Defining freshwater as a natural resource: a framework linking water use to the area of protection natural resources

© 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Purpose: While many examples have shown unsustainable use of freshwater resources, existing LCIA methods for water use do not comprehensively address impacts to natural resources for future generations. This framework aims to (1) define freshwater resource as an item to protect within the Area of Protection (AoP) natural resources, (2) identify relevant impact pathways affecting freshwater resources, and (3) outline methodological choices for impact characterization model development. Methods: Considering the current scope of the AoP natural resources, the complex nature of freshwater resources and its important dimensions to safeguard safe future supply, a definition of freshwater resource is proposed, including water quality aspects. In order to clearly define what is to be protected, the freshwater resource is put in perspective through the lens of the three main safeguard subjects defined by Dewulf et al. (2015). In addition, an extensive literature review identifies a wide range of possible impact pathways to freshwater resources, establishing the link between different inventory elementary flows (water consumption, emissions, and land use) and their potential to cause long-term freshwater depletion or degradation. Results and discussion: Freshwater as a resource has a particular status in LCA resource assessment. First, it exists in the form of three types of resources: flow, fund, or stock. Then, in addition to being a resource for human economic activities (e.g., hydropower), it is above all a non-substitutable support for life that can be affected by both consumption (source function) and pollution (sink function). Therefore, both types of elementary flows (water consumption and emissions) should be linked to a damage indicator for freshwater as a resource. Land use is also identified as a potential stressor to freshwater resources by altering runoff, infiltration, and erosion processes as well as evapotranspiration. It is suggested to use the concept of recovery period to operationalize this framework: when the recovery period lasts longer than a given period of time, impacts are considered to be irreversible and fall into the concern of freshwater resources protection (i.e., affecting future generations), while short-term impacts effect the AoP ecosystem quality and human health directly. It is shown that it is relevant to include this concept in the impact assessment stage in order to discriminate the long-term from the short-term impacts, as some dynamic fate models already do. Conclusions: This framework provides a solid basis for the consistent development of future LCIA methods for freshwater resources, thereby capturing the potential long-term impacts that could warn decision makers about potential safe water supply issues in the future

Sponge glycoconjugates: immunological properties and localization by fluorescent antibodies and lectins.

International audienceBy immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis, glycoconjugates previously isolated from a sponge, Spongia officinalis, and fractionated on lectins, showed identical immunological behaviour which was species specific. By fluorescent antiserum and lectins, these glycoconjugates were located on sections of two sponges, S. officinalis and Chondrosia reniformis. A strong pericellular staining occurred together with a diffused labeling.By immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis, glycoconjugates previously isolated from a sponge, Spongia officinalis, and fractionated on lectins, showed identical immunological behaviour which was species specific. By fluorescent antiserum and lectins, these glycoconjugates were located on sections of two sponges, S. officinalis and Chondrosia reniformis. A strong pericellular staining occurred together with a diffused labeling

Fine structure and physiocochemical studies on the collagen of the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis nardo.

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Cockroach collagen: isolation, biochemical and biophysical characterization.

International audienceCollagen fibrils from the mesenteric connective sheath of the adult cockroach Periplaneta americana were extracted by enzymatic digestion with pepsin and were purified. Chromatographic studies and sodium dodecylsulfate electrophoresis revealed the presence of a single chain. It was demonstrated that the structure of this collagen could be represented by the formula (alpha)3. The amino acid composition is typical of collagens (one-third glycine, and a high imino acid content) and similar to that of type II. The carbohydrate content was high (8.8%), and the cyanogen bromide pattern was different from that of known collagens. The chains were linked by the stable intermolecular bond dihydroxylysinonorleucine. The banding patterns of the segment-long-spacing crystallites and of the reconstituted fibrils were similar to type I collagen. The molecular weight (Mr 280,000) and length (285 nm) were typical, but the denaturation temperature was high (38.5 degrees C). It was concluded that cockroach mesenteric collagen showed the characteristic features of invertebrate mesodermal collagens, except that of the thermal stability of the triple-helical structure.Collagen fibrils from the mesenteric connective sheath of the adult cockroach Periplaneta americana were extracted by enzymatic digestion with pepsin and were purified. Chromatographic studies and sodium dodecylsulfate electrophoresis revealed the presence of a single chain. It was demonstrated that the structure of this collagen could be represented by the formula (alpha)3. The amino acid composition is typical of collagens (one-third glycine, and a high imino acid content) and similar to that of type II. The carbohydrate content was high (8.8%), and the cyanogen bromide pattern was different from that of known collagens. The chains were linked by the stable intermolecular bond dihydroxylysinonorleucine. The banding patterns of the segment-long-spacing crystallites and of the reconstituted fibrils were similar to type I collagen. The molecular weight (Mr 280,000) and length (285 nm) were typical, but the denaturation temperature was high (38.5 degrees C). It was concluded that cockroach mesenteric collagen showed the characteristic features of invertebrate mesodermal collagens, except that of the thermal stability of the triple-helical structure

Unified multiconductor transmission-line model of multiple-shields multiconductor cables: evaluation of shield connections performances

This paper presents a transmission-line model of a multiple-shields multiconductor cable. This unified model includes at the same time the propagation and cross-coupling characteristics of the electrical wires and of the cable-shields. It also includes the electromagnetic characteristics of the shields (in terms of transfer impedance and transfer admittance). It is derived in compliance with the multiconductor-transmission-line theory and it is valid whatever the connection configurations at the shield ends are. Therefore, it makes it possible the modelling of realistic connection problems ranging from ideal 360° shield connections to simple bonding wires. In addition, it is suitable for both electromagnetic susceptibility and emission problems. The paper proposes a physical explanation of the derived per-unit-length matrices. This unified model is also used to define the required conditions for being able to calculate the response of a shielded-cable in a two-steps model in which the shield problem and the inner shield problem are solved in sequence. Finally, the paper illustrates an application of the model in order to evaluate performances of a shielded-cable-link on crosstalk configurations with respect to various electrical bonding techniques of the shield.</jats:p