The Precautionary Principle in Practice: Applying the Ashford Framework to Technological Risk

The precautionary principle reflects an old adage — an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Its four central components include: taking preventative action in the face of uncertainty; shifting the burden of proof to proponents of an activity; exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions; and increasing public participation in decision processes. Scholars in a range of fields have identified U.S. environmental laws, regulations, and decisions exhibiting precaution de facto. This study moves beyond the traditional treatments of the subject, the morass of definitions systematizing precaution into its basic elements. It poses a further question, within the current legal system and existing laws, how might the precautionary principle be implemented by modifying aspects of a statute? By applying a conceptual legal precautionary framework to a specific example of technological risk management, Washington State's energy facility siting statute, we reveal deficiencies in four areas: compensation issues; burden of proof; Type I or II error preferences; and systematic comparisons. Supplying these would, in all likelihood, ensure a more effective statute and process as well as an outcome consistent with legislative goals. However, were an explicit statement of the precautionary principle introduced, parties dissatisfied with an outcome would seek judicial review, and extensive litigation could counter the legislative mandate of abundant energy at a reasonable cost.     

The effect of manipulated shading on the colony abundance of two species of ants,Formica aserva and Leptothorax muscorum,in dead wood

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are known to be a thermophilic group with fewer species at higher latitudes. They are ubiquitous in the sub‐boreal forests of west‐central British Columbia (Canada) in the early seral ages of forest succession, nesting almost exclusively in woody debris. Individual species begin to disappear with advancing seral ages as the canopy closes, suggesting the hypothesis that heat gain from insolation is critical to many species. We experimentally manipulated shading of two wood‐nesting ant species –Leptothorax muscorum (Nylander) and Formica aserva Forel – to emulate advancing seral age, in an environment documented to support their normal habitation. Shaded down woody debris (DWD) was found to be ca. 2 °C cooler than unshaded DWD, whereas stumps were ca. 1.5 °C cooler when shaded than when unshaded. We found significantly fewer colonies of both L. muscorum and F. aserva in shaded wood, as compared to unshaded, in a pattern consistent with how each species has been observed to respond to advancing seral age. Temperature monitoring during the experiment indicated that soil was cooler than either stumps or DWD, possibly explaining the absence of soil‐nesting ant species in these forests. The species‐specific differences in ant colony abundance in response to small temperature differences, found in this study, support other research on the significance of temperature in structuring ant assemblages.     

The importin-beta binding domain of snurportin1 is responsible for the Ran- and energy-independent nuclear import of spliceosomal U snRNPs in vitro

The nuclear localization signal (NLS) of spliceosomal U snRNPs is composed of the U snRNA's 2,2,7-trimethyl-guanosine (m3G)-cap and the Sm core domain. The m3G-cap is specifically bound by snurportin1, which contains an NH2-terminal importin-beta binding (IBB) domain and a COOH-terminal m3G-cap--binding region that bears no structural similarity to known import adaptors like importin-alpha (impalpha). Here, we show that recombinant snurportin1 and importin-beta (impbeta) are not only necessary, but also sufficient for U1 snRNP transport to the nuclei of digitonin-permeabilized HeLa cells. In contrast to impalpha-dependent import, single rounds of U1 snRNP import, mediated by the nuclear import receptor complex snurportin1-impbeta, did not require Ran and energy. The same Ran- and energy-independent import was even observed for U5 snRNP, which has a molecular weight of more than one million. Interestingly, in the presence of impbeta and a snurportin1 mutant containing an impalpha IBB domain (IBBimpalpha), nuclear U1 snRNP import was Ran dependent. Furthermore, beta-galactosidase (betaGal) containing a snurportin1 IBB domain, but not IBBimpalpha-betaGal, was imported into the nucleus in a Ran-independent manner. Our results suggest that the nature of the IBB domain modulates the strength and/or site of interaction of impbeta with nucleoporins of the nuclear pore complex, and thus whether or not Ran is required to dissociate these interactions.     

Temperature response of root‐lesion nematode (Pratylenchus thornei) reproduction on wheat cultivars has implications for resistance screening and wheat production

The root‐lesion nematode Pratylenchus thornei is a major pathogen of wheat and other field crops, particularly in the northern grain region of sub‐tropical eastern Australia. Research was conducted into the temperature requirements of P. thornei for reproduction on wheat to increase the reliability of selection in resistance tests for wheat breeding. Final population densities (P_f) of P. thornei were determined on four wheat cultivars (Gatcher, GS50a, Potam and Suneca) at fortnightly intervals from 8 to 18 weeks at a range of six soil temperatures (15°C, 20°C, 22.5°C, 25°C, 27.5°C and 30°C) in a glasshouse experiment. Pratylenchus thornei had the highest P_f in the temperature range of 20–25°C on all wheat cultivars at all growth times after sowing, with no nematode reproduction measured at 30°C and very little at 15°C. The wheat cv. GS50a consistently produced lower P_f than cvs Gatcher, Potam and Suneca in the optimum temperature range of 20–25°C. In carrot disc cultures, P. thornei had an optimum temperature of 25°C with little reproduction at 17.5°C and none detectable at 30°C. A standard soil temperature of 23°C was chosen to maximise differences in nematode reproduction between resistant and susceptible wheat genotypes for selection in wheat breeding, and to improve reproducibility among successive experiments. The relationships derived from these experiments will be valuable for simulation of P. thornei reproduction in crop growth models. They also indicate that early sowing of wheat into cool soil (≤15°C) in farmers' fields of the northern grain region should favour wheat growth over nematode reproduction and increase grain yield.     

Wet and dry season diets of the Endangered Lemur catta (ring‐tailed lemur) in two mountainous rocky outcrop forest fragments in south‐central Madagascar

Lemur catta's ability to consume a wide variety of plant foods is a key to this species' survival in a time of ecological crisis across its geographic range. We examined seasonal diet variability of L. catta groups inhabiting two rocky outcrop fragments in south‐central Madagascar: Anja Reserve and Tsaranoro Valley forest. Leaves and fruit of Melia azedarach were a keystone resource for Anja lemurs in wet and dry seasons. At Tsaranoro, L. catta relied on M. azedarach and Ficus spp. in dry season, but during the wet season, neither was a dominant food resource. Top food species at both sites differed markedly from those consumed by L. catta in other habitats. At Tsaranoro, a greater proportion of lemurs engaged in feeding during the dry season compared with wet season. We attribute this to resource scarcity during dry season, when greater feeding effort is needed to maintain energy requirements. Because M. azedarach is ubiquitous throughout Anja Reserve, producing fruit and leaves year‐round, Anja lemurs can meet energy requirements with little seasonal adjustment in feeding activity. L. catta's IUCN status has been upgraded to Endangered, thus, greater insight into its diet flexibility and ability to survive on introduced plant species, can inform conservation plans in remaining wild habitats and ex situ programs.     

Light waveguiding in bioinspired peptide nanostructures

Basic optical properties of bioinspired peptide nanostructures are deeply modified by thermally mediated refolding of peptide secondary structure from α‐helical to β‐sheet. This conformational transition is followed by the appearance in the β‐sheet structures of a wideband optical absorption and fluorescence in the visible region. We demonstrate that a new biophotonic effect of optical waveguiding recently observed in peptide/protein nanoensembles is a structure‐sensitive bimodal phenomenon. In the primary α‐helical structure input, light propagates via optical transmission window demonstrating conventional passive waveguiding, based on classical optics. In the β‐sheet structure, fluorescent (active) light waveguiding is revealed. The latter can be attributed to completely different physical mechanism of exciton‐polariton propagation, characterized by high effective refractive index, and can be observed in nanoscale fibers below diffraction limit. It has been shown that peptide material requirements for passive and active waveguiding are dissimilar. Original biocompatibility and biodegradability indicate high potential future applications of these bioinspired waveguiding materials in precise photobiomedicine towards advanced highly selective bioimaging, photon diagnostics, and optogenetics.     

食用菌产业化生产的质量安全保障措施

总结多年食用菌生产实践经验,并在多项科研项目中运用和充实,制定了《安全食用菌产品生产技术要求(企业标准)》。在食用菌产业化示范中对安全食用菌生产场地环境、制种和菌种经营、栽培工艺、产品质量等提出了专业和具体的要求,为食用菌生产技术的升级换代和规范化提供技术参数和质量指标,为提高食用菌产品质量、保障消费者安全与健康提供依据。     

Geographical and technological differences in life cycle inventories shown by the use of process models for waste incinerators part I. technological and geographical differences

Goal and Background  Geographical and technological differences in Life Cycle Inventory data are an important source for uncertainty in the result of Life Cycle Assessments. Knowledge on their impact on the result of an LCA is scarce, and also knowledge on how to manage them in an LCA case study. Objective  Goal of this paper is to explore these differences for municipal solid waste incinerator plants, and to develop recommendations for managing technological and geographical differences. Methodology  The paper provides a definition of technological and geographical differences, and analyses their possible impacts. In a case study, the differences are caused intentionally in ‘games’, by virtually transplanting incineration plants to a different location and by changing parameters such as the composition of the waste input incinerated. The games are performed by using a modular model for municipal solid waste incinerator plants. In each case, an LCA including an Impact Assessment is calculated to trace the impact of these changes, and the results are compared. Conclusions  The conclusions of the paper are two-fold: (1) reduce the differences in inventory data where their impact on the result is high; where it is possible reducing them to a great extent, and the effort for performing the change acceptable; in the case of incineration plants: Adapt the flue gas treatment, especially a possible DeNOx step, to the real conditions; (2) make use of modular process models that allow adapting plant parameters to better meet real conditions, but be aware of possible modelling errors. The paper invites the scientific community to validate the model used for a waste incinerator plant, and suggest putting up similar models for other processes, preferably those of similar relevance for Life Cycle Inventories.     

Effects of different levels of dietary zinc on the gilthead,Sparus aurata during the growing season

Gilthead were fed three diets. Diet A was the control diet, whereas diets B and C were supplemented with 300 and 900 mg Zn/kg, respectively. Fish fed with diet C, at the end of the experiment, showed the lowest weight. Zinc concentrations presented the higher values in gills, liver, and kidney. Muscle and brain had the lower mean values and showed a tight control of zinc levels. These results reinforce the hypothesis that zinc in the CNS should be strictly controlled in order to maintain the functional role of the metal. Significant differences in tissue zinc concentrations were obtained between fish fed different amounts of zinc, the metal concentrations being higher in tissues of fish fed diet C. The tissue decrease of zinc, found at the end of the experiment, may depend on a lower feed consumption or on different zinc requirements during the cold season. These changes, even if not univocal among the three diets, may be associated with the life cycle of fish. Furthermore, copper concentrations were little affected by the different concentrations of zinc in the three diets; liver and kidney presented the highest concentrations; liver showed a significant decrease in copper content at the end of the experiment. We conclude that: zinc concentrations of the diet may affect the gilthead weights and the tissual metal content; and zinc concentrations in the diets, depending on the growth rate, may be varied depending on the season.     

Intraspecific diversity in the fungal speciesChaunopycnis alba: Implications for microbial screening programs

Intraspecific variation among 84 isolates of the anamorphic fungusChaunopycnis alba from 26 different geographical locations was analyzed by investigating optimal growth temperatures, differences in the production of secondary metabolites and presence or absence of the cyclosporin synthetase gene. The genetic diversity was assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Analysis of these data showed high genetic, metabolic and physiological diversity within this species. Isolates from the Antarctic represented the most homogeneous group withinC. alba and together with isolates from the Arctic these polar strains differed from alpine, temperate and tropical strains by low optimal growth temperatures and by low production of secondary metabolites. Isolates from tropical climes were characterized by high optimal growth temperatures and by the production of comparatively diverse metabolite spectra. Most of the isolates that were similar in the combination of their physiological and metabolic characters were also genetically related. Isolates from different geographical origins did not show many similarities, with the exception of the cyclosporin A-producing isolates, and large diversity could be observed even within a single habitat. This leads us to the suggestion that for pharmaceutical screening programs samples should be collected from a diversity of different geographical and climatic locations. For the selection of strains for screening the RAPD assay seems to be the most powerful tool. It reflected the highest intraspecific diversity and the results corresponded well with the other characteristics.