Matter Areas Research Articles

ビール粕炭化物の物性と燃焼特性

The physical properties such as moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon and specific surface area were investigated on the spent grain charcoal, Ca(OH)2 added spent grain charcoal and the sawdust charcoal. Moreover, the burning properties of these charcoals were examined.The spent grain charcoal contains fixed carbon of 81 % and ash of 12 %, and the ash content is fairly high compared with that in the sawdust charcoal. The ash content increases to about 16 % when Ca(OH)2 is added to the spent grain charcoal. The ash of spent grain charcoal contains 47 % of P, 22 % of Ca, 14 % of Mg, 13 % of Si and others. The thermal analysis gives a superior information on the ignition and burning properties. The spent grain charcoal is inferior to the sawdust charcoal in the burning property of the ignition temperature and the burning period, because the ignition temperature is higher and the burning period is longer. The addition of Ca(OH)2 to the spent grain improves the burning property of the obtained charcoal due to an increase in the surface area.

Resposta de genótipos de milho ao estresse salino em condições hidropônicas

Quatro genótipos de milho (Zea mays L.), Jatinã C3 anão, BR-201, V-190 e LW-1, foram avaliados quanto à tolerância ao estresse salino (0, 50 e 100 mM NaCl) em condições hidropônicas. As plantas submetidas a 100 mM de NaCl durante 29 dias apresentaram uma redução na produção de matéria seca superior a 50%, e uma redução na área foliar superior a 75%, quando comparadas ao tratamento controle (0 mM NaCl). Dentre os quatro genótipos estudados, a linha pura LW-1 apresentou produção de matéria seca e área foliar inferiores aos demais. O aumento dos níveis de sal na solução resultou em uma diminuição da taxa de crescimento da parte aérea e da raiz, de todos os genótipos. O sistema radicular apresentou os maiores teores de sódio e também os maiores decréscimos na taxa de crescimento relativo, evidenciando o efeito negativo da acumulação deste cátion. O número e o tamanho dos estômatos não sofreram alterações em conseqüência do estresse salino.

Immunohistochemical assessment of constitutive and inducible heat-shock protein 70 and ubiquitin in human cerebellum and caudate nucleus.

The distributions of constitutive and inducible 70-kDa heatshock proteins (Hsc70 and Hsp70, respectively) and ubiquitin (Ub) were investigated in autopsy specimens from 24 adult human brains. The objectives were to verify that the milder fixation and celloidin embedding applied to those specimens preserved protein immunoreactivity in the tissue sections, even with extended intervals between death and fixation, and to determine the typical pattern of distribution of the proteins in aged human cerebellum and caudate nucleus. To achieve these objectives, the patterns of immunoreactivity in human specimens were compared with those in normal rat brain after three methods of immersion fixation: 1. 1% Formalin; 2. 10% Formalin; 3. Methacarn (a modification of Carnoy's solution). Additionally, some rats were left refrigerated, but unfixed for up to 24 h to mimic the postmortem interval that commonly occurs prior to fixation of human autopsy material. Tissues were embedded in celloidin, sectioned at 100 microns, and the celloidin dissolved to permit immunostaining. Immunoreactivity for all antigens was greatly diminished in the rat brain by fixation in 10% formalin compared to 1% formalin or methacarn. Rat and human brain tissues fixed in the latter two solutions showed similar patterns of low levels of Hsp70 immunostaining in gray matter and other areas where neuronal somata were concentrated, whereas Hsc70 immunostaining was much greater in those same areas. Little Hsc70 or Hsp70 immunoreactivity was detected in the white matter from either source, but immunoblots of human gray and white matter suggested that white matter contained more Hsc70 and Hsp70 than apparent by tissue section immunoreactivity. Ubiquitin immunostaining in rat and human brain showed the same high levels as Hsc70 in gray matter, but unlike Hsc70, was also visible in white matter. These patterns remained the same in rat brains even if fixation was delayed for 24 h. In three human brain specimens, elevated Hsc70 staining, but not Hsp70 or Ub, was found in a ring pattern similar to that described as the ischemic penumbra in experimentally induced brain ischemia. These results indicated that dilute formalin preserved Hsc/Hsp70 and Ub antigenicity well, and that the proteins had similar distributions in human and rat brains, despite the extended postmortem delay in fixation of the former. They also suggested that evidence of premortem, localized cellular metabolic stress may be preserved in the postmortem human brain by an alteration in the typical distribution of Hsc70.

Root growth and cotton nutrition as affected by liming and soil compaction

Soil columns were produced by filling PVC tubes with a Dark Red Latosol (Acrortox, 22% of clay). A compacted layer was established at the depth of 15 cm in the columns. In the compacted layer, soil was packed to 1.13, 1.32, 1.48, and 1.82 Mg kg‐1, resulting in cone resistances of 0.18, 0.43, 1.20, and 2.50 MPa. Cotton was cropped for 30 days. Lime was applied to raise base saturation to 40, 52, and 67%. The highest base saturation caused a decrease in phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in the plants. A decrease in root dry matter, length and surface area was also observed. This could be a consequence of lime induced Zn deficiency. Root growth was decreased in the compacted layer, and complete inhibition was noticed at 2.50 MPa. Once the roots got through the compacted layer, there was a growth recovery in the bottom layer of the pots. The increase in base saturation up 52% was effective in preventing a decrease in cotton root length at soil resistances to 1.20 MPa. Where the roots were shorter, there was an increase in nutrient uptake per unit of root surface area, which kept the plants well nourished, except for P.

Growth and yield of sorghum or cowpea in an agrisilviculture system in semiarid India

This study was conducted near Hyderabad, India during 1991–1994 to quantify the effects of shoot pruning, fertilization, and root barriers around Leucaena leucocephala trees on intercropped sorghum(Sorghum bicolor) or cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) crop production under rainfed conditions. Crop plants grown with pruned trees attained higher dry matter and leaf area index than did those with unpruned trees. Two-year mean grain yields of sorghum with no root barriers were76% and 39% of pure crop yield (1553 kg ha–1)for pruned and unpruned trees, respectively. Corresponding values for cowpea were 49% and 26% of pure crop yield (1075 kgha–1). Sorghum or cowpea intercropped with trees responded to fertilizer application more strongly than did their respective pure crops, suggesting an increased need for fertilizer application in this agrisilviculture system over that currently used for pure crops. Impact of root barriers was small on either crop. Irrespective of root barriers, a high response to tree pruning suggested above ground competition for light dominated tree/crop interactions in this agrisilviculture system.

Genotypic differences to soil salinity in clusterbean

This study relates the changes in performance (dry matter, seed yield, and leaf area), mineral composition (N, P, K, Na, and Cl), concentrations of leaf metabolites (chlorophyll, starch, reducing sugars, soluble protein, free proline, and free amino acids), and activities of nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase at soil salinity of 10 dS m‐1in 10 genotypes of clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.). Based on the extent of reduction in seed yield, genotypes were initially categorized as tolerant (Malosen and HFG‐182), moderately tolerant (AG‐111, Kutch‐8, KVS‐2, DP Safed, and B‐22–11–55), and sensitive (Durgajai, FS‐277, and B‐31–1‐55) to increased salinity. The responses between the tolerant and sensitive genotypes to salinity were different in all the parameters considered here. The responses of the moderately tolerant genotypes to salinity were variable and inconsistent. The sensitive genotypes had higher concentrations of Na and Cl in the shoot tissue and also a lower K:Na ratio under stress a...

96/05299 The release of nitrogen during the combustion of coal chars: The role of volatile matter and surface area

96/05299 The release of nitrogen during the combustion of coal chars: The role of volatile matter and surface area

Physiology of nociception

Nociception is related to the mechanisms elicited by stimuli threatening the integrity of the organism. At the peripheral level, unmyelinated C fibres (C polymodal nociceptores) or fine myelinated A delta fibres are excited by noxious stimulation, directly or indirectly by inflammatory processes. Nociceptive afferent fibres terminate in the superficial laminae of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord where informations are integrated and controlled. These first synapses are modulated by excitatory amino acids (glutamate and aspartate) and many peptides (substance P, CGRP, CCK, endogenous opiods). The majority of ascending pathways involved in nociception are located in the ventrolateral controlateral quadrant of the cord (spinorelicular and spinothalamic tracts). Many supraspinal sites are activated following nociceptive stimuli, with relays in the reticular formation of the brain stem (including the subnucleus reticularis dorsalis), the ponto-mesencephalic regions (periaqueducal gray matter and parabrachial area) and thalamic sites. Amygdala and hypothamic targets could be involved in motivational reactions and neuroendocrine adaptations to a noxious event. The cingular, insular and somatosensory cortices also receive nociceptive informations. Nociceptive signals are modulated at all levels of their transmission; the more extensively studied controls are located at the spinal level. Segmental controls are inhibitory effects produced by non-noxious mechanical stimuli. Spinal signals can also be inhibited following activation of bulbopinal descending inhibitor pathways and release of serotonin, norepinephrine and, indirectly, endogenous opiods. Inhibitory controls triggered by noxious stimuli could facilitate the extraction of the nociceptive tone of informations having priority over other stimuli.

Characterization of sulfur retained by soils exposed to sulfur dioxide

Abstract Soils have substantial capacity for sorption of sulfur dioxide (SO2) but little is known about the nature of the sorbed S. Three surface soils varying in pH, organic matter, CaCO3 equivalent and surface area were exposed to air containing 5% SO2 and subsequently analyzed by ten different procedures to characterize the sorbed S. Most of the sulfur retained by soils after exposure to SO2 could be recovered as CaCl2‐extractable S, Ca(H2PO4)2‐extractable S, or S released as H2S by hydriodic acid (HI). Only small amounts of sulfur could be recovered as tetrachloromercurate (TCM)‐extractable S, S released as SO2 by HCl, or S released as H2S by HCl + Zn, HCl + Sn, or Raney Ni and NaOH. However, large amounts of S released as SO2 by HCl were recovered from the air‐dry Webster and the moist Storden soils indicating that SO2 sorption is influenced by organic matter in air‐dry soils and by CaCO3 in moist soils.

Effects of ozone and simulated acidic precipitation on above- and below-ground growth of loblolly pine (Pinustaeda)

Loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) seedlings from two families differing in ozone sensitivity were exposed to four ozone concentrations (charcoal-filtered (subambient ozone concentration), nonfiltered (ambient ozone concentration), non-filtered × 1.7, and nonfiltered × 2.5) and three levels of acidic precipitation (pH = 3.3, 4.3, and 5.3) in modified open-top chambers for one growing season at Auburn, Alabama. Seedlings were planted in the ground in root-exclusion tubes that isolated root systems of individual seedlings. Foliage, stem, and root biomass, three-dimensional root surface area (root surface area × π; in cm3), final height, and groundline diameter were recorded and analyzed. Foliage dry matter and root surface area decreased and root to shoot ratio significantly increased with increasing ozone concentrations for the ozone-sensitive family. There were no significant pH effects for this family. No significant differences in either ozone or pH treatments occurred for the ozone-tolerant family. The possible implications on long-term effects of ozone and acidic precipitation on loblolly pine growth are discussed.

Clinical characteristics of Wernicke's encephalopathy in the elderly

Clinical characteristics were examined in 5 elderly patients whose brain showed typical features of Wernicke's encephalopathy at the autopsy. All 5 were females with a mean age of 67 +/- 4 years old. The pathological diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy was based on the presence of bleeding or atrophy of bilateral mammilary bodies, proliferation of capillaries and increase of macrophages in mammilary bodies, midbrain periaqueductal gray matter and periventricular area, with relatively intact neurons. Wernicke's encephalopathy was diagnosed clinically only in one case. The remaining four had no clinical diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Underlying diseases were varied including neurological, metabolic, gastrointestinal disorders and malignancy. The predominant symptom, consciousness disturbance, was seen in 4 cases. Two of them showed a comatose state. Ocular symptoms and ataxia were observed in 2 cases. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis and anemia in 3 cases, hypoproteinemia in 4 cases. One case was alcoholic, but the other four were non-alcoholics and developed the disease after prolonged malnutrition. At the onset of the disease, 4 cases were receiving glucose and electrolyte infusion without vitamins, at the onset of the disease. We propose that in elderly patients with consciousness disturbance of unknown cause, Wernicke's encephalopathy should be taken into consideration even in non-alcoholics, and thiamine infusion should be commenced at once when the disease is suspected even when typical symptoms are lacking.

Relationship between phosphorus sorption indexes and plant response in a greenhouse experiment

Abstract Twenty six phosphorus (P) sorption indexes were utilized as complement measurements of P fertility diagnosis on sixteen soils from Sandy Pampa and Ondulating Pampa. Adsorption values behaved as non‐availability indexes and were negatively correlated with P absorption by plants. The best parameters were P‐25–2hrs: adsorbed P with 25 μg P added, equilibrium period: 2 hrs (r = ‐0.89∗∗); BC: buffer capacity (r = 0.86∗∗); P‐1550: adsorbed P with 1550 (μg P added (r = ‐0.80∗ in Ondulating Pampa). Intensity or desorption related positively with plant P (r = 0.69∗∗). When applying P fertilization in a greenhouse trial, absorbed P, dry matter, and foliar area showed a positive correlation with adsorption indexes and a negative one with desorption indexes.

Leaf area and transpiration efficiency during different growth stages in oats

SUMMARYDry matter production, transpiration and transpiration efficiency (DM production: transpiration) were studied during vegetative growth of oats over 4 years (1976–77 and 1982–83) in field experiments on loess-derived soils near Gottingen, Germany, under different weather conditions. Shoot and root dry matter and leaf area were measured or estimated regularly during the season. The rate of evapotranspiration including intercepted rain water by leaves (ET) was determined during five consecutive growth stages from the water balance in the 2 m soil profile. The rate of soil evaporation (E) and the rate at which rain water was intercepted by leaves (I) were estimated separately in order to attain T, the transpiration rate (T = ET–E–I), or IT, the rate of interception of rain water by leaves plus transpiration (IT = ET–E). The potential evapotranspiration rate (ETp) was derived from meteorological parameters.During the early stages of oat development (seedling growth and tillering), T and IT, related to ETp, were higher than expected from crop growth rate (CGR), calculated for shoot and total dry matter including roots, respectively. It was concluded that, at a leaf area index (LAI) of < 3·4, part of the solar radiation was converted to sensible heat between plant rows, increasing ETp near the ground and hence T, but not CGR. Because of this, LAI influenced IT efficiency and the crop-specific constant m of de Wit's formula. IT efficiency was not only dependent on LAI but also on ETp. Grain yield was related to both cumulative IT (ITC), normalized by ET, and leaf area duration during the period from anthesis to harvest. Increased leaf area duration after anthesis may partly explain the higher yields obtained with modern high-yielding varieties of small-grained cereals.

Effects of stimulating the central gray matter on neuronal activity in the trigeminal nucleus

A comparative study was conducted on the effects of stimulating different central gray matter (CGM) areas on neuronal activity of the trigeminal nucleus during nociceptive stimulation before and after complete section of medial brainstem structures. The possible role of opiate and non-opiate systems in inhibition of nocieptive afferents is discussed. The CGM was found to be a functionally diverse structure: pain-suppressing and pain-promoting systems exist side by side at this site. The inhibitory influence of the ventromedial CGM is exerted by activation of raphe nucleus neurons; that of the dorsomedial area could well be mediated by involvement of the lateral bulbar area and/or activation of rostral brain structures.

Ataxic Hemiparesis Associated with Transcortical Motor Aphasia

Two patients, ages 51 and 76 years, suddenly developed transcortical motor aphasia combined with pyramidal signs and ataxia of the right extremities that affected the leg more severely than the arm. Computed tomography revealed nonenhancing lucencies in the distribution territory of the left anterior cerebral artery involving the genu of the corpus callosum, white matter ventral to the left frontal horn, medial primary motor area, supplementary motor area, and superior part of the premotor area. It is postulated that aphasia, ataxia, and weakness resulted from involvement of the supplementary motor area and deep white matter, premotor, and primary motor areas, respectively. Anterior cerebral artery infarctions of the dominant hemisphere may result in transcortical motor aphasia associated with contralateral ataxic hemiparesis.

Potassium requirements for growth and its related processes determined by plant analysis in wheat

Potassium requirements for growth—dry matter (DM) and leaf area (LA) and related processes — relative leaf growth rate (RLGR), relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and crop growth rate (CGR) were determined by plant analysis during the entogeny of wheat. Wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. HD 2329) plants were supplied with different amounts of K from deficient to adequate through nutrient solution. Samples were taken at specific stages for K determinations. The DM and LA were recorded at 45d, 75d and 105d. The growth related processes RGR, NAR and CGR were estimated between 30–45d, 45–75d and 75–105d. In case of RLGR the observations were carried out between 15–30d, 30–45d and 45–75d. These physiological processes and grain yield were correlated with K concentration in whole plant at 30 and 45d and top two leaves at 75 and 105d.

EFFECT OF WATER GRADIENT ON SORGHUM GROWTH, WATER RELATIONS AND YIELD

A field study was conducted during the 1980 growing season to determine the effects of soil moisture gradient on sorghum water relationships, growth, and yield of four hybrids: Sorghum bicolor L. ’G-623 GBR,’ ’RS 626,’ ’RS 671’ and ’A 28+’. June to September was warmer than normal (2.3–4.8 °C), with precipitation of only 16.2 cm during the cropping season. Sprinklers provided a continuously decreasing moisture gradient away from the water source. Plant height, dry matter, and leaf area index (LAI) decreased as watering level decreased. Higher leaf diffusive resistance and lower water potentials were associated with decreasing plant height and decreasing LAI. Canopy temperature (Tc) of the water-stressed sorghum was generally 3.2–3.7 °C warmer than canopy temperatures of well-watered plants. Canopy temperature also correlated well with water use by all hybrids. The average canopy minus air temperature [Formula: see text] was positive for all hybrids receiving less than 25 cm of irrigation and precipitation during the growing season, which corresponds to soil moisture values of 0.32 maximum available. Increasing the watering levels increased the water use efficiency (WUE) for total dry matter and grain yield.

Filtrability Study on Secondary Effluent Filtration

Membrane filtration technique has been applied to measure the filtrability of a secondary treatment effluent through a granular filter. The efficiency for removing suspended solids by a granular filter is related to the specific surface area of particulate matters which can be measured by membrane filtration. Also, the capacity of a granular filter to retain the suspended solids can be related to the amount of wet solids in the cake. Two parameters E and R are determined from membrane filtration test which can be used to categorize the filtrability of a suspension.

The seasonal growth characteristics of irrigated cotton in a dry monsoonal environment

Cotton plantings were made at the Kimberley Research Station (128° 36´ E., 15° 42´ S.) from September to July to give overlapping growth curves extending from September 1961 to December 1962. Crop growth was examined in relation to radiation and temperature. Beginning at the third week from sowing, each planting was sampled 12 times at intervals of 15 days. At each sampling, dry matter, leaf area index, number and dry weight of bolls, and seed cotton yield were determined. The development of total dry matter and leaf area index showed a strong seasonal trend. The number of bolls produced was less in the late plantings, and the seed cotton yield was correspondingly lower. The highest seed cotton yields and the highest ratios of seed cotton to total dry matter (30%) were obtained with January–February plantings. The growth rates between 50 and 100 days were used to analyse seasonality; the highest seasonal growth rate was 164 mg dm-2 day-1 in December–January and the lowest value was zero in early September. By using fitted harmonics, a multiple correlation was established between maximum and minimum temperatures and growth rates 30 days later. Potential rates of net photosynthesis of tops were calculated from observed radiation data with the use of the de Wit model and with allowance for light wastage, root growth, and respiration. There was good agreement between observed and potential growth rates from December to April. Midday stomatal apertures declined from November to May, and this appeared to be a seasonal effect. An annual pattern for the diffusive resistance of carbon dioxide through the leaf surface into the substomatal cavities is calculated. Radiation did not appear to be the primary limiting factor, and the seasonal growth pattern was interpreted in terms of the composite effect of maximum and minimum temperatures on extension growth, stomatal opening, and the presence or absence of suitable sinks for carbohydrates. Growth rates are evaluated against rates observed elsewhere, and means of exploiting the Kimberley environment are discussed.

A Study of Certain Relationships Existing Between General Reading Comprehension and Reading Comprehension in a Specific Subject- Matter Area

In spite of the increased attention being directed by research workers and school practitioners to the nature and extent of the reading problem on the secondary school level, responsibilities for the development of an effec tive reading program have not been clearly allocated. This is due, in part, to the fact that the very nature of reading comprehension itself has not been clearly described. In general, school policies in relation to the provision made for reading instruction have varied between two points of view. The first point of view, based upon the assumption that the factors that make for reading compre hension are and, as such, are applicable to several areas of instruc tion, places a premium upon the development of general reading comprehension under the guidance of the English teacher or special reading teacher. The second point of view, in contradistinction to the first, empha sizes the development of reading comprehension under the instruction of the subject or teacher, on the assumption that reading com prehension is composed of a pattern of abilities that vary as to the content area studied, as well as to the purpose for which one reads within that content area. Between these two somewhat extreme points of view is the one that conceives of the responsibility for the development of the skills and abilities that make for adequate comprehension as belonging to both the English or reading teacher and the teacher. The pro ponents of this viewpoint base their belief on the assumption that reading comprehension involves both general and specific factors. Hence, the read