛(MDA)含量变化则与此相反,反映河水重金属污染可引起藻细胞的氧化损伤。叶绿素a和b含量则随暴露浓度的提高逐渐降低。在重金属浓度达到2号采样点河水的10%时,斜生栅藻叶绿素a含量已有显著降低,MDA含量显著升高,海河流域重金属污染对生态系统的影响应予以重视。河水发光菌Q67的生长抑制率、斜生栅藻的叶绿素a和MDA含量可以作为评估河流重金属污染生态危害的指标。     

Duration and characteristics of metal price cycles

This paper addresses the fluctuations in real metal prices: are they simply random variations or do they display some degree of cyclicality? This study identifies peaks and troughs in the inflation adjusted prices for 14 metals, using monthly average data from January 1947 through December 2007. Duration dependence testing, which is performed on the expansions, contractions, and full cycles, finds many cases in which the duration of these phases are not purely random and have some degree of cyclicality. Additional characterization show that contractions generally persist longer than expansions (in contrast to macroeconomic cycles) that long-term real prices have been trendless, and that the amplitude of price changes over the phases has little regularity. For those performing this type of analysis, the appendices explain the procedures for dating turning points and assessing duration dependence.     

醋酸铅对PC-12细胞Bax、Bcl-2和p53蛋白表达的影响

用蛋白免疫印迹法研究醋酸铅对PC-12细胞Bax、Bcl-2和p53蛋白表达的影响.结果显示,当醋酸铅浓度达到0.1μmol·L-1时,Bax和p53的表达水平显著上升,决定凋亡是否发生的重要因素Bax/Bcl-2比率也明显上升,并存在浓度依赖关系.当醋酸铅浓度达到1μmol·L-1时,Bcl-2的表达显著降低.结合相关文献报道,Bax、Bcl-2和p53可能在铅诱导的细胞凋亡中起了重要的调控作用.     

Cr(Ⅵ)染毒对小鼠肝脏细胞凋亡以及凋亡相关蛋白的影响

为研究六价铬(Cr(Ⅵ))对生物体的细胞凋亡以及凋亡相关蛋白的改变,用0、25、50和100 mg·kg-1的重铬酸钾(K2Cr2O7)对小鼠进行1d或持续5 d灌胃,检测肝脏细胞凋亡以及p53、Bcl-2、Bax蛋白表达水平和caspase-3酶的激活.实验结果显示,Cr(Ⅵ)染毒1 d或5 d后,小鼠肝细胞凋亡率随染毒剂量的增加而增加,并呈明显的剂量-反应关系;p53、Bax蛋白表达升高,Bcl-2蛋白表达下降,easpase-3酶激活增加,且p53、Bcl-2蛋白表达水平和caspase-3酶激活水平在100mg·kg-1剂量组的2个染毒时间段与对照组相比均具有显著性差异,Bax蛋白表达水平仅在100 mg·kg-1染毒5 d的实验组与对照组相比具有显著性差异.结果表明,Cr(Ⅵ)能诱导小鼠肝脏细胞凋亡,p53、Bcl-2、Bax和caspase-3在这个过程中可能起重要作用.     

陆地生态系统呼吸温度敏感性及影响因素研究

陆地生态系统是全球第二大碳库,生态系统呼吸的任何细微变化都会在很大程度上影响着全球碳循环,改变大气中CO2浓度,而气候变化(如气候变暖)反过来会影响生态系统呼吸,从而增强温室效应.呼吸对温度的敏感性系数(Q10)是定量气候-碳循环反馈的一个关键参数,其相关研究仍存在较大的不确定性.本文探究了Q10的影响因素、时空变异性及机理解释,阐述了表观Q10和内在Q10的机理差异,指出内在Q10是有机物分解对温度的敏感性,更能反映生态系统碳循环对气候变化的本质反馈.     

五氯酚对稀有鮈鲫卵黄蛋白原及p53的诱导效应

采用中国特有鱼种稀有鮈鲫为实验动物,研究五氯酚（PCP）对其肝脏卵黄蛋白原（VTG）、VTG基因及抑癌基因p53的诱导效应,评价PCP的内分泌干扰作用,并从蛋白和基因表达水平上筛选PCP检测的敏感生物标志物.1.5、15、40、80、120、150、160μg.L-1PCP暴露稀有鮈鲫,同时设置空白、溶剂对照和17α-雌二醇（EE2）阳性对照,运用SDS-PAGE,ELISA法检测经PCP暴露后稀有鮈鲫肝脏VTG蛋白的表达差异;克隆稀有鮈鲫新的VTG和p53基因序列片段,运用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测PCP暴露对基因表达的影响.结果表明,40、80、120、160μg.L-1PCP均能诱导雌雄稀有鮈鲫肝脏VTG蛋白的表达,具有显著的浓度-效应关系;1.5、15、150μg.L-1PCP暴露后,雄性稀有鮈鲫肝脏VTG和p53基因表达均明显升高,具有显著的浓度-效应和时间-效应关系.证明PCP具有雌激素效应,稀有鮈鲫肝脏的VTG蛋白、VTG及p53基因可作为PCP检测的敏感分子生物标志物.