基于绿色GDP和生态足迹的江西省生态效率动态变化研究

生态效率是循环经济与可持续发展的有效测度,其测度方法一直是相关研究领域的热点和难点。鉴于绿色GDP能反映出剔除资源损耗和生态环境影响的国民经济净收益,生态足迹则更能全面地衡量经济发展中消耗的各种物质、能源以及带来的环境影响,基于WBCSD提出的生态效率定义及核算方法,创新性地从绿色GDP和生态足迹的视角改进生态效率度量模型,并以江西省为研究对象,对其2000—2015年间的生态效率变化轨迹及成因进行衡量与分析。结果表明:(1)2000—2015年江西省单位面积生态足迹的绿色GDP即生态效率总体呈上升趋势,15年来提升了4.57倍,与此同时,绿色GDP、生态足迹也呈上升趋势,但绿色GDP的增速明显高于生态足迹的增速;(2)江西省绿色GDP占总的GDP的比例处于不规则波动状态,平均为84.61%,其中自然资源损耗价值、环境退化损失价值和资源环境改善效益也呈不规则波动,三者皆呈现出先上升后下降的趋势,其中自然资源损耗对绿色GDP的影响较为显著;(3)江西省生态足迹不断增加,总生态足迹15年来增加了83.6%,年平均增长率为4.26%,从生态足迹构成来看,各土地利用类型生态足迹均呈波动上升趋势,其中牧草地足迹增长最为显著;(4)江西省生态足迹的主要类型是牧草地足迹、耕地足迹和化石能源用地足迹,其中牧草地足迹比重最大,并且保持波动上升趋势,其次是耕地和化石能源用地足迹,但两者比重均呈小幅下降趋势。从生态效率度量模型的创新性、适应性和生态效率的提高途径等方面进行了详细的探讨。     

深圳市福田区三维城市景观格局变化特征

城市景观是景观变化最快的类型之一,建成景观与绿地景观格局和功能的相互影响及空间配置是城市景观优化的核心。在紧凑型城市快速发展过程中,城市垂直方向增长成为主要扩展方式。如何定量分析三维城市景观格局变化,为城市景观优化提供科学依据还有待深入。选取深圳市福田区,以高分辨率遥感数据和建筑普查数据为基础,运用景观格局指数和景观连通性等方法定量分析建筑景观和绿地景观变化及空间影响。研究结果表明:(1)2003—2016年,福田区建筑景观主要表现为垂直向的立体扩展模式,新增建筑主要为高层和超高层建筑,建筑平均高度增加6.53 m,立体空间体积增加135.58×10~6 m~3,建筑密度仅增加2.42%,建筑景观高度差异逐渐增大,呈现出明显的三维空间异质性。(2)2003—2016年,建筑景观格局由"阶梯式"转变为"金字塔"形,受益于建筑景观的垂向增长,建成景观与绿地景观比例由1.20∶1调整为0.99∶1,建成景观减少4.03 km~2,绿地景观增加2.80 km~2。(3)建成景观的三维立体化释放了绿地景观用地空间,同时也限制了绿地景观的外部连通性,绿地景观连通性较低,大型绿地斑块间缺乏廊道连通,呈现孤岛化。研究可为城市景观空间优化和国土规划等实践提供科学依据。     

基于空间优先级的快速城市化地区绿色基础设施网络构建——以南京市浦口区为例

绿色基础设施是一个由自然区域和其他开放空间相互联系的网络。在城市空间极为有限的情况下,如何有效构建城市绿色基础设施网络并识别那些具关键性景观生态功能的网络要素显得极为重要。为了给城市绿色基础设施网络的建设和管理提供新的建模与分析理念,以快速城市化的南京市浦口区为例,采用MSPA方法并结合景观连通性指数,遴选出了对维持景观连通性贡献最大的生境斑块作为绿色基础设施网络的网络中心,进而采用最小路径方法构建了研究区潜在的绿色基础设施网络,并尝试利用空间句法分析,基于结构优化视角对绿色基础设施网络进行优先级的识别,从而使绿色基础设施网络的构建更科学。研究结果可为快速城市化地区绿色基础设施网络的构建提供一种研究思路与方法,对绿色基础设施网络要素的优先级评价也具有一定的借鉴意义。     

Cost modelling of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas chlororaphis as biocontrol for competitive exclusion of Salmonella enterica on tomatoes

Published research on process-based models for biocontrol of foodborne pathogens on produce is limited. The aim of this research was to develop cost model estimates for competitive exclusion (CE) process using Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas chlororaphis (non-plant pathogenic and non-human pathogen) as biocontrol against Salmonella enterica on tomatoes. Cost estimates were based on material inputs, equipment, facilities, and projected processing conditions of post-harvest packaging of tomatoes. The microbiological data for inactivation of S. enterica was based on published papers. The small-scale processing facility was assumed to have a processing capacity of 2000 kg of tomatoes/hour for 16 h per day, operational 6 days a week, and for 3-months /year. The large-scale facility was assumed to have a processing capacity of 100,000 kg of tomatoes/hour. Estimated initial capital investment costs for small and large-scale models (production facility) were US$391,000 and US$2.1 million. Application of CE for biocontrol of S. enterica on tomatoes was estimated at US$0.0058–0.073/kg of tomatoes during commercial processing operations. This exceeds chlorine wash technology estimated at US$0.00046/kg and is competitive with gaseous chlorine dioxide at US$0.02–0.21/kg. For high-value produce, CE may complement existing technologies increase food safety, reduce storage loses, and extend shelf life of produce.     

Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals: Room Temperature Syntheses toward Commercial Viability

In this progress report, recent improvements to the room temperaturesyntheses of lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (APbX₃, X = Cl, Br, I) are assessed, focusing on various aspects which influence the commercial viability of the technology. Perovskite nanocrystals can be prepared easily from low‐cost precursors under ambient conditions, yet they have displayed near‐unity photoluminescence quantum yield with narrow, highly tunable emission peaks. In addition to their impressive ambipolar charge carrier mobilities, these properties make lead halide perovskite nanocrystals very attractive for light‐emitting diode (LED) applications. However, there are still many practical hurdles preventing commercialization. Recent developments in room temperature synthesis and purification protocols are reviewed, closely evaluating the suitability of particular techniques for industry. This is followed by an assessment of the wide range of ligands deployed on perovskite nanocrystal surfaces, analyzing their impact on colloidal stability, as well as LED efficiency. Based on these observations, a perspective on important future research directions that can expedite the industrial adoption of perovskite nanocrystals is provided.     

Operation Crayweed: Ecological and sociocultural aspects of restoring Sydney’s underwater forests

Operation Crayweed focuses on the restoration of underwater forests that disappeared from the coastline of Sydney, Australia’s largest city, 40 years previously. We show how a combination of science, hands‐on restoration, community engagement and art has helped the project to reach its goals as well as raise awareness about the importance of underwater kelp forests that are experiencing global decline.     

Green synthesis and physiochemical characterization of nickel oxide nanoparticles: Interaction studies with Calf thymus DNA

One of the most promising applications of nanomaterials is that of nanobiosensors, using biomolecules such as nucleic acids as receptors. This study aimed to synthesize nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) by an environmentally friendly green synthesis, using the extract of the herb Coriandrum sativum (coriander). The synthesized NPs were characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photon spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential and transmission electron microscopy. All results confirmed the synthesis of pure, spherical, positively charged NiO NPs of around 95 nm in diameter with prominent hydroxyl groups attached to the surface. Furthermore, interaction studies of synthesized NiO NPs with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) were performed using UV–Visible spectroscopy, UV–thermal melting, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy. CT DNA served as a substitute for nucleic acid biosensors. All experimental studies indicated that the NiO NPs bound electrostatically with CT DNA. These studies may facilitate exploring the potential of NiO NP–nucleic acid conjugated materials to be used as nanobiosensors for various applications, especially in pharmacological, epidemiological, and environmental diagnostic applications, and in detection.     

The importance of leaf surface wax as short-range attractant and oviposition stimulant in a generalist Lepidoptera

Green gram, Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek, is an important pulse crop of Asia. Severe attack by the larvae of Spilosoma obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) causes defoliation of green gram and reduces seed yield. Females lay eggs on the leaf surface, and therefore, surface wax plays an important role as short-range attractant and oviposition stimulant. So, we have attempted to find out whether leaf surface wax compounds (alkanes and free fatty acids) from three green gram cultivars (PDM 54, PUSA BAISAKHI and SAMRAT) could act as short-range attractant and oviposition stimulant in females. The TLC, GC-MS and GC-FID analyses of n-hexane extracts revealed 20 n-alkanes from n-C₁₅ to n-C₃₆ and 13 free fatty acids from C12:0 to C21:0, whilst linoleic acid was unique in SAMRAT. Pentacosane was the predominant amongst n-alkanes in the leaf surface waxes of three cultivars. Heneicosanoic acid and palmitoleic acid were the predominant free fatty acids in the leaf surface waxes of PDM 54, and PUSA BAISAKHI and SAMRAT, respectively. Females were attracted towards one leaf equivalent surface wax of three green gram cultivars against solvent controls (n-hexane) in Y-tube olfactometer bioassays. A synthetic blend of pentacosane, heptacosane, nonacosane, hexatriacontane, palmitoleic acid, linolenic acid and stearic acid, a synthetic blend of pentacosane, hexatriacontane and stearic acid, and a synthetic blend of hexatriacontane, linolenic acid and stearic acid resembling in amounts present in one leaf equivalent surface wax of PDM 54, PUSA BAISAKHI and SAMRAT, respectively, served as short-range attractant and oviposition stimulant in females. Females showed equal preference for egg laying towards the above three synthetic blends when these blends were tested against each other, and hence, these blends could be employed in development of baited traps in pest management strategies.