Integrating Batteries in the Future Swiss Electricity Supply System: A Consequential Environmental Assessment

Stationary batteries are projected to play a role in the electricity system of Switzerland after 2030. By enabling the integration of surplus production from intermittent renewables, energy storage units displace electricity production from different sources and potentially create environmental benefits. Nevertheless, batteries can also cause substantial environmental impacts during their manufacturing process and through the extraction of raw materials. A prospective consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) of lithium metal polymer and lithium‐ion stationary batteries is undertaken to quantify potential environmental benefits and drawbacks. Projections are integrated into the LCA model: Energy scenarios are used to obtain marginal electricity supply mixes, and projections about the battery performances and the recycling process are sourced from the literature. The roles of key parameters and methodological choices in the results are systematically investigated. The results demonstrate that the displacement of marginal electricity sources determines the environmental implications of using batteries. In the reference scenario representing current policy, the displaced electricity mix is dominated by natural gas combined cycle units. In this scenario, the use of batteries generates environmental benefits in 12 of the 16 impact categories assessed. Nevertheless, there is a significant reduction in achievable environmental benefits when batteries are integrated into the power supply system in a low‐carbon scenario because the marginal electricity production, displaced using batteries, already has a reduced environmental impact. The direct impacts of batteries mainly originate from upstream manufacturing processes, which consume electricity and mining activities related to the extraction of materials such as copper and bauxite.     

Role of the acquisition of a type 3 secretion system in the emergence of novel pathogenic strains of Xanthomonas

Cases of emergence of novel plant-pathogenic strains are regularly reported that reduce the yields of crops and trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying such emergence are still poorly understood. The acquisition by environmental non-pathogenic strains of novel virulence genes by horizontal gene transfer has been suggested as a driver for the emergence of novel pathogenic strains. In this study, we tested such an hypothesis by transferring a plasmid encoding the type 3 secretion system (T3SS) and four associated type 3 secreted proteins (T3SPs) to the non-pathogenic strains of Xanthomonas CFBP 7698 and CFBP 7700, which lack genes encoding T3SS and any previously known T3SPs. The resulting strains were phenotyped on Nicotiana benthamiana using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging and image analysis. Wild-type, non-pathogenic strains induced a hypersensitive response (HR)-like necrosis, whereas strains complemented with T3SS and T3SPs suppressed this response. Such suppression depends on a functional T3SS. Amongst the T3SPs encoded on the plasmid, Hpa2, Hpa1 and, to a lesser extent, XopF1 collectively participate in suppression. Monitoring of the population sizes in planta showed that the sole acquisition of a functional T3SS by non-pathogenic strains impairs growth inside leaf tissues. These results provide functional evidence that the acquisition via horizontal gene transfer of a T3SS and four T3SPs by environmental non-pathogenic strains is not sufficient to make strains pathogenic. In the absence of a canonical effector, the sole acquisition of a T3SS seems to be counter-selective, and further acquisition of type 3 effectors is probably needed to allow the emergence of novel pathogenic strains.     

Do intraspecific life history patterns follow interspecific predictions? A test using latitudinal variation in ringed seals

Mammals adapted to unpredictable and low-energy environments often evolve a “bet-hedging” life history strategy characterized by less costly reproductive outputs over a longer and slower-growing life. In contrast, species adapted to more predictable (i.e., low variation) and higher energy environments may evolve greater fecundity over a shorter and faster-growing life. We tested whether this known interspecific pattern also occurs within a species. We compared life history traits of the ringed seal (Pusa hispida) in the Canadian High Arctic to those closer to the southern limit of the species' circumpolar distribution. We found that northern seals grew slower than southern seals (Brody growth coefficient), achieved a greater asymptotic body weight (82 and 69 kg vs. 74 and 54 kg female and male, respectively), reached sexual maturity later (6.1 years vs. 4.5 years), had lower fecundity (1.8 years vs. 1.3 years interbirth interval), longer average lifespan (5 years vs. 3 years median age), and greater movements (1,269 vs. 681 km). Mating systems also likely differed with northern seals showing morphological evidence of a promiscuous mating system with potential sperm competition as indicated by greater relative testes size. The northern region was also characterized by more unpredictable environmental timing of seasonal events, such as spring sea ice breakup. Life history variation between the intraspecific groups of seals appears to agree with interspecific patterns and provides a better understanding of how species' life history parameters shift in concert with environmental conditions.     

铜绿假单胞菌对镉胁迫苗期水稻根系活力及叶片生理特性的影响

为揭示耐镉铜绿假单胞菌缓解镉胁迫水稻的生理效应,以无镉处理为对照,通过添加菌液、空载体、菌剂及20μmol·L^-1 Cd进行水培试验,分析了菌株对苗期水稻根系活力及叶片生理特性的影响.结果表明:镉胁迫显著抑制了水稻的根系活力,降低了叶片光合效率、抗氧化酶活性及可溶性蛋白、类黄酮与总酚含量,提高了叶片丙二醛(MDA)和超氧阴离子(O2-)含量.与镉处理相比,添加菌液、菌剂处理的水稻根系活力分别提高了36.1%~42.5%、49.4%~53.0%;叶片净光合速率提高了118.5%~147.1%、137.6%~156.9%;可溶性蛋白含量提高了37.0%~49.3%、37.7%~72.6%.菌剂处理的水稻叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性分别比Cd处理提高了36.9%~42.6%、82.7%~92.6%、43.3%~52.2%,菌液处理的SOD、POD、CAT则分别比Cd处理提高了25.8%~36.6%、40.9%~55.9%、24.0%~29.2%,菌剂对水稻叶片抗氧化酶的促进效应显著高于菌液;菌剂、菌液处理的水稻叶片MDA含量分别比Cd处理降低了44.8%~54.7%、29.4%~41.9%;O2-含量减少了9.9%~10.2%、3.0%~7.1%;菌剂处理后类黄酮、总酚含量分别比Cd处理提高了125.4%~135.7%、100.8%~119.4%;菌液处理后则分别提高了139.4%~146.7%、115.0%~134.7%.可见,铜绿假单胞菌及其菌剂通过提高苗期水稻根系活力、光合作用促进了苗期水稻的生长.铜绿假单胞菌通过增强水稻抗氧化酶活性、提高类黄酮和总酚等抗氧化物质含量,表现出显著的缓解镉胁迫效应.     

二态混合交配系统的适合度优势及其维持机制研究进展

由开花受精花(chasmogamous, CH)和闭花受精花(cleistogamous, CL)构成的二态混合交配系统植物有着特殊的繁殖策略, 对其进行深入研究有助于理解植物交配系统的维持机制、进化趋势以及植物对环境变化的应对策略。本文综述了国内外关于CH-CL系统两型花研究的文献资料, 包括非生物因素和生物因素对该繁育系统两型花的生长、发育及相对比例的影响, 两型花的维持机制及进化意义, 阐明了CH-CL系统的研究现状及科学问题, 重点评述了基于近年来对CH-CL系统研究成果的新认识。作者提出, 精确地检测两种花型的后代在异质生境下以及在生活史的不同阶段的适合度差异是十分必要的; 微环境(种子的散布模式及位置效应)对两型花种子萌发和子代生长发育的影响非常重要; 两型花表达的时空差异(即开花模式及对异质生境的敏感性差异)的表达机制可能与内源激素的水平变化相关; 对于多年生具CL系统植物来说, 不同性质、不同来源的后代在居群中的分布式样及对居群遗传结构的影响很可能是该系统维持的重要机制。因此, 深入研究和科学认识二态混合交配系统对认识整个植物界繁育系统的进化有十分重要的意义。     

中国植物受威胁等级评估系统概述

濒危物种保护是生物多样性保护工作的重要组成部分, 而物种受威胁等级评估则是濒危物种保护的方向指引。经过多年的发展, 物种受威胁等级的评估由定性评估逐渐向定量评估为主、定性评估为辅的方向发展。本文综述了国内植物受威胁等级定量评估系统的研究进展, 同时介绍了国外较为成熟的IUCN红色名录评估系统、CITES评估系统、美国自然保育协会评估系统, 提出未来制定受威胁物种定量评估标准时要兼顾以下方面: (1)等级设置定义要明确、统一且合理; (2)评估标准应该定量化、客观且不冗余; (3)评估系统应该适应不同地理范围, 最好能同时表达出各范围的受威胁等级; (4)评估指标要包含物种动态信息, 能定量分析物种在过去或者未来的变化。此外, 本文认为国内的物种受威胁等级定量评估系统应该形成规范化的大纲, 加大宣传力度, 尽量将理论研究与具体的保护行动结合起来; 同时, 我国还应该采用全球广泛应用的受威胁等级评估系统获取物种受威胁等级, 将国内生物多样性保护工作纳入到全球范围中去。     

益生菌联合早期肠内营养干预对 重症脑卒中患者营养状态及肠道菌群的影响

目的探讨益生菌联合早期肠内营养干预对重症脑卒中患者营养状态及肠道菌群的影响。方法选取2014年1月至2018年6月于我院住院治疗的重症脑卒中患者70例,随机分为观察组和对照组各35例。两组患者均予控制颅内压、营养神经细胞、抗生素预防感染、保护胃黏膜和维持水电解质酸碱平衡等基础治疗。对照组患者留置鼻饲管行常规肠内营养治疗,观察组患者在对照组治疗基础上加用双歧杆菌四联活菌片水化后鼻饲管注入,1.5 g/次,3次/d,连用10 d。观察两组患者治疗前和治疗10 d后营养状态指标[血清总蛋白(TP)、转铁蛋白(TF)、上臂三头肌肌围(MAMC)]的变化,并比较治疗后肠道菌群(双歧杆菌、乳杆菌、拟杆菌、肠球菌、大肠埃希菌)数量变化。结果治疗10 d后,两组患者血清TP、TF水平和MAMC较治疗前显著下降(P0.05),且治疗后观察组患者TP、TF水平和MAMC高于对照组(P0.05);同时治疗后观察组患者粪便中双歧杆菌、乳杆菌和拟杆菌数量高于对照组,肠球菌和大肠埃希菌数量低于对照组(P0.05)。结论益生菌联合早期肠内营养干预不仅可显著减缓重症脑卒中患者的营养状态恶化;而且能有效地纠正肠道菌群失调,维持肠道微生态的稳定。     

全域旅游发展背景下旅游用地概念及分类——社会生态系统视角

随着全域旅游的实施,旅游用地的内涵和外延在不断拓展,旅游用地的综合性、复合性、多效益性以及空间分布的叠加性日益增强。传统的旅游用地概念内涵不清,分类支离破碎,过分强调功能,缺乏系统时空结构的阐述,导致旅游用地规划难以与其他规划相协调,资源可持续利用和区域整合发展受阻,旅游用地概念和分类面临严峻挑战。在分析旅游用地概念及分类现状,探讨存在的弊端和问题的基础上,基于旅游用地社会生态系统时空结构分析对全域旅游背景下旅游用地进行了概念界定和分类。设旅游用地为一级类,下设资源系统用地、用户系统用地、基底系统用地、相互联系用地4个二级类,资源管理用地等20个三级类用地和地文景观用地等53个四级类。并对全域旅游背景下旅游用地的概念及分类进行了讨论,认为:社会生态系统理念涵盖了全域旅游的全部内涵,重视系统的层级、结构、功能、演进和相互联系,利于构建不同时空阶段的旅游用地类型的用地结构标准,促进旅游用地的规范化、分类化管理,旅游用地的时序化和动态化预测和引导;重视生态功能和社会效益,有利于旅游用地生态环境质量和综合效益的提升;涵盖核心景区及外围要素,有利于解决景区与社区的矛盾,促进全域旅游的开展和区域可持续发展;强调旅游用地的复合性、综合性,有利于旅游规划与其他规划的融合。     

西部欠发达地区生态经济系统能值分析——以青海省海西蒙古族藏族自治州为例

青海省海西蒙古族藏族自治州（简称海西州）生态环境脆弱,快速发展的工业活动对当地生态环境造成严重破坏。海西州地处青藏高原东北部,是我国重要的生态安全屏障之一,在全国生态建设中处于特殊地位。能值分析法是一种基于热力学理论的环境核算方法。利用能值分析法对海西州生态经济系统运行现状进行评估;并应用能值指标评价海西州生态经济系统的可持续发展水平;通过对能值指标的时间序列分析揭示海西州生态经济系统的发展趋势,以期为海西州生态经济系统的可持续发展提供参考依据。研究结果表明,2016年支撑海西州生态经济系统运行的总能值投入量为6.69×10²⁴ sej,是2010年总能值投入量的1.94倍。在2010-2016年的7年内,不可更新资源的能值投入占当年总能值投入量的比例均超过90%,而可更新资源能值投入量与从系统外输入到海西州的能值量占比均较低。基于能值的指标分析显示：海西州的人均能值使用量、能值密度、能值货币比率、环境负载率分别从2010年的8.84×10¹⁸ sej/人、1.15×10¹³ sej/m²、3.05×10¹⁴ sej/US$、103.02增加到2016年的1.65×10¹⁹ sej/人、2.22×10¹³ sej/m²、9.12×10¹⁴ sej/US$、213.47;而相应的能值产出率、能值可持续发展指数则分别从2010年的2.66×10³和25.84降低到2016年的1.23×10³和5.74。研究结果表明虽然海西州经济得到发展、人民生活质量得到提高,而经济发展对当地不可再生资源依赖较大,给环境造成的压力不断增加。为从长远角度实现海西州的可持续发展,亟需转变经济发展方式,降低对不可更新能源的过度开发。此外,研究结果显示,海西州的能值交换率小于1,这说明研究时间范围内,海西州在对外贸易过程中处于不利地位,因此需增加单位产品的附加值以促进能值流的合理流动。