Dynamic implication of biomass energy consumption on economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from panel data analysis

The present article examines the dynamic linkages between biomass energy consumption, capital stock, human capital and economic growth across selected Sub-Saharan African countries based on dynamic heterogeneous panels of a mean group (MG) and pooled mean group (PMG) techniques. The finding based on PMG as the preferred method reveals that biomass energy consumption, capital stock and human capital are statistically significant, which means aforementioned variables have positive significant impact on economic growth in the countries studied. When an alternative panel estimation techniques of panel cointegration, dynamic OLS (DOLS) and fully modified OLS (FMOLS) are applied, the result based on panel cointegration technique reveals that biomass energy consumption, capital stock, human capital and economic growth are cointegrated as null hypothesis of most statistics are rejected at 1 % level of significance. The finding based on FMOLS shows that biomass energy consumption, capital stock and human capital positively influences economic growth at 1 % level and same result is obtained from panel OLS. The result based on DOLS however reveals that biomass energy consumption and capital stock are significant at 1 % on economic growth while human capital is insignificant. Considering its positive effect on economic growth with little or no environmental degradation when compared with fossil fuel uses, consumption of biomass energy is more preferable in these countries therefore is the best option to adopt by the policy makers of Sub-Saharan African countries.     

Thermoluminescence and the shock and reheating history of meteorites—II: Annealing studies of the Kernouve meteorite

Samples of the unshocked, equilibrated chondrite, Kernouve (H6), have been annealed for 1–100 hours at 500–1200°C, their thermoluminescence sensitivity measured and Na, K, Mn, Ca and Sc determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The TL sensitivity decreased with temperature until by 1000°C it had fallen by 40%. The process responsible has an activation energy of ~8 kcal/mole and probably involves diffusion. Samples annealed 1000–1200°C had TL sensitivities 10^?2 times the unannealed values, most of the decrease occurring ~1100°C. This process has an activation energy of ~100 kcal/mole and is probably related to the melting of the TL phosphor, feldspar, with some decomposition and loss of Cs, Na and K. Meteorites whose petrography indicates healing > 1100°C by natural shock heating events (shock facies d-f). have TL sensitivities similar to samples annealed > 1100°C. Our own and literature compositional data indicate that TL is more stable to annealing than Ag, In, Tl, Bi, Zn and Te and less stable than Na, K, Mn, Ca, Se and Co, while the TL decrease resembles very closely the pattern of Cs loss on annealing.     

记辽宁一新翼龙化石（喙嘴龙亚目）

记述了辽宁北票四合屯炒米甸子组中一新翼龙化石,该翼龙个体极小,两翼展开仅约４０ｃｍ。化石具有同形齿、长尾、极短的翼掌骨和非常发育的后肢第Ⅴ趾等特征,因而无疑可归入喙嘴龙亚目喙嘴龙科（Ｒｈａｍｐｈｏｒｈｙｎｃｈｉｄａｅ）,并代表一新属种弯齿树翼龙（Ｄｅｎｄｒｏｒｈｙｎｃｈｕｓｃｕｒｖｉｄｅｎ－ｔａｔｕｓｇｅｎ．ｅｔｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．）。该化石是我国及东亚晚侏罗世喙嘴龙类翼龙的首次记录,它的发现有力地表明包括中华龙鸟和孔子鸟在内的辽西四合屯化石层的地质时代应为晚侏罗世。     

安徽贵池地区二叠纪孤峰组含锰岩系稳定同位素特征

安徽贵池地区沉积锰矿床赋存于二叠纪孤峰组。该矿床包括沉积作用形成的碳酸锰矿和经后期氧化作用形成的氧化锰矿。稳定同位素分析表明，含锰岩系的O、C稳定同位素具有较大的变化范围，δ^13C为-4．1‰-5．0‰，δ^18O为-3．40‰-21．40‰。古温度普遍偏高，一般在50-65℃之间，说明其时沉积水体较深，古盐度分析结果（Z=124-133）显示均为正常海相沉积，氧化环境下氧同位素分馏作用表明形成氧化锰矿需要大量的大气降水。     

The relationship of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) to tidal datums: A review

An analysis of data relatingSpartina alterniflora Loisel. to tidal elevations along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts demonstrated that although this species is primarily confined to the intertidal zone, its elevational limits. of occurrence do not correspond to a consistent elevation relative to a tidal datum in all marsh locations. The variation in the vertical distribution of this species reported among marsh studies was attributed primarily to differences in mean tide range (MTR). A positive correlation between MTR and elevational growth range (r=0.91) demonstrated that theSpartina alterniflora zone expands with increasing tidal amplitude. Differences in MTR among marsh locations accounted for 70 and 68% of the statistical variation in the upper and lower limits, respectively, ofS. alterniflora growth. Among marshes of similar tidal amplitudes, the upper limit of occurrence ofS. alterniflora in northern marshes was significantly lower than that in marshes at lower latitudes. These results, in combination with regional differences in plant species distribution across the upper intertidal zone, suggested that some of the variation in the upper limit was due to latitudinal differences in growth conditions and/or differences in interspecific competition. Local and regional differences in other factors such as salinity, nutrients, or physical disturbance may have also contributed to the variation in the limits of growth relative to a tidal plane within and among marshes.     

Taxonomic composition,paleoecology and biostratigraphy of Late Cretaceous diatoms from Devon Island,Nunavut, Canadian High Arctic

Upper Cretaceous sediments of the Kanguk Formation exposed in Eidsbotn and Viks Fiord grabens on Devon Island, Nunavut, Canadian High Arctic, yielded 91 fossil marine diatom species and varieties (including indeterminate taxa), representing 41 genera. Excellent preservation of the assemblages was aided by shallow burial, protection in downfaulted linear grabens, and the presence of abundant volcanic material. Planktonic species and resting spores comprise nearly 70% of the diatom assemblage, and provided abundant food resources for the Late Cretaceous Arctic ecosystem. Deposition of the approximately 225 m-thick stratigraphic sequence was predominantly in a shallow marine neritic setting, with an upward progression to interbedded terrestrial deposits of the Expedition Fiord Formation, reflecting a regression and eventual persistence of terrestrial facies into the Early Cenozoic. The Kanguk Formation is widespread across the Canadian Arctic, and diatom biostratigraphy indicates a Santonian–Campanian age for the sequences reported herein, based on the presence of Gladius antiquus in the lowermost strata and occurrence of Costopyxis antiqua throughout the succession. However, Amblypyrgus sp. A and Archepyrgus sp. aff. A. melosiroides, encountered in the lower part of the succession, are known exclusively from the Lower Cretaceous. This may suggest a slightly older age. New information on shallow shelf diatom assemblages from this study is compared to reports on two other Late Cretacous Arctic diatom assemblages. These three sites represent an environmental transect from shallow to distal shelf settings and into the oceanic realm.     

Multi-collector ICP-MS Analysis of Pb Isotope Ratios in Rocks: Data, Procedure and Caution

The authors measured Pb isotope compositions of seven USGS rock reference standards, i.e. AGV-1, AGV-2, BHVO-1, BHVO-2, BCR-2, BER-1/1 and W-2, together with NBS 981 using a micromass isoprobe multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) at the University of Queensland. 203Tl-205Tl isotopes were used as an internal standard to correct for mass-dependant isotopic fractionation. The results for both NBS 981 and USGS rock standards AGV-1 and BHVO-1 are comparable to or better than double- and triple-spike TIMS (thermal ionization mass spectrometry) data in precision. The data for BHVO-2 and, to a lesser extent, AGV-2 and BCR-2 are reproducibly higher for 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb than double-spike TIMS data in the literature. The authors also obtained the Pb isotope data for BIR-1/1 and W-2, which may be used as reference values in future studies. It is found that linear correction for Pb isotopic fractionation is adequate with the results identical to those corre     

大别山北部饶拔寨超镁铁岩体微量元素地球化学

本文报道了饶拔寨超镁铁岩体的5个钻孔15个岩心样品的主量元素和微量元素成分。该岩体由上、下两部分构成。岩性以方辉橄榄岩为主，纯橄榄岩和二辉橄榄岩次之。主量元素成分表明岩体由饱满地幔经过不同程度部分熔融，形成了亏损程度不同的大陆岩石圈地幔。总体上下部岩体较上部亏损程度大。原始地幔标准化REE等不相容微量元素丰度模式表明岩体在熔融作用后又经过了地幔交代作用，形成不同程度LREE和LILE的富集。样品中有角闪石和金云母等含水矿物，表明有实性地幔交代作用。对比LREE与LILE的富集特征，表明可能有两类地幔交代作用，有两种不同性质的交代介质，LREE和Sr等的富集可能与硅酸盐熔体有关，而Rb、Ba、K等的富集可能与俯冲带流体活动有关。总体上下部岩体的交代作用较上部岩体的强。     

Urban and rural groundwater use in Zhengzhou, China: challenges in joint management

Groundwater plays an important role in the total water supply of much of China, particularly in the north. It has contributed substantially to both agricultural growth and urban and industrial expansion. However, overexploitation and poor management have contributed to infamous groundwater depletion problems and less publicized groundwater quality deterioration. One of the key challenges for China will be how to make groundwater use sustainable while still meeting increased food needs as well as the industrial and domestic demands of a rapidly urbanizing society. Zhengzhou City, one of China’s test cities for building a “water saving society” highlights both the difficulties and potential solutions to northern China’s joint rural and urban groundwater challenges. Based on secondary data and a primary survey of groundwater management in the region, this report provides an overview of Zhengzhou’s groundwater development and use as well as the ongoing institutional and policy reform processes within the water sector. The results highlight how a deepening of ongoing reforms, which simultaneously consider groundwater as an integral rural and urban issue and a fundamental economic and social asset, may improve groundwater outcomes, not only in Zhengzhou but in China, as the country’s economy and demography continue to change.     

A Study of Governance Arrangements for Land Use and Natural Resource Management Planning in Cape York Peninsula

Complex intersecting social, economic and environmental dilemmas in Australia's Cape York Peninsula present a number of challenges for planners seeking to develop and implement land use and natural resource management (NRM) plans. There have been five different attempts at land use and NRM planning in Cape York Peninsula over the last 20 years. These processes have (to greater or lesser extents) failed to deliver community-owned and government-supported plans to guide development and/or the management of the region's natural resources. The region is remote, sparsely populated, and home to a significant Indigenous population. Much of the contestation within the region surrounds the access, use and ownership of the region's internationally valuable natural resources. This paper reviews, from the literature, the relevancy and applicability of criteria for best practice planning and governance. A range of identified best practice governance and planning principles are applied to assess the governance arrangements for planning in the Peninsula. The paper finds that decision-making arrangements for land use and NRM planning in the Peninsula are still in their infancy and are inadequate to support effective outcomes. The paper concludes that broader attention to best practice principles in governance for planning is needed to improve planning outcomes.