Better Regulation for Sustainable Development

© Sustainable Development Commission 2009This discussion paper considers the case for using regulation as a lever to promote sustainable development in public services.Sustainable Development Commissio

2-[(Meth­oxy­carbonothio­yl)sulfan­yl]acetic acid

The title compound, C4H6O3S2, features a characteristic xanthate group; the C=S double bond is shorter than the C—S single bond, and the methyl group is coplanar with the xanthate group. In the crystal pairs of mol­ecules form dimers through inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding

Effect of sea ice meltwater on the alkalinity of seawater

Alkalinity values in the top few hundred meters in Baffin Bay were about 100 μeq kg—1 above those expected from deeper values when the effect of salinity is removed. This “excess” alkalinity is attributed to calcium carbonate that precipitated from brines in sea ice and was subsequently reintroduced into the water column when the ice melted. The “excess” alkalinity is then used to estimate the amount of sea ice meltwater formed in Baffin Bay

2-[(Isopropoxycarbonothio­yl)sulfanyl]­acetic acid

The title compound, C6H10O3S2, features a planar C atom connected to one O and two S atoms, the C—S single bond being distinctly longer than the C–S double bond. Two mol­ecules are linked by an O—H⋯O hydrogen bond about a center of inversion, generating a dimer

Diversity, functional structure and functional redundancy of woodland plant communities: How do mixed tree species plantations compare with monocultures?

Managing forest plantation stands in a way that retains productivity targets, but that also fosters biodiversity and stand resilience are key sustainable forest management goals. Current forestry policy advocates a diversification of forest stands to achieve these goals, favouring mixed age structures and polycultures over single-aged monocultures. Evidence is lacking, however, to support this management recommendation for biodiversity gains and related ecosystem service delivery. We used indices of taxonomic diversity and functional structure to compare ground vegetation communities in mixed and pure stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) in each of three study regions. We categorised the 91 vascular plant species identified into functional effect and response groups. We tested the hypotheses that ground vegetation communities (i) differ significantly in structure and composition between Scots pine and oak monocultures and (ii) show enhanced levels of taxonomic and functional diversity and functional redundancy in mixed stands of Scots pine and oak compared with monocultures. We explored the implications of any differences in the functional structure of ground vegetation communities in the different stand types on two ecosystem services: nutrient availability and levels of resource provisioning for herbivores. Nine functional response groups (RG) and seven functional effect groups (EG) were identified with considerable overlap in the RG and EG species grouping. Three RGs had traits characteristic of forests (spring flowering herbs, tree saplings and shrubs/ climbers), one RG had traits characteristic of open habitats (annual ruderals) and the remaining RGs had more generalist traits (anemochorous perennials, graminoids and short perennials). No significant differences were found among stand types in terms of taxonomic diversity or richness of the different functional trait groups. Ground vegetation communities in the three study regions also had similar levels of functional redundancy across stand types. However, Scots pine and oak monocultures harboured significantly different abundances of species with distinct functional traits. In all three study regions, anemochorous perennials were significantly more abundant in Scots pine monocultures than oak monocultures, while two core forest groups (shrubs/ climbers, spring flowering herbs) were significantly more abundant in oak monocultures. Mixed stands had intermediate abundances of these functional groups. These differences have implications for the comparative availability of food resources and shelter for wildlife, but also the mobilisation and temporal availability of nutrients in the two monocultures. Thus, mixtures of Scots pine and pedunculate oak can temper significant tree species identity influences on ground vegetation functional diversity

Molecule‐Induced Radical Formation (MIRF) Reactions—A Reappraisal

Radical chain reactions are commonly initiated through the thermal or photochemical activation of purpose‐built initiators, through photochemical activation of substrates, or through well‐designed redox processes. Where radicals come from in the absence of these initiation strategies is much less obvious and are often assumed to derive from unknown impurities. In this situation, molecule‐induced radical formation (MIRF) reactions should be considered as well‐defined alternative initiation modes. In the most general definition of MIRF reactions, two closed‐shell molecules react to give a radical pair or biradical. The exact nature of this transformation depends on the σ‐ or π‐bonds involved in the MIRF process, and this Minireview specifically focuses on reactions that transform two σ‐bonds into two radicals and a closed‐shell product molecule

Localization of Interaction using Fibre-Optic Shape Sensing in Soft-Robotic Surgery Tools

Minimally invasive surgery requires real-time tool tracking to guide the surgeon where depth perception and visual occlusion present navigational challenges. Although vision-based and external sensor-based tracking methods exist, fibre-optic sensing can overcome their limitations as they can be integrated directly into the device, are biocompatible, small, robust and geometrically versatile. In this paper, we integrate a fibre Bragg grating-based shape sensor into a soft robotic device. The soft robot is the pneumatically attachable flexible (PAF) rail designed to act as a soft interface between manipulation tools and intra-operative imaging devices. We demonstrate that the shape sensing fibre can detect the location of the tools paired with the PAF rail, by exploiting the change in curvature sensed by the fibre when a strain is applied to it. We then validate this with a series of grasping tasks and continuous US swipes, using the system to detect in real-time the location of the tools interacting with the PAF rail. The overall location-sensing accuracy of the system is 64.6%, with a margin of error between predicted location and actual location of 3.75 mm

A survey of food projects in the English NHS regions and Health Action Zones in 2001

Background and Objective: This article sets out the findings from an analysis of food projects, with a particular emphasis on fruit and vegetables, from the 26 Health Action Zones (HAZs) in England and those taking place within the former NHS regional areas in 2001. The objective was to gather information on the existing practice to inform future work. Methods: A series of interviews with key informants in the London area and a review of all the London Health Improvement Programmes and Coronary Heart Disease Local Implementation Plans were used to inform the development of an interview schedule and questionnaire. A second phase consisted of interviews with leads in the NHS Regional Offices. The third phase involved distribution of a questionnaire to the 26 Health Action Zones (HAZs). Results: Comprehensive data on food projects was not routinely available. The large number of initiatives related to food led some respondents to feel unsure as to under which policy to locate their food and fruit and vegetable work. Projects tended to be based on the development of skills (for example, cooking classes) or on a settings approach such as activities in schools or workplaces. A strategic focus was reported as being more common at a local level. Evaluation of food projects was at an early stage in many areas. Conclusions: The future sustainability of food and fruit and vegetable projects was identified as a Key issue. Future policy development of food projects need to be clearly guided by a coherent policy focus and an integrated approach which clearly tackles the root causes of food access and poverty