Pollen germination is impeded by tap water

Pollen germination in vitro is totally inhibited in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and other species if tap water is used to prepare the germination medium. This effect is already fully present if tap water accounts for only 25% of the medium. Furthermore, the pollen grains deteriorate rapidly and the culture medium turns yellowish-brown. The water toxicity is not caused by one or several compounds regularly monitored by the water authorities but can be removed by ion exchange purification. Although the factor(s) responsible for the inhibition were not identified, the study clearly shows the presence of such a contaminant in three different Orange County (Southern California) water wells. The fact that a fundamental botanical process like pollen germination is inhibited by a factor in drinking water not included in water quality control causes some general health concern. In addition, crop yield might be largely reduced if overhead spray irrigation with this water is utilized. The experiments also suggest that pollen germination in vitro could serve as a sensitive and simple bioassay for water quality.     

Prenatal diagnosis of pseudo arylsulphatase a deficiency

Prenatal diagnosis was performed on a pregnancy at risk for metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) in a family with the pseudo arylsulphatase A deficiency trait. Extracts of cultured amniotic fluid cells were deficient in arylsulphatase A indicating that the fetus was either affected with MLD or had the benign pseudodeficiency trait. In the cerebroside sulphate loading test, the at risk cells hydrolysed sulphatide like control cultured amniotic fluid cells implying that the fetus had pseudodeficiency. The pregnancy was carried to term and a male child was delivered. Placenta, urine and fibroblasts had very low activities of arysulphatase A. However, no sulphatide could be detected in urine and growing fibroblasts responded normally in the cerebroside sulphate loading test, suggesting pseudodeficiency. At 29 months, the infant is healthy and shows no stigmata of MLD. The prediction based on the results of the cerebroside sulphate loading test on cultured amniotic fluid cells appeared to be borne out.     

Characterization and prediction of highway runoff constituent event mean concentration

Highway stormwater runoff quality data were collected from throughout California during 2000-2003. Samples were analyzed for conventional pollutants (pH, conductivity, hardness, and temperature); aggregates (TSS, TDS, TOC, DOC); total and dissolved metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn); and nutrients (NO(3)-N, TKN, total P, and ortho-P). Storm event and site characteristics for each sampling site were recorded. A statistical summary for chemical characteristics of highway runoff is provided based on statewide urban and non-urban highways. Constituent event mean concentrations (EMCs) were generally higher in urban highways than in non-urban highways. The chemical characteristics of highway runoff in California were compared with national highway runoff chemical characterization data. The results obtained in California were generally similar to those found in other states. The median EMC for Pb measured in studies conducted in previous decades was much higher than the current median Pb EMC in California. The lower Pb EMC in California compared to previous highway runoff monitoring is believed to be due to the elimination of leaded gasoline. An attempt was also made to identify surrogate constituents within a general family of water quality categories using Spearman correlations and selected pairs with Spearman coefficients greater than 0.8. The strongest correlations were observed among parameters associated with dissolved minerals (EC, TDS, and chloride); organic carbon (TOC and DOC); petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH and O & G); and particulate matter (TSS and turbidity). Within the metals category, total iron concentration was highly correlated with most total metal concentrations. The correlations between total and dissolved concentrations were all less than 0.8, even between total and dissolved concentrations of the same metals. Multiple linear regression (MLR) analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of various site and storm event variables on highway runoff constituent EMCs. Parameters found to have significant impacts on highway runoff constituent EMCs include: total event rainfall (TER); cumulative seasonal rainfall (CSR); antecedent dry period (ADP); contributing drainage area (DA); and annual average daily traffic (AADT). Surrounding land use and geographic regions were also determined to have a significant impact on runoff quality. The MLR model was also used to predict constituent EMCs. Model performance determined by comparing predicted and measured values showed good agreement for most constituents.     

ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FOR STORMWATER DETENTION1

ABSTRACT: In a simulation experiment, stormwater flows are partially diverted, at various levels, to a detention basin in order to compare the recombined (i.e., undiverted flows and basin discharges) hydrograph to the response of the traditional, in-line design. The use of off-line detention basins is shown to be an effective technique for reducing peak flows from developed watersheds to pre-development levels with lower storage requirements. In addition, the discharge hydrographs produced by off-line detention are significantly different from those produced by the traditional design and may be more suited to certain stormwater management situations.     

Influence of vertical greening design of building opening on indoor cooling and ventilation

This study focused on greening designs for building openings. Field experimentation was conducted and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software was used for simulation in order to analyze the influence of different greening design modes on indoor temperature. A greening design mode suitable for the opening of houses in Kaohsiung was proposed. This study took an architectural space with a pitched roof as the experimental site, where the main variable was the location of the plant facade outside the opening, and the distance between the plant and wall surface, as well as the number of plant layers, was the control variable. A plant (Rose of China) was selected for experimentation, and the indoor temperature distributions under various research module settings were discussed by numerical simulation. The conclusions are described, as follows: (1) The air temperature would be affected by the plants, and the indoor air temperature is reduced (over 0.5°C without direct sunshine in this study). (The difference between the indoor cooling effects with and without plants was 0.89~1.11°C. (2) While the cooling effect of the double-layer plant on indoor air temperature was better than a single-layer plant, the difference was limited and not proportional. (3) The plants should be located as close to the opening as possible, and be arranged partially sparse and partially dense. (4) When the outside wind speed is low, plant greening is highly recommended for cooling.