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On-line sulfur isotope analysis of organic material by direct combustion: preliminary results and potential applications.

Sulfur isotopes have received little attention in ecology studies because plant and animal materials typically have low sulfur concentrations (< 1 wt.%) necessitating labor-intensive chemical extraction prior to analysis. To address the potential of direct combustion of organic material in an elemental analyzer coupled with a mass spectrometer, we compared results obtained by direct combustion to results obtained by sulfur extraction with Eschka's mixture. Direct combustion of peat and animal tissue gave reproducibility of better than 0.5/1000 and on average, values are 0.8/1000 higher than values obtained by Eschka extraction. Successful direct combustion of organic material appears to be a function of sample matrix and sulfur concentration. Initial results indicate that direct combustion provides fast, reliable results with minimal preparation. Pilot studies underway include defining bear diets and examining fluctuations between freshwater and brackish water in coastal environments.

Ecosystem↗

Influence of water content on degradation rates for ethanol in biofiltration.

Treatment of ethanol vapor in a peat biofilter with various initial water contents (70%, 59%, 49%, and 35%) was studied. For water contents ranging from 49% to 70%, elimination capacity was about 30 g/m3/h. For a water content of 35%, elimination capacity decreased to 4 g/m3/h. A low mean CO2 yield coefficient (0.35 g CO2 produced per g ethanol consumed) was found for all of the initial water contents. The value was only 20% of the yield coefficient (1.91 g/g) predicted by stoichiometry. When the packing material was dried from 70% to 59% water content during the biofiltration process, elimination capacity dropped from 27 g/m3/h to 4 g/m3/h. After 24 hours of drying, the biofiltration experiment was restarted and run for two more weeks. During this period, the biofilter did not recover. At 59% water content, the rate of water evaporation was estimated at 59.6 g/m3/h. A simplified mass balance permitted calculation of the biological water production rate, approximately 22.1 g/m3/h.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Removal of ammonia by biofilters: a study with flow-modified system and kinetics.

The characteristics of ammonia removal by two types of biofilter (a standard biofilter with vertical gas flow and a modified biofilter with horizontal gas flow) were investigated. A mixture of organic materials such as compost, bark, and peat was used as the biofilter media based on the small-scale column test for media selection. Complete removal capacity, defined as the maximum inlet load of ammonia that was completely removed, was obtained. The modified biofilter showed complete removal up to 1.0 g N/kg dry material/day. However, the removal capacity of the standard biofilter started to deviate from complete removal around 0.4 g N/kg dry material/day, indicating that the modified biofilter system has higher removal efficiency than the standard upflow one. In kinetic analysis of the biological removal of ammonia in each biofilter system, the maximum removal rate, Vm, was 0.93 g N/kg dry material/day and the saturation constant, Ks, was 32.55 ppm in the standard biofilter. On the other hand, the values of Vm and Ks were 1.66 g N/kg dry material/day and 74.25 ppm, respectively, in the modified biofilter system.

Air Movements↗

Trophic status of experimental cutaway peatland lakes in ireland and implications for future lake creation.

Of the 80,000 hectares of Bord na Móna owned peatland coming out of industrial production in Ireland approximately the next 25 years, over 20,000 hectares has been designated for shallow lake creation. Four experimental lakes created by flooding areas of redundant cutaway peatland in Co. Offaly were monitored over a 3-year period in order to obtain baseline information on their water quality and trophic status. Results indicate that water chemistry in the constructed lakes was predominantly influenced by the depth and type of the residual peat layers at the sites, the degree of exposure of underlying inorganic subsoils and the type of hydrological regime. Nutrient status was strongly governed by catchment land-uses. Lack of recolonising vegetation at recently abandoned cutaway peatland sites made some new lakes particularly vulnerable to nutrient runoff and algal bloom development. Biologically, the embryonic lakes were characterised by rudimentary food chains, in which higher trophic levels were absent and where the microbiota played an elevated role.

Bacteria↗

Formulation of a charcoal suspension for intratumoral injection. Study of galenical excipients.

To tattoo human breast cancer prior to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery, thus allowing a better localization of the remaining tumor by the surgeon, we developed a formulation containing 10% charcoal suspended in water for parenteral preparations. The present study concerns a new step in the development of the charcoal suspension. We sought to determine whether the addition of various excipients could improve the formulation properties and affect the labeling of tumor by the suspension. We have tested surfactants (egg lecithin, polysorbate 80, Cremophor EL, and Pluronic F68), isotonisants (sugars such as glucose and mannitol), polysaccharides (dextrans 20 and 40), and Cabosil, a pyrogenated silica. Except for glucose and mannitol, which were added at a 5% concentration, the other excipients were added at a 0.1% concentration, they were dissolved in water for parenteral injection and sterilized at 120 degrees C for 20 min. We then measured diffusion in vivo in mammary tumor. In vivo, when injected intratumorally in mice, a greater diffusion of charcoal particles was noted within the tumor (in the case of egg lecithin, polysorbate 80, dextran 20 and 40, and glucose) and sometimes in some organs (e.g., Cremophor EL and mannitol). Pluronic F68 slightly improved the stability of the suspension and did not lead to marked diffusion at the injection site, but it showed slight toxicity and cannot be used in the formulation. We concluded that the best formulation was an aqueous 10% micronized peat charcoal suspension.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in lake sediments of the Mackenzie Delta.

The concentrations and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were assessed in sediment cores from among 14 lakes from three regions comprising a transect across the central Mackenzie Delta. PAHs were consistently found in the lake sediments, with parent concentrations in the 20-200 ng/g range. Concentrations were generally independent of depth in the sediment cores and this pattern was similar among the 3 regions of the delta. Concentrations increased in a westerly direction among the regions. For some lakes, the concentration of PAHs decreased with decreasing flooding frequency, and decreasing sedimentation rates. For the latter, maximum concentrations occurred at shallower depths within the sediment cores as flooding frequency among the lakes decreased. The distributions of C0-C4 alkylated 2- and 3- ring PAHs were consistent with a petrogenic origin, while the corresponding distribution of 4-ring PAHs appears to be more consistent with a biogenic or pyrogenic origin. Based on relative contributions to the overall PAH budget, a petrogenic source appears to be dominant. However, the pyrene/fluoranthene ratio is more consistent with a source derived from peat. The alkylated PAH profiles are inconsistent with those in the Athabasca River system, and supports a previously published hypothesis that the contribution of PAHs from the Athabasca oil sands to the lower Mackenzie River is minimal. A double ratio plot of chrysene vs dibenzothiophene, diagnostic of weathering, suggests most weathering occurred before the sediments were deposited in the lakes, while a double ratio plot of dibenzothiophene vs phenanthrene suggests a common source of PAHs across the delta, despite differing water sources from east to west across the delta. PAH inputs to the delta appear to mirror sediment inputs documented in previous work, where high sediment input from the Mackenzie mainstem during high floods dominates the delta sediment influx and masks any influence of the Peel River.

Canada↗

Adsorption of methabenzthiazuron on six allophanic and nonallophanic soils: effect of organic matter amendment.

This article reports on methabenzthiazuron [1-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-1,3-dimethylurea] (MBT) adsorption process on six agricultural allophanic and nonallophanic soils. The effect of amendment with exogenous organic matter was also studied. Adsorption kinetic fits an hyperbolic model. MBT adsorption reached an apparent equilibrium within 2 h and followed a second-order reaction. The maximum adsorbed amounts for natural soils ranged from 32 to 145 microg g(-1). Rate constants were considered relatively low (0.27-1.5 x 10(-4) [microg g(-1)](1-n) s-1); the slow process was attributed to a combined effect of difussion and adsorption. MBT adsorption fits the Freundlich model with r values > or =0.998 at P < or = 0.001 significance levels. Kf and Freundlich exponents (l/n) ranged from 5.3 to 82.1 cm3 g(-1) and from 0.66 to 0.73, respectively. Kf values for soils with a low organic matter content were lower than that obtained from the only typical allophanic soil derived from volcanic ash under study. Lineal regression analysis between Kf and organic matter content of nonallophanic soils gave a correlation coefficient of 0.980 (P = 0.02). Dispersion of Kd values together with close values of K(OM) indicate that organic matter (OM) was the principal component responsible for MBT adsorption in unamended soils. Addition of peat decreased soil pH and increased adsorption capacity for allophanic and nonallophanic soils. Kinetic experiments showed enhancements of Xmax values and lower rate constants.

Adsorption↗

Microbial degradation of livestock-generated ammonia using biofilters at typical ambient temperatures.

The purpose of this research was to neutralize livestock-generated ammonia by using biofilters packed with inexpensive inorganic and organic packing material combined with multicultural microbial load at typical ambient temperatures. Peat and inorganic supporting materials were used as biofiltration matrix packed in a perfusion column through which gas was transfused. Results show the ammonia removal significantly fell in between 99 and 100% when ammonia concentration of 200 ppmv was used at different gas flow rates ranged from 0.030 to 0.060 m3 h(-1) at a fluctuating room temperature of 27.5 +/- 4.5 C (Mean +/- SD). Under these conditions, the emission concentration of ammonia that is liberated after biofiltration is less than 1 ppmv (0.707 mg m(-3)) over the period of our study, suggesting the usage of low-cost biofiltration systems for long-term function is effective at wider ranges of temperature fluctuations. The maximum (100%) ammonia removal efficiency was obtained in this biofilter was having an elimination capacity of 2.217 g m(-3) h(-1). This biofilter had high nitrification efficiencies and hence controlled ammonia levels with the reduced backpressure. The response of this biofilter to shut down and start up operation showed that the biofilm has a superior stability.

Air Pollutants↗

Ozone effects on the ultrastructure of peatland plants: Sphagnum mosses, Vaccinium oxycoccus, Andromeda polifolia and Eriophorum vaginatum.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ozone effects on peatland vegetation are poorly understood. Since stress responses are often first visible in cell ultrastructure, electron microscopy was used to assess the sensitivity of common peatland plants to elevated ozone concentrations. METHODS: Three moss species (Sphagnum angustifolium, S. magellanicum and S. papillosum), a graminoid (Eriophorum vaginatum) and two dwarf shrubs (Vaccinium oxycoccus and Andromeda polifolia), all growing within an intact canopy on peat monoliths, were exposed to a concentration of 0, 50, 100 or 150 ppb ozone in two separate growth chamber experiments simulating either summer or autumn conditions in central Finland. After a 4- or 5-week-long exposure, samples were photographed in a transmission electron microscope and analysed quantitatively using image processing software. KEY RESULTS: In the chlorophyllose cells of the Sphagnum moss leaves from the capitulum, ozone exposure led to a decrease in chloroplast area and in granum stack thickness and various changes in plastoglobuli and cell wall thickness, depending on the species and the experiment. In E. vaginatum, ozone exposure significantly reduced chloroplast cross-sectional areas and the amount of starch, whereas there were no clear changes in the plastoglobuli. In the dwarf shrubs, ozone induced thickening of the cell wall and an increase in the size of plastoglobuli under summer conditions. In contrast, under autumn conditions the cell wall thickness remained unchanged but ozone exposure led to a transient increase in the chloroplast and starch areas, and in the number and size of plastoglobuli. CONCLUSIONS: Ozone responses in the Sphagnum mosses were comparable to typical ozone stress symptoms of higher plants, and indicated sensitivity especially in S. angustifolium. The responses in the dwarf shrubs suggest stimulation of photosynthesis by low ozone concentrations and ozone sensitivity only under cool autumn conditions.

Cyperaceae↗

Cytological and other aspects of pathogenesis-related gene expression in tomato plants grown on a suppressive compost.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recent studies have shown that certain composts may trigger indirect defence mechanisms by sensitizing the plant to create an increased state of resistance, similar to systemic acquired resistance. In this study, the capacity of a disease-suppressive compost to alter the expression pattern of certain pathogenesis-related (PR) genes in the root system of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) provided the opportunity to study their cellular expression pattern and to investigate putative roles of these genes in the mechanisms of plant defence. METHODS: Employing the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ RNA:RNA hybridization techniques, the accumulation and distribution of the transcripts of the differentially expressed PR genes were examined in plants grown on compost and compared with those of control plants grown on peat. KEY RESULTS: Elevated levels of expression of the pathogenesis-related genes PR-1, PR-5 and P69/PR-7 were detected in the roots of tomato plants grown on the compost. A clearly distinguished spatial induction pattern was observed for these PR genes: PR-1 transcripts were almost exclusively detected in the pericycle cells surrounding the root stele of the main and lateral roots; PR-5 transcripts were present in the phloem of the root and stem tissues; and the accumulation and distribution of PR-7 transcripts was detected in discrete groups of cells that appeared sporadically in both the parenchyma and vascular system of the root, suggesting that the gene is not expressed in a tissue-specific manner. In addition, a novel cDNA clone was isolated (P69G), which probably encodes a new tomato P69 isoform. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that a suppressive compost is able to elicit consistent and increased expression of certain PR genes in the roots of tomato plants, even in the absence of any pathogen. The in situ localization studies reveal expression patterns which are in accordance with the presence of protein or with the putative roles of the respective encoded proteins. The expression of the PR genes may be triggered by the microflora of the compost or could be associated with abiotic factors of the compost.

Base Sequence↗

A novel method of supplying nutrients permits predictable shoot growth and root : shoot ratios of pre-transplant bedding plants.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Growth of bedding plants, in small peat plugs, relies on nutrients in the irrigation solution. The object of the study was to find a way of modifying the nutrient supply so that good-quality seedlings can be grown rapidly and yet have the high root : shoot ratios essential for efficient transplanting. METHODS: A new procedure was devised in which the concentrations of nutrients in the irrigation solution were modified during growth according to changing plant demand, instead of maintaining the same concentrations throughout growth. The new procedure depends on published algorithms for the dependence of growth rate and optimal plant nutrient concentrations on shoot dry weight W(s) (g m(-2)), and on measuring evapotranspiration rates and shoot dry weights at weekly intervals. Pansy, Viola tricola 'Universal plus yellow' and petunia, Petunia hybrida 'Multiflora light salmon vein' were grown in four independent experiments with the expected optimum nutrient concentration and fractions of the optimum. Root and shoot weights were measured during growth. KEY RESULTS: For each level of nutrient supply W(s) increased with time (t) in days, according to the equation DeltaW(s)/Deltat=K(2)W(s)/(100+W(s)) in which the growth rate coefficient (K(2)) remained approximately constant throughout growth. The value of K(2) for the optimum treatment was defined by incoming radiation and temperature. The value of K(2) for each sub-optimum treatment relative to that for the optimum treatment was logarithmically related to the sub-optimal nutrient supply. Provided the aerial environment was optimal, R(sb)/R(o) approximately W(o)/W(sb) where R is the root : shoot ratio, W is the shoot dry weight, and sb and o indicate sub-optimum and optimum nutrient supplies, respectively. Sub-optimal nutrient concentrations also depressed shoot growth without appreciably affecting root growth when the aerial environment was non-limiting. CONCLUSION: The new procedure can predict the effects of nutrient supply, incoming radiation and temperature on the time course of shoot growth and the root : shoot ratio for a range of growing conditions.

Environment↗

Egg-laying preference of female fungus gnat Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila (Diptera: Sciaridae) on three different soilless substrates.

Fungus gnats, Bradysia spp., are major insect pests in greenhouses. Adult female fungus gnats prefer to lay eggs in growing medium that is microbially active or that contains high amounts of peat moss or hardwood bark. However, egg-laying preference has not been demonstrated quantitatively. This study was designed to determine whether fungus gnat Bradysia sp. nr. coprophila females prefer any of the three soilless growing media provided. The three soilless growing media tested were Metro-Mix 560 with Scott's Coir, Sunshine LC1 Mix, and Universal SB 300 Mix. Initially, the egg-laying potential of the fungus gnat species used in this study was assessed by dissecting mated females after 24, 48, and 72 h. For the egg-laying preference experiment, adults that emerged from pupae were aspirated into a plastic vial, sexed, and then allowed to mate for 24 h. Individual mated females were released into an experimental chamber (15 by 15 by 5-cm plastic container) consisting of four 6-cm petri dishes, three of which contained soilless growing media and one with filter paper (control). In total, there were 50 experimental chambers, with each chamber representing a replication. Females remained in the experimental chambers for 48 h after which the growing media were processed using a flotation/extraction method. The number of eggs laid by female fungus gnats ranged from 21 to 217 with most eggs recovered after 48 h (141.0 +/- 9.3). There were no significant differences among the three soilless growing media in terms of number of eggs laid, although all three growing media were significantly different from the filter paper with higher numbers of eggs laid in the soilless growing media than the filter paper. Despite no significant difference among the growing media in the number of eggs laid, fungus gnat females tended to lay eggs more often, based on the number of petri dishes in which at least one egg was laid, in Metro-Mix 560 (86%) than Sunshine LC1 (66%), Universal SB 300 (52%), or filter paper (18%). Based on the results of this study, female fungus gnats may not prefer a specific growing medium for oviposition. However, fungus gnat females may rely on other factors not tested in this study such as moisture content and volatiles emitted from growing media in their decision where to lay eggs.

Animals↗

Influence of harvest date and light integral on the development of strawberry flavour compounds.

Strawberries cv. Elsanta were grown in peat bags in a glasshouse and subjected to three shading levels (0%, 25%, 47%) for 2 weeks, commencing 1 week prior to first fruit ripening. Fruit was harvested at five intervals and analysed using Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) and direct liquid-mass spectrometry techniques. Thirteen volatiles implicated in strawberry flavour and three non-volatiles, sucrose, glucose and citric acid, were measured. Highly significant differences in volatile and non-volatile concentrations existed between harvest dates. Shading had a significant effect on hexanal, hexenal, ethyl methyl butyrate, and methyl butyrate concentrations at some harvests. In general, at each harvest the higher the level of shading the lower the level of the volatile in the fruit. Sucrose concentration showed a decrease throughout the harvest period, whereas glucose and citric acid showed less clear trends. Shading had a significant effect on glucose and sucrose concentrations. Some possible reasons for the variability in strawberry flavour are discussed.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗

Contribution of different foodstuffs to the internal exposure of rural inhabitants in Russia after the Chernobyl accident.

In a large village, Veprin of the Bryansk region of Russia contaminated with radionuclides as a result of the Chernobyl accident, 137Cs concentration in food products of agricultural produce and natural origin was regularly measured, local inhabitants were polled on the composition of their diet, and the 137Cs content in their bodies was measured at the same time. These results were used as the basis for calculation of annual effective doses of internal exposure to inhabitants and for reconstruction of the dose during the entire period after the accident (1986-1996). The efficiency of countermeasures performed for reduction of the internal dose was assessed. The internal dose in inhabitants during the 10 years after the accident was shown to be reduced by countermeasures by a factor of 2, namely down to 35 mSv instead of the expected 70 mSv. The dose of external gamma radiation during the same time period is close to the obtained dose of internal exposure. The presence of peat and water-meadow soils in the vicinity of this village that are characterised by high transfer factors for radionuclides from soil to vegetation causes a high contribution of internal exposure to the total dose of population exposure. The contribution of natural products to the internal dose increased from 6% in 1987 increased to 25% in 1996. The individual content of 137Cs in the body of inhabitants reliably correlates with consumption of milk in the initial period after the accident and with consumption of forest mushrooms in the subsequent period.

Adult↗

Effects of elevated carbon dioxide and drought on the growth and physiology of clonal Sitka spruce plants (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.).

Two-year-old Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) plants from four clones were grown in naturally lit growth chambers for 6 months at either ambient (350 ppm) or ambient + 250 ppm (600 ppm) CO(2) concentration. Plants were grown in large boxes filled with peat, in a system that allowed the roots of individual plants to be harvested easily at the end of the growing season. Half of the boxes were kept well watered and half were allowed to dry out slowly over the summer. Plants growing in elevated CO(2) showed a 6.9% increase in mean relative growth rate compared to controls in the drought treatment and a 9.8% increase compared to controls in the well-watered treatment, though there was considerable variation in response among the different clones and water treatments. Rates of net CO(2) assimilation were higher and stomatal conductances were lower in plants grown in elevated CO(2) than in ambient CO(2) in both the well-watered and drought treatments. Both of these factors contributed to the doubling of instantaneous water use efficiency. The partitioning of biomass to roots was unaffected by elevated CO(2), but the ratio of needle mass/stems + branches mass decreased. Together with reduced stomatal conductance, this probably caused the observed increases in xylem pressure potentials with elevated CO(2).

Journal Article↗

Stomatal and mesophyll limitations of photosynthesis in black spruce seedlings during multiple cycles of drought.

Container-grown black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) seedlings were planted in trays containing a sand and peat mixture, and placed in a climate-controlled greenhouse. One group of seedlings was kept well-watered, and another group was subjected to three cycles of drought. Gas exchange analysis showed that mesophyll photosynthetic function was largely unimpaired by drought. In contrast, stomatal conductance was sensitive to drought, although it became less sensitive with each drought cycle. Both stomatal and mesophyll conductances increased with time in control and drought-stressed seedlings, but mesophyll conductance increased with time more rapidly than did stomatal conductance. Limitation of photosynthetic rate was dominated by the mesophyll. In control seedlings, relative stomatal limitation increased from 6 to 16% by the end of the experiment. In drought-stressed seedlings, relative stomatal limitation of photosynthesis reached 40% during the first drought, but decreased to near control values immediately after rewatering. Because the third, most severe drought had only a minor effect on stomatal conductance, relative stomatal limitation of photosynthesis was similar to that in control seedlings by the end of the experiment. Inhibition of ontogenetic change during drought stress may be responsible for the apparent acclimation of mesophyll photosynthetic processes. We conclude that it would be more effective to select for high photosynthetic capacity than for reduced stomatal sensitivity when breeding for increased drought resistance in black spruce seedlings.

Journal Article↗

Root growth potential as an indicator of drought stress history.

Container-grown quiescent Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco) seedlings were air dried to plant water potentials of -0.2, -2.2 or -3.8 MPa (unstressed, moderate, and severe stress treatments, respectively). Trees from each treatment were either placed in root mist chambers held at 10, 20, or 28 degrees C for 28 days and root growth potential (RGP) and plant water potential (PWP) measured weekly, or potted in a 1/1 mix of peat and vermiculite, watered only once, and height growth and survival recorded after 10 weeks in an unheated greenhouse. Root growth potential of unstressed trees was greater than that of moderately stressed trees at all temperatures. Root growth potential of severely stressed trees was zero. Predawn plant water potentials of unstressed and moderately stressed trees were initially high, fell to -0.5 to -0.8 MPa, and then increased. Predawn plant water potential of severely stressed trees declined continuously over the 28-day experiment. Survival and height growth of the severely stressed trees were reduced compared to the unstressed and moderately stressed trees. Among the root growth potential measurements, RGP measured after 7 days at 10 degrees C was most sensitive to drought stress history and revealed differences in vigor that were not apparent from the survival and height growth data.

Journal Article↗

Root induction in Pinus ayacahuite by co-culture with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains.

Transformation of in-vitro-derived shoots of Pinus ayacahuite Ehrenb. was achieved by co-culture with an oncogenic strain (A281 x 200) of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. During co-culture rooting also occurred; however, this rooting was not induced by genetic transformation of host cells, because a "disarmed" strain of A. tumefaciens (EHA101) also induced rooting. Furthermore, direct contact between shoots and bacterial cells was not required. Rooting occurred in agar-solidified medium and in a soilless substrate (9:1 vermiculite:peat mix). We conclude that A. tumefaciens strains induced rooting in P. ayacahuite through a change in the rhizosphere, probably by producing some root-inducing compound(s), and not through transformation of host cells.

Journal Article↗