Exceptional responders in conservation

Conservation operates within complex systems with incomplete knowledge of the system and the interventions utilized. This frequently results in the inability to find generally applicable methods to alleviate threats to Earth's vanishing wildlife. One approach used in medicine and the social sciences has been to develop a deeper understanding of positive outliers. Where such outliers share similar characteristics, they may be considered exceptional responders. We devised a 4‐step framework for identifying exceptional responders in conservation: identification of the study system, identification of the response structure, identification of the threshold for exceptionalism, and identification of commonalities among outliers. Evaluation of exceptional responders provides additional information that is often ignored in randomized controlled trials and before–after control‐intervention experiments. Interrogating the contextual factors that contribute to an exceptional outcome allow exceptional responders to become valuable pieces of information leading to unexpected discoveries and novel hypotheses.     

Effectiveness of protected areas for vertebrates based on taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity

Establishing protected areas is the primary goal and tool for preventing irreversible biodiversity loss. However, the effectiveness of protected areas that target specific species has been questioned for some time because targeting key species for conservation may impair the integral regional pool of species diversity and phylogenetic and functional diversity are seldom considered. We assessed the efficacy of protected areas in China for the conservation of phylogenetic diversity based on the ranges and phylogenies of 2279 terrestrial vertebrates. Phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity were strongly and positively correlated, and only 12.1–43.8% of priority conservation areas are currently protected. However, the patterns and coverage of phylogenetic diversity were affected when weighted by species richness. These results indicated that in China, protected areas targeting high species richness protected phylogenetic diversity well overall but failed to do so in some regions with more unique or threatened communities (e.g., coastal areas of eastern China, where severely threatened avian communities were less protected). Our results suggest that the current distribution of protected areas could be improved, although most protected areas protect both taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity.     

Biological Decolorization of C.I. Basic Green 4 Solution by Chlorella sp.： Effect of Operational Parameters

In recent years, the ability of microorganisms to decolorize textile wastewater has received great attention due to the environmental persistence and toxicity of these pollutants. In this paper biological decolorization of triphenylmethane dye, C.I. Basic Green 4 (BG 4), by Chlorella species was investigated. The effect of operational parameters (temperature, pH, initial dye concentration and algal concentration) on decolorization efficiency was examined. Results indicated that the desired initial pH was 9. The stability and efficiency of the algae in long-term repetitive operations were also examined. Michaelis-Menten kinetics was employed to describe the apparent correlation between the decolorization rate and dye concentration. The optimal kinetic parameters, Vmax (specific decolorization rate) and Km (maximum specific decolorization rate) were 4.6 mg dye g cell-1 h-1and 151.0 mg L-1, respectively. Fig 10, Tab 2, Ref24     

Biogeochemistry of two types of permeable reactive barriers, organic carbon and iron-bearing organic carbon for mine drainage treatment: Column experiments

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are an alternative technology to treat mine drainage containing sulfate and heavy metals. Two column experiments were conducted to assess the suitability of an organic carbon (OC) based reactive mixture and an Fe⁰-bearing organic carbon (FeOC) based reactive mixture, under controlled groundwater flow conditions. The organic carbon mixture contains about 30% (volume) organic carbon (composted leaf mulch) and 70% (volume) sand and gravel. The Fe⁰-bearing organic carbon mixture contains 10% (volume) zero-valent iron, 20% (volume) organic carbon, 10% (volume) limestone, and 60% (volume) sand and gravel. Simulated groundwater containing 380 ppm sulfate, 5 ppm As, and 0.5 ppm Sb was passed through the columns at flow rates of 64 (the OC column) and 62 (the FeOC column) ml d^− 1, which are equivalent to 0.79 (the OC column) and 0.78 (the FeOC column) pore volumes (PVs) per week or 0.046 m d^− 1 for both columns. The OC column showed an initial sulfate reduction rate of 0.4 µmol g (OC)^− 1 d^− 1 and exhausted its capacity to promote sulfate reduction after 30 PVs, or 9 months of flow. The FeOC column sustained a relatively constant sulfate reduction rate of 0.9 µmol g (OC)^− 1 d^− 1 for at least 65 PVs (17 months). In the FeOC column, the δ³⁴S values increase with the decreasing sulfate concentration. The δ³⁴S fractionation follows a Rayleigh fractionation model with an enrichment factor of 21.6‰. The performance decline of the OC column was caused by the depletion of substrate or electron donor. The cathodic production of H₂ by anaerobic corrosion of Fe probably sustained a higher level of SRB activity in the FeOC column. These results suggest that zero-valent iron can be used to provide an electron donor in sulfate reducing PRBs. A sharp increase in the δ¹³C value of the dissolved inorganic carbon and a decrease in the concentration of HCO₃⁻ indicate that hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is occurring in the first 15 cm of the FeOC column.     

Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 4p: a new locus for holoprosencephaly?

Trisomy of the short arm of chromosome 4 is a well-known syndrome, and several observations have been made in the last 30 years. Herein, we report a new observation of trisomy 4p in a fetus with a semi-lobar holoprosencephaly (HPE), dysmorphic features and multiple malformations. The diagnosis of HPE was made, at 33 weeks' gestation, on the fetus of a healthy G1P0 woman. Amniocentesis was performed for chromosome analysis and additional material was found on a chromosome 22. The couple elected to terminate the pregnancy and fetal examination was realized. Conventional and molecular cytogenetic studies were performed on the fetus and the parents, which showed that the additional material found on one chromosome 22 corresponded to the short arm of chromosome 4 and therefore led us to establish a diagnosis of trisomy 4p inherited from the malsegregation of a paternal translocation t(4;22)(q12;q11.1). The etiology of HPE is very heterogeneous; it includes non-genetic factors such as maternal diabetes and genetic causes. HPE cases have been described in association with many chromosomal anomalies, trisomy 13 being the most frequent. However, to our knowledge, HPE has never been previously reported in association with a trisomy involving solely the short arm of chromosome 4. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

国家天然气安全评价指标体系的构建与应用

围绕如何测度并改善天然气安全这一核心议题,引入并修正了APERC能源安全“4A”分析框架,运用层次分析法与德尔斐法,构建了天然气安全评价指标体系,对主要天然气净进口国和净出口国的天然气安全状况进行了量化评估。评估发现：（1）天然气安全四维度（资源可利用性、经济可承受性、贸易可获得性与环境可接受性）的不可或缺性意味着综合表现优异的国家安全水平更高;（2）8个二级指标中,可采储量、个体可承受性等指标的权重更大;（3）天然气净出口国在资源可利用性、经济可承受性和贸易可获得性方面有优势,整体表现优于进口国。就中国而言,可从加快资源开发、完善市场机制、扩大进口渠道和提高资源利用效率四个方面提高天然气安全水平。     

Quantifying species recovery and conservation success to develop an IUCN Green List of Species

Stopping declines in biodiversity is critically important, but it is only a first step toward achieving more ambitious conservation goals. The absence of an objective and practical definition of species recovery that is applicable across taxonomic groups leads to inconsistent targets in recovery plans and frustrates reporting and maximization of conservation impact. We devised a framework for comprehensively assessing species recovery and conservation success. We propose a definition of a fully recovered species that emphasizes viability, ecological functionality, and representation; and use counterfactual approaches to quantify degree of recovery. This allowed us to calculate a set of 4 conservation metrics that demonstrate impacts of conservation efforts to date (conservation legacy); identify dependence of a species on conservation actions (conservation dependence); quantify expected gains resulting from conservation action in the medium term (conservation gain); and specify requirements to achieve maximum plausible recovery over the long term (recovery potential). These metrics can incentivize the establishment and achievement of ambitious conservation targets. We illustrate their use by applying the framework to a vertebrate, an invertebrate, and a woody and an herbaceous plant. Our approach is a preliminary framework for an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Species, which was mandated by a resolution of IUCN members in 2012. Although there are several challenges in applying our proposed framework to a wide range of species, we believe its further development, implementation, and integration with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species will help catalyze a positive and ambitious vision for conservation that will drive sustained conservation action.     

Do lower electricity storage costs reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

In the electricity sector, innovation in large-scale storage is anticipated to reduce costs and improve performance. The effect on greenhouse gas emissions of lower storage costs depends on the interactions between storage and the entire grid. The literature has disagreed on the role of storage in reducing emissions. In this paper we present a stylized model, which suggests that the effect of storage costs on emissions depends on the supply responsiveness of both fossil and renewable generators. Under common conditions in the United States, lower storage costs are more likely to reduce emissions when wind investment responds to equilibrium electricity prices and when solar investment does not. Simulations of a computational model of grid investment and operation confirm these intuitions. Moreover, because of its effect on coal and natural gas–fired supply responsiveness, introducing a carbon dioxide emissions price may increase the likelihood that lower storage costs reduce emissions.     

一种新型双3,4-羟基吡啶酮类衍生物的合成及铀络合研究

以甲基麦芽酚为原料,经4步反应合成得到一种新型的四齿双3,4-羟基吡啶酮类衍生物,通过红外、紫外、核磁、质谱对其结构进行了表征.采用等摩尔连续变化法测定了四齿双3,4-羟基吡啶酮衍生物与UO22+的络合常数,在pH=7.4时,络合常数lgK=22.7,证实所合成的四齿双3,4-羟基吡啶酮衍生物有望成为一种新型的核素促排剂.     

沉积物中不同浓度多壁碳纳米管对Cd和BDE-47生态毒性的影响

随着碳纳米管的广泛应用,其将不可避免地进入环境中.由于其具有极好的吸附亲和力和吸附容量,碳纳米管可以充当环境中持久性有毒污染物的载体,从而改变共存污染物的生物有效性和生态毒性.为评价淡水沉积物中不同多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)对Cd和BDE-47生态毒性的影响,采用沉积物慢性生物测试研究了不同浓度MWCNTs存在下Cd和BDE-47对铜锈环棱螺肝胰脏抗氧化防御系统关键成分超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与Ⅱ相解毒反应的关键酶谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)以及脂质过氧化损伤指标丙二醛(MDA)的影响.结果表明,沉积物中低浓度MWCNTs(0.5 mg·g~(-1))增强Cd对铜锈环棱螺的氧化胁迫,中、高浓度(5、50 mg·g~(-1))MWCNTs引起Cd对铜锈环棱螺的氧化损伤,MWCNTs的存在显著增强了沉积物中Cd对铜锈环棱螺的毒性,而且具有浓度-效应关系;低浓度MWCNTs不影响BDE-47对铜锈环棱螺的毒性,中、高浓度MWCNTs显著降低BDE-47的毒性,同样具有明显的浓度-效应关系.因此,在评价MWCNTs的潜在环境风险时,不仅考虑MWCNTs自身的毒性,还应当考虑MWCNTs的浓度、共存污染物的种类和MWCNTs与共存污染物之间的相互作用.