The effect of nutrients shortage on plant’s efficiency to capture solar radiations under semi-arid environments

Radiation use efficiency (RUE) is considered critical for calculation of crop yield. The crop productivity can be improved by increasing the interception of solar radiation and maintaining higher RUE for plants. Irrigation water and nitrogen (N) supply are the main limiting factors for RUE in maize (Zea mays L.) across the semi-arid environments. Field experiments were conducted during two consecutive growing seasons (2009–2010) to optimize RUE in relation to N application timings and rates with varying irrigation water management practices. In experiment 1, three N application timings were made, while in experiment 2, three possible water management practices were used. In both experiments, five N rates (100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 kg N ha⁻¹) were applied to evaluate the effects of irrigation water and N on cumulative photosynthetic active radiation (PARi), dry matter RUE (RUE_DM), and grain yield RUE (RUE_GY). The results demonstrated that cumulative PARi and RUEs were not constant during the plant growth under varying the nutrients. The water and N significantly influenced cumulative PARi and RUEs during the both growing seasons. In experiment 1, the maximum cumulative PARi was observed by application of 250 kg N ha⁻¹ in three splits (1/3 N at V2, 1/3 N at V16, and 1/3 N at R1 stage), and the highest RUE_DM was achieved by the application of 300 kg N ha⁻¹. However, the highest RUE_GY was observed by application of 250 kg N ha⁻¹. In experiment 2, the maximum cumulative PARi was attained at normal irrigation regime with 250 kg N ha⁻¹, while the highest RUE_DM and RUE_GY were recorded at normal irrigation regime with the application of 300 kg N ha⁻¹. The regression analysis showed significant and positive correlation of RUE_GY with grain yield. Therefore, optimum water and N doses are important for attaining higher RUE, which may enhance maize grain yield semi-arid environment; this may be considered in formulating good agricultural practices for the environmental conditions resembling to those of this study.

     

Protective effects of thymoquinone against acrylamide-induced liver,kidney and brain oxidative damage in rats

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Acrylamide (AA), an industrial monomer, may cause multi-organ toxicity through induction of oxidative stress and inflammation. The antioxidant...     

Spatial variability of carbonaceous aerosols and associated source tracers in two cites in the Midwestern United States

Semi-continuous and 24-h averaged measurements of fine carbonaceous aerosols were made concurrently at three sites within each of two U.S. Midwestern Cities; Detroit, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio; during two, one-month intensive campaigns conducted in July of 2007 and January & February of 2008. A comparison of 24-h measurements revealed substantial intra-urban variability in carbonaceous aerosols consistent with the influence of local sources, and excesses in both PM_2.5 organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were identified at individual sites within each city. High time-resolved black carbon (BC) measurements indicated that elemental carbon concentrations were higher at sites adjacent to freeways and busy surface streets, and temporal patterns suggested that excess EC at sites adjacent to freeways was dominated by mobile source emissions while excesses in EC away from traffic corridors was dominated by point/area source emissions. The site-to-site variability in OC concentrations was approximately 7% within the neighborhood scale (0.5–4 km) and between 4 and 27% at the urban scale (4–100 km). In contrast, measurements of organic source tracers, in conjunction with a Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) source-apportionment model, indicated that the spatial variation in the contribution of both mobile and stationary sources to PM_2.5 OC often exceeded the variation in OC mass concentration by a factor of 3 or more. Markers for mobile sources, biomass smoke, natural gas, and coal combustion differed by as much as 60% within the neighborhood scale and by greater than 200% within the urban scale. The observations made during this study suggest that the urban excess of carbonaceous aerosols is much more complex than has been previously reported and that a more rigorous, source-oriented approach should be taken in order to assess the risk associated with exposure to carbonaceous aerosols within the industrialized environments of the Midwestern United States.     

Environmental behavior of explosives in groundwater from the Milan Army Ammunition Plant in aquatic and wetland plant treatments. Uptake and fate of TNT and RDX in plants

Uptake and fate of TNT and RDX by three aquatic and four wetland plants were studied using hydroponic, batch, incubations in explosives-contaminated groundwater amended with [U-14C]-TNT or [U-14C]-RDX in the laboratory. Substrates in which the plants were rooted were also tested. Plants and substrates were collected from a small-scale wetland constructed for explosives removal, and groundwater originated from a local aquifer at the Milan Army Ammunition Plant. This study demonstrated rapid uptake of [U-14C]-TNT derived 14C, concentration at the uptake sites and limited transport in all plants. Per unit of mass, uptake was higher in submersed than in emergent species. Biotransformation of TNT had occurred in all plant treatments after 7-day incubation in 1.6 to 3.4 mg TNT L-i, with labeled amino-dinitrotoluenes (ADNTs), three unidentified compounds unique for plants, and mostly polar products as results. Biotransformation occurred also in the substrates, yielding labeled ADNT, one unidentified compound unique for substrates, and polar products. TNT was not recovered by HPLC in plants and substrates after incubation. Uptake of [U-14C]-RDX derived 14C in plants was slower than that of TNT, transport was substantial, and concentration occurred at sites where new plant material was synthesized. As for TNT, uptake per unit of mass was higher in submersed than in emergent species. Biotransformation of RDX had occurred in all plant treatments after 13-day incubation in 1.5 mg RDX L-1, with one unidentified compound unique for plants, and mostly polar products as results. Biotransformation had occurred also in the substrates, but to a far lower extent than in plants. Substrates and plants had one unidentified 14C-RDX metabolite in common. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of RDX in most plants and in three out of four substrates at the end of the incubation period.     

Application of multivariate statistical analyses in the interpretation of geochemical behaviour of uranium in phosphatic rocks in the Red Sea,Nile Valley and Western Desert,Egypt

Factor and cluster analyses as well as the Pearson correlation coefficient have been applied to geochemical data obtained from phosphorite and phosphatic rocks of Duwi Formation exposed at the Red Sea coast. Nile Valley and Western Desert. Sixty-six samples from a total of 71 collected samples were analysed for SiO2, TiO2, Al203, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5, Sr, U and Pb by XRF and their mineral constituents were determined by the use of XRD techniques. In addition, the natural radioactivity of the phosphatic samples due to their uranium, thorium and potassium contents was measured by gamma-spectrometry. The uranium content in the phosphate rocks with P2O5 > 15% (average of 106.6 ppm) is higher than in rocks with P2O5 < 15% (average of 35.5 ppm). Uranium distribution is essentially controlled by the variations of P2O5 and CaO, whereas it is not related to changes in SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, Na2O and K2O concentrations.-Factor analysis and the Pearson correlation coefficient revealed that uranium belaves geochemically in different ways in the phosphatic sediments and phosphorites in the Red Sea, Nile Valley and Western Desert. In the Red Sea and Western Desert phosphorites, uranium occurs mainly in oxidized U6+ state where it seems to be fixed by the phosphate ion, forming secondary uranium phosphate minerals such as phosphuranylite. In the Nile Valley phosphorites, ionic substitution of Ca2+ by U4 is the main controlling factor in the concentration of uranium in phosphate rocks. Moreover, fixation of U6- by phosphate ion and adsorption of uranium on phosphate minerals play subordinate roles.     

Efficient planning for LNG berths used by modern generation vessels

Efficient planning for LNG berths used by modern generation vessels needs a high level and accumulation of experiences. The planning process should cover the main components for the handling berth as berthing dolphins, mooring dolphins, berthing platform and suitable type of fenders. The planning and design should cover studying all the design forces that affect these items, including the hidden capacities. This efficient planning should cover two international standards. The first is the British standard (BS) and the second one is the (OCIMF, Oil Companies International Marine Forum) international standards for the petroleum companies forum. Applying the specifications for these two standards together, the efficient planning for LNG berths can be obtained. This research deals with that planning details in a simplified procedure, which is easy to follow.     

Model simulations for describing water transport in a landfill with bottom ash from a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI): model validation and scenarios.

In the present study the water movement in a bottom ash landfill from a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) was investigated. The pore regime of such landfills consists of macropores (with diameter > 50 microm), which make up about two-thirds of the total porosity and micropores. The program MACRO, which describes flow through porous media and takes both macro- and micropore flows into account, was applied. The model was calibrated with a time series from the landfill Riet, near Winterthur in Switzerland. In the present study the model was recalibrated at a time series for 1 year. With this scenario the influence of an expected reduction or increase of the porosity on leachate behaviour of such landfills over a long time (> 100 years) was studied ('long-term behaviour'). It has been shown that reliable information about water percolation can only be provided by obtaining more information about the hydraulic structure of such landfills. In particular, the number of macropores and the porosity exert great influence on the water movement.     

Synthesis of 2,5‐diaryl‐2,4‐pentadienenitriles and their spectral,fluorescence and mutagenic properties

The condensation of substituted cinnamaldehydes and arylacetonitriles using sodium ethoxide in ethanol at room temperature afforded 2,5‐diaryl‐2,4‐pentadienenitriles in good yield. The structure of the reaction products was established on the basis of their infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and elemental analysis data. Two representative compounds were studied for their mutagenic activity. One of them showed a weak mutagenicity while the second showed a high mutagenic activity in TA97a Salmonella strain. Both were negative in TA100. Some of these pentadienenitriles showed fluorescence in solutions.     

The ameliorative effect of kaempferol against CdCl2- mediated renal damage entails activation of Nrf2 and inhibition of NF-kB

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study evaluated the nephroprotective effect of kaempferol against cadmium chloride (CdCl2) -induced nephropathy in rats. It also investigated if...