The endowment effect,discounting and the environment

There is a considerable body of evidence showing that our preferences exhibit both reference dependence and loss aversion, a.k.a. the endowment effect. In this paper, we consider the implications of the endowment effect for discounting, with a special focus on discounting future improvements in the environment. We show that the endowment effect modifies the discount rate via (i) an instantaneous endowment effect and (ii) a reference-updating effect. Moreover we show that these two effects often combine to dampen the preference to smooth consumption over time. What this implies for discounting future environmental benefits may then depend critically on whether environmental quality is merely a factor of production of material consumption, or whether it is an amenity. On an increasing path of material consumption, dampened consumption smoothing implies a lower discount rate. But on a declining path of environmental quality and where we derive utility directly from environmental quality, it implies a higher discount rate. On non-monotonic paths, loss aversion specifically can give rise to substantial discontinuities in the discount rate.     

Decomposition of aqueous chlorinated contaminants by UV irradiation with H2O2

In the present study, the decomposition rates of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in water by the ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation alone and H₂O₂/UV were experimentally investigated. The detailed experimental studies have been conducted for examining treatment capacities of the two different ultraviolet light sources (low and medium pressure Hg arc) in H₂O₂/UV processes. The low or medium UV lamp alone resulted in a 60%–90% decomposition of 2,4-DCP while a slight addition of H₂O₂ resulted in a drastic enhancement of the 2,4-DCP decomposition rate. The decomposition rate of 2,4-DCP with the medium pressure UV lamp alone was about 3–6 times greater than the low pressure UV lamp alone. In the direct photolysis of aqueous CCl₄, the medium pressure UV lamp had advantage over the low pressure UV lamp because the molar extinction coefficient of CCl₄ at shorter wavelength (210–220 nm) is about 20 to 50 times higher than that at 254 nm. However, adding H₂O₂ to the medium pressure UV lamp system rendered a negative oxidation rate because H₂O₂ acted as a UV absorber being competitive with CCl₄ due to negligible reaction between CCl₄ and OH radicals. The results from the present study indicated significant influence of the photochemical properties of the target contaminants on the photochemical treatment characteristics for designing cost-effective UV-based degradation of toxic contaminants.     

Metabolic responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to zinc and cadmium by nuclear magnetic resonance -based metabolomics

Heavy metals are common marine and soil pollutants that are mainly the result of industrial activity, and are a threat to the environment and human health. In this study, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics was applied to adult Danio rerio to monitor the metabolic change as a response to ZnCl₂ and CdCl₂ exposure at different concentrations for 72?h. NMR spectroscopy was used to identify and quantify the metabolites extracted from D. rerio. The metabolite profiles of the control and heavy metal exposed group were classified by partial least squares – discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) analysis, and potential contaminant-specific biomarkers were suggested. For the ZnCl₂-exposed zebrafish, the levels of ATP, aspartate and NAD⁺ were increased, whereas the levels of formate, inosine, hypoxanthine and succinate decreased. In addition, the CdCl₂-exposed zebrafish showed an increase in the levels of ATP and formate and a decrease in the levels of glutamate, inosine and glutathione. Overall, Zn and Cd may lead to neurotoxicity, disturbances in the energy metabolism and oxidative stress. Our finding demonstrated that the application of NMR-based metabolomics might be useful for detecting the toxicity caused by sub-lethal concentrations of heavy metal contaminants in the environment.     

烷基糖苷对赤潮生物的抑制与灭杀作用的实验

以赤潮生物具齿原甲藻0201-01(Prorocentrum dentatum 0201-01)和赤潮异湾藻(Heterosigma akashiwo)为材料,研究了烷基糖苷对不同起始密度藻细胞的抑制和灭杀作用。结果表明：烷基糖苷在一定浓度范围内对这两种赤潮生物的生长有明显抑制作用,进一步增大烷基糖苷的用量,可以使藻细胞丧失运动性,细胞破裂乃至溶解消失。可见,烷基糖苷作为除藻剂在赤潮治理中具有一定应用前景。     

N2O2与UV-C灭藻的协同效果研究及工程实验

研究了UV-C/N₂O₂催化氧化去除鱼腥藻PCC7120的效果,探讨了各种因素如c(N₂O₂),pH,辐照度及反应时间对灭藻率的影响.结果表明,N₂O₂对UV-C(紫外线C波段辐照)灭藻具有协同作用,UV-C/N₂O₂高级氧化体系对鱼腥藻PCC7120具有很强的氧化能力.在藻液中c(N₂O₂)为1 mmol/L,反应温度为25℃,pH为6.8,紫外线辐照度0.54 mW/cm2及反应20min的条件下,受试藻种的灭活率5 d后可以达到85%以上.将N₂O₂与浸没式UV-C流动除藻装置结合进行流动式的灭藻实验,灭藻效果显著,鱼腥藻PCC7120体内的SOD酶和POD酶的活性及C-PC藻蓝蛋白、叶绿素a的含量都有大幅度的下降,且灭活后的蓝藻不会重新生长.      

强化混凝与超滤组合工艺净化湘江水——采用不同混凝剂的比较

采用强化混凝-超滤组合工艺对湘江水进行了净化研究,通过加入不同的混凝剂[Al₂(SO₄)3·18H2O、FeCl₃]以及粉末活性炭(PAC),比较了三者对于湘江水的处理效果和对膜过滤性能的影响.结果表明,混凝剂的选择与用量对水中污染物质的去除和膜过滤性能有很大的影响.经过组合工艺处理后,系统出水的浊度小于0.1NTU,TOC小于2mg/L,铁、锰的含量低于0.1mg/L.     

光照对低浓度硫化氢气体生物法净化的影响

和种进行光照和避光的对比试验表明,光照能提高微生物对硫化氢废气的净化效率,最终产物为硫酸,净化效率和液相硫酸极的浓度随光照强度的增加而增加。避光时微生物对硫化氢废气的净化效率较低,但最终产物为单质硫。根据上述结果适宜的工艺流程应是首先将硫化氢废气通入避光的生物膜填料塔,把硫化氢转化为能回收的单质硫,然后再将废气通入光照的生物膜填料塔净化,进一步降低硫化氢废气的排放浓度。     

北京市大气光化学氧化剂污染研究

根据在北京市开展的光化学氧化剂系列研究,讨论北京市主要光化学氧化剂O₃,H₂O₂和有机过氧化物的污染浓度水平及其污染特征,探讨光化学氧化剂的形成机制及其主要影响因素。结果表明,北京市存在严重的光化学氧化剂污染,中关村大气臭氧(0₃)最大浓度不仅逐年递增,而O₃最大值的出现时间也提前,说明大气光化学活性逐年增强。光化学烟雾的重要产物过氧化氢(H₂O₂)和甲基过氧化氢(MHP)的浓度水平较高,最大浓度分别为3.69和3.26ug/m3。日益严重的大气NO_x污染为光化学氧化剂的生成提供了充足的前体物,北京市的大气污染己逐渐转为机动车尾气污染型,控制北京市光化学氧化剂污染的有效途径是降低NO_x排放。      

中心复合设计射线法考察离子液体C16H31ClN2与乐果的毒性相互作用

离子液体(ILs)是一种用于替代传统易挥发有机溶剂的新型"绿色"溶剂.由于不挥发、不会对大气产生污染而得到广泛应用.但是某些ILs易溶于水,其自身毒性能够对生态环境造成潜在影响,这已引起诸多学者对ILs毒性的研究兴趣.然而ILs与其它污染物的毒性相互作用目前研究很少.论文选取咪唑类离子液体C16H31ClN(2DMI)与有机磷杀虫剂乐果(DIM)作为目标化合物,以青海弧菌Q67为检测生物,采用微板毒性分析法测定了目标化合物及其混合物的毒性.为全面考察不同浓度范围DMI与DIM的毒性相互作用,将中心复合设计与固定浓度比射线法有机结合起来构建5个不同浓度比的混合物射线,通过浓度加和与独立作用模型对混合物射线进行比较评估.结果表明在DMI浓度较大且DIM浓度较低时,DMI与DIM之间存在明显拮抗作用,而在其它浓度范围内两者之间为加和作用.     

弧菌拮抗菌的筛选及其对凡纳滨对虾的抑菌防病作用

从海洋沉积物中分离到2株弧菌拮抗菌(H2和H4),经生理生化特性、16S rRNA基因序列分析分别鉴定为短小芽孢杆菌(Bacillus pumilus H2)和地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis H4). H2和H4菌株均对需钠弧菌的生长有显著的抑制作用;但只有H2菌株在模拟养殖动物小肠环境中生长良好. 选择H2进行模拟试验(20尾凡纳滨对虾虾苗为1组).结果表明,对照组(不接种)虾苗存活32h,接种弧菌的试验组虾苗仅存活16h,同时接种H2菌株和弧菌的试验组虾苗存活48h,而仅接种H2菌株的试验组虾苗存活了72h,说明菌株H2可显著提高凡纳滨对虾的存活时间.现场试验中,100L养殖池中(50尾虾/池),分别接种0 (对照), 103, 104 CFU/mL的H2菌株并养殖14d,再用104 CFU/mL需钠弧菌处理14d.接种104 CFU/mL H2菌株的试验组,虾的死亡率仅为12.5%,显著低于对照组的30.8%(P0.05).