Pathways of rural change: an integrated assessment of metabolic patterns in emerging ruralities

While rural transformations are nothing new in human history, current processes of rural change occur under multiple forces at an unprecedented pace, involving profound and unexpected changes in land use and users, and rapid transformations in the metabolic patterns of rural systems. The present special section aims to shed light on current drivers and pathways of rural change by analyzing, under a common conceptual and theoretical framework, examples of new ruralities that are emerging as responses across different world regions. Within this context, this introduction presents: (1) common research questions of the six presented cases of rural change; (2) the general theoretical and methodological framework of integrated assessment of societal metabolism adopted to analyze rural systems and (3) the main contributions and conclusions that could be drawn from six context-specific case studies from Asia, Latin America and Europe.     

Development of vegetative and generative organs in magnetic orientation types of radish in a weak permanent magnetic field

Experiments have been performed to evaluate the impact of weak permanent horizontal magnetic field of about 400 A/m on seed formation in the main magnetic orientation types of radish, the north-south (NS) and west-east (WE) types. The results show that external magnetic field exposure retards plant progression through all stages of ontogeny but does not alter the ratio of NS and WE types. Under its effect, the numbers of pods and seeds and seed weight decrease in the NS-type but increase in the WS-type plants. Therefore, external magnetic field acts as an ecological factor that differentiates the responses of radish plants depending on the type of their magnetic orientation. Differences in the sensitivity of plants to magnetic field exposure are explained by specific features of their physiological status.     

On the ecology and biology of invasive species Cyclachaena xanthiifolia (Nutt.) Fresen. in the Southern Urals and Cisural region

Ecological and biological characteristics of Cyclachaena xanthiifolia (Nutt.) Fresen., have been studied in four regions of the Southern Urals and Cisural region. Communities including this species have been attributed to association Ivetum xanthiifoliae Fija?kowski 1967 of the class Stellarietea mediae R.Tx., Lohmeyer et Preising 1950. It has been shown that ecological habitat conditions have a significant effect on the majority of morphometric parameters of C. xanthiifolia, accounting for 1.3 to 51.4% of their total variance. Seed production averages 6500 seeds per plant. Extensive dispersal of the species over the Southern Ural region is predicted.     

Industrial pollution does not cause an increased incidence of nephropathies in the bank vole

Studies in the vicinities of copper smelters and in undisturbed areas of the Middle Urals have been performed to evaluate the effect of industrial pollution with heavy metals on macro- and micromorphological parameters of kidneys (weight, weight index, the spectrum and frequency of histopathologies) in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Schreber, 1780) and on the accumulation of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in this organ. It has been found that the kidneys of voles from polluted areas accumulate considerable amounts of heavy metals, with their concentrations increasing with age and/or sexual maturation. The kidney weight, index, and the frequency and severity of the majority of observed nephropathies also increase upon change in the reproductive-age status of animals. These parameters show no dependence on the degree of industrial pollution: at individual level, none of the heavy metals accumulated in the kidneys has produced any effect on the frequency and severity of nephropathies. These results contradict the prevailing opinion that toxicants play the determinant role in the development of nephropathies in small mammals inhabiting polluted areas. Therefore, the causes of nephropathies should be sought among other factors, not related to pollution.     

Correlations between the contents of volatile compounds in needle samples from Scots pine populations of southern Siberia

Intrapopulation diversity and correlations of 30 volatile compounds in needles have been studied in Scots pine populations of southern Siberia. Significant differences between populations have been revealed in the correlation pattern of relative terpenoid contents in needle samples. Stable combinations of closely associated mono- and sesquiterpenes and specific features of the general pattern of correlations between relevant characters have been determined.     

The WTO,ecology, and Russia: The time to make decisions

The relationship between the principle of free trade and nature conservation is one of the most acute and multifaceted problems in international business. The diversity of WTO activities implies the necessity of interdisciplinary studies utilizing the expertise and experience of specialists in international law and ecologists. In this paper, provisions of the WTO set of agreements and procedures for dispute settlement within the WTO framework are considered as applied to environmental protection.     

Preparation and Characterization of Three Different Derivatized Potato Starches

The use of native starch as a thermoplastic polymer is limited by its fragility and high water absorption. Due to the presence of several hydroxyl groups in its structure, water acts as a natural plasticizer of starch, modifying its properties. It is necessary to chemically modify starch molecules by replacing hydroxyl groups with other functional groups to reduce water absorption. Chemical modification of starch granules also alters its swelling and gelatinization behavior. In this contribution we describe the chemical modification of starch and its influence on its hydrophilicity and heat resistance. Acetic acid, maleic anhydride and octanoyl chloride were used as derivatizing reagents. The effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated by means of infrared spectroscopy. Different tests were conducted in order to evaluate the influence of the different chemical modifications on starch structure and properties. Results showed that the treatments effectively reduced starch moisture susceptibility, while substantially altering other properties such as amylose content, swelling power, solubility, and heat resistance. Finally, films were prepared from native and derivatized starch and their surface polarity was evaluated.     

Indication of airborne pollution by birch and spruce in the vicinity of copper smelter

The aim of the study was determination of air pollution impact of the copper smelter in Bor and its surroundings (Serbia) by assessing the suitability of birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and spruce (Picea abies L.) for the purposes of biomonitoring and comparing it with previously published data from the same study area. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn in leaves/needles, branches, roots and soil were determined. Sampling was performed during 2009 in two zones with high load of air pollution due to copper mining and smelting activities, and one background zone. Metal accumulation and translocation was evaluated in terms of biological factors. In addition, plant enrichment factor was calculated. According to the results, plant foliage was not enriched through soil, which indicates absorption from the air, with both species acting as excluders of Cu, Pb, Zn and Mn. Leaves were more enriched with all the metals than needles, indicating a better response of birch to airborne pollution than spruce. Cluster analysis showed different level of pollution at the sites, while correlations between Cu and Pb obtained by Principal Component Analysis indicated their anthropogenic origin. Regarding previously published results, beside birch leaves, pine needles (which showed higher level of response to pollution compared to linden leaves) could be applied in air biomonitoring surveys near copper smelters.     

Scanning electron microscopic investigations of root structural modifications arising from growth in crude oil-contaminated sand

The choice of plant for phytoremediation success requires knowledge of how plants respond to contaminant exposure, especially their roots which are instrumental in supporting rhizosphere activity. In this study, we investigated the responses of plants with different architectures represented by beetroot (Beta vulgaris), a eudicot with a central taproot and many narrower lateral roots, and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), a monocot possessing a mass of threadlike fibrous roots to grow in crude oil-treated sand. In this paper, scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate modifications to plant root structure caused by growth in crude oil-contaminated sand. Root structural disorders were evident and included enhanced thickening in the endodermis, increased width of the root cortical zone and smaller diameter of xylem vessels. Inhibition in the rate of root elongation correlated with the increase in cell wall thickening and was dramatically pronounced in beetroot compared to the roots of treated fescue. The latter possessed significantly fewer (p?<?0.001) and significantly shorter (p?<?0.001) root hairs compared to control plants. Possibly, root hairs that absorb the hydrophobic contaminants may prevent contaminant absorption into the main root and concomitant axile root thickening by being sloughed off from roots. Tall fescue exhibited greater root morphological adaptability to growth in crude oil-treated sand than beetroot and, thus, a potential for long-term phytoremediation.