Tjernobyl och rennäringen - Lägesrapport från Sverige

Status report about Chernobyl and reindeer husbandry in Sweden including participants' discussion.Abstract in Swedish / Sammanfattning: Den 1 juli hojdes grånsvårdet for Cs-137 i bl a renkott från 300 till 1 500 Bq/kg. Efter hojningen av grånsvårdet friklassades nåstan alla samebyar i Norrbottens lån under sarvslakten. Samtliga fjållsamebyar i Norrbottens lån utom den sydligaste år tills vidare helt friklassade. Tre samebyar i sodra delen av Jåmtlands lån var friklassade under sarvslakten. I ovrigt omfattas all renslakt i Våsterbottens och Jåmtlands lån av kontroll betråffande Cs-137. Under juli - aug i år var cesiumhalten lågre ån vid motsvarande tidpunkt i f jol (tabell 1 och figur 1). Under juli - aug slaktades drygt 1 000 renar i skogslandet i sodra delen av Våsterbottens lån (tabell 3). Fr.o.m. andra veckan i juli godkåndes de fiesta slaktkropparna. Halveringstiden for Cs-137 i renarna, som betade i skogslandet kring inlandsbanan i sodra delen av Våsterbottenslån, har beråknats till ca en vecka. Genom tidigarelåggning av sarvslakter i Våsterbottens lån (tabell 3) och norra delen av Jåmtlands lån (tabell 5) minskades kassationen med ett par tusen slaktkroppar. Under senare delen av september steg cesiumhalten till ungefår samma nivå som i f jol. En långsiktig prognos har utarbetats betråffande halten Cs-137 i renar på naturbete. Prognosen visar att omfattande åtgårder kommer att behova vidtagas under de nårmaste 15 - 25 åren om ren-kottet från samebyarna i sodra delen av Våsterbottens lån och norra delen av Jåmtlands lån skall kunna god-kånnas som livsmedel vid ett riktvårde på 1 500 Bq Cs-137/kg kott

Industrins utveckling mot netto-nollutsläpp 2050

Sverige har en vision om ”netto-noll” utsläpp av växthusgaser till 2050 och är på god väg att nå utsatta delmål för utsläppsreduktioner till 2020. Klimatfrågan är dock långsiktig och det under klimatkonventionen antagna 2-gradersmålet innebär utsläppsåtaganden som sträcker sig till år 2050 och bortom. En långsiktigt effektiv klimatpolitik ska därför utvärderas både efter vilka långsiktiga utvecklingsmöjligheter den skapar likväl som efter de utsläppsreduktioner som nås till lägsta kostnad på kort sikt. Detta betyder ett ökat fokus på styrning och åtgärder som inte ger direkta utsläppsreduktioner idag men som på lång sikt skapar förutsättningar i form av infrastruktur, kunskap, teknikutveckling och grönt entreprenörskap. På lång sikt måste klimatpolitiken även fortsätta med bredare ekonomiska ansatser som grön skatteväxling för att styra mot klimatsmartart konsumtion. För tillverkningsindustrin bör staten skapa bra generella förutsättningar för innovation och industriell utveckling för att underlätta tillverkningsindustrins omställning till nya ”gröna” marknadskrav. För basindustrin behöver dock staten ta ett särskilt ansvar och ha en sammanhängande innovationspolitik som mer riktat styr mot att utveckla nya tekniska lösningar för att klara långsiktiga klimatmål. Forskning och utveckling är redan idag en viktig del av svensk klimatpolitik men det saknas en sammanhållen svensk strategi för basindustrin. För att utveckla de rätta institutionella förutsättningarna föreslår vi två uppdrag som bör utvecklas och sedan permanentas inom myndigheterna. I. Ett uppdrag att utveckla kapaciteten att analysera och utvärdera strukturomvandlingen mot grönare sektorer i ekonomin II. Ett uppdrag att utveckla branschvisa färdplaner för industrin Bägge uppdrag syftar till att stärka myndigheternas förmåga att effektivt implementera en långsiktig klimatpolitik med ett fokus på industri- och teknikutvecklin

A European industrial development policy for prosperity and zero emissions

The objective of this paper is to outline and discuss the key elements of an EU industrial development policy consistent with the Paris Agreement. We also assess the current EU Industrial Strategy proposal against these elements. The “well below 2 °C” target sets a clear limit for future global greenhouse gas emissions and thus strict boundaries for the development of future material demand, industrial processes and the sourcing of feedstock; industry must evolve to zero emissions or pay for expensive negative emissions elsewhere. An industrial policy for transformation to net-zero emissions must include attention to directed technological and economic structural change, the demand for emissions intensive products and services, energy and material efficiency, circular economy, electrification and other net-zero fuel switching, and carbon capture and use or storage (CCUS). It may also entail geographical relocation of key basic materials industries to regions endowed with renewable energy. In this paper we review recent trends in green industrial policy. We find that it has generally focused on promoting new green technologies (e.g., PVs, batteries, fuel cells and biorefineries) rather than on decarbonizing the emissions intensive basic materials industries, or strategies for handling the phase-out or repurposing of sunset industries (e.g., replacing fossil fuel feedstocks for chemicals). Based on knowledge about industry and potential mitigation options, and insights from economics, governance and innovation studies, we propose a framework for the purpose of developing and evaluating industrial policy for net-zero emissions. This framework recognizes the need for: directionality; innovation; creating lead markets for green materials and reshaping existing markets; building capacity for governance and change; coherence with the international climate policy regime; and finally the need for a just transition. We find the announced EU Industrial Strategy to be strong on most elements, but weak on transition governance approaches, the need for capacity building, and creating lead markets

Aggregated impact of allowance allocation and power dispatching on emission reduction

Climate change has become one of the most important issues for the sustainable development of social well-being. China has made great efforts in reducing CO2 emissions and promoting clean energy. Pilot Emission Trading Systems (ETSs) have been launched in two provinces and five cities in China, and a national level ETS will be implemented in the third quarter of 2017, with preparations for China’s national ETS now well under way. In the meantime, a new round of China’s electric power system reform has entered the implementation stage. Policy variables from both electricity and emission markets will impose potential risks on the operation of generation companies (GenCos). Under this situation, by selecting key variables in each domain, this paper analyzes the combined effects of different allowance allocation methods and power dispatching models on power system emission. Key parameters are set based on a provincial power system in China, and the case studies are conducted based on dynamic simulation platform for macro-energy systems (DSMES) software developed by the authors. The selected power dispatching models include planned dispatch, energy saving power generation dispatch and economic dispatch. The selected initial allowance allocation methods in the emission market include the grandfathering method based on historical emissions and the benchmarking method based on actual output. Based on the simulation results and discussions, several policy implications are highlighted to help to design an effective emission market in China

The Pochonia chlamydosporia Serine Protease Gene vcp1 Is Subject to Regulation by Carbon, Nitrogen and pH: Implications for Nematode Biocontrol

The alkaline serine protease VCP1 of the fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia belongs to a family of subtilisin-like enzymes that are involved in infection of nematode and insect hosts. It is involved early in the infection process, removing the outer proteinaceous vitelline membrane of nematode eggs. Little is known about the regulation of this gene, even though an understanding of how nutrients and other factors affect its expression is critical for ensuring its efficacy as a biocontrol agent. This paper provides new information on the regulation of vcp1 expression. Sequence analysis of the upstream regulatory region of this gene in 30 isolates revealed that it was highly conserved and contained sequence motifs characteristic of genes that are subject to carbon, nitrogen and pH-regulation. Expression studies, monitoring enzyme activity and mRNA, confirmed that these factors affect VCP1 production. As expected, glucose reduced VCP1 expression and for a few hours so did ammonium chloride. Surprisingly, however, by 24 h VCP1 levels were increased in the presence of ammonium chloride for most isolates. Ambient pH also regulated VCP1 expression, with most isolates producing more VCP1 under alkaline conditions. There were some differences in the response of one isolate with a distinctive upstream sequence including a variant regulatory-motif profile. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy studies indicated that the presence of nematode eggs stimulates VCP1 production by P. chlamydosporia, but only where the two are in close contact. Overall, the results indicate that readily-metabolisable carbon sources and unfavourable pH in the rhizosphere/egg-mass environment may compromise nematode parasitism by P. chlamydosporia. However, contrary to previous indications using other nematophagous and entomopathogenic fungi, ammonium nitrate (e.g. from fertilizers) may enhance biocontrol potential in some circumstances

Genomic and Proteomic Analyses of the Fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora Provide Insights into Nematode-Trap Formation

Nematode-trapping fungi are “carnivorous” and attack their hosts using specialized trapping devices. The morphological development of these traps is the key indicator of their switch from saprophytic to predacious lifestyles. Here, the genome of the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora Fres. (ATCC24927) was reported. The genome contains 40.07 Mb assembled sequence with 11,479 predicted genes. Comparative analysis showed that A. oligospora shared many more genes with pathogenic fungi than with non-pathogenic fungi. Specifically, compared to several sequenced ascomycete fungi, the A. oligospora genome has a larger number of pathogenicity-related genes in the subtilisin, cellulase, cellobiohydrolase, and pectinesterase gene families. Searching against the pathogen-host interaction gene database identified 398 homologous genes involved in pathogenicity in other fungi. The analysis of repetitive sequences provided evidence for repeat-induced point mutations in A. oligospora. Proteomic and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses revealed that 90 genes were significantly up-regulated at the early stage of trap-formation by nematode extracts and most of these genes were involved in translation, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall and membrane biogenesis. Based on the combined genomic, proteomic and qPCR data, a model for the formation of nematode trapping device in this fungus was proposed. In this model, multiple fungal signal transduction pathways are activated by its nematode prey to further regulate downstream genes associated with diverse cellular processes such as energy metabolism, biosynthesis of the cell wall and adhesive proteins, cell division, glycerol accumulation and peroxisome biogenesis. This study will facilitate the identification of pathogenicity-related genes and provide a broad foundation for understanding the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms underlying fungi-nematodes interactions

Burkholderia pseudomallei multi-centre study to establish EUCAST MIC and zone diameter distributions and epidemiological cut-off values.

OBJECTIVES: Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, requires intensive antimicrobial treatment. However, standardized antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methodology based on modern principles for determining breakpoints and ascertaining performance of methods are lacking for B. pseudomallei. This study aimed to establish MIC and zone diameter distributions on which to set epidemiological cut-off (ECOFF) values for B. pseudomallei using standard EUCAST methodology for non-fastidious organisms. METHODS: Non-consecutive, non-duplicate clinical B. pseudomallei isolates (9-70 per centre) were tested at eight study centres against eight antimicrobials by broth microdilution (BMD) and the EUCAST disc diffusion method. Isolates without and with suspected resistance mechanisms were deliberately selected. The EUCAST Development Laboratory ensured the quality of study materials, and provided guidance on performance of the tests and interpretation of results. Aggregated results were analysed according to EUCAST recommendations to determine ECOFFs. RESULTS: MIC and zone diameter distributions were generated using BMD and disc diffusion results obtained for 361 B. pseudomallei isolates. MIC and zone diameter ECOFFs (mg/L; mm) were determined for amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (8; 22), ceftazidime (8; 22), imipenem (2; 29), meropenem (2; 26), doxycycline (2; none), tetracycline (8; 23), chloramphenicol (8; 22) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (4; 28). CONCLUSIONS: We have validated the use of standard BMD and disc diffusion methodology for AST of B. pseudomallei. The MIC and zone diameter distributions generated in this study allowed us to establish MIC and zone diameter ECOFFs for the antimicrobials studied. These ECOFFs served as background data for EUCAST to set clinical MIC and zone diameter breakpoints for B. pseudomallei

Overexpression of the aphid-induced serine protease inhibitor <i>CI2c </i>gene in barley affects the generalist green peach aphid, not the specialist bird cherry-oat aphid

<div><p>Aphids are serious pests in crop plants. In an effort to identify plant genes controlling resistance against aphids, we have here studied a protease inhibitor, CI2c in barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> L.). The <i>CI2c</i> gene was earlier shown to be upregulated by herbivory of the bird cherry-oat aphid <i>(Rhopalosiphum padi</i> L.<i>)</i> in barley genotypes with moderate resistance against this aphid, but not in susceptible lines. We hypothesized that CI2c contributes to the resistance. To test this idea, cDNA encoding <i>CI2c</i> was overexpressed in barley and bioassays were carried out with <i>R</i>. <i>padi</i>. For comparison, tests were carried out with the green peach aphid (<i>Myzus persicae</i> Sulzer), for which barley is a poor host. The performance of <i>R</i>. <i>padi</i> was not different on the <i>CI2c</i>-overexpressing lines in comparison to controls in test monitoring behavior and fecundity. <i>M</i>. <i>persicae</i> preference was affected as shown in the choice test, this species moved away from control plants, but remained on the <i>CI2c</i>-overexpressing lines. <i>R</i>. <i>padi</i>-induced responses related to defense were repressed in the overexpressing lines as compared to in control plants or the moderately resistant genotypes. A putative susceptibility gene, coding for a β-1,3-glucanase was more strongly induced by aphids in one of the <i>CI2c</i>-overexpressing lines. The results indicate that the CI2c inhibitor in overexpressing lines affects aphid-induced responses by suppressing defense. This is of little consequence to the specialist <i>R</i>.<i>padi</i>, but causes lower non-host resistance towards the generalist <i>M</i>. <i>persicae</i> in barley.</p></div