Carbon-accounting methods and reforestation incentives

The emission of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, and the consequent potential for climate change are the focus of increasing international concern. Temporary land-use change and forestry projects (LUCF) can be implemented to offset permanent emissions of carbon dioxide from the energy sector. Several approaches to accounting for carbon sequestration in LUCF projects have been proposed. In the present paper, the economic implications of adopting four of these approaches are evaluated in a normative context. The analysis is based on simulation of Australian farm–forestry systems. Results are interpreted from the standpoint of both investors and landholders. The role of baselines and transaction costs are discussed.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

DEER data analysis software : a comparative guide

We acknowledge financial support from EPSRC (studentship to HR EP/R513337/1 and The Royal Society (URF to JEL UR150698F). The UKRI block grant to St Andrews supported the journal charges for open access.Pulsed Dipolar Spectroscopy (PDS) Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) experiments are popular techniques to measure dipolar coupling and therefore nanometre-scale distances and distance distributions between paramagnetic centres. The most common experiment is Double Electron Electron Resonance (DEER, also known as PELDOR), which is a well-tested and documented experiment. Until recently there were few methods to analyze data, however this has changed of late. The current plethora of DEER analysis packages may appear overwhelming to a new practitioner of DEER. In this work, six of the most popular packages are reviewed. This includes a brief guide for getting started with the environments, and qualitative testing and comparison of each using both simulated and experimental DEER data.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Bridging the synaptic gap: neuroligins and neurexin I in Apis mellifera

Vertebrate studies show neuroligins and neurexins are binding partners in a trans-synaptic cell adhesion complex, implicated in human autism and mental retardation disorders. Here we report a genetic analysis of homologous proteins in the honey bee. As in humans, the honeybee has five large (31-246 kb, up to 12 exons each) neuroligin genes, three of which are tightly clustered. RNA analysis of the neuroligin-3 gene reveals five alternatively spliced transcripts, generated through alternative use of exons encoding the cholinesterase-like domain. Whereas vertebrates have three neurexins the bee has just one gene named neurexin I (400 kb, 28 exons). However alternative isoforms of bee neurexin I are generated by differential use of 12 splice sites, mostly located in regions encoding LNS subdomains. Some of the splice variants of bee neurexin I resemble the vertebrate alpha- and beta-neurexins, albeit in vertebrates these forms are generated by alternative promoters. Novel splicing variations in the 3' region generate transcripts encoding alternative trans-membrane and PDZ domains. Another 3' splicing variation predicts soluble neurexin I isoforms. Neurexin I and neuroligin expression was found in brain tissue, with expression present throughout development, and in most cases significantly up-regulated in adults. Transcripts of neurexin I and one neuroligin tested were abundant in mushroom bodies, a higher order processing centre in the bee brain. We show neuroligins and neurexins comprise a highly conserved molecular system with likely similar functional roles in insects as vertebrates, and with scope in the honeybee to generate substantial functional diversity through alternative splicing. Our study provides important prerequisite data for using the bee as a model for vertebrate synaptic development.Australian National University PhD Scholarship Award to Sunita Biswas

Kinetic and sequence-structure-function analysis of known LinA variants with different hexachlorocyclohexane isomers

BACKGROUND Here we report specific activities of all seven naturally occurring LinA variants towards three different isomers, α, γ and δ, of a priority persistent pollutant, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Sequence-structure-function differences contributing to the differences in their stereospecificity for α-, γ-, and δ-HCH and enantiospecificity for (+)- and (-)-α -HCH are also discussed. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Enzyme kinetic studies were performed with purified LinA variants. Models of LinA2(B90A) A110T, A111C, A110T/A111C and LinA1(B90A) were constructed using the FoldX computer algorithm. Turnover rates (min(-1)) showed that the LinAs exhibited differential substrate affinity amongst the four HCH isomers tested. α-HCH was found to be the most preferred substrate by all LinA's, followed by the γ and then δ isomer. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The kinetic observations suggest that LinA-γ1-7 is the best variant for developing an enzyme-based bioremediation technology for HCH. The majority of the sequence variation in the various linA genes that have been isolated is not neutral, but alters the enantio- and stereoselectivity of the encoded proteins.This work was supported by the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund from the Department of Education Science and Technology (DEST), Australia and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), India

The case of Mobility as a Service: how the challenges of shared mobility shape its adoption by women

© 2023 RGS-IBG All rights reserved.This paper explores issues of inclusiveness and safety that women encounter when using Mobility as a Service (MaaS), a transport offering which enables users to book, manage and pay diverse modes of transport through smartphone apps. Personal mobility modes may include public transport, car, bicycle sharing, automated vehicles and more. The adoption of MaaS by women may contribute to decarbonisation of personal mobility and yet it suffers from implementation gap. The study draws on Practice Theory (PT), a theory which focused on social practices and Consumer Culture Theory (CCT), which focused on the interaction between consumers’ identities and their behaviour. Despite benefits, participants associate using MaaS with meanings of unsafety and apps with intrusiveness. Women seem disadvantaged compared to men when using MaaS. Suggested solutions include rigorous vetting of service personnel and whenever possible, recruit female personnel such as drivers. On board cameras, recording devices and safety features of apps may help women feel safe. MaaS providers could encourage the formation of communities around MaaS brands. Geography affects MaaS use as coverage of rural areas is poor, whilst women are more likely to use MaaS when on holiday. Changes are needed to the socio-technical landscape, including to social practices and infrastructure and this requires changes in policy, investment and governance

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SALICYLALDOXIME, CYSTEINE AND BENZOTRIAZOLE AS INHIBITORS FOR THE ACTIVE CHLORIDE-BASED CORROSION OF COPPER AND BRONZE ARTIFACTS

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of salicylaldoxime and cysteine as potential replacements to benzotriazole, the widely used but environmentally unfriendly and not always effective copper corrosion inhibitor. Coupons of modern copper, 5% tin bronze, and 12% tin bronze samples were corroded using an accelerated electrochemical procedure, which involved anodically polarizing the coupons in a solution of 0.5M NaCl + 0.1M CuCl2.2H2O. X-ray diffraction analysis of the corrosion products showed the presence of copper (I) chloride (CuCl) on the surfaces of the three reference materials. Tin (IV) oxide (SnO2) was also detected on the surface of the 12% tin bronze.The interaction of the corrosion inhibitors with the corrosion products was investigated by visual examination and scanning electron microscopy. Benzotriazole and salicylaldoxime formed a surface adherent and aesthetically acceptable green complexes for the corroded copper and bronze, while cysteine formed grey patches that cover the green corrosion on copper and bronze. Accelerated corrosion in an environmental chamber of high relative humidity and temperature (84% RH and 38oC) showed that salicylaldoxime was the most effective inhibitor for the three reference materials against corrosion in these severe environmental conditions. However, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy's results showed that the benzotriazole was the most effective inhibitor in chloride solutions, and that the effective of cysteine increases with the increase of tin content in the alloy. It was concluded that salicylaldoxime presented a relevant and effective corrosion inhibitor for most conservation applications on corroded copper and bronze, while cysteine presented an environmentally friendly replacement for benzotriazole to protect uncorroded or previously treated by reduction back to metal artifacts