On the exploitation of self-propagating high-temperature reactions for environmental protection

The major achievements obtained in the field of self-propagating reactions when exploited for environmental protection are reviewed in this chapter. In particular, the fixation and consolidation of high-level radioactive wastes; the treating and recycling of a highly toxic solid waste from electrolytic zinc plants; the recycling of silicon sludge and aluminum dross produced by semiconductor industries and aluminum foundries, respectively; the degradation of chlorinated aromatics; and the treatment of wastes containing asbestos are addressed. Future scientific and technological directions related to this promising field of reaction engineering are also foreseen

The genome of the model beetle and pest Tribolium castaneum

Tribolium castaneum is a member of the most species-rich eukaryotic order, a powerful model organism for the study of generalized insect development, and an important pest of stored agricultural products. We describe its genome sequence here. This omnivorous beetle has evolved the ability to interact with a diverse chemical environment, as shown by large expansions in odorant and gustatory receptors, as well as P450 and other detoxification enzymes. Development in Tribolium is more representative of other insects than is Drosophila, a fact reflected in gene content and function. For example, Tribolium has retained more ancestral genes involved in cell–cell communication than Drosophila, some being expressed in the growth zone crucial for axial elongation in short-germ development. Systemic RNA interference in T. castaneum functions differently from that in Caenorhabditis elegans, but nevertheless offers similar power for the elucidation of gene function and identification of targets for selective insect control