Pot Samples Research Articles

Experimental analysis on thermophysical properties of clay found in geographical areas of India and their ability to cool water for semi-arid climate regions

The Thermo physical behaviour of soil is the fundamental behaviour and plays significant position in its “utilization” as “electrical and heat insulation”. However, numerous “researchers have studied” thermo-physical properties of soil. Still, the study on the relationship between soil's properties and its cooling effect through evaporation has not been investigated in detail. In this analysis, soil samples and earthen pots were collected from four states of India: Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The performance parameters used to evaluate the cooling effect of the soil, and earthen pot samples are “water-holding capacity”, porosity, “thermal-conductivity”, texture, and particle and bulk density. The application of “high temperature” fluctuate the “internal microstructure” of clay/soil and subsequently disturbs its “physical and thermal properties”. The sand/clay is converted into an earthen pot by applying high temperatures in kilns. The pot samples collected are heated in kilns to bring them to the final form for the study. We are studying the properties after that treatment. In this paper, the impact of “firing temperature” (maximum 900°C) on the “thermo-physical properties” of earthen pots made up of soil of a similar kind as the soil samples collected and the impact of thermo-physical properties on the cooling of the earthen pots has been examined via experiments. The results specify that the “thermal conductivity” of soil/clay samples is less compared to earthen pot. The “porosity and water-holding capacity” of the soil are greater than earthen pots because pore space or pore volume has decreased due to the heating effect. From the experimental analysis, it was found that the soil of the Sohna location in Haryana state has a high water cooling capacity due to its high water-holding (49.28%) capacity and porosity (48.75%). The pot made out of clay, having higher porosity, and water-holding capacity, gives the maximum cooling temperature.

Effects of Medicinal Plants on Fungal Community Structure and Function in Hospital Grassplot Soil.

Hospital grassplot soil is an important repository of pathogenic fungi exposed to the hospital environment, and the diffusion of these fungi-containing soil particles in the air increases the risk of nosocomial fungal infections. In this study, from the perspective of soil microbes-plant holobiont, four medicinal plants Mirabilis jalapa, Artemisia argyi, Viola philippica, and Plantago depressa were used as materials, based on ITS high-throughput amplicon sequencing and simulated pot experiments to explore the effect of medicinal plants on the fungal community in hospital grassplot soil, in order to provide a new exploration for hospital grassplot soil remediation. The results showed that the fungal community ecological guilds in primary test soil was mainly pathogen, and the abundance of animal pathogen with potential threats to human reached 61.36%. After planting medicinal plants, the composition and function of soil fungal community changed significantly. Although this change varied with plant species and growth stages, all samples collected in the pot experiment showed that the pathogen abundance decreased and the saprotroph abundance increased. In addition, 45 of the 46 core fungal genera defined in all potted samples were present in primary test soil, and many of them were human potential pathogens. These findings imply that the idea of enhancing soil quality in hospital grassplot soil by planting specific plants is feasible. However, the initial fungal community of the hospital grassplot soil has a certain stability, and it is difficult to completely eliminate the threat of pathogenic fungi by planting medicinal plants.

Layer Insulation Losses and Life Above Ionization Threshold at High-Frequency and Pulsed Stresses

In the first part of this investigation, published elsewhere, a convenient method of measurement of the ionization threshold (IT) and losses in layer insulation by electrical means was devised. A supporting set of methods for the validation of the electrical measurements was developed in this work. Samples having two or three layers of a Litz wire insulated by either Ultem or a composite Nomex–Ultem system were used. Adiabatic heating produced by dielectric/ionization mechanism was compared with simulations and heating produced by a known power source. The results were found to be in good agreement. With increased confidence in the electric method, layer insulation life above IT at several tens of kilohertz and pulsed stresses was investigated. Multiple samples, both unpotted and potted, were stressed by pulsed HV above IT and driven to failure. The test protocols ensured insulation overheat below 30 °C, and thus, only electrical aging mechanism was assumed. Although the tests were conducted in a wide range of frequencies, voltages, and losses, insulation life appears to be determined by the energy deposited in the insulation, of which the lion’s share comes from the ionization losses, rather than by other parameters. For two layers of 5-mil Ultem, the energy density to destruction, on average, was 1.7 and 9.5 kJ/cm2 for unpotted and potted samples, respectively. Failed samples were examined thoroughly. Wide-area damage was typical for all, which served as an indication of uniform ionization. Wire damage by plasma was also noted as larger wire rigidity and multiple black spots on the enamel surface. Study of the temporal IT behavior spanning three years is briefly reported.

Determining Ionization Threshold in Layer Insulation

This research relates to the dielectric strength of layer insulation of HV electronic transformers and similar structures. A simple method of evaluating layer insulation has been devised and validated. It requires measurement of the insulation sample voltage and current, and digitally manipulating these variables. Thus, active energy absorbed by the sample insulation, consisting of pure dielectric and ionization losses, can be derived. The first depend quadratically on the applied voltage, whereas the ionization losses are zero below a certain level [ionization threshold (IT)] but rise sharply above it. By studying the behavior of the loss curve we can determine IT. Several samples imitating layer insulation were manufactured and tested. The main construction variables were wire diameter and layer insulation parameters. Samples were tested at high frequency, 20–120 kHz, HV at different voltage shapes. Testing of unpotted samples revealed that ITs had small spread between the samples and depended only on the voltage amplitude. Above IT, ozone was copiously generated, and the sample temperature rose rapidly. An important finding was that ITs of potted samples not necessarily were higher than ITs of their unpotted counterparts. FEA of the electrostatic field in the winding has been performed. The windings’ capacitance was calculated. It became evident that a simplistic calculation using a flat electrodes’ approximation was too crude to be useful. Calculation in a “real” geometry yielded close match to the experimental results. Comparing the voltage between the wire and the insulation layer with the Paschen’s curve for air, one notes good agreement between the two sets at voltages close to the experimentally found ITs. Thus, probably the most important information that can be drawn from a rigorous field analysis is the IT value.

The effects of abiotic stressors and signal molecules on phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of in vitro regenerated Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort)

Hypericum perforatum L. is a pharmaceutically and industrially significant natural source due to its rich phenolic content and antioxidant potential. This study aimed to establish an optimized development protocol through plant tissue culture methods and evaluate the effects of abiotic stressors and signal molecules on phenolic composition and antioxidant responses. Methanol based extracts prepared from lyophilized powders of plant samples obtained from nature and aseptic seedlings, and calluses obtained from abiotic stress factors and signal molecules were analysed for phenolic composition using HPLC-MS/MS and antioxidant responses through complementary methods (FCR, FRAP and ORAC).Experimental analysis revealed the use of B5 and SH media for in vitro plant regeneration as the most proper chemical environments for the development and standardization of Hypericum perforatum. Chromatographic findings showed that quercetin, pseudohypericin and partially chlorogenic acid compounds as key phenolic compounds of calluses and plant samples of Hypericum perforatum. The analyses deduced that UV and sucrose increased the level of chlorogenic acid, while ascorbic acid increased the level of quercetin and drought applications increased the concentration of pseudohypericin compared to the control. Rutin compound was only produced in pot samples, which indicates a significant response to the drought stress. Additionally, it was found that B5, SH, and MS media containing of 2 mg/L NAA+1 mg BA with elicitors of 50 µmol of ascorbic acid and 6% sucrose and a UV stress of 5 (or 10) min-24 h harvesting might be a proper protocol for the optimization and standardization of Hypericum perforatum L. Findings obtained within this study revealed novel contributions for optimization, standardization and production of antioxidative phenolic compounds of Hypericum perforatum plant samples for pharmaceutical and industrial utilization.

Detection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with pecan (Caryaillinoinensis) trees by molecular and morphological approaches.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community associated with pecan (Caryaillinoinensis) roots and rhizospheric soils was assessed by spore isolation and morphological characterisation and by pyrosequencing of AM molecular markers. The AM fungal community associated with pecan growing in the field, was always more diverse than that associated with pecan growing in containers. This was not observed when AM richness was studied, suggesting that soil disturbance by a reduction in host plant richness leads to a less equitable distribution of AM fungal species, in contrast to natural soils. The chosen primers (AMV4.5F/AMDGR) for pyrosequencing showed high AM fungal specificity. Based on 97% sequence similarity, 49 operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) were obtained and, amongst these, 41 MOTUs corresponded to the Glomeromycotaphylum. The number of obtained AM sequences ranged from 2164, associated with field samples, to 5572 obtained from pecan trap pot culture samples, defining 30 and 29 MOTUs, respectively. Richness estimated by conventional species identification was 6 and 9 AM fungal species in soil and pot samples, respectively. Claroideoglomuslamellosum, Funneliformismosseae and Entrophosporainfrequens were the only taxa detected using both techniques. Predominant sequences in the pecan rhizosphere samples, such as Rhizoglomusirregulare and other less abundant (Dominikiairanica, Dominikiaindica, Sclerocystissinuosa, Paraglomuslaccatum), were detected only by pyrosequencing. Detection of AM fungal species based on spore morphology, in combination with molecular approaches, provides a more comprehensive estimate of fungal community composition.

Screening Pediculosis dan Oxyuriasis pada Anak-anak TK/KB Al-Kautsar di Kelurahan Mojosongo Kecamatan Jebres Kota Surakarta

Pediculosis is an infection caused Pediculus humanus capitis, Oxyuriasis or enterobiasis or kreminan is an infection caused by pinworms. In 2010 research was conducted by the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia in Jakarta SD Paseban found 19 positive child worms. Study in a boarding school in Tangerang early 2011, 300 students were examined only 9 positive worms. Head of the Center for Environmental Health Engineering & PPM Ministry of Health dr. Hartati Samsudin, MQIH said that based on the survey results, the current Indonesian children suffer from intestinal worms average figure is around 30%.
 The purpose of this devotion Creating a harmonious relationship between the Community Higher education in an effort to improve the welfare of people in the health field, improving the ability to implement disease control pediculosis.
 The results of the examination pediculosis done after counseling, so that the students already understand it and understand what is pediculosis, of the 92 students that there were 86 students who signed us check her hair and then we comb using serit if nothing positive was found Pediculus humanus capitis we take and put in pot samples. The test results showed as many as 10 students Pediculus humanus capitis positive.

Floral Preference of Melipona eburnea Friese (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in a Colombian Andean Region.

Melipona eburnea Friese is a stingless bee kept in some regions of Colombia, where it is reported to be vulnerable to extinction due to habitat disturbance. To contribute to raising conservation strategies, the aim of this study was to identify the floral preferences of this species using melissopalynological analysis. A total of 31 pollen pot samples and 37 honey samples were taken from March 2009 through March 2010 from four colonies in Fusagasuga, Colombia. We found 92 pollen types: 17 from pollen pot samples, 39 from honey samples (indicating the sources of nectar), and 36 in both types of samples. The most frequent pollen types in the pollen pot samples were Myrcia type (100%), Eucalyptus globulus (96.9%), and Fraxinus uhdei (96.9%). The most frequent pollen types in honey samples were E. globulus (97.4%) and Myrcia type (94.9%). The pollen types corresponded mainly to native plants (68%), trees (44.5%), plants whose sexual system is hermaphroditic (56.5%), and plants with inflorescences (76.2%). The most frequent shapes of the flowers were brush-like (type Myrtaceae) and dish-like (type Asteraceae), and the preferred flower colors were white or cream (52.2%). In general, we found that M. eburnea showed a strong preference for trees of the family Myrtaceae to obtain nectar and pollen, including native and introduced species. Some other families are contributing significantly, such as Melastomataceae for pollen collection and Asteraceae for nectar. These results highlight the key plant species for the diet of M. eburnea.

Spectral and Electrical Investigations of Cobalt-octoate Doped Poly (o-Toluidine) Films

o-Toluidine is used to synthesize poly (o-toluidine) (POT) by chemical oxidative polymerization in acidic medium. The synthesized POT is doped with cobalt-octoate with different concentration such as 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% (w/w). Doped poly (o-toluidine) (POT) films have been made on glass substrate. These films are characterized by UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, Photoluminescence studies and I-V characterization studies. UV-visible study shows that optical parameters changed as absorption coefficient (α) and extinction coefficient (k) at higher level of doping show significant changes, in case of doped POT samples. Interestingly, both direct and indirect band gaps exist in the cobalt-octoate doped POT, which decreases with increasing doping level. The FTIR study also shows structural changes / modifications in functional groups with doping in poly (o- toluidine). The XRD pattern of the powder POT shows the semi-crystalline nature of the samples. DC conductivity is measured at 298 K, which enhance after doping.

Comparison of transfer factors of 137Cs from soil to leafy vegetables in pot experiment and ambient environment

The paper deals with the transfer factors (TF) generated for a few varieties of leafy vegetables (spinach, fenugreek, and amaranths) consumed by the locals around Tarapur atomic power station environment in India. The soil and leafy vegetable samples collected from the ambient environment of nuclear site were used for the determination of the TFs and they were compared with TFs generated from pot experiments under controlled conditions for 137Cs. The activity of 137Cs in soil and each vegetable was determined by gamma spectrometry using HPGe detector (35 and 160% relative efficiency) and was reported on dry weight basis for both ambient environment and pot samples. The radioactive effluent containing 137Cs (pH ~7) from nuclear power station was used to spike the soil for pot (size 90 cm × 45 cm × 42 cm) experiment. The TFs obtained for ambient environment and pot experiment were found to be in the range of 0.035–0.592 and 0.0054–0.29, respectively. It is observed that TFs of ambient environment are in good agreement with those obtained in the pot experiment conducted under controlled conditions. Further, the observed TF values at Tarapur nuclear site are comparable with the range of typical IAEA transfer factor values for general leafy vegetation (0.11–2.9) for tropical environment.

Studies on Conductivity and Optical Properties of Poly(o-toluidine)-ferrous Sulfate Composites

Poly(o-toluidine) (POT), a derivative of polyaniline, has been synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization. The synthesized POT is doped with ferrous sulfate. The dc conductivity of POT samples in pellet form is measured in the temperature range of 30°–100°C and is found to increase with temperature, showing the semiconductor nature of the samples. The samples are characterized by UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction pattern. UV-visible studies reveal that direct optical transitions exist in the samples. The X-ray diffraction pattern of powder POT shows semicrystalline nature. FT-IR studies provide information on structural changes in the backbone of POT with chemical doping.

An assessment of the production of fine material in iron ore sinter

Iron ore sinter is produced from fine grained ore in order to provide a direct charge to the blast furnace. During the sinter production process, fine sinter is produced that is not acceptable as feedstock for the blast furnace. The aim of this study is to compare the composition and phase chemistry of the fine and normal sinter to determine if chemical or operational changes can be made to reduce the amount of fine sinter formed. This will be achieved through the analysis of real industrial sinter samples and sinter test pot samples. It has been concluded that the production of fine sinter is a direct function of the amount of haematite present in the sinter. Suggestions to decrease the amount of fine sinter formed include: uniform heat distribution during ignition, pO2 alteration by reductant addition, lower ignition temperature, regulating the cooling regime and decreasing the grain size of lime.

Magnetic properties and macroscopic heterogeneity of FeCoNbB Hitperms

Nanocrystalline ribbons of Fe 81− x Co x Nb 7B 12 (where x ranges from 0 to 40.5 at%) Hitperm alloys have been investigated as to their basic magnetic properties and the influence of the macroscopic heterogeneity. Different crystalline share at surfaces compared with the volume average is observed by conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) and Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS), respectively. This marks the presence of macroscopic heterogeneity in these Hitperms. The heterogeneity is generally more significant in Ar-annealed samples than in the vacuum-annealed ones. The characteristic slant hysteresis loops (hard-ribbon-axis) are seen as a rule with few exceptions. An inspection of hysteresis loop response of resin potted samples shows that the surfaces bi-axially squeeze the ribbon interior in heterogeneous Hitperms when the ribbons cool down after annealing. Certain compositions show macroscopic viscous flow prior to crystallization so the heterogeneity gets another chance to induce anisotropy during annealing. The induction attains 1.5 T but saturates poorly due to the heterogeneity and the ensuing anisotropy. Moreover the heterogeneity appears to hamper the crystallization within the ribbon interior. Unlike Finemets, the density of these Hitperms show no pronounced trend with annealing.

WET-SENSOR PORE WATER EC CALIBRATION FOR THREE HORTICULTURAL SOILS

The WET-sensor is a frequency domain dielectric sensor that measures permittivity, conductivity and temperature, which can be used for monitoring soil water content and electrical conductivity in horticulture. By using a specific model it measures pore water conductivity as well. However, under practical circumstances, large errors have been observed using the existing model. The purpose of this study was to obtain a empirical correction for this model and to investigate the nature of the errors, so horticultural growers can use the WET-sensor to measure pore water EC in-situ. Using 36 potted samples of sand, clay and peat, the relation between permittivity, bulk EC and pore water EC was studied in a laboratory over a temperature range from 19-22 oC and a pore water EC range from 4 ? 12 mS/cm. This resulted in an adaptation of the constant in the existing model and an extra second order polynomial correction factor. After temperature correction, an overall linear fit with a coefficient of 0.9948 was found at a reasonable correlation (0.79). Errors may occur up to ±40%, but for permittivity values larger than 20, errors have a maximum of ±15%. The overall standard deviation is 15%, which is in accordance with simulated results. For growers using relatively wet soils at water contents above 20%, the WET-sensor can be used to measure pore water EC in situ with a reasonable accuracy. Further study is needed to explore this correction at larger temperature ranges and for more soil types

Heavy metals in road dust, gully pots and parkland soils in a highly urbanised sub-catchment of Port Jackson, Australia

The current temporal and spatial investigation was undertaken to determine the nature and concentration of heavy metals in road dust and to assess whether road dust was a possible source of metals to adjacent soils and gully pots.Three roads were selected in the Iron Cove catchment, Sydney Harbour, to investigate the influence of traffic volume on the heavy metal concentrations and accumulations rates with time. The mass of road dust increased irregularly with time since the last cleaning event and metal concentrations increased with traffic volume, but concentrations did not increase with antecedent time, possible due to variable particle size distributions. The mass of material accumulating on 1 m2 of road surface over 5 days was 72.5, 41.7, and 4.8 g for high (Parramatta Road), medium (Marion Street), and low (National Street) traffic volume roads, respectively. The source area of road surface for the test sites (200–400 m of road) may provide, over the 5-day test period, maximum loads of (g): Cr 2, Cu 7, Ni 2, Pb 29, and Zn 28 for Marion Street; Cr 0.1, Cu 0.3, Ni 0.1, Pb 2, and Zn 3 for National Street; and Cr 2, Cu 8, Ni 1, Pb 26, and Zn 18 for Parramatta Road. To provide better spatial information than the 3 samples sites used in the temporal study, road dust (n = 171) and gully pot (n = 23) samples where taken across the entire Iron Cove catchment. Mean concentrations of road dust were 6, 34, 164, 28 000, 284, 27, 487, and 523 μg/g for Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively, for all road types, and concentrations in gully pot material were 7, 20, 112, 24 000, 316, 20, 199, and 257 μg/g, respectively. A large proportion of these metals is associated with the mobile, fine fraction (<62.5 μm), and the majority (54–100%) of these elements are extracted with weak leaching agents (EDTA and 1 M hydrochloric acid). However, more information on speciation is required to determine bioavailability. SEM/EDAX analysis suggests that metals in the fine fraction may be adsorbed, whereas particulate metal and inclusion phases are common in the coarser (62.5–125 μm) material.Metal concentrations in parkland soils adjacent to the roads are highly enriched and increase with traffic volume. Concentrations decline markedly with distance from roads, but maximum values are at 30–50 m from the road edge, due to high-velocity wind generated by vehicles in proximity to the road. Metal-rich soils and gully pot deposits may be available for transport to the adjacent stormwater system.

Detecting patterns in hyporheic community structure: Does sampling method alter the story?

Hyporheic invertebrates were sampled in six small headwater streams draining pine, pasture, and native forest catchments. Sites were sampled in autumn and spring using three different hyporheic sampling methods (colonisation pots, pump sampling, and freeze‐coring). Total invertebrate abundance and taxon richness differed significantly among sites on both sampling occasions for pump samples, whereas freeze‐coring did not discriminate among sites, and pot samples showed significant differences in autumn, but not in spring. Differences among sites with respect to community composition were not consistent between sampling methods. Community ordination indicated that samples from colonisation pots tended to group together, whereas pump and freeze core samples were widely separated. Differences across land uses were also apparent (native forest sites formed a distinct cluster separated from pine and pasture sites). Results suggest that colonisation pots may provide a pathway for the entry of epigean organisms into the hyporheic zone even when hydraulic connectivity between surface and hyporheic zones is low. Invertebrate abundance was very low in pump samples, and this method also captured the fewest taxa of the three methods. The size bias known to exist with pump sampling techniques may restrict the usefulness of the method when comparing streams of differing hydraulic conductivity.

945 SUCTION LYSIMETER TUBES AS A SOLUTION EXTRACTION METHOD FOR SOIL TESTING PEAT-BASED CONTAINER MEDIA

A small suction lysimeter tube (SLT) was used to extract media solution samples for twelve pot plant species in peat-based media subirrigated with 50, 100, or 200 mg · liter-1 N and K2O. Media samples from different pots were also tested using the saturated media extract (SME) procedure. Sample solution pH, EC, NO3--N and K+ were measured with Cardy flat electrode meters. Averaged over crops, solution pH was similar for SLT and SME (after extraction) at each N concentration. The mean (12 crops × 3 reps at each N level) SME and SLT solution EC and K+ concentrations were similar for samples collected from the 50 and 100 mg · liter-1 N treatments. NO3--N values were lower with the SLT than SME method at 50 mg·liter-1 N. SLT levels for EC, NO3--N, and K+ were 27, 39, and 24% higher than SME values for samples collected from the 200 mg·liter-1 N treatments. Sample variation between replicates and between methods for the single pot samples was unacceptable. More testing is needed with SME and SLT samples from the same pot and composite samples from several pots, but SLT sampling is fast, nondestructive, simple, and economical at $6-7 per tube.

Use of Hyporheic Samplers in Assessing Mine Drainage Impacts

ABSTRACT Hyporheic pot samples and Surber samples were used to biologically assess an area recovering from the effects of mine drainage. Data indicate that hyporheic samplers are an important component in assessing macroinvertebrate communities impacted by heavy metals.

An examination into the attachment of bio‐organic material to the mineral particles in sewer sediments

Abstract Sonication was used to examine the release of particulate matter from three different sewer sediments, sediments taken from two gully pots and a sludge from an anaerobic expanded bed reactor. The results show that there are distinct differences in the pattern of volatile suspended solids’ released from the sewer sediments. The results also show that the gully pot samples behaved differently from one another, suggesting that a classification of this type of sediment might be appropriate.

Tracking the fates of exotic and local VA mycorrhizal fungi: methods and patterns

Vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi are an abundant component of the soil biota in most terrestrial ecosystems, and represent a distinct trophic group (biotrophic) from most of the rest of the soil microbial biomass (saprotrophic). Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are comprised of a wide diversity of species and are often transplanted between habitats to increase plant growth. We tested the use of polyclonal antibodies on field and pot samples that might allow us both to differentiate VA mycorrhizal fungi from soil saprophytic fungi, and between introduced and native VA mycorrhizal fungi. The immunofluorescent antibody technique is advantageous in that it is easy and relatively inexpensive. In addition, fluorescent antibodies allowed for rapid differentiation of our introduced VA mycorrhizal fungus from indigenous saprophytic extramatrical hyphae. However, the specificity is not high against other VA mycorrhizal hyphae of similar taxonomic status, but is applicable clearly when the exotic VA mycorrhizal fungus is a different genus from the local fungi. This ability to differentiate an introduced fungus by its positively fluorescing external hyphae allows the researcher to undertake survival and developmental studies that are not limited by the constraints of infrequent or patchy sporulation. Using this technique, we determined that exotic VA mycorrhizal fungi can survive for up to 2 years even with competition from the local endophytes, and that the vertical placement of the inoculum can affect the survival of the exotic fungi at our sagebrush steppe research site in south-western Wyoming.