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Bothriochloa ischaemum L. and Lespedeza davurica (Laxm.) Schindl. are two co-dominant species of great importance in reducing soil and water loss and maintaining the distinctive natural scenery of the semiarid Loess Plateau of China. Our aim was to determine the growth and interspecific competition between these species under water stress to facilitate the prediction of community succession and guide the selection of appropriate methods of conservation and use in the area. A pot experiment was designed to investigate the effects of water stress and competition on biomass production and allocation, relative competitive ability and water use efficiency of the two species. Bothriochloa ischaemum (a C4 perennial herbaceous grass) was planted in the same pot with L. davurica (a C3 perennial leg...

Science.gov (United States)

Six species having characteristics of plants with the C4 dicarboxylic photosynthetic pathway, Echinochloa utilis L. Ohwi et Yabuno (Japanese millet), Cynodon dactylon L. (Bermuda grass), Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb., Amaranthus tricolor L. cv. Early splendour, Kochia childsii Hort., and Portulaca grandiflora Hook (rose moss), responded decisively to 0.1 milliequivalent per liter NaCl supplied to their culture solutions initially containing less than 0.08 microequivalent per liter Na. Chlorosis and necrosis occurred in leaves of plants not receiving sodium. Portulaca failed to set flower in the sodium-deficient cultures. Under similar conditions Poa pratensis L. (Kentucky blue grass) having characteristics of the C3 photosynthetic pathway made normal growth and did not respond to the addition of sodium. It is concluded from these results and previously reported work that sodium is generally essential for ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Oryza sativa or Asian cultivated rice is one of the major cereal grass species domesticated for human food use during the Neolithic. Domestication of this species from the wild grass...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The starting material for two certified and one candidate reference material was obtained from dried grass specially cultivated on a selected and well prepared soil. The Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the Commission of the European Communities produced two certified reference materials (CRM`s) from this dried grass: a rye grass material (CRM 281) certified in 1988 for the quality control of trace and toxic element analyses and a hay powder material (CRM 129) certified in 1989 for monitoring trace and minor elements. A fraction of the dried grass was used in 1993 for the preparation of a hay powder with a particle size of < 63 {mu}m using newly developed grinding techniques. This paper compares the production methods of these three materials and the obtained particle size distribution of the powders. The analytical evaluation of these production methods was carried out by solid sampling Zeeman ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Old World Bluestems (OWB), introduced from Europe and Asia in the 1920s, recently have begun to raise concerns in the Great Plains. Despite suggestion in the late 1950s that OWB were weedy and negatively impacted biological diversity, they were widely introduced throughout the Great Plains for agricultural purposes. Anecdotal evidence suggests that OWB exhibit invasive characteristics that promote competitive exclusion of native species. The objective of our study was to quantify the competitive abilities of two OWB species (Caucasian bluestem; Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T. Blake (=?Bothriochloa caucasica (Trin.) C.E. Hubb.) and yellow bluestem; Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng) with three native grass species (big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), little bluestem (Schizachyrium s...

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Methods and materials employed by NCL to reclaim treatment of overburden dumps in opencast projects are described. These involve controlling slope stability and erosion (for example by covering with geosynthetic composites or jute/coir mat) and installing a drainage system before planting trees, shrubs and grass. 1 photo.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A commercial blend of essential oil (EO) compounds was added to a grass, maize silage, and concentrate diet fed to dairy cattle in order to determine their influence on protein metabolism by ruminal...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Magnetic moment and susceptibility of single crystals of rare earth tartrates of the type R(C4H4O6)(C4H5O6)3H2O (where R = Gd, Ho, and Yb), using a vibration sample magnetometer are reported. The experimental values of molar susceptibilities for Gd(C4H4O6)(C4H5O6)3H2O, Ho(C4H4O6)(C4H5O6)3H2O, and Yb(C4H4O6)(C4H5O6)3H2O are 2.58x10-2, 4.66x10-2, and 8.03x10-3 (in cgs em units), respectively. The calculated effective magnetic moments are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions on rare earth ions.

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PMID:12391801

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This pilot project was carried out for the purpose of testing methods for active biological monitoring. It covered a period of three years (until September 1994), including two years of exposure. The measurements served to determine pollutant levels in plants used as animal fodder and dust-borne heavy metal concentrations in different sites and, on this basis, to obtain indirect information on human exposure. Among others, the pilot project investigated the suitability of Italian rye-grass as a biological indicator for aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, mercury, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, platinum, antimony, titanium, and zinc. (orig./GL).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

On the basis of soil losses records during 10 years, three levels of water erosion were established for two soil (Typical Hapludox and Oxic Dystropept) located on high and medium terraces of alluvial flat plain of piedmont in the Eastern Plains in La Libertad Research Center of CORPOICA. Eighteen 3 x 10 m"2 run-off plots were fitted out on a nonrandom arrangement of nine plots by landscape and three soil use and management treatments: zero grazing Brachiaria decumbens pasture for six years, up land rice, soybean and maize rotations for six years and bare soil for 10 years. Soil losses under these treatments allowed to define three degrees of erosion: slight (N_3 moderate (N_2) and severe (N_3) respectively. From each plot soil samples were taken at two depths for physical analyses. infiltration and resistance to cone penetration were measured in the field. Without exception water erosion produced a detrimental effect on soil physical properties and the hydrological ...

Wastenet

... It is well camouflaged and each individual has unique back pattern markings. It eats mainly spiders and insects. The Eastern Lined Earless Dragon is a small dragon lizard measuring up to 21cm in length. It is well camouflaged and each individual has unique back ... It is well camouflaged and each individual has unique back pattern markings. It eats mainly spiders and insects. It lives in and around grass tussocks as well as small holes in the ground that are also used by invertebrates such as wolf spiders and crickets....

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

This experiment was undertaken to screen the acaricidal effects of herb essential oils (pennyroyal, ylang ylang, citronella, lemon grass, tea tree, and rosemary) at different doses (0.1, 0.05, 0.025,...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

... Tactical Electronic Intelligence (TACELINT), and a variety of other messages in US Message Text Format (USMTF) in both JANAP 128 and DOI 103 ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effect of ionizing radiation (2, 5, and 10 KGy of gamma rays) on muscle ultrastructure of grass shrimps (Penaeus monodon Fabricius) tails at ambient or frozen (-18"0C) temperature was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). No significant change was found in muscle ultrastructure of shrimp meat irradiated at doses of 2 or 5 KGy and then stored at 4"0C for 0 and 8 days. However, in shrimps which were irradiated at ambient temperature at a dose of 10 KGy, the margin of A-band of the myofibrils in longitudinal sections exhibited an irregular zig-zag pattern. In cross section some myosin filaments in the A-band regions were missing. A possible interpretation of these results would be that 10 KGy gamma irradiation dose at ambient temperature depolymerized myosin in the A-band from the tail of thick filament. Actin damage was also observed in some cross sections. Irradiation damage of sarcoplasmic membranes appeared in the specimens irradiated at a ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The economic attractiveness and negative environmental impact of nitrogen (N) fertilization in pastures depend on the N use efficiency in the soil-plant system. However, the recovery of urea-"1"5N by Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania pastures, one of the most widely used forage species in intensified pastoral systems, is still unknown. This experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four treatments (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 of N-urea) and three replications, to determine the recovery of "1"5N urea by Tanzania grass. Forage production, total N content and N yield were not affected by fertilization (p > 0.05), reflecting the high losses of applied N under the experimental conditions. The recovery of "1"5N urea (% of applied N) in forage and roots was not affected by fertilization levels (p > 0.05), but decreased exponentially in the soil and soil-plant system (p < 0.05) with increasing urea doses. The amount of "1"5N (kg ha"-"1) in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Increases in atmospheric CO[sub 2] are predicted to cause an increase in the C:N ratio of plant substrates entering the soil organic matter pool. We experimentally increased soil C:N ratios by adding 40 g C/m[sup 2] as sucrose (metabolic C) or cellulose (structural C) in short-, mid-, and tall-grass plots in the Serengeti Ecosystem, and measured plant productivity, plant nutrient uptake rates, and mineralization rates. Experimental treatments also included fencing to exclude grazing and additions of 40 g N/m[sup 2] as urea to simulate a urine hit from an average-sized ungulate. Productivity was only 60% of controls in C-addition plots, and was similar for sucrose and cellulose. However, this response was not observed in the short-grass site, an area of relatively low rainfall and high fertility. These results support the role of a plant-microbe negative feedback mechanism on plant growth in which increased C to microbes results in increased ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Florida posseses climatic, land, and water resources favorable for abundant biomass production. Therefore, a statewide program has been initiated to determine adapted species for the available array of production sites. Plant resources under investigation include woody, aquatic, grasses, hydrocarbon, and root crop species. The goal is to produce a continuous stream of biomass for the various biofuel conversion options. Preliminary yields from energy cropping experiments range from about 10 to nearly 90 metric tons per hectare per year, depending on the crop and the production systems employed. (Refs. 15).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Knighton et al. used a pulsed high pressure mass spectrometer to examine thermal electron detachment from C_6F_6"-. This technique had been used earlier for the measurement or detachment rate coefficients for azulene anions as a function of temperature. C_6F_6"- and c-C_4F_6"- have been studied by Datskos et al. using a pulsed drift tube. In our laboratory, we have used a flowing afterglow Langmuir probe (FALP) apparatus to measure the thermal electron detachment rate coefficient for c-C_4F_8"- ions at 375 K. We have also measured the electron attachment rate coefficient for c-C_4F_8 at 303 K and 375 K. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Molar extinction coefficients of some commonly used solvents (ethanol (C_2H_5OH), methanol (CH_3OH), propanol (C_3H_7OH), butanol (C_4H_9OH), water (H_2O), toluene (C_7H_8), benzene (C_6H_6), carbontetrachloride (CCl_4), acetonitrile (C_4H_3N), chlorobenzene (C_6H_5Cl), diethylether (C_4H_1O) and dioxane (C_4H_8O_2)) have been determined by a well-collimated narrow beam transmission geometry at 279, 356, 662, 1173, 1252 and 1332 keV #gamma# rays. The total #gamma# ray interaction cross sections of these solvents have also been determined. A good agreement has been obtained between the experimental results with the theoretical values evaluated through XCOM calculations.

Science.gov (United States)

Inductively coupled fluorocarbon (CF4/Ar and C4F8/Ar) plasmas were used to etch HfO2, which is a promising high-dielectric-constant material for the gate of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. The etch rates of HfO2 in CF4/Ar plasmas exceeded those in C4F8/Ar plasmas. The tendency for etch rates to become higher in fluorine-rich (high F/C ratio) conditions indicates that HfO2 can be chemically etched by fluorine-containing species. In C4F8/Ar plasmas with a high Ar dilution ratio, the etch rate of HfO2 increased with increasing bias power. The etch rate of Si, however, decreasd with bias power, suggesting that the deposition of carbon-containing species increased with increasing the power and inhibited the etching of Si. The HfO2/Si selectivity monotonically increased with increasing power, then became more than 5 at the highest tested bias power. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Measurement of fission and activation products in the soil or over a plane grass land of a nuclear power station environment is required to find out the long term changes. The inventory of radionuclides in the soil is routinely determined by soil sampling, processing and gamma spectrometry in the laboratory. The method although is proven and accurate is time consuming and largely dependent on homogenous distribution. Therefore, an alternative and rapid method of in-situ gamma spectrometry using portable devices was standardized to determine the concentration of radionuclides in soil, for regular environmental monitoring as well as during emergency condition. The paper presents the methodology, ready to use factors and compares the results of a few measurements made in the environment of Tarapur Atomic Power Station by both in-situ and laboratory methods. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We present an innovative approach to estimating residential irrigation water demand for a large metropolitan area using GIS data, weather station data, and a water budget modeling approach commonly used by plant scientists and landscape management professionals. An important question addressed by our study is how a growing urban forest affects the overall irrigation water demand of a semiarid metropolitan area. To estimate the amount of water required by residential landscaping, we consider water demand to be a function of the areal extent of residential landscaping (i.e. tree/shrub or turf grass), the water-loss rate for different landscaping types, the efficiency with which the landscape is irrigated, and local climatic factors (i.e. reference evapotranspiration and precipitation). We es...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

T-2 toxin, a highly toxic member of the type-A trichothecenes, is produced by various Fusarium moulds that can potentially affect human health. It is strongly cytotoxic for human hematopoietic progenitors. Alimentary toxic aleukia (ATA), a disease typically associated with human, is primarily induced by T-2 toxin. A comparison of the metabolism of T-2 toxin incubated with hepatocytes of rats, piglets, chickens, and the hepatic subcellular fractions (microsomes and cytosol) of piglets, chickens, rats, and carp (common carp and grass carp) was carried out. The activities of the recombinant pig CYP3A29 on the transformation of T-2 and HT-2 toxins were preliminary studied. Metabolites were identified by novel LC/MS-IT-TOF. Qualitative similarities and differences across the species were observ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The goal of this work is to study the effect of the aqueous medium pH on the two-phase equilibrium behaviour of the aqueous {1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C4mim]Br)+potassium citrate} system in order to obtain further information about the salting-out effect produced by the addition of a kosmotropic salt to an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic ionic liquid (IL). For this purpose the phase diagrams and the liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) data of the {[C4mim]Br+potassium citrate} aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) were determined experimentally at different pH values. Four medium pH values (5.00, 6.00, 7.00 and 8.00) were assayed at T=298.15K. The effect of pH on the ATPS-promoting capability of citrate anions in the aqueous [C4mim]Br solutions was explained based on the structural hydr...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Single crystals of ytterbium tartrate trihydrate have been grown by gel method using silica and agar-agar gels as media of growth. The medium of growth influences the morphology of grown crystals, silica gel yielding single and polycrystalline in the form of spherulites whereas agar-agar gel leading to growth of single and twinned crystals. Materials grown as single crystals have been characterized by using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDAX, XRD, FT-IR, CHN and thermogravimetric techniques. The stoichiometry of the grown single crystals is suggested to be Yb(C4H4O6) (C4H5O6).3H2O. The FT-IR spectrum shows the presence of singly as well as doubly ionized tartrate ligands. Results of thermal analysis indicate that the material is thermally stable up to a temperature of 200...

Science.gov (United States)

... matrices were written in the form R(t) = R'(t) Mpp T V(t) = V (t) MppT (C-3) 49 Page 59. ... GW~/EE/64.-9 where ra(!L) rb(L) 0 MPPT= (C-4) [rb(L) ra(L) 0 ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group of inherited retinal degenerations caused by mutations in at least 45 genes. Using homozygosity mapping, we identified a ȣc;4 Mb homozygous region...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The paper present the results of the study on D.U. (depleted uranium) contamination in the environment and possible effects on animal healths in the region o f Bujanovac. Samples of soil, feed, leaves, grass, lichen, moss, honey and water were collected randomly in 2003/2004 in the vicinity of the target area (500-1000 m) and 5 km from the target area. Activity of the radionuclides ({sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th, {sup 40}K, {sup 210}Pb, {sup 238}U, {sup 235}U, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 7}Be) in soils, grass, lichen, moss and honey was determined on Hp Ge detector (Canberra, relative efficiency 23%) by standard gamma spectrometry. Total alpha and beta activity in water was determined on proportional alpha/beta counter (Canberra 2400, efficiency for alpha emitters 11%, efficiency for beta emitters 30%). Non significantly higher values of concentrations of {sup 226}Ra, {sup 232}Th, {sup 238}U and {sup 235}U were measured in the immediate vicinity of the ...

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Vaarst Vestervang (Denmark) comprises 16 villas and 1 communal building. The complex was designed by the inhabitants themselves with the aim of polluting the environment as little as possible. The land area constitutes 69.000 square meters where it is possible to grass animals. The document reports a measuring programme concerning the overall heat consumption as one of the main aims of the inhabitants is to save energy and thus contribute to the protection of the environment. The capacity of the solar collectors predominantly used in the building complex was 235 kWh/m{sup 2}. Supplementary heating is provided by boilers fired with wood. The measuring system is described in detail. Tables show the influence of heat transmission losses, ventilation, airing out of rooms, the angle of the sun`s rays within the buildings and heating needs on energy consumption. Energy consumption data is presented in relation to the forms of space and water heating utilized. Daily ...

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Separate effects of ammonium (NH{sub 4} {sup +}) and nitrate (NO{sub 3} {sup -}) on boreal forest understorey vegetation were investigated in an experiment where 12.5 and 50.0 kg nitrogen (N) ha{sup -1} year{sup -1} was added to 2 m{sup 2} sized plots during 4 years. The dwarf-shrubs dominating the plant community, Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea, took up little of the added N independent of the chemical form, and their growth did not respond to the N treatments. The grass Deschampsia flexuosa increased from the N additions and most so in response to NO{sub 3} {sup -}. Bryophytes took up predominately NH{sub 4} {sup +} and there was a negative correlation between moss N concentration and abundance. Plant pathogenic fungi increased from the N additions, but showed no differences in response to the two N forms. Because the relative contribution of NH{sub 4} {sup +} and NO{sub 3} {sup -} to the total N deposition on a regional scale can vary substantially, the ...

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The treatment and disposal of oily waters from oil production and refining processes represent an important technological pass for attendance of the ambient legislation and to the politics of the Cia of search of the environmental excellence. The reuse or reinjection of the co-produced water has been considered an interesting strategical alternative, however, the water quality requirement for these processes demands a pretreatment step, considering the exit effluent from primary and secondary treatment processes currently used. This work presents resulted of the polymeric resin development for tertiary treatment of oily waters with low oil and grasses content and fine solids, including the dissolved fraction. These resins can adsorb, in reversible form, organic components. Its high adsorption capacity is determined by the polarity, superficial area, range of porosity and a wide distribution of particle size and pore. Another important characteristic is the ...

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We evaluated the effectiveness of lime and red mud (by-product of aluminium manufacturing) to reduce metal availability to Festuca rubra and to allow re-vegetation on a highly contaminated brown-field site. Application of both lime and red mud (at 3 or 5%) increased soil pH and decreased metal availability. Festuca rubra failed to establish in the control plots, but grew to a near complete vegetative cover on the amended plots. The most effective treatment in decreasing grass metal concentrations in the first year was 5% red mud, but by year two all amendments were equally effective. In an additional pot experiment, P application in combination with red mud or lime decreased the Pb concentration, but not total uptake of Pb in Festuca rubra compared to red mud alone. The results show that both red mud and lime can be used to remediate a heavily contaminated acid soil to allow re-vegetation. - Red mud was effective in immobilising heavy metals in soil.

Science.gov (United States)

Sulfur dioxide emissions from an iron ore sintering plant have severely damaged vegetation up to 16 km northeast of the source. Concentric zones of increasing vegetation loss have formed around the point of maximum ground level concentration of the gas. Species diversity, sulfur and heavy metal concentrations in vegetation and soil amount to SO/sub 2/ injury were measured along a transect through the injury zones. Surrounding a central denuded area were zones dominated respectively by tussock-forming hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa); low-growing shrubs and trailers (Sambucus pubens, Polygonum cilinode); higher-growing shrubs and suckering Populus tremuloides and Betula papyrifera) stunted forest tree species (Populus, Betula, Picea glauca, Abies Balsamea), and finally, normal boreal forest flora. Although SO/sub 2/ injury is continuing in this area, these zones now appear to be maintained primarily by severe erosion and destruction of suitable habitats for ...

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The heterokaryotic and vegetative diploid phases of Magnaporthe grisea, a fungal pathogen of grasses, have been characterized. Hyphal tip cells and conidia (vegetative spores) taken from these heterokaryons are auxotrophs with phenotypes identical to one or the other of the parents. M. grisea heterokaryons have completely septate hyphae with a single nucleus per cell. Heterokaryons have been utilized for complementation and dominance testing of mutations that affect nutritional characteristics of the fungus. Heterokaryons growing on minimal medium spontaneously give rise to fast-growing sectors that have the genetic properties expected of unstable heterozygous diploids. In fast-growing sectors, most hyphal tip cells are unstable prototrophs. The conidia collected from fast-growing sectors include stable and unstable prototrophs, as well as auxotrophs that exhibit a wide range of phenotypes, including many recombinant classes. Genetic linkage in meiosis has been ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Organic waste, as a main constituent of municipal solid waste, has as well as solid biomass a high potential for biogas generation. Despite the importance of biogas generation from these materials, the availability of large-scale biogas processes lacks behind the demand. A newly developed double-stage solid-liquid biogas process, consisting of an open hydrolysis stage and a fixed-bed methane reactor, allows the biogas production from almost all biodegradable solid waste and renewable resources like maize, grass, sugar cane, etc. Furthermore, residues from industrial processes, like the glycerine waste water from biodiesel production, can also be converted into biogas successfully. Due to the strong separation of hydrolysis and methanation, the process is extremely stable. No malfunction has been detected so far. The open hydrolysis releases CO_2 and allows oxidation of sulfur. Consequently, the biogas has a high methane (>72%) and low H_2S concentration (<100 ...

CERN Document Server

The whole computer hardware industry embraced multicores. For these machines, the extreme optimisation of sequential algorithms is no longer sufficient to squeeze the real machine power, which can be only exploited via thread-level parallelism. Decision tree algorithms exhibit natural concurrency that makes them suitable to be parallelised. This paper presents an approach for easy-yet-efficient porting of an implementation of the C4.5 algorithm on multicores. The parallel porting requires minimal changes to the original sequential code, and it is able to exploit up to 7X speedup on an Intel dual-quad core machine.

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We used the tissue distribution of ({sup 14}C)butanol to quantitate regional blood flow in the spinal cord (RSCBF) of pentobarbital-anesthetized, normothermic rats in which segmental local cooling pentobarbital-anesthetized, normothermic rats in which segmental local cooling of the spinal cord (to 25-28{degrees}C) at vertebral levels C4-C6 (n = 6) or T13-L1 (n = 6) was induced. Thirty minutes later, blood flow measurements were made at seven levels of the spinal cord and in the sciatic nerve trunks and biceps femoris muscles. Sham-cooled rats served as controls (n = 12). In control rats, RSCBF varied between 41.5 +/- 2.4 and 65.1 +/- 3.2 ml.min-1.100 g-1. Local cooling of the C4-C6 cord segment reduced RSCBF by 32%, from 65.1 +/- 3.2 to 44.4 +/- 3.5 ml.min-1.100 g-1 (P less than 0.01). Tissue vascular resistance (R) in the cooled C4-C6 segment was elevated ...

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Crop water demand in the Okanagan Basin was determined for 1961 to 1990, 2010 to 2039, 2040 to 2069, and 2070 to 2099. Daily station temperature data were spatially interpolated to a 1 x 1 km grid and adjusted for elevation. Daily precipitation data were estimated across four climatic regions. Output from three global climate models (GCM), CGCM2, CSIROMk2 and HadCM3 was used to create future daily climate. Daily potential evapo-transpiration (grass reference) was estimated from an empirical relationship between Bellani-plate atmometer readings, temperature and extra-terrestrial solar radiation, and then modified by crop coefficients for all crops except pasture. Depending on GCM, projected water demand increased by 12-20% (2010 to 2039), 24-38% (2040 to 2069) and 40-61% (2070 to 2099). Possible elevated CO{sub 2} effects on stomatal conductance which may reduce water demand were not accounted for. Comparisons with modeled Okanagan Lake inflows indicated that, on ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

No living analogue exists for the hypothetical early hominid hard/tough-seed, coarse-root-eating, and bone-crushing masticatory adaptation. To investigate possible microdamage/microwear to dental enamel caused by such usage, puncture-crushing experiments were carried out on single human teeth, using an Instron compression apparatus on the following six test materials: Makapansgat Limeworks chert (e.g., taphonomy), fresh steer longbone, mongongo nuts, Grewia berries, Carob beans, and wild-onion bulbs. Pairs of extracted unworn third molars were utilized, with one tooth acting as the control. The teeth were mounted, ultrasonically cleaned, and two-stage replicas made with a vinyl polysiloxane elastomer and araldite epoxy resin. After Instron loading and materials failure (1.2-395.0 kg) the test items and the crowns were prepared for comparison with scanning electron microscopy and dispersive x-ray elemental analysis and mapping. The results revealed that although grit adhering to food ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A Lurgi baseline study was requested by the DOE/GRI Operating Committee of the Joint Coal Gasification Program for the purpose of updating the economics of earlier Lurgi coal gasification plant studies for the production of substitute natural gas (SNG) based on commercially advanced technologies. The current study incorporates the recent experience with large size Lurgi plants in an effort to improve capital and operating costs of earlier plant designs. The present coal gasification study is based on a mine mouth plant producing 250 billion Btu (HHV) per day of SNG using the Lurgi dry bottom coal gasification technology. A Western subbituminous coal was designated as the plant food, obtained from the Rosebud seam at Colstrip, Montana. This study presents the detailed description of an integrated facility which utilizes coal, air, and water to produce 250 billion Btu (HHV) per day of SNG. The plant consists of coal handling and preparation, twenty-six Lurgi dry bottom gasifiers, shift ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Continuous freestanding SiC(Al) films were fabricated by melt spinning the aluminum-containing polycarbosilane (A-PCS) precursor. The results showed that the films contained #beta#-SiC crystals, #alpha#-SiC nano-crystals, C clusters and small amount of Al_4O_4C and Al_4SiC_4. The Al atoms in the films played important roles as both sintering aids and grain growth inhibitor. The PL spectrum showed a wide luminescence band from 320 nm to 440 nm, and the origin of PL centered at 385 nm might be related to the #alpha#-SiC nano-crystals using quantum size effects. The obtained films are expected to have important applications in MEMS for the environment of high temperature and optoelectronic devices.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Racemic and enantiomerically pure b-amino-a-trifluoromethyl alcohols were obtained via sequential nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of selected a-imino ketones, derived from arylglyoxals, and subsequent removal of the MeO or Ph(Me)CH substituent, respectively, located at the N-atom. The obtained products, containing a primary amino group, were used for the synthesis of imidazole N-oxides bearing a trifluoromethyl group as a part of the N(1)-alkyl chain. Imidazole N-oxides with an electron-withdrawing ester group at C(4) underwent spontaneous isomerization under the reaction conditions, and the corresponding imidazol-2-ones derivatives were isolated as final products.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A decade ago, Lovelock and Whitfield raised the question of how much longer the biosphere can survive on Earth. They pointed out that, despite the current fossil-fuel induced increase in the atmospheric CO[sub 2] concentration, the long-term trend should be in the opposite direction: as increased solar luminosity warms the Earth, silicate rocks should weather more readily, causing atmospheric CO[sub 2] to decrease. In their model, atmospheric CO[sub 2] falls below the critical level for C3 photosynthesis, 150 parts per million (p.p.m.), in only 100 Myr, and this is assumed to mark the demise of the biosphere as a whole. Here, this problem is re-examined using a more elaborate model that includes a more accurate treatment of the greenhouse effect of CO[sub 2] a biologically mediated weathering parameterization, and the realization that C4 photosynthesis can persist to much lower concentrations of atmospheric CO[sub 2] ([lt]10 p.p.m.). It was ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fully fluorinated compounds (perfluoro compounds) represent a class of chemicals which include many extremely inert species-inert to both chemical reaction and photodissociation. Well known examples include SF6 and the perfluorocarbons (PFCs) CF_4 and Teflon. SF_6 is used industrially in electrical switch gear and as an atmospheric tracer. CF_4 and C_2F_6 are released into the atmosphere as a by-product of aluminum manufacture. Several perfluoro compounds have been proposed as substitutes for the ozone-destroying Freons and halons; proposed substitutes include SF_6, c-C_4F_8, C_5F_1_2, and C_6F_1_4. These chemicals were chosen in part because they do not harm the stratospheric ozone layer and were therefore considered environmentally friendly. Recently, Ravishankara et al. reported that perfluoro compounds have significant global warming potential (GWP), contributing to the greenhouse effect due to strong infrared absorption. The perfluoro ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of replication-competent adenovirus-mediated double suicide gene therapy in an adjuvant setting with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in an experimental prostate cancer model in preparation for a Phase I clinical study in humans. Methods: For efficacy studies, i.m. DU145 and intraprostatic LNCaP C4-2 tumors were established in immune-deficient mice. Tumors were injected with the lytic, replication-competent Ad5-CD/TKrep adenovirus containing a cytosine deaminase (CD)/herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-1 TK) fusion gene. Two days later, mice were administered 1 week of 5-fluorocytosine + ganciclovir (GCV) prodrug therapy and fractionated doses of EBRT (trimodal therapy). Tumor control rate of trimodal therapy was compared to that of EBRT alone. For toxicology studies, immune-competent male mice received a single intraprostatic injection (10"1"0 vp) of the ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

TaC-4wt.% CNT composites were synthesized using spark plasma sintering. Two kinds of CNTs, having long (10-20mm) and short (1-3mm) length, were dispersed by wet chemistry and spray drying techniques respectively. Spark plasma sintering was carried out at 1850^oC at pressures of 100, 255 and 363MPa. Addition of CNTs leads to an increase in the density of 100MPa sample from 89% to 95%. Short CNTs are more effective in increasing the density of the composites whereas long CNTs are more effective grain growth inhibitors. The longer CNTs are more effective in increasing the fracture toughness and an increase up to 60% was observed for 363MPa sample. Hardness and elastic modulus are found to increase by 22% and 18% respectively for 100MPa samples by addition of long CNTs. Raman spectroscopy, SEM...

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Mass attenuation coefficients of amino acids viz. glycerine (C_2H_5NO_2), 1-Serine (C_3H_7NO_3), 1-Theronine (C_4H_9NO_3), 1-Proline (C_5H_9NO_2), 1-Valine (C_5H_1_1NO_2) and 1-Phenylalanine (C_9H_1_1NO_2) in aqueous solutions have been determined at 81, 356, 511, 662, 1173 and 1332 keV by the gamma-ray transmission method in a narrow beam good geometry setup. Precisely measured densities of these solutions were used for the determination of these coefficients which varied systematically with the corresponding changes in the concentrations (g/cm"3) of the solutions. Molar extinction coefficients of amino acids were then obtained at these energies and were found to be in good agreement with the theoretical results. In addition, total interaction cross sections of amino acids in aqueous solutions were also calculated. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Using a Q3D magnetic spectrometer the elastic and inelastic scattering of /sup 12/C on /sup 88/Sr and the neutron pick-up (/sup 12/C, /sup 13/C) has been studied. The spin alignment of the inelastically excited 2/sup +/ state of /sup 12/C (4.43 MeV) has been deduced from the line shapes broadened by the ..gamma..-decay in flight. Thus for each m-substate a full angular distribution was obtained. The m = 1 substate shows a shifted interference minimum, which is explained by the different strength of the Coulomb and nuclear amplitudes in the m-substates. The analysis of the data on elastic scattering, inelastic scattering, alignment and the neutron transfer can be described consistently with one choice of the optical model parameters.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Synthesis genes encoding the human #alpha#- and #beta#-globin polypeptides have been expressed from a single operon in Escherichia coli. The #alpha#- and #beta#-globin polypeptides associate into soluble tetramers, incorporate heme, and accumulate to >5% of the total cellular protein. Purified recombinant hemoglobin has the correct stoichiometry of #alpha#- and #beta#-globin chains and contains a full complement of heme. Each globin chain also contains an additional methionine as an extension to the amino terminus. The recombinant hemoglobin has a C_4 reversed-phase HPLC profile essentially identical to that of human hemoglobin A_0 and comigrates with hemoglobin A_0 on SDS/PAGE. The visible spectrum and oxygen affinity are similar to that of native human hemoglobin A_0. The authors have also expressed the #alpha#- and #beta#-globin genes separately and found that the expression of the #alpha#-globin gene alone results in a marked decrease in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical, infrared and Raman spectral studies have been carried out on vanadyl ions doped in polyvinylalcohol (PVA) films. The spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g and A) and the molecular orbital coefficients (#beta#_2"*"2 and k) have been evaluated. The values of spin-Hamiltonian parameters confirm that the vanadyl ions are present in PVA films as VO"2"+ molecular ions in an octahedral site with a tetragonal compression (C_4_v). The temperature variation EPR studies reveal that the variation of number of spins with temperature is in accordance with Boltzmann law. It is interesting to observe that the variation of susceptibility with temperature obeys Curie-Weiss law. The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectrum exhibits few bands, which are attributed to O-H, C-H, C-C and C-O groups of stretching and bending vibrations. The optical absorption spectrum exhibits two bands, which are assigned to "2B_2_g->"2B_1_g and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract The salts [Cnmim]2[Mo6Cl14] (mim = methylimidazolium; n = 4, 6, 12, 16, 18) have been obtained by reaction of CnmimCl with MoCl2. Thermal analysis shows the melting point decreases with increasing alkyl chain length of the cation. The imidazolium chloromolybdates(II) with n = 6-18 decompose above 340 C; [C18mim]2[Mo6Cl14] is thermally stable up to 390 C. All compounds are insensititve to the constituents of the atmosphere. Of the higher melting salts [Cnmim]2[Mo6Cl14] (n = 4, 6), high-quality single crystals could be obtained. Single-crystal X-ray structural analyses clearly show that the cluster complex anion [Mo6Cl14]2- has an electron-precise octahedral {Mo6} cluster. For [C4mim]2[Mo6Cl14], two polymorphs differing in the cation alkyl-side-chain conformation were obtained. The ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A phenomenological simulation was carried out for 41 experimental crystal-field (CF) levels within the "4I_9_/_2_-_1_5_/_2, "4F_3_/_2_-_9_/_2, "4S_3_/_2 and "2H_9_/_2 J manifolds, including the available infrared (IR) data up to #approx#15 000 cm"-"1 for the Nd"3"+ ions in the Nd_2CuO_4 single crystals. The CF Hamiltonian for the tetragonal C_4_v symmetry was diagonalized together with the free-ion Hamiltonian in a basis that spans the entire 4f"3 configuration. A rms error of 9 cm"-"1 between the calculated and experimental energy level schemes was obtained. A comparison of the spectra in the visible region between the insulating Nd_2CuO_4 and the metallic Nd_2_-_xCe_xCuO_4, allowed identifying the absorption bands associated with the development of the charge-doping induced local structural distortions in the superconducting regime.

Science.gov (United States)

Our long-term goal is to enable highly productive plant species to extract, resist, detoxify, and/or sequester toxic heavy metal pollutants as an environmentally friendly alternative to physical remediation methods. We have focused this phytoremediation research on soil and water-borne ionic and methylmercury. Mercury pollution is a serious world-wide problem affecting the health of human and wild-life populations. Methylmercury, produced by native bacteria at mercury-contaminated wetland sites, is a particularly serious problem due to its extreme toxicity and efficient biomagnification in the food chain. We engineered several plant species (e.g., Arabidopsis, tobacco, canola, yellow poplar, rice) to express the bacterial genes, merB and/or merA, under the control of plant regulatory sequences. These transgenic plants acquired remarkable properties for mercury remediation. (1) Transgenic plants expressing merB (organomercury lyase) extract methylmercury from their growth substrate and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Severe depletion of nutrients through removal of the above ground litter caused a cessation of growth of a Eucalyptus exserta forest in tropical China. Since there is no above ground input of C in this forest, microbial biomass (C_m_i_c) and soil organic C (C_o_r_g) are maintained by the below ground input only. By determining the maintenance requirement of the soil microflora, it should be possible to estimate the below ground production of this forest. To check this hypothesis the authors performed an experiment with labelled C. Since large scale production and field application of "1"4C labelled Eucalyptus litter were not feasible, 'naturally labelled' C_4 plant litter (Zea mays) was used. Maize litter has a #delta#"1"3C of -12.7 per mille as compared with a #delta#"1"3C of -30.7 per mille for Eucalyptus leaf litter. The "1"3C abundance is used to determine the amount of maize C in each of the soil layers. Investigations were made of how ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The corrosion behaviour of the stainless steels 304, 316 Ti, 25Cr-20Ni-Mo-Ti, nickel base alloys Hastelloy C4, Inconel 625, Incoloy 800, Ti and Ti-0.2% Pd alloy has been studied in the aerated or deaerated solutions at 20/sup 0/C and 90/sup 0/C whose compositions are representative of interstitial ground waters: granitic or clay waters or salt brine. The electrochemical techniques used are voltametry, polarization resistance and complexe impedance measurements. Electrochemical data show the respective influence of the parameters such as temperature, solution composition and dissolved oxygen, addition of soluble species chloride, fluoride, sulfide and carbonates, on which depend the corrosion current density, the passivation and the pitting potential. The inhibition efficiency of carbonate and bicarbonate activities against pitting corrosion is determined. In clay water at 90/sup 0/C, Ti and Ti-Pd show very high passivation aptitude and a broad ...

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The UV-vis-NIR absorption spectra of DyOCl were measured at selected temperatures between 9 and 300 K. The emission spectra of Dy"3"+ in LaOCl and GdOCl were obtained at 77 K and room temperature. The energy level scheme of Dy"3"+ was simulated with the aid of a phenomenological theory of simultaneously taking into account both the free ion and crystal field (c.f.) effects. The model included 14 adjustable parameters describing the electrostatic and the configuration interaction as well as the spin-orbit coupling. The c.f. effect was accounted for by the five non-zero B"k_q parameters according to the C_4_v point symmetry of Dy"3"+. Good simulation of the experimental energy level scheme was achieved with a r.m.s. deviation of 21 cm"-"1 between the experimental and calculated energy level schemes of 179 Kramers doublets. A comparison to Pr"3"+(4f"2), Nd"3"+ (4f"3), Sm"3"+ (4f"5), Eu"3"+ (4f"6), Tb"3"+ (4f"8), Ho"3"+ (4f"1"0), Er"3"+ (4f"1"1), ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of this study was to examine arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and to characterize the type of adrenergic receptor (AR) involved in the production of the major metabolite of this fatty acid. ["1"4C]AA was incubated with GPT-rings and the radiolabelled products were extracted and separated by TLC method. The medium was also assayed for radiolabelled immunoreactive PG's (iPG's) and leukotrienes (LT) B4 and C4 by RIA or Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) after exposure to various AR agonists. ["1"4C]AA was incorporated into GPT-rings and metabolized mainly into iPGE2 and smaller amounts into PGF2#alpha#. Trace amounts of PGD2 and 6-keto-PGF1#alpha# but not LTB4 or LTC4 were detected by RIA and/or EIA. Incubation of GPT rings for 15 minutes with isoproterenol and salbutamol resulted in a significant increase of PGE2 synthesis (optimum conc: 10"-"7, 10"-"7M respectively). In contrast, dobutamine, norepinephrine, phenylnephrine and xylazine (up to ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate time management and workflow for multidetector-row helical CT (MDCT). Time for patient and data handling of at total of 580 patients were evaluated at two different time periods (December 1999, August 2000), each for the following baseline measurements: (a) change of clothes/instruction; (b) patient placement on the CT table/i.v. catheter; (c) CT planning and programming; (d) CT data acquisition; (e) CT data reconstruction; (f) CT data storage/printing. All imaging was performed on a Somatom Volume Zoom (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). Time measurements summarized for different CT protocols revealed the following: (a) 5:01 min (#+-#2.06 min); (b) 4:36 min (#+-#2.43 min); (c) 4:11 min (#+-#2.55 min); (d) 0:43 min (#+-#0.15 min); (e) 6:59 min (#+-#2.39 min); (f) 09:51 min (#+-#3.51 min). Planning and programming was most time-consuming for CT angiography, whereas chest and abdominal CT needed only 3:26 and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper reports about in-situ corrosion studies on selected materials for long-term resistant high-level waste (HLW) packagings acting as a barrier in a rock salt repository. The materials (Ti 99.8-Pd, Hastelloy C4 and five iron-base materials) were investigated in heated boreholes in the Asse salt mine under simulated HLW disposal conditions prevailing in normal operation of repository and in certain accident scenarios. The experiments under normal operating conditions were performed at temperatures of 120 deg. C to 210 deg. C (vertical temperature profile in the boreholes) without and with gamma irradiation (3#centre dot#10"2 Gy/h, Co-60 source) within the framework of the German/US Brine Migration Test. In these experiments only small amounts of migrated brine inclusions (NaCl-rich) from the rock salt were present as corrosion medium. In the experiments carried out under simulated accident conditions with intrusion of larger amounts of ...

Science.gov (United States)

Twenty undergraduate students participated in an elaborative learning test to evaluate the relationship between electrical brain activity and subsequently recalled and not-recalled words. Data collected from the midline (Fz, Cz, Pz) and lateral scalp sites (F3, F4, C3, C4, P3, P4) were analysed. The difference between event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by subsequently recalled and not-recalled words, the ERP memory effect, was evaluated for each portion (primacy, plateau and recency) of the serial-position curve (SPC). We compared peak amplitudes for the P1, N1, P2, N400, P3 and frontal positive slow wave (FPSW) components. The electrophysiological data support the hypothesis that different mechanisms underlie primacy and recency effects during free recall paradigms. There was no support for the hypothesis that an association arises between memory and the FPSW when subjects utilise elaborative learning strategies. The P2 component ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Benzene molecules , present in the proto-planetary nebula CRL 618, are ionized and dissociated by ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray photons originated from the hot central star and by its fast wind. Ionic species and free radicals produced by these processes can lead to the formation of new organic molecules. The aim of this work is to study the photoionization and photodissociation processes of the benzene molecule, using synchrotron radiation and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Mass spectra were recorded at different energies corresponding to the vacuum UV (21.21 eV) and soft X-ray (282-310 eV) spectral regions. The production of ions from the benzene dissociative photoionization is here quantified, indicating that C_6H_6 is more efficiently fragmented by soft X-ray than UV radiation, where 50% of the ionized benzene molecules survive to UV dissociation while only about 4% resist to C-rays. Partial ion yields of H and small hydrocarbons, such as C_2H_2"+, C_3H_3"+, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

When biomass is used as fuel for thermal conversion plants, minerals from the fuel can be responsible for major problems. Generally, these problems are associated with the existence and development of low melting compounds or eutectics, which form sticky layers. In a fluidised bed, this can result in bed-agglomeration and defluidisation. This causes local high temperature, which often accelerates the process. It ultimately can lead to a completely sintered bed content with a glassy phase gluing the bed particles together and shut-down of the plant. The main objective of the title project is to develop a methodology to predict ash/bed agglomeration and sintering problems, to indicate related problems and, furthermore, to identify solution methods to make different types of biomass streams more viable for energy production. Within the present study, selected fuels are subjected to different existing methods together with some new ones, in order to determine the agglomeration temperature. ...