Water–energy–greenhouse gas nexus of urban water systems: Review of concepts,state-of-art and methods

Water supply and wastewater services incur a large amount of energy and GHG emissions. It is therefore imperative to understand the link between water and energy as their availability and demand are closely interrelated. This paper presents a literature review and assessment of knowledge gaps related to water–energy–greenhouse gas (GHG) nexus studies in an urban context from an ‘energy for water’ perspective. The review comprehensively surveyed various studies undertaken in various regions of the world and focusing on individual or multiple subsystems of an urban water system. The paper also analyses the energy intensity of decentralized water systems and various water end-uses together with the major tools and models used. A major gap identified from this review is the lack of a holistic and systematic framework to capture the dynamics of multiple water–energy–GHG linkages in an integrated urban water system where centralized and decentralized water systems are combined to meet increased water demand. Other knowledge gaps identified are the absence of studies, peer reviewed papers, data and information on water–energy interactions while adopting a ‘fit for purpose water strategy’ for water supply. Finally, based on this review, we propose a water–energy nexus framework to investigate ‘fit-for-purpose’ water strategy.     

交流干扰下碱性环境中富锌环氧涂层失效机制研究

目的 揭示碱性环境下交流干扰对富锌环氧涂层失效机制的影响.方法 以富锌环氧涂层为研究对象,以X80钢为基体,手工涂敷形成带涂层的X80钢样品,通过五点测试法确定涂层厚度为(25±5)μm,施加交流干扰电压.通过电化学测试,研究涂层样品在3％(质量分数)NaOH溶液中随浸泡时间的电化学阻抗变化特征,揭示交流电对富锌环氧涂层的作用机制.结果 在碱性环境下,锌粉更有利于活化,但是反应速率也更快,导致活化的锌粉表面能够迅速形成腐蚀产物Zn(OH)2和Zn(OH)42-,阻止锌粉之间的电连接,同时基体Fe在碱性环境中容易发生钝化,极大地减弱了涂层与金属基体的湿结合力.当交流干扰存在时,活化锌粉的反应过程非常迅速,以至于不能形成有效的电连接和阴极保护.结论 交流干扰能够抑制锌颗粒的活化过程(ZnO→Zn(OH)2/Zn(OH)42-),促进活化锌颗粒的反应过程,削弱锌的阴极保护作用.     

三种化合物浸泡处理对石棉晶格结构和表面电荷的影响

为了研究经柠檬酸铝、混合稀土或亚硒酸钠浸泡处理温石棉对温石棉晶格结构和表面电荷的影响,用不同浓度的柠檬酸铝、混合稀土或亚硒酸钠溶液浸泡温石棉1小时后,通过透射电镜测定其衍射环直径的大小,分析石棉晶格结构的改变,并利用石棉纤维吸附亚甲蓝能力的测定方法,分析温石棉表面电荷。结果显示,用三种化合物处理石棉后,其衍射环直径均增大,而且用三种化合物处理后的石棉对亚甲蓝的吸附能力均明显降低,并且随着化合物剂量的增加其降低愈明显。上述结果表明,用三种化合物处理石棉,均可改变石棉的晶格结构,且可能减少其表面电荷。     

Combining payment for crop damages and reward for productivity to address wildlife conflict

Conflict caused by wild herbivores damaging crops is an almost universal problem in conservation. We designed and implemented a game-theory-based system for supporting farmers whose crops were being heavily damaged by wild herbivores. In this community-operated system, farmers self-report their production, which is endorsed by neighboring farmers. The average deficit in production is compensated for by a payment that is directly proportional to the average deficit in production of the group and to the individual farmer's productivity. As a result, farmers are compensated for the average damage (support) and rewarded for individual productivity (reward) (i.e., support cum reward [SuR]). The design of the game is such that only honest reporting gives maximum returns. Farmers who underreport receive less payment because the SuR amount is proportionate to their self-reported productivity. The endorsing farmers, in their own self-interest, prevent overreporting. The system involves multiple game situations, the combined result of which is a stable strategy based on honesty and hard work. In 2 villages along the western boundary of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in central India, we tested the system with 75 farmers over 6 crop seasons. After a few initial attempts to cheat, honesty prevailed throughout the group. Average crop productivity increased 2.5-fold, in spite of damage, owing to increased effort by farmers. Apart from wildlife conflict resolution, the model offers a promising alternative to crop insurance and a potential behavioral green revolution in agriculture.     

Molecular prenatal diagnosis of Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome is reliable and efficient

Smith–Lemli–Opitz (RSH) syndrome (SLOS, OMIM 270400) is a relatively common, autosomal recessive disorder of cholesterol biosynthesis with a broad spectrum of phenotypic abnormalities caused by mutations of the 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase gene (DHCR7) on chromosome 11. Prenatal diagnosis can be established by detection of elevated 7-dehydrocholesterol or of SLOS-causing mutations in the DHCR7 gene. We report here our experience with molecular prenatal diagnosis of SLOS. Mutation analysis of the DHCR7 gene was performed in chorionic villus samples of 13 pregnancies of couples with a family history of SLOS and known SLOS genotypes. This approach is accurate and reliable. If facilities for biochemical analysis are not available, or in cases with ambiguous biochemical patterns, molecular prenatal diagnosis is an attractive, alternative option. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perinatal hepatic infarction in twin–twin transfusion

We report a case of a twin pregnancy which was complicated by a twin–twin transfusion in which the recipient twin was noted to have an intra-abdominal echogenic mass. This twin died at two days of age of hepatic infarction. The donor twin was healthy at birth, at thirty weeks' gestation, and did not have any subsequent problems. Fetal intra-abdominal echogenicity may be a marker of hepatic infarction. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Case report: a prenatal case of Jarcho–Levin syndrome diagnosed during the first trimester of pregnancy

The Jarcho–Levin syndrome is a specific form of spondylocostal/spondylothoracic dysostosis. There have been various classifications of this syndrome. We present the case of a severe prenatal Jarcho–Levin syndrome, diagnosed by ultrasound examination during the first trimester of pregnancy in a family with no previous medical history of an affected child. X-ray exploration, high-resolution spiral computed tomography and autopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

What can economic experiments tell us about institutional change in social–ecological systems?

Today, economic experiments are well accepted in mainstream economics. They are also widely applied in ecological economics, often focusing on institutions. Yet, many empirical studies in this field lack a sound theoretical foundation of institutions and institutional change. In this paper, I show that in a structure–agency framework three theoretical viewpoints on institutions can be distinguished. They can be viewed as (1) structures that shape incentives, (2) cognitive media, embedded in beliefs and cognition of agents, or (3) evolving from a process of agents’ choices and structural aspects. Using examples from the empirical experimental literature, I argue that all three viewpoints are mirrored in experimental practice, and that these can be organized into an institutional typology of economic experiments. Placing special emphasis on experiments with endogenous institutional choice and their relationship to evolutionary economic theory, I discuss under which conditions experiments are a useful method for the analysis of social–ecological systems, concluding that methodological and methodical innovations are an important prerequisite for challenging the dominant paradigm of neoclassical economics.     

Whose energy transition is it,anyway? Organisation and ownership of the Energiewende in villages,cities and regions

As one of the most ambitious national energy transition initiatives worldwide, the German Energiewende is attracting a huge amount of attention globally in both policy and research circles. The paper explores the implementation of Germany's energy transition through the lens of organisation and ownership in urban and regional contexts. Following a summary of the principal institutional challenges of the Energiewende at local and regional levels the paper develops a novel way of conceptualising the institutional to urban and regional energy transitions in terms of agency and power, ideas and discourse, and commons and ownership. This analytical heuristic is applied to a two-tier empirical study of the Berlin–Brandenburg region. The first tier involves a survey of the organisational landscape of energy infrastructures and services in cities, towns and villages in Brandenburg. The second tier comprises a case study of current, competing initiatives for (re-)gaining ownership of the power grid and utility in Berlin. The paper draws conclusions on the diverse and dynamic organisational responses to the Energiewende at the local level, what these tell us about urban and regional energy governance and how they are inspired by – or in opposition to – new forms of collective ownership resonant of recent debates on reclaiming the commons. It concludes with observations on how relational approaches to institutional research and the notion of the commons can guide and inspire future research on socio-technical transitions in general, and urban energy transitions in particular.