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At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Comparative evaluation of juvenoids for control of cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in topsoil.

The efficacy of a photostable formulation of methoprene and two photostable juvenoids, fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen, and their residual activity in inhibiting the emergence of adult cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), was studied in topsoil. Nursery pots composed of clay, peat, and plastic, and wooden flats were used to hold soil samples. Treated soil samples were exposed to sunlight during the 63-d study period. Methoprene was as effective as fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen against cat fleas for up to 42 d in clay, peat, and plastic pots at a concentration of 64.56 mg (AI)/m2 (6 mg [AI]/ft2), but its activity declined significantly thereafter. In contrast, fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen showed strong residual activity for the entire 63 d. The activity of methoprene declined even more rapidly over time in wooden flats, while at the same concentrations the other two juvenoids showed significant residual activity for 63 d. Clay, peat, and plastic pots were therefore considered to be equally effective for evaluating the outdoor efficacy of juvenoids in comparison to the wooden flats. However, results obtained with wooden flats may be more realistic when testing residual activity of volatile chemicals such as methoprene. Fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen showed strong efficacy and residual activity at concentrations of 8.07, 16.14, and 32.28 mg (AI)/m2, whereas methoprene did not cause a significant reduction of adult emergence at levels below 64.56 mg (AI)/m2. LC50 values for methoprene, fenoxycarb, and pyriproxyfen needed for preventing flea emergence when applied to topsoil were estimated to be 0.643, 0.031, and 0.028 ppm, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Enhancing the attenuation of explosives in surface soils at military facilities: sorption-desorption isotherms.

The primary objective of the present study was to develop inexpensive soil amendments that can be applied to enhance the adsorption of energetic compounds on military training ranges, thus limiting the potential for these compounds to migrate to groundwater. Adsorption and desorption isotherms were determined for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine with a wide variety of natural and man-made adsorbents, including wheat straw, sawdust, peat moss, ground rubber tires, and clays. Among the various adsorbents tested, peat moss proved to be the most effective sorbent for the three explosives. The adsorption coefficients (Kd(s)) for TNT and RDX with peat (310 and 87 L/kg, respectively) were at least two orders of magnitude higher than that determined for adsorption of these energetics with two surface soils. The adsorption-desorption isotherms for the explosives showed considerable hysteresis (Kd(s) < Kd(d)) with some of the solid adsorbents, suggesting that the sorption process is not readily reversible but, rather, that some fraction of the adsorbed contaminant is either irreversibly bound or present as a slowly desorbed fraction. The data indicate that the application of specific adsorbents to soils at military impact ranges may significantly improve the protection of local groundwater resources.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2005

Aging of triazine amine in soils demonstrated through sorption, desorption, and bioavailability measurements.

The aging of triazine amine in soil was studied during a time course of 119 d by measuring bioavailability in terms of mineralization after inoculation of the triazine amine-degrading bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis TA57. The bioavailability was measured in four soil samples: A-, B-, and C-horizons from an agricultural soil profile and in a peat soil. The sorption of triazine amine in the soil samples was quantified during the period of aging in terms of sorption distribution coefficients (Kd) and desorption distribution coefficients (Kd,des). Measures of bioavailability and triazine amine concentration in the nonavailable fraction showed effects of aging in the soils that were rich in organic matter. The triazine amine bioavailability declined significantly during the aging period in soils containing greater than 2% organic carbon, whereas the B- and C-horizons showed no signs of aging, in agreement with their low content of organic material. Corresponding to this, desorption decreased significantly in the A-horizon but, surprisingly, not in the peat soil. Analyses by thin-layer chromatography indicated an association of aqueous triazine amine and dissolved organic matter in the peat soil. This gives an explanation for both the significant decrease in bioavailability and the noncorresponding stability of the nonavailable (i.e., nondesorbed) fraction.

Adsorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Barley, a potential species for initial reclamation of saline composite tailings of oil sands.

The oil sands industry in Alberta (Canada) has developed the composite tailings (CT) process to reduce the fluid fine tails resulting from the processing of oil sands. This process uses a chemical coagulant (gypsum or alum) to produce aggregated fines (clay), so they are retained with the coarse sand fraction of the extraction tailings to form CT, from which fines-free water is released relatively quickly compared with untreated tailings. The resulting CT and CT waters are saline-sodic, with Na+, SO4(2-), and Cl- being the dominant ions. When freshly deposited, the CT deposits are too soft for access by reclamation equipment, and the time required for these deposits to remove the water sufficiently to support traffic is uncertain. A greenhouse study was designed to determine the suitability of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) for reclamation of fresh CT deposits and to evaluate benefits of peat amendments. This study assessed germination, early plant growth, chlorophyll content, and survival of barley growing in alum- and gypsum-treated CT, with and without peat amendment. Ion and trace metal accumulation in the root and shoot tissues of barley was determined. Amendment of CT with peat improved germination, survival, and growth of barley, but did not prevent leaf injury (probably due to Na and Cl- and possibly multiple nutrient deficiency). Field studies will be undertaken to validate our greenhouse results suggesting that barley could be used to improve dewatering of the freshly deposited substrates, reduce soil erosion, and facilitate leaching of ions by root penetration into the substrate.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nutrient and hydrology effects on soil respiration in a northern Everglades marsh.

Microbial respiration in peat and overlying plant litter, as influenced by water level and phosphorus enrichment, was evaluated for an Everglades (Florida, USA) marsh ecosystem by measuring CO2 and CH4 release from soil-water microcosms. Intact cores of peat, overlying plant litter, and surface water were collected at seven locations in cattail (Typha domingensis Pers.) and sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense Crantz) stands along a phosphorus (P) enrichment gradient in Water Conservation Area 2A (WCA-2A). Each soil-water microcosm was outfitted with a controlled air circulation system whereby outflow gas from the headspace could be analyzed for CO2 and CH4 to determine flux of C from the soil-water column to the atmosphere. Gaseous C flux was determined for flooded conditions (10-cm water depth) and for water levels of 0, 5, 10, and 15 cm below the peat surface. Overall, decreasing water level resulted in significantly increased C flux, although rates were significantly higher under flooded conditions than under nonflooded, saturated-soil conditions, presumably due to O2 availability associated with algal photosynthesis within the litter layer in the water column. Carbon flux decreased significantly for sites increasingly distant from the primary hydrologic and nutrient inflows to WCA-2A. The microcosm study demonstrated that the C turnover rate was significantly increased by accelerated nutrient loading to the marsh, and was further enhanced by decreasing water level under drained conditions. Our results also demonstrated that photosynthesis within the water column is a potentially important regulator of C mineralization rate in the litter layer of the marsh system.

Carbon↗
PubMed2005

A thermodynamically based method to quantify true sorption hysteresis.

Sorption of organic chemicals to soils and sediments often shows true hysteresis (i.e., nonsingularity of the sorption-desorption isotherm not attributable to known experimental artifacts). Since true sorption hysteresis is fundamentally important to contaminant fate, a way to quantify it is desirable. Previously proposed indices of hysteresis are empirical and usually depend on the isotherm model. True sorption hysteresis to synthetic and natural organic solids has been attributed to irreversible alteration of the solid during the sorption-desorption cycle. Given this mechanism, we propose the Thermodynamic Index of Irreversibility (TII) for quantifying hysteresis in soils where natural organic matter dominates the sorption process. The TII is based on the difference in free energy between the real desorption state and the hypothetical fully reversible state. The index is 0 for completely reversible systems and approaches 1 as the process tends toward complete irreversibility. It does not require any assumptions about the physical properties or molecular composition of the solid, and it does not depend on a specific equilibrium model. A sensitivity analysis of measurement errors provides general recommendations for the setup of sorption-desorption experiments. The TII was applied to sorption of 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB) to two high-organic soils, Pahokee peat (PP) and Amherst soil (AS), and a low-rank coal reference material, Beulah-Zap lignite (BZL). Common artificial causes of hysteresis were eliminated. Hysteresis was significant in the peat and the coal. The TII was clearly concentration dependent for both solids; it decreased with concentration for the peat, but increased with concentration for the coal. The TII allows quantification of hysteresis as a function of sorbate-sorbent combination, concentration, time, and other variables.

Adsorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Solubility of phosphorus and heavy metals in potting media amended with yard waste-biosolids compost.

The potential risk of surface and ground water contamination by phosphorus (P) and heavy metals leached from compost-based containerized media has become an environmental concern. Solubility and fractionation of P and heavy metals were evaluated in media containing 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% compost derived from biosolids and yard trimmings for potential impacts on the environment. As compost proportion in peat-based media increased from 0 to 100%, concentrations of total P, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Mn in the media increased whereas concentrations of total Co and Cr decreased. Except for Cu, all heavy metals in the water-soluble fraction decreased with increasing compost proportion in the media, because of higher Fe, Al, and Ca concentrations and pH values of the composts than the peat. When the media pH is controlled and maintained at normal range of plant growth (5.5-6.5), leaching of the heavy metals is minimal. Incorporation of compost to the peat-based media also decreased the proportion of total P that was water-soluble. However, concentrations of bioavailable inorganic phosphorus (NaHCO3-IP), readily mineralizable organic phosphorus (NaHCO3-OP), potentially bioavailable inorganic phosphorus (NaOH-IP), and potentially bioavailable organic phosphorus (NaOH-OP) were still higher in the media amended with compost because of higher total P concentration in the compost. Further study is needed to verify if less or no topdressing of chemical P fertilizer should be applied to the compost-amended media to minimize P effect on the environment when compost-amended potting media are used for nursery or greenhouse crop production systems.

Fertilizers↗
PubMed2006

Effect of organic amendment and plant roots on the solubility and mobilization of lead in soils at a shooting range.

Lead (Pb) dissolving gradually from spent pellets constitutes a serious environmental risk in and near shooting ranges, and remediation measures are necessary to prevent its movement to deeper soil layers and ground water. In this study, the effectiveness of organic amendment and plant roots in stabilizing Pb was assessed in a microcosm experiment. Planted (Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L.) and unplanted microcosms consisting of coarse-textured mineral soil covered with Pb-contaminated humic topsoil were coated with uncontaminated peat layers of 1 to 3 cm and incubated for 77 d. In a percolation test, the microcosms were washed with ultra pure water to simulate heavy rain so as to rinse water-soluble lead (Pbw) from the topsoil layer. Although Pbw remained below detection limits in the mineral soils in all test units, acid-soluble lead (Pba) increased. Peat amendment diminished Pba in the mineral soil layer, this effect being more pronounced in planted soils, indicating that Pb was taken up by the plants. The percolation test showed that the effect of Scots pine seedlings on Pb movement was minor when peat was added. A long-term dissolution test revealed that considerably more Pb was released from old pellets into soil extracts than from new ones, whereas only traces of Pb, if any, were dissolved in sterilized pure water.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of humic substances by capillary electrophoresis.

Capillary electrophoresis was used for the separation of humic acid (HA) from peat, soil, and vermicompost. The electropherograms show the presence of at least three peaks eluted between 6 and 11 min for all HA. The best analysis resolution was obtained with the use of borate buffers at pH 8.9. The HA analyzed have structural and charge similarity, which increases the difficulty of separation. Therefore, the shape of the peaks is broad and the CE profiles of all HA are similar. It is reasonable to assume that the broad band in the three regions is due to the acidic groups that have a similar structure. By comparing the results obtained for HA extracted from soil, peat, vermicompost, and the commercial sample, HA from peat had the major carbon content.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗
PubMed2000

Methane production and release from two New England peatlands.

The rate of methane production and release to the atmosphere was determined for two New England peat bogs. Methane production rates from peat sediments, which were measured down to depths of 150 cm, ranged from 1 to 15 micromoles per liter per hour. The highest rates of methane production occurred at depths of 60-100 cm. Methane release from these same peats was quantified from various habitats on the bog using gas collection chambers. The chambers enclose a two-liter volume and cover an area of 0.02 m2. Methane accumulation in the chambers was measured for periods of up to 18 days. Methane release was related to pH and habitat zone. The lowest rates of methane release were from those portions of the bogs that had pH values below 5.0. Peak methane release occurred during or immediately after ice melt in both wetlands with release rates as high as 34 mmoles/m2/d. The overall estimate of yearly release of methane from these bog systems is 2,900 and 14,900 moles per year for Arcadia and Hawley Bogs respectively. Both of these bogs have pH environments close to the lowest limit for methanogenesis, and small differences in pH values can have a large impact on both the rate of methane production and the rate of methane release to the atmosphere.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed2001

Rapid-rate thermophilic, single-stage and two-phase methane fermentation of synfuel-industry wastewaters.

Thermophilic (55 degrees C) anaerobic digestion of wastewaters from wet carbonization of Minnesota peat was conducted in a simple, upflow digester at an HRT of one day to provide a methane yield of 0.20 SCM/kg VS added and a BOD5 reduction of 85%. Carbonization of Maine peat conducted for a much longer duration of thermal treatment produced recalcitrant and potentially toxic end products that reduced the biodegradability of wastewaters. Methane fermentation of the Maine-peat wet-carbonization waste was inhibited at an HRT of one day in the single-stage digester. However, two-phase digestion with separate acid-phase fermentation to promote hydrolytic degradation of toxic end products followed by separate methane fermentation at an HRT of 2 days exhibited a methane yield of 0.21 SCM/kg VS added and a BOD5 reduction of 76%. Volatile fatty acids profiles along the depths digesting cultures indicated that single-stage and two-phase digestion could be accomplished at one-half the reactor residence times (one day for single-stage and three days for two-phase) used in this research.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Formation of heteroaromatic nitrogen after prolonged humification of vascular plant remains as revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

In the search for the mechanisms involved in the immobilization of organic nitrogen in humified remains of vascular plants, the efforts of the present investigation were directed toward the examination of the transformation of nitrogenous compounds during the peat and coal stage by means of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. While accumulation of heteroaromatic-N is not detected in most of the studied peat layers, a clear shoulder in the chemical shift region of pyrrole- or indole-N is observed in the solid-state 15N NMR spectrum of material from the deepest (and thus oldest) peat layer underlying the sapropel from Mangrove Lake, Bermuda (10000 years). This points to the assumption that transformation of nitrogen occurs between an advanced stage of peatification and an early stage of coalification. The observed sudden alteration in nitrogen functionality indicates that continuous accumulation of newly synthesized or selectively preserved biogenic structures is not responsible for the presence of heteroaromatic-N in these fossilized deposits. It seems rather likely that abiotic conditions, occurring during advanced sediment maturation, have an effect on the observed N transformation. With increasing coalification, pyrrole-type-N becomes the dominant form in the macromolecular coal network. Pyridine-type-N was only detected in a coal of anthracite rank.

Biotransformation↗
PubMed2001

Biological activity of Pythium oligandrum against Phytophthora species.

Influence of Pythium oligandrum as an a.i. of Polyversum on population dynamic of Phytophthora cryptogea in peat and development of Phytophtora rot on gerbera, Lawson cypress and yew-tree were evaluated. Drenching of peat, artificially infested with P. cryptogea, with Polyversum immediatelly after gerbera planting resulted in significant decrease of colony forming units number within 4 weeks. Concentrations of the biopreparate used had no significant influence on its greater, biological activity. Drenching of plants with Polyversum at conc. 0.05 or 0.1%, after planting into peat infested with P. cryptogea or P. cinnamomi, resulted in the strong suppression of Phytophthora foot or root and stem rot of gerbera, cypress and yew-tree.

Antibiosis↗
PubMed2003

Fragmented forest in tropical landscape--the case of the state of Selangor, Malaysia.

This paper presents the pattern and changes of fragmented forest in relation with changes of total forest cover in the state of Selangor in three decades. In this study, inventoried forest cover maps of Selangor in 1971/1972, 1981/1982 and 1991/1992 produced by the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia were digitized to examine the changes in area and number of fragmented forest. Results showed that in 1971/1972, 16 fragmented forests were identified in Selangor. All fragmented forests were identified as dipterocarp forest. A decade later the number of fragmented forests increased by approximately 44% (23). Of the 23 fragmented forests, two were peat swamp forests whereas the remaining were dipterocarp forests. In 1991/1992 the number of fragmented forests (12) was reduced by 47.8%. Two of the fragmented forests were identified as peat swamp forest, seven dipterocarp forest and the other three was mixed of dipterocarp forests and plantation forests. Fragmentation of both dipterocarp and peat swamp forests occurred profoundly during the period between 1971/1972 and 1981/1982, which consequently increased the number of fragmented forests compared with before the period of 1971/1972 where fragmentation happened only at dipterocarp forests. However, many fragmented forests vanished between the 1981/1982 and 1991/1992 periods.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2003

[Effect of adding amendments on preserving nitrogen during chicken manure and saw composting].

In the automatic aerobic compost device, experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of four amendments on inhibition of nitrogen losses during the chicken manure and saw composting. The changes of chemical parameters, temperature, pH, water soluble ammonium and organic nitrogen, total nitrogen and organic carbon with time during the aerobic composting process were investigated. The results suggested that adding four amendments have certain effect on preserve nitrogen and chemical parameters. Treatments added different amendments all decreased the nitrogen losses and increased the decomposition of organic carbon for 40 days-composting. The effect extent of four amendments was adding peat and superphosphate together > adding peat > adding superphosphate > adding zeolite. Especially adding peat and superphosphate together prolonged the high temperature stage 5 days, decreased the pH 0.89 pH unit in the initial stage and 0.44 pH unit in the high temperature stage during composting, and it decreased the nitrogen losses about 65.1% during the composting.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The processes of methane formation and oxidation in the soils of the Russian arctic tundra].

Methane emission from the following types of tundra soils was studied: coarse humic gleyey loamy cryo soil, peaty gley soil, and peaty gleyey midloamy cryo soil of the arctic tundra. All the soils studied were found to be potential sources of atmospheric methane. The highest values of methane emission were recorded in August at a soil temperature of 8-10 degrees C. Flooded parcels were the sources of atmospheric methane throughout the observation period. The rates of methane production and oxidation in tundra soils of various types at 5 and 15 degrees C were studied by the radioisotope method. Methane oxidation was found to occur in bog water, in the green part of peat moss, and in all the soil horizons studied. Methane formation was recorded in the horizons of peat, in clay with plant roots, and in peaty moss dust of the bogey parcels. At both temperatures, the methane oxidation rate exceeded the rate of methane formation in all the horizons of the mossy-lichen tundra and of the bumpy sinkhole complex. Methanogenesis prevailed only in a sedge-peat moss bog at 15 degrees C. Enrichment bacterial cultures oxidizing methane at 5 and 15 degrees C were obtained. Different types of methanotrophic bacteria were shown to be responsible for methane oxidation under these conditions. A representative of type I methylotrophs oxidized methane at 5 degrees C, and Methylocella tundrae, a psychroactive representative of an acidophilic methanotrophic genus Methylocella, at 15 degrees C.

Arctic Regions↗
PubMed1989

[The role of the temporal cortex in long-latency auditory evoked potentials].

There is no definite agreement on the localization of the PEAL generators. However, some authors have claimed that the temporal auditive cortex plays a role. Based on these assumptions we searched for the eventual changes developing in PEALs in patients who applied for temporal epilepsy, where the temporal cortex activity is somehow impaired. Altogether 19 patients were explored. The results were compared with 17 matched healthy controls and 4 patients with focal epilepsy who, at the time of the study, received the same treatment as the temporal epileptic subjects. In every case PEATs and PEALs were studied. One thousand Hz less than time monoaural stimulation, 50 db and 50 ms duration was employed for evoking PEALs. Recording was done with surface electrodes located at Cz, F3 and F4 coupled with an electrode placed at the contralateral mastoid; 500 ms sweep were averaged. Band-pass was set up between 1 and 125 Hz and latencies and amplitudes were studied for both types of evoked responses, PEATs and PEALs. No statistical difference was found between patients and both control groups when PEATs mean parameters were analyzed. For further PEALs results, patients were divided into 3 groups; a) Those with right temporal epilepsy (n = 6) (R); b) Those with left temporal epilepsy (n = 7) (L); c) Those in whom the affected side could not be determined (n = 7) (N). In R it was observed, when stimulating the left ear, a delay in the arrival of P1 (F4 mea 87 +/- 10.4 ms) and N1 (F4 mean 122.33 +/- 6.1 ms; Cz mean 170.75 +/- 18.8 ms) waves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Microbiological and kinetic aspects of a biofilter for the removal of toluene from waste gases

Microbiological and kinetic aspects of a biofilter inoculated with a consortium of five bacteria and two yeast adapted to remove toluene vapors were investigated. Initially the toluene sorption isotherm on peat and the effect of different environmental conditions on the toluene consumption rates of this consortium were measured. The fast start-up of the biofilter and the decay in the elimination capacity (EC) were reproduced using microcosm assays with toluene successive additions. Nutrient limitation and a large degree of heterogeneity were also detected. EC values, extrapolated from microcosms, were higher than biofilter EC when it was operating close to 100% efficiency but tended to relate better as the biofilter EC diminished. In studies on the microbial evolution in the biofilter, an increase in the cell count and variation in the ecology of the consortium were noted. Bacterial counts up to 10 x 10(11) cfu/gdry peat were found in 88 days, which corresponds to about a 10(4) increase from inoculum. Observations with SEM showed a nonuniform biofilm development on the support and the presence of an extracellular material. The results obtained in this work demonstrated that activity measurement in microcosms concomitant to the biofilter operation could be an important tool for understanding, predicting and improving the biofiltration performance. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Journal Article↗