Development of concepts for human labour accounting in Emergy Assessment and other Environmental Sustainability Assessment methods

Human labour is central to the functioning of any human-influenced process. Nevertheless, Environmental Sustainability Assessments (ESAs) do not systematically include human labour as an input. Systematic omission of labour inputs in ESAs may constitute an unfortunate, significant bias in favour of labour intensive processes and a systematic underestimation of environmental impacts has implications for decision-making. A brief review of the evaluation of human labour in ESAs reveals that only Emergy Assessment (EmA) accounts for labour as standard. Focussing on EmA, we find, however, that there is no agreement on the calculation method for labour. We formalise the calculation of human labour unit emergy values (UEVs) as being the ratio between the emergy resource basis of the labour system and a proxy for labour, with or without allocation to account for different qualities of labour. The formalised calculation approach is demonstrated using examples from the literature (USA, with allocation based on educational level; Ghana, with allocation based on income level; the World, with no allocation). We elaborate on how labour may be considered as endogenous or exogenous to the studied system, and how inputs can be categorised as direct labour taking place in the system under study and indirect labour occurring upstream in the supply chain associated with the studied system. With appropriate modifications, the formalised calculation approach and the distinction between direct and indirect labour may be transferred to other ESA methodologies. Concerning EmA, we recommend that product UEVs should systematically be calculated with and without labour, and that working hours rather than salary should be used when accounting for labour inputs. We recognise that there is a risk of double counting of environmental impacts when including labour. We conclude, however, that it can be ignored for most production systems, since only a negligible fraction of emergy already accounted for is likely to be included in the emergy flow from labour inputs.     

Growth-promoting Activity of Spent Sulfite Liquor for Sphaerotilus natans Growing in a Continuous-Flow Apparatus

The calcium in ammonia-base spent sulfite liquor, unlike that in calcium-base spent liquor, is not available for growth of Sphaerotilus natans. It has not been possible to obtain a mixed slime with Sphaerotilus as the dominant organism in a continuous-flow apparatus fed spent sulfite liquor.     

窖泥群落结构及功能微生物研究进展

窖泥是浓香型白酒的特征发酵载体,包含多种功能微生物,这些功能微生物对浓香型白酒的风格特征和品质有着重要的影响。本文对不同窖龄窖泥、不同浓香型白酒产地的窖泥及不同质量窖泥的窖泥微生物研究进展进行总结分析,并在此基础上对窖泥主体微生物的功能进行阐述。以期为窖泥微生物的研究提供思路,为浓香型白酒的质量和香味成分研究提供思考,促进窖泥微生物的研究,加深对浓香型白酒窖泥的认知。     

Surface Layer Properties of Dough Liquor Components: Are They Key Parameters in Gas Retention in Bread Dough?

Gas cell stability during bread making is controlled by both surface and bulk properties. This paper is focused on studying the surface properties of the water-soluble phase of the dough, the dough liquor (with and without lipids), as well as the composition of the air/water interface. Using infrared reflection measurements, we showed that in lipid-poor liquor, proteins are the dominant species present at the air/water interface. With complete liquor (including the lipids), a mixed interface of protein and lipids is obtained. However, the presence of lipids in the surface layer did not significantly affect the surface pressure. We also added enzymes to the flour to evaluate in what way the surface-active properties of the liquor components can be affected. These results were compared to the effect of adding a surfactant [diacetyl tartaric esters of mono- and diglycerides (DATEM)]. Biobake 10804, a xylanase that increased the arabinoxylan content of the dough liquor, decreased the surface pressure and increased the dilational modulus in lipid-poor liquor. This effect was not observed with the liquor including the lipids. Lipopan 50 BG, a 1,3-specific lipase, increased the surface pressure of the liquor that included the lipids. Lipopan F BG, which converts polar lipids to their lyso form, strongly increased the surface pressure not only in the lipid-containing liquor but also in the lipid-poor liquor. DATEM, as expected, increased the surface pressure while strongly decreasing the dilational modulus. Results of these studies were used to help explain changes in loaf volume observed in a series of baking tests, using the same enzymes and additives. This led to the conclusion that the effect of surface-active components alone cannot account for the larger loaf volumes observed. Clearly, both the effect of bulk and interfacial rheological properties should be considered together when explaining gas cell stability.Presented at the 2005 AACC annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, September 11–14.     

Carcinogenic potential of Indian alcoholic beverage (country liquor).

Epidemiological studies reveal that alcohol consumption is a risk factor for the cancer of the mouth, larynx, esophagus and various other organs. Of the various alcoholic beverages consumed in India, country liquors are widely consumed and that too by the economically weak section of the society. The present paper describes the experiments designed to investigate the effect of one brand of country liquor from Maharashtra State, India (which was found to be more potent in our earlier mutagenicity studies) for its carcinogenicity in two strains of mice and Syrian golden hamsters. The experimental animals received 10% liquor in drinking water from 2 months of age for 16 months. One percent ethanol treated animals served as positive controls. Together with long term bioassays, the transplacental carcinogenic effect of country liquor in the offspring of treated mothers, as well as in the breeders themselves was also investigated. Pregnant mothers were fed 10% liquor through drinking water from 12th day of gestation till weaning of the progeny. Then offspring were allowed to live without further treatment and mothers continued to get liquor treatment. In long term bioassays, liquor caused 22% total tumor incidence in male BALB/c mice and 28% in male Swiss mice. In female Swiss mice and in hamsters, liquor did not show any pronounced effect on tumor incidence. Similar negative results were obtained in case of offspring of treated mothers, but the offspring of liquor treated mothers had higher mortality prior to weaning as compared to those of untreated mothers.     

Twists of fate: multiracial representation in the US House of Representatives

It is argued that though strategies of equalization are rare, they are an integral element of the split labour market [SLM] dynamics both in the causes that bring higher-priced labour to adopt these strategies and in the factors that often impede their success. Following Bonacich, three types of equalization strategies are identified and studied in the case of mandatory Palestine: 1. Establishing minimum standards as discussed in the Wage Commissions of 1928 and 1943; 2. Inclusion of cheap labour in the labour organizations of the higher-priced labour (the Palestine Labor League [PLL] and the Railroad, Post &; Telegraph Workers' Organization [RPTWO]; 3. Support of the liberation movement to which the group of cheap labour is affiliated (the Palestine Communist Party [PCP]). Finally, the SLM theory is discussed in the light of the historical case and a number of elaborations are suggested.     

Enhancing denitrification using a carbon supplement generated from the wet oxidation of waste activated sludge

This study compared the effect of four pure carbon supplements on biological denitrification to a liquor derived as a by-product from the wet oxidation (WO) of waste activated sludge. Sequencing batch reactors were used to acclimate sludge biomass, which was used in batch assays. Acetate, WO liquor and ethanol-supplementation generated the fastest denitrification rates. Acetate and WO liquor were efficiently utilised by all acclimated biomass types, while poor rates were achieved with methanol and formate. When comparing an inoculum from an ethanol-supplemented and non-supplemented wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), the ethanol-acclimated sludge obtained superior denitrification rates when supplemented with ethanol. Similarly high nitrate removal rates were achieved with both sludge types with acetate and WO liquor supplementation, indicating that WO liquors could achieve excellent rates of nitrate removal. The performance of the WO liquor was attributed to the variety of organic carbon substrates (particularly acetic acid) present within the liquor.     

Xylitol production from xylose mother liquor: a novel strategy that combines the use of recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida maltosa</Emphasis>

Background  

Xylose mother liquor has high concentrations of xylose (35%-40%) as well as other sugars such as L-arabinose (10%-15%), galactose (8%-10%), glucose (8%-10%), and other minor sugars. Due to the complexity of this mother liquor, further isolation of xylose by simple method is not possible. In China, more than 50,000 metric tons of xylose mother liquor was produced in 2009, and the management of sugars like xylose that present in the low-cost liquor is a problem.     

Cooperative pastoral production — the importance of kinship

While there is a general assumption that labour has a positive effect on pastoral production, studies that have quantified this relationship have been characterized by ambiguous results. This is most likely related to the fact that possible cooperative pastoral production has been little explored in the literature, although it is well documented that nomadic pastoralist households share and exchange labour in so-called cooperative herding groups. Consequently, this study aims at investigating possible cooperative labour-related effects on production among Saami reindeer herders in Norway by using kinship relations as a proxy for cooperation. This study found that cooperative labour investment is important for Saami reindeer herders, but that the effect of kinship and labour needs to be understood in relation to each other. When assessing the effect of labour and kinship simultaneously, both labour and genealogical relationship had positive effects on herd size. We also found a positive interaction between kinship and labour suggesting that high levels of relatedness coupled with a large potential labour pool had an increasingly positive effect on herd size.     

Bacterial decolorization of black liquor in axenic and mixed condition and characterization of metabolites

The pulping byproducts (black liquor) cause serious environmental problem due to its high pollution load. In order to search the degradability of black liquor, the potential bacterial strains Citrobacter freundii (FJ581026) and Citrobacter sp. (FJ581023) were applied in axenic and mixed condition. Results revealed that the mixed bacterial culture are more effective than axenic condition and can reduce 82% COD, 79% AOX, 79% color and 60% lignin after 144 h of incubation period. Additionally, the optimum activity of lignin degrading enzyme was noted at 96 h and characterized as manganese peroxidase (MnP) by SDS–PAGE analysis. Further, the HPLC analysis of control and bacterial degraded sample has shown the reduction as well as shifting of peaks compared to control indicating the degradation as well as transformation of compounds of black liquor. The comparative GC–MS analysis of control and degraded black liquor revealed that along with lignin fragment some chlorophenolic compounds 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol were detected in black liquor degraded by axenic culture whereas these chlorophenolic compounds were completely absent in black liquor degraded by mixed bacterial culture. These chlorophenol inhibit the oxidative degradation which seems a major reason behind the low degradability of axenic degradation compared to mixed culture. The innovation of this aerobic treatment of alkaline black liquor opens additional possibilities for the better treatment of black liquor along with its metabolic product.     

酱香型与清香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌菌群的差异性分析

【目的】为认识乳酸菌在中国白酒酿造过程中的作用与影响, 分析、比较了酱香型与清香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌的菌群结构及其差异。【方法】运用PCR-DGGE技术分析酱香型与清香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌群的演变规律。并利用传统微生物分离筛选方法进一步确定酱香型白酒发酵中的主要乳酸菌种。【结果】DGGE图谱表明, 白酒发酵过程中的主要乳酸菌种是乳杆菌。但两种香型白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌群组成及动态变化均呈现出明显的差异。清香型白酒酒醅中Lactobacillus fuchuensis是优势菌种, 而酱香型白酒发酵中检测到多种含量较高的乳酸菌种。利用MRS培养基从酱香型白酒酒醅中共筛选获得5种乳酸菌种。通过两种方法, 确定Lactobacillus homohiochii是酱香型白酒发酵过程中含量最高的乳酸菌。【结论】深入研究白酒发酵过程中乳酸菌的组成及分布规律, 对于更好地认识中国白酒酿造中主要的细菌类群——乳酸菌的作用, 具有重要的理论意义和实践价值。     

浓香型白酒两个产区窖泥微生物群落结构分析

【目的】探索浓香型白酒两个典型产区窖泥微生物群落结构和多样性,分析窖泥微生物群落地域特征及对白酒风格形成的影响。【方法】分别提取四川和安徽两个产区窖泥样品总DNA,应用PCR-ARDRA和16S rRNA基因克隆测序技术对两个产区窖泥细菌和古菌进行研究。【结果】两个浓香型白酒产区窖泥细菌丰富,包括:厚壁菌门(Firmicute)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、互养菌门(Synergistetes)、Armatimonadetes类群和未分类细菌(Unclassified bacteria)。两个产区窖泥绝对优势种群均为厚壁菌门中梭菌纲(Clostridia)细菌,在四川产区窖泥中检出较多的互营单胞菌属(Synthrophomonas)和紫单胞菌属(Petrimonas)。古菌的群落组成较为简单,主要是甲烷囊菌属(Methanoculleus)、甲烷八叠球菌属(Methanosarcina)、甲烷鬃菌属(Methanosaeta)和甲烷杆菌属(Methanobacterium)4个产甲烷古菌类群,四川产区窖泥优势古菌为甲烷囊菌和甲烷八叠球菌,安徽产区则为甲烷八叠球菌属和甲烷鬃菌。【结论】四川和安徽两个产区窖泥微生物的16S rRNA基因克隆文库系统地反映了两者微生物群落的相似性和差异性,对揭示浓香型白酒两个产区的酒体风格差异形成有一定的参考价值。     

芝麻香型白酒微生物菌群及风味物质研究进展

芝麻香型白酒是建国后通过学创结合、自主创新的两个香型之一,以其独特的浓、酱、清香融合的生产工艺特点和优雅的芝麻香而在国内闻名。芝麻香型白酒酿造机理和呈香呈味机理目前还不是很清楚。本文主要从芝麻香型白酒酿造工艺特点、微生物菌群种类及作用、风味物质种类与特点等三个方面进行阐述及展望。     

Colony size predicts division of labour in attine ants

Division of labour is central to the ecological success of eusocial insects, yet the evolutionary factors driving increases in complexity in division of labour are little known. The size–complexity hypothesis proposes that, as larger colonies evolve, both non-reproductive and reproductive division of labour become more complex as workers and queens act to maximize inclusive fitness. Using a statistically robust phylogenetic comparative analysis of social and environmental traits of species within the ant tribe Attini, we show that colony size is positively related to both non-reproductive (worker size variation) and reproductive (queen–worker dimorphism) division of labour. The results also suggested that colony size acts on non-reproductive and reproductive division of labour in different ways. Environmental factors, including measures of variation in temperature and precipitation, had no significant effects on any division of labour measure or colony size. Overall, these results support the size–complexity hypothesis for the evolution of social complexity and division of labour in eusocial insects. Determining the evolutionary drivers of colony size may help contribute to our understanding of the evolution of social complexity.     

Economic aspects of village health

Given the poor quantity and quality of medical care in most villages in the developing countries, the economic determinants of village health are the supply of labour, the cash flow associated with that labour and the availability of land. The paper examines these in the three classical 'time periods', arguing that inability to meet labour peaks is of great significance in explaining seasonal shortage of food and chronic shortage of cash. It also explains community indifference to upkeep of social overhead capital. Substitution of capital goods for labour is socially differentiated, not least by labour availability, and leads inevitably to a regressive distribution of land and the creation or enlargement of a class of landless labourers. Under certain limited conditions this class may enjoy a rising real income with associated health-promotive expenditures. The more normal case, however, is extreme poverty, whether rural or urban, with all that that implies for the undermining of health. Land reform therefore becomes a necessary precondition of health promotion.     

灵芝MP-01菌株液体发酵培养基的筛选

对灵芝MP-01菌株在三种培养基上的生长性状进行了研究,并对其液体发酵过程中的pH值变化、发酵全液的多糖含量变化、菌丝生物量及发酵培养性状等进行了观测。结果表明,玉米面培养基是灵芝MP-01菌株液体发酵的适宜培养基,其适宜的终止发酵时间在培养的第6 d,此时发酵液多糖含量达到10.32 mg/mL。     

Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes

The kraft process is applied to wood chips for separation of lignin from the polysaccharides within lignocellulose for pulp that will produce a high quality paper. Black liquor is a pulping waste generated by the kraft process that has potential for downstream bioconversion. However, the recalcitrant nature of the lignocellulose resources, its chemical derivatives that constitute the majority of available organic carbon within black liquor, and its basic pH present challenges to microbial biodegradation of this waste material. Methods for the collection and modification of black liquor for microbial growth are aimed at utilization of this pulp waste to convert the lignin, organic acids, and polysaccharide degradation byproducts into valuable chemicals. The lignocellulose extraction techniques presented provide a reproducible method for preparation of lignocellulose growth substrates for understanding metabolic capacities of cultured microorganisms. Use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry enables the identification and quantification of the fermentation products resulting from the growth of microorganisms on pulping waste. These methods when used together can facilitate the determination of the metabolic activity of microorganisms with potential to produce fermentation products that would provide greater value to the pulping system and reduce effluent waste, thereby increasing potential paper milling profits and offering additional uses for black liquor.     

Combination of newly developed high quality <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fuqu</Emphasis> with traditional <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daqu</Emphasis> for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luzhou-flavor</Emphasis> liquor brewing

Application of a compound starter composed of traditional Daqu, high quality Fuqu developed previously in our lab, and alcohol-producing and aroma-producing yeasts in the brewing of Luzhou-flavor liquor was investigated. Compared with traditional Daqu, the compound starter demonstrated apparently higher starch utilization and alcohol productivity both in flasks and in pits. Flavor ingredient analyses showed that the flavor ingredient compositions of liquors produced with the compound starter were similar to those obtained with the traditional process. With appropriate after treatments, the compound starter may be applied in distilleries for elevating the productivity of traditional liquor or producing high quality new-style distilled liquor. As starch utilization can be increased significantly, using this compound starter in liquor brewing is especially meaningful for lessening environmental pollution. These findings may also be helpful for further understanding the mechanisms of Chinese liquor brewing.     

“There was much that went unspoken”: maintaining racial hierarchies in South African paid domestic labour through the unsaid

Domestic labour in South Africa has historically been a site of racial inequality which has continued into the post-apartheid era despite extensive transformation efforts. This article argues that silence presents an avenue for understanding how such racial hierarchy has persisted. We present a qualitative case study of a domestic labour dyad utilising the diary-interview method to analyse the presentation of labour troubles and the perceptions, interpretations, and implications of the unsaid regarding such troubles. Drawing from the data, we demonstrate how intimacy is foregrounded in talk, while domestic labour activities and domestic labour itself go unsaid. We conclude that the intimate nature of domestic labour allows participants to speak about their relationship in ways that make the labour relationship and its racial inequalities become invisible in talk, making it a difficult institution to challenge and change.     

天然珍珠母液及其配方产品实验结果的分析

目的研究分析天然珍珠母液中主要的微量化学成分及其配方产品。方法采用《中华人民共和国国家标准》中的食品氨基酸、牛磺酸和微量元素及化妆品的测定方法进行检测。结果天然珍珠母液富含人体所需的氨基酸、牛磺酸和多种微量元素,具有无致病菌及重金属不超标和产品获得认证的特点。结论天然珍珠母液有潜在的多领域应用和综合开发价值。