Integrated geophysical surveys on waste dumps: evaluation of physical parameters to characterize an urban waste dump (four case studies in Italy).

Geophysical surveys were carried out on different waste dumps to evaluate key geometric and physical parameters. Depending on the dump dimensions and physical characteristics different geophysical techniques were used. Vertical electrical sounding, electrical resistivity tomography, induced polarization and seismic refraction techniques were integrated to eliminate the non-uniqueness of solutions and for a better understanding of the results. Physical parameters inside and outside the dumps were compared. The change of physical parameters such as resistivity, chargeability, and P-wave velocity allowed evaluation of waste dump geometry, leachate saturation levels, and thickness of waste. Furthermore, in illegal dumps, the size and waste type disposed could be evaluated. Calculated results were compared with plans and book-keeping from the dumps investigated.     

Glutathione peroxidases in Lolium multiflorum and Festuca arundinacea: Activity,susceptibility to herbicides and characteristics

To evidence a possible mechanism of defense toward oxidative stress induced by herbicides in plants, an investigation was carried on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and in Festuca (Festuca arundinacea) in response to atrazine (6-chloro-N-ethyl-N′-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) and fluorodifen (4-nitrophenyl α,α,α-trifluoro-2-nitro-p-tolyl ether). In general, the herbicide treatments significantly induced GPX activity in the shoots of Italian ryegrass, whereas inhibited it in Festuca. These opposite behaviors are examined, taking into account the accumulation and persistence of the two herbicides in the plants, and they are discussed in terms of GPX counteraction to oxidative stress in the first case, and of a lower detoxification rate unable to prevent a deleterious effect on the GPX activity in the second case. Further information on the properties of Italian ryegrass and Festuca GPX were achieved by purification and isolation of the enzymes, performed by protein liquid chromatography and by electrophoretic analyses. GPX of both the plants were found to be heterodimer with multiple function in showing also glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity.     

Glutathione peroxidases in Lolium multiflorum and Festuca arundinacea: Activity, susceptibility to herbicides and characteristics

To evidence a possible mechanism of defense toward oxidative stress induced by herbicides in plants, an investigation was carried on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and in Festuca (Festuca arundinacea) in response to atrazine (6-chloro-N-ethyl-N'-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) and fluorodifen (4-nitrophenyl α,α,α-trifluoro-2-nitro-p-tolyl ether). In general, the herbicide treatments significantly induced GPX activity in the shoots of Italian ryegrass, whereas inhibited it in Festuca. These opposite behaviors are examined, taking into account the accumulation and persistence of the two herbicides in the plants, and they are discussed in terms of GPX counteraction to oxidative stress in the first case, and of a lower detoxification rate unable to prevent a deleterious effect on the GPX activity in the second case. Further information on the properties of Italian ryegrass and Festuca GPX were achieved by purification and isolation of the enzymes, performed by protein liquid chromatography and by electrophoretic analyses. GPX of both the plants were found to be heterodimer with multiple function in showing also glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity.