Evaluating regional water security through a freshwater ecosystem service flow model: A case study in Beijing-Tianjian-Hebei region,China

Freshwater ecosystem service is essential to human’s survival and development. Many studies have documented the spatial differences in the supply and demand of ecosystem services and proposed the concept of ecosystem services flows. However, few studies characterize freshwater ecosystem service flow quantitatively. Therefore, our paper aims to quantify the effects of freshwater ecosystem service flow on downstream areas. We developed a freshwater ecosystem service flow model and applied it in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, China, for the year of 2000, 2005, and 2010. We assessed the regional water security with an improved freshwater security index by integrating freshwater service provision, consumption and flow; and found that most areas of the BTH region (69.2%) were affected by upstream freshwater flows. The areas achieving water security in the region also expanded to 66.9%, 66.1%, and 71.3%, which were 6.4%, 6.8% and 5.7% increments compared to no-flow situation, in 2000, 2005 and 2010, respectively. Setting quota for human water consumption is suggested to further improve water security. These results highlight the need to fully understand the connections between distant freshwater ecosystem service provision and local freshwater ecosystem service consumption. This approach may also help managers to choose more sustainable strategies for critical freshwater resource management across different regions.     

The effect of exercise intensity and duration on the oxygen deficit and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption

Nine males with mean maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) = 63.0 ml.kg-1.min-1, SD 5.7 and mean body fat = 10.6%, SD 3.1 each completed nine counterbalanced treatments comprising 20, 50 and 80 min of treadmill exercise at 30, 50 and 70% VO2max. The O2 deficit, 8 h excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and EPOC:O2 deficit ratio were calculated for all subjects relative to mean values obtained from 2 control days each lasting 9.3 h. The O2 deficit, which was essentially independent of exercise duration, increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with intensity such that the overall mean values for the three 30%, 50% and 70% VO2max workloads were 0.83, 1.89 and 3.09 l, respectively. While there were no significant differences (P greater than 0.05) between the three EPOCs after walking at 30% VO2max for 20 (1.01 l), 50 (1.43 l) and 80 min (1.04 l), respectively, the EPOC thereafter increased (P less than 0.05) with both intensity and duration such that the increments were much greater for the three 70% VO2max workloads (EPOC: 20 min = 5.68 l; 50 min = 10.04 l; 80 min = 14.59 l) than for the three 50% VO2max workloads (EPOC: 20 min = 3.14 l; 50 min = 5.19 l; 80 min = 6.10 l). An analysis of variance indicated that exercise intensity was the major determinant of the EPOC since it explained five times more of the EPOC variance than either exercise duration or the intensity times duration interaction. The mean EPOC:O2 deficit ratio ranged from 0.8 to 4.5 and generally increased with both exercise intensity and duration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Lasioseius Fimetorum: a soil-dwelling predator of glasshouse pests?

Female lifespan and reproduction, in terms of numberof larvae produced, of the soil-dwelling predatorymite Lasioseius fimetorum Karg (Acari:Podocinidae) fed on mould mites (Tyrophagusputrescentiae [Schrank] [Acarina: Acaridae]) wereinvestigated by laboratory experiments at 20 °C,as were the mite's consumption rates of various prey.After a preoviposition period of 10.7 days, L.fimetorum produced progeny at a daily rate of 0.7.The oviposition period lasted 23.6 days and a total of19.4 progeny were produced per female. Females livedfor 38.6 days. Eggs of the Collembola Isotomurusspp. (Collembola: Isotomidae) were consumed in thelargest amount by L. fimetorum followed by mouldmite nymphs, larvae and pupae of thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis [Pergande] [Thysanoptera:Thripidae]), eggs of the Collembola Micrisotomaspp. (Collembola: Isotomidae), Isotomurus spp.nymphs and sciarid larvae (Bradysia pauperaTuomikoski and B. tritici (Coquillet) [Diptera:Sciaridae]). Immature drain flies (Psychoda spp.[Diptera: Psychodidae]) were not consumed by L.fimetorum. The suitability of L. fimetorum forbiological control of glasshouse pests withsoil-dwelling stages is discussed in comparison withanother predatory mite Hypoaspis miles Berlese(Acarina: Hypoaspididae).     

Effects of hypochlorite disinfection on the response of barley aleurone layers to gibberellic acid

Although the use of hypochlorite to disinfect seeds is widespread, the effects on tissues isolated from them have been largely ignored. Disinfection of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Himalaya) half-seeds with hypochlorite solutions of ≥1.0% (w/v) available chlorine caused the pericarp to separate from the underlying tissues. Aleurone layers isolated from these grains had lower rates of oxygen consumption and released significantly less protein, PO₄³⁻ Mg²⁺, K⁺ and amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) into the medium in response to gibberellic acid (GA₃) than layers isolated from grains disinfected with a 0.1% hypochlorite solution. Disinfection with 1.0% hypochlorite also quantitatively altered the spectrum of proteins released into the incubation medium by the layers in response to GA₃.     

The Everyday Life Context of Increasing Energy Demands: Time Use Survey Data in a Decomposition Analysis

Industrial ecologists have modeled with precision the material foundations of industrial systems, but given less attention to the demand for products and the drivers of structural changes in these systems. This article suggests that time use data complement data on monetary expenditure and can be used to elucidate the everyday life context in which the changes in the economy take place. It builds upon the claim that goods are not direct sources of utility, but enter specific household activities as inputs. A second argument for the proposed approach is that it can be used to introduce and foster human agency in analyses of production systems. The article uses Finnish time use survey data, consumption expenditure data, and data on the sectoral energy intensities of financial output in the Finnish economy. First, a measure of the energy intensity of activities is derived by relating consumer time use and the required direct and indirect energy requirements. Second, the results include a decomposition of changes in the energy requirements of private consumption in Finland during the 1990s. It is shown that although the same activities on average require increasing energy inputs per unit of time, Finns have simultaneously changed the structure of their everyday life toward less energy-intensive activities.     

User−Producer Interaction in Housing Energy Innovations

Von Hippel and colleagues have highlighted the crucial role of users in innovation in different industries and types of products. They describe the innovation process in terms of the distinct domains of knowledge that producers and users possess. Producers have knowledge about technical solutions and users about their needs, the context of use, and their own capabilities as users. Both sets of knowledge are characterized by "stickiness": They move relatively freely within their own domain but are difficult to transfer outside of it.
In the case of radical innovations for sustainable consumption, the problem of "sticky information" is compounded. Both producers and consumers need to reach out of their conventional competencies and search for new solutions. "Societal actors," such as government bodies or environmental experts, can show the way to such solutions, but this new knowledge needs to be integrated with the "sticky" knowledge about everyday practices in production and consumption.
In the present article we attempt to conceptualize the role and interaction of user and producer knowledge with the knowledge of environmental experts in housing energy innovations. We do so by applying the user−producer interaction framework to a case study on the introduction of low-energy housing concepts in Finland. On the basis of this analysis, we draw conclusions on the potential and limitations of today's practices in the field. For example, we suggest that user involvement can help to enhance the acceptance of low-energy solutions but that the methods for involving users need to be adapted to the particular circumstances in each industry.     

Enhanced glucose consumption in erythrocytes under mechanical stress

In this paper we study the question of whether the unique features of erythrocyte (biconcave shape, extremely high deformability etc.) result only from the specific structural characteristics of the membrane or whether the maintenance of these features is conditioned by the supply of chemical energy. It is shown that glucose, the main source of cell energy, is consumed at a markedly increased rate when there is appreciable mechanical stress of the cell. This observation supports the hypothesis that there is utilization of chemical energy for the mechanical needs of the membrane.     

A Preliminary Human Health Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues Associated with Aquatic Organisms from the Rangsit Agricultural Area,Central Thailand

Food consumption is one of the main routes of human exposure to organochlorine pesticide residues (OCPRs). To assess the potential health risks associated with OCPRs contaminants due to freshwater organism consumption, a number of vegetables, prawn, snail, and fish were collected from Khlong 7 (canal), Rangsit agricultural area, Pathum-Thani Province, Thailand. The samples were extracted using a multiresidue extraction method and then analyzed by gas chromatography with microelectron capture detector (μ -ECD). The results show that low concentrations of OCPRs were detected in parts per billion (ppb) levels. Based on a plausible worst-case scenario, the local population could be at risk for cancer due to consumption of fish contaminated by α -, β -HCH, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, DDD, DDE, and DDT. Likewise, individuals may be at risk from consumption of Lanchester's freshwater prawn Macrobrachium lanchesteri, freshwater snail Filopaludina mertensi, swamp morning-glory Ipomomea aquatica, neptunia Neptunia oleracea, and water lily Nymphaea lotus because these species all contained elevated concentrations of α -, β -HCH, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, and dieldrin.     

Tidal effects on the organic carbon mineralization rate under aerobic conditions in sediments of an intertidal estuary

Laboratory experiments and field measurements were conducted to examine the effect of tide on the organic carbon mineralization rate in sediments under aerobic conditions of an intertidal estuary. Core samples of surface sediments were collected from an intertidal estuary of the Kurose River, Hiroshima, Japan. To mimic low and high tide in the intertidal estuary, organic carbon mineralization rates in the samples were measured in the laboratory under both air-exposed and submerged conditions. Mineralization rates under air-exposed conditions were two to five times higher than those under submerged conditions. Field measurements of the rate of CO₂ emission from the sediment surface revealed a rapid increase in the rate as the sea level fell during ebb tide. The estimated amount of daily organic carbon mineralization assuming a constantly submerged condition was 30% less than that estimated when considering the semi-diurnal fluctuation in sea level. These results indicate that tide has a marked impact on the organic carbon mineralization rate in sediments under aerobic conditions on an intertidal estuary, and tidal effects need to be considered when the amount of mineralized organic carbon is estimated.     

Heart design: free ADP scales with absolute mitochondrial and myofibrillar volumes from mouse to human

Our aim was to estimate a number of bioenergetic parameters in the beating mouse, rat and guinea pig heart in situ and compare the values to those in hearts of mammals over a 2000-fold range in body mass. For the mouse, rat and guinea pig heart, we report a phosphorylation ratio of 1005±50 (n=16), 460±32 (n=10) and 330±22 (n=5) mM⁻¹ and a free cytosolic [ADP] concentration of 13, 18 and 22 μM, respectively. When each parameter was plotted against body mass, they scaled closely to the quarter power (−0.28, r=0.99 and −0.23, r=0.97). A similar regression slope was found when the inverse of free [ADP] was plotted against absolute mitochondrial (slope=−0.26, r=0.99) and myofibrillar volumes (slope=−0.24, r=0.99). The similar slopes indicate that the ratio of absolute mitochondria and myofibrillar volumes in the healthy mammalian heart is a constant, and independent of body size. In conclusion, our study supports the hypothesis that the mammalian heart has a number of highly conserved thermodynamic and kinetic parameters that obey quarter-power laws linking the phosphorylation ratio, ATP turnover rates, free [ADP] and absolute mitochondrial volumes to body size. The results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms and potential deviations from these laws in some disease states.