Co-composting of acid waste bentonites and their effects on soil properties and crop biomass

Acid waste bentonite is a byproduct from vegetable oil bleaching that is acidic (pH < 3.0) and hydrophobic. These materials are currently disposed of in landfills and could potentially have a negative impact on the effective function of microbes that are intolerant of acidic conditions. A study was undertaken using three different sources of acid waste bentonites, namely soybean oil bentonite (SB), palm oil bentonite (PB), and rice bran oil bentonite (RB). These materials were co-composted with rice husk, rice husk ash, and chicken litter to eliminate their acid reactivity and hydrophobic nature. The organic carbon (OC) content, pH, exchangeable cations, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the acid-activated bentonites increased significantly after the co-composting phase. In addition, the hydrophobic nature of these materials as measured using the water drop penetration time (WDPT) decreased from >10 800 s to 16 to 80 s after composting. Furthermore, these composted materials showed positive impacts on soil physical attributes including specific surface area, bulk density, and available water content for crop growth. Highly significant increases in maize biomass (Zea mays L.) production over two consecutive cropping cycles was observed in treatments receiving co-composted bentonite. The study clearly demonstrates the potential for converting an environmentally hazardous material into a high-quality soil conditioner using readily available agricultural byproducts. It is envisaged that the application of these composted acid waste bentonites to degraded soils will increase productivity and on-farm income, thus contributing toward food security and poverty alleviation.     

Physicochemical characteristics of carbonaceous adsorbent for dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl adsorption

It has been known that dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) are present in almost all types of environments worldwide. Activated carbon treatment has been expected for the removal of DL-PCBs because it is a simple and low-cost removal technology. In the present study, the physicochemical properties of activated carbon were investigated to identify the characteristics of 16 different types of activated carbon on adsorption properties for DL-PCBs. To accomplish this, micropore volume, and pore diameter were calculated by t-plot analysis and the mesopore volume was analyzed by the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) method. In addition, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, pH, metal elements, and surface acid functional groups were analyzed. Then, adsorption experiments using DL-PCB in hexane solution were conducted, and the relationship between adsorption and physicochemical properties of activated carbon was investigated. The results showed that activated carbons having a surface area of 700-1200 m² g⁻¹ and micropores with diameters of about 0.7-0.8 nm exhibited high activity for the adsorption of PCBs. The results also clearly showed that the mesopore volume of activated carbon influenced the adsorption rate and the equilibrium adsorption.     

The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident and exposures in the environment

The Great East Japan Earthquake has occurred on March 11, 2011, in the Tohoku District of Japan. Due to the earthquake, big tsunamis were induced, and they rushed to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations, causing severe accidents. Radioactive materials including I-131, Cs-137 and so on were emitted from the plant to the environment. The Japanese government, Fukushima prefectural government and other local governments have struggled against the accidents. The restricted area and deliberate evacuation area are set by the government, and the residents are evacuated. The dose rates in and around Fukushima Prefecture have been monitored by the governments and other involved organizations. Fukushima government has started the health management survey for all residents in Fukushima Prefecture including the questions on their activities for the estimations of their external doses.     

Chemical sensitivity of the male daphnid, Daphnia magna, induced by exposure to juvenile hormone and its analogs

It was reported that males daphnid Daphnia magna that have been induced by methyl farnesoate exposure exhibit higher tolerance to chemical compounds such as potassium dichromate and pentachlorophenol than females. Male neonates are also known to be induced by exposure to juvenile hormone analogs, such as fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen. If these analogs can be used to produce male progeny, the biological and physiological studies of daphnid male would be progressed since the effects of these analogs were several hundred times higher than that of methyl farnesoate. Therefore, in the present study, it was investigated that the chemical sensitivity of male neonates induced by exposure to juvenile hormone (methyl farnesoate) and its analogs. The minimum concentrations of methyl farnesoate, fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen to induce 100% male-reproduction were 200nM (50microg/l), 0.23nM (70ng/l) and 0.31nM (100ng/l), respectively. In addition, no reduction of relative reproduction was observed at the juvenoid concentrations in 24h exposure producing 100% male progeny. The median effective concentrations (EC50) of potassium dichromate for immobility of male neonates, established by a standardized method for investigating sensitivity to chemicals, were significantly higher (12-29%) than that of females at least after 24h exposure in all the male neonates induced by juvenoids used in this study (P<0.05). This study demonstrated that the male daphnids induced by exposure to juvenile hormone and its analogs exhibit similar chemical tolerance.     

Isotope ratios of lead in Japanese women’s hair of the twentieth century

Introduction  

Isotope ratios of lead (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb) in Japanese women’s hair of the twentieth century were measured to evaluate lead contamination of human proximate environment of those days.     

Formation of Friedel’s salt in simulated municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - To recycle incineration bottom ash as a raw material in cement production, it is important to reduce the chlorides in the ash. Due to...     

Flower-visiting behavior of male bees is triggered by nectar-feeding insects

Bees are important pollinators for many flowering plants. Female bees are thought to be more effective pollinators than male bees because they carry much more pollen than males. Males of some solitary bee species are known to patrol near flowers that females visit. Because patrolling males visit flowers to mate or defend their territories, they may function as pollinators. However, the significance of patrolling males to pollination has not been studied. We studied males of a solitary bee, Heriades fulvohispidus (Megachilidae), patrolling near flowers and visiting flowers that attracted nectar-feeding insects, including conspecifics, on the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands. To test the hypothesis that patrolling male bees may function as pollen vectors, we compared the frequency of visits by H. fulvohispidus to flowers of an endemic plant, Schima mertensiana (Theaceae); comparisons were made among flowers with a dead H. fulvohispidus, a dead beetle, a piece of plastic, and nothing (control flowers). Patrolling H. fulvohispidus more frequently visited flowers with a dead conspecific, a dead beetle, or a piece of plastic than the control flowers. Our experiment demonstrates that nectar-feeding insects (including conspecifics and other insects) enhance the flower-visiting frequency of patrolling H. fulvohispidus males on S. mertensiana flowers. Furthermore, we observed S. mertensiana pollen on patrolling males as well as females, suggesting that male bees may also function as pollen vectors.     

Large- and small-size advantages in sneaking behaviour in the dusky frillgoby <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathygobius fuscus</Emphasis>

Sneaking tactic, a male alternative reproductive tactic involving sperm competition, is generally adopted by small individuals because of its inconspicuousness. However, large size has an advantage when competition occurs between sneakers for fertilization of eggs. Here, we suggest that both large- and small-size advantages of sneaker males are present within the same species. Large sneaker males of the dusky frillgoby Bathygobius fuscus showed a high success rate in intruding into spawning nests because of their advantage in competition among sneaker males in keeping a suitable position to sneak, whereas small sneakers had few chances to sneak. However, small sneaker males were able to stay in the nests longer than large sneaker males when they succeeded in sneak intrusion. This suggests the possibility of an increase in their paternity. The findings of these size-specific behavioural advantages may be important in considering the evolution of size-related reproductive traits.     

Development of a simulation model for reuse businesses and case studies in Japan

To discuss measures to promote reuse in society, a holistic understanding of reuse businesses and markets is indispensable. This paper presents a simulation model for reuse businesses. To formulate the model, first, prerequisites for reuse businesses are outlined. The simulation model includes these prerequisites as its parameters, and its outcomes yield patterns of reuse markets. The paper presents the formulation of the model and simulation outcomes under four parameter settings. The correspondences between the simulation outcomes and case studies of reuse businesses in Japan are discussed to verify the propriety of the model.     

Keratin decomposition by trogid beetles: evidence from a feeding experiment and stable isotope analysis

The decomposition of vertebrate carcasses is an important ecosystem function. Soft tissues of dead vertebrates are rapidly decomposed by diverse animals. However, decomposition of hard tissues such as hairs and feathers is much slower because only a few animals can digest keratin, a protein that is concentrated in hairs and feathers. Although beetles of the family Trogidae are considered keratin feeders, their ecological function has rarely been explored. Here, we investigated the keratin-decomposition function of trogid beetles in heron-breeding colonies where keratin was frequently supplied as feathers. Three trogid species were collected from the colonies and observed feeding on heron feathers under laboratory conditions. We also measured the nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon (δ¹³C) stable isotope ratios of two trogid species that were maintained on a constant diet (feathers from one heron individual) during 70 days under laboratory conditions. We compared the isotopic signatures of the trogids with the feathers to investigate isotopic shifts from the feathers to the consumers for δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C. We used mixing models (MixSIR and SIAR) to estimate the main diets of individual field-collected trogid beetles. The analysis indicated that heron feathers were more important as food for trogid beetles than were soft tissues under field conditions. Together, the feeding experiment and stable isotope analysis provided strong evidence of keratin decomposition by trogid beetles.