Specific Water Content Research Articles

PEMBUATAN BAHAN BAKAR DARI PIROLISIS LIMBAH PLASTIK JENIS POLIETILEN, POLISTIREN DAN OTHER

Pyrolysis processis definedas a reaction to chemical degradation caused by heat energy with little/absence of oxygen. Pyrolysis of waste plastics into liquid fuels using a batch reactor in which the heatingis set at a temperature of 450oC. This study was conducted to determine the properties of mixed plastic waste pyrolysis oil PE 50% + PS 50%, PE 50% + Other 50% , PE 50% +PS 25% + Other 25% include specific gravity, kinematic viscosity, pour point, flash point,water content and ash content. The results of the calculation of the percentage ofthe highest pyrolysis oil is a mixture of PE 50% + PS 50% of 52.36%, while the lowest percentage is a mixture of PE 50% + Other 50% at 43.41%. Polystyrene plastic addition type increase in the percentage of liquid, the higher the percentage, the percentage of liquid plastic Polystyrene produce higher. Conversely with the addition of plastic Other resulted in a decrease in the percentage of liquid product. Characteristics of pyrolysis fuel oil for specific gravity, and water content is higher than biodiesel. Conversely to kinematic viscosity, flash point, and lower ash content. Pour point to a mixture PE 50% + PS 25% + Other 25 % equivalent to biodiesel (60C), PE 50% and 50% PS (-120C) is lower than biodiesel and PE 50% +Other 50% (120C) higher of biodiesel.

Porous hydrogel of wool hair keratin as a substrate for cell culture

Event Abstract Back to Event Porous hydrogel of wool hair keratin as a substrate for cell culture Ozaki Yuki1*, Yusuke Takagi1*, Hideki Mori1* and Masayuki Hara1* 1 Osaka Prefecture Univertisy, Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science,, Japan Introduction: Keratin is contained rich in animal epidermal tissues including hair, nail, horn, and also common proteins such as wool fibers. Keratins have not been so much utilized as Type I collagen as biomaterials although much amount is available as a bio-resource. In this study, we show a novel simple method to prepare a sponge-like porous keratin hydrogel. Wool keratin was extracted for 18 h at 60 oC in a solution containing 8 M guanidine hydrochloride and 2-mercaptoethanol, followed by dialysis against water. Specific water content (%) was calculated as an index for swelling of the gel according to the following equation. Specific water content = (Ww-Wd)/Wd×100 (%) Wd: dry weight of the gel after lyophilization; Ww: wet weight of the gel after swelling in either PBS(-) or DMEM. We tried cell culture on the gel and evaluated the cell growth by WST assay. All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with institutional guidelines and national standards with approval from the Animal Experiment Committee of Osaka Prefecture University. Results and Discussion: Extracted keratin was aggregated and recrosslinked to form a porous hydrogel like a sponge. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) proved that Type I and Type II keratin subunits were extracted by that procedure without degradation by hydrolysis. The porous keratin gel had a highly porous structure and a fast-swelling property in rehydration after freeze-drying. The gel could be autoclaved without significant change of mechanical strength and shapes. It had also high mechanical strength both in the tensile test and the measurement of dynamic viscoelasticity. The gel is flexible but mechanically durable especially for tensile strain. Those property was different from that of the chemically crosslinked type I collagen gel. Three types of animal cells, PC12 cells, HOS cells and murine embryonic fibroblasts, well attached and grew on the surface of the porous hydrogel. We observed those cells by fluorescent microscopy after live/dead staining and also by a scanning electron microscope. The keratin hydrogel has properties suitable for scaffold in tissue engineering. We tried some preliminary studies on application of the keratin hydrogel for bone tissue engineering by culturing osteoblasts. Reference: Ozaki, Y; Takagi, Y; Mori, H; Hara, M. Mater. Sci. Eng. C 2014, 42, 146–154. Keywords: Tissue Engineering, stem cell, 3D scaffold, Biodegradable material Conference: 10th World Biomaterials Congress, Montréal, Canada, 17 May - 22 May, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Regenerative medicine: biomaterials for control of tissue induction Citation: Yuki O, Takagi Y, Mori H and Hara M (2016). Porous hydrogel of wool hair keratin as a substrate for cell culture. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. Conference Abstract: 10th World Biomaterials Congress. doi: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.01232 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 27 Mar 2016; Published Online: 30 Mar 2016. * Correspondence: Dr. Ozaki Yuki, Osaka Prefecture Univertisy, Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science,, Sakai-city, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, yuki.ozaki@cira.kyoto-u.ac.jp Dr. Yusuke Takagi, Osaka Prefecture Univertisy, Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science,, Sakai-city, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, st304016@edu.osakafu-u.ac.jp Dr. Hideki Mori, Osaka Prefecture Univertisy, Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science,, Sakai-city, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, morihide@b.s.osakafu-u.ac.jp Dr. Masayuki Hara, Osaka Prefecture Univertisy, Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science,, Sakai-city, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, hara@b.s.osakafu-u.ac.jp Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Ozaki Yuki Yusuke Takagi Hideki Mori Masayuki Hara Google Ozaki Yuki Yusuke Takagi Hideki Mori Masayuki Hara Google Scholar Ozaki Yuki Yusuke Takagi Hideki Mori Masayuki Hara PubMed Ozaki Yuki Yusuke Takagi Hideki Mori Masayuki Hara Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Production of Methyl Biodiesel Using Purified Oil ofMoringa oleíferaLamarck

This study describes the extraction, characterisation, purification and conversion of the Moringa oleifera Lamarck oil in biodiesel. The seeds selected were separated into oilseeds grains and seed husks. The oil was extracted from the Moringa oleifera seeds using two different procedures: mechanical pressing and solvent extraction with hexane. The extraction yields of the crude oil were of 11.36% (by mechanical pressing) and of 36.48% (by solvent extraction), respectively. The crude oils were characterised in indexes of acidity, peroxide, iodine and saponification, besides the specific mass, kinematic viscosity, turbidity, and contents of ash and humidity. The crude oil mix formed was submitted to the treatments of degumming, neutralisation, washing and drying. The mixed purified oil was characterised in a similar way to the crude oils, and converted to methyl biodiesel. A homogeneous alkaline transesterification used, 1:6 molar ratio (oil: methanol), at 60 o C, for 60 mins, with KOH as catalyst and mechanical stirring at 300 rpm. The purified biodiesel was characterised in terms of specific mass (869 kg m -3 ; 20 o C), kinematic viscosity (5.5 mm 2 s -1 , 40 o C), ester content (86.2%, in bench scale, and 98.23% in microscale), acidity value (0.43 mg KOH g -1 ) and water content (615.8 mg kg -1 ). DOI: 10.5935/1984-6835.20160063

Avoidance of harvesting and sampling artefacts in hydraulic analyses: a protocol tested on Malus domestica.

A prerequisite for reliable hydraulic measurements is an accurate collection of the plant material. Thereby, the native hydraulic state of the sample has to be preserved during harvesting (i.e., cutting the plant or plant parts) and preparation (i.e., excising the target section). This is particularly difficult when harvesting has to be done under transpiring conditions. In this article, we present a harvesting and sampling protocol designed for hydraulic measurements on Malus domestica Borkh. and checked for possible sampling artefacts. To test for artefacts, we analysed the percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity, maximum specific conductivity and water contents of bark and wood of branches, taking into account conduit length, time of day of harvesting, different shoot ages and seasonal effects. Our results prove that use of appropriate protocols can avoid artefactual embolization or refilling even when the xylem is under tension at harvest. The presented protocol was developed for Malus but may also be applied for other angiosperms with similar anatomy and refilling characteristics.

English

Diverse types of studies have examined the application of Jatropha curcas L. as a source of biofuel. Mineral nutrition levels modify the patterns of crops’ growth and productivity, as well as the expression of morphophysiological traits of adaptive value. This study investigated the effects of nutrient solution concentration on biomass partition patterns and morphological attributes linked to water content in organs of J. curcas. Selected seedlings of accession 842 were cultivated in full experimental nutritive solution, and in solutions diluted to half concentration and a quarter concentration, all adjusted to pH 6.0. After 28 days under controlled conditions, plants were harvested and measured for height, leaf area and fresh and dry mass of leaves, petioles, stems, roots and total mass. From these data, specific leaf mass, leaf succulence and stem water content levels were calculated. The results indicated that according to increased nutritive solution concentration, plant shoots had up to a two-fold increase in height, and that a decrease in these concentrations caused drastic root and total dry mass reduction. At full concentration, there was a tendency towards dry mass allocation in roots. Comparatively, leaf traits were very sensitive to nutritional level without affecting leaf succulence. Contrastingly, relative to stems, these values significantly increased according to increased nutritive concentration. It could be concluded that beyond its productive importance, the nutritional level available to these plants exerts a positive influence on tissue water contents of succulent stems, whose ecophysiological importance demand additional studies. key words: Leaf area, relative concentration of nutritive solution, specific leaf dry mass, stem succulence.

Anomalous dielectric relaxation of water confined in graphite oxide

Nonmonotonic thermal dependence of dielectric relaxation of water has been observed in hydrated graphite oxide (GO). Graphite oxide prepared via Hummers method then imbued with specific water contents were characterized, with 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ambient- and variable-temperature X-ray diffractometries, as well as thermogravimetric analysis. Pressed pellets provided with either conducting or blocking electrodes yielded dielectric loss, which was shown to originate from dielectric relaxation of the confined water. Three relaxation processes were observed in impedance spectroscopy. Our previous work has identified two different types of water in GO, namely, intercalated water and water in inter-grain voids. P1 expresses the reorientation of water confined inside inter-grain voids, and P2, the rotation of intercalated water molecules confined in interlayers. The present work reveals a new process P3, which also relates to intercalated water. It slows down with temperature, and this apparent anomaly is explained by the decrease in water content and consequent narrowing of interlayer spacing in graphite oxide, as confirmed by characterization techniques. The present study should contribute to our understanding of surface water dynamics.

Pozzolanic activity of mechanochemically and thermally activated kaolins in cement

This paper reports on the mechanochemical activation by intensive grinding as an alternative way to produce pozzolanically reactive metakaolin. The physicochemical properties, pozzolanic reactivity and impact on cement hydration of mechanochemically and thermally activated kaolinitic clays were compared. Mechanochemical activation of kaolin led to an amorphous hydrous material with increased specific surface area and high water content. Unlike in thermally activated kaolins, the Al coordination environment was partially retained during mechanochemical treatment. At low clinker replacement levels of 10%, the use of mechanochemically activated kaolins accelerated the hydration of the blended cement. The pozzolanic reaction reduced portlandite contents strongly and from early on. The combined effect of enhanced cement hydration and pozzolanic reaction at early ages was reflected in a higher early age strength development (up to 7days). The differences between mechanochemically and thermally activated kaolins largely disappeared at later ages.

Relationship between Crop Growth Parameters and Seed Yield in CMS Analogues in Sunflower

AbstractNine new cms analogues on the base of diversified cms sources were developed and evaluated for morphological, agronomic, physiological and biochemical traits, including the field resistance to the prevalent diseases of sunflower under Punjab conditions. As a result of this study, the most prospective cms analogues were designated for future use in hybrid breeding programme. The results revealed that selection for tall plants with large head size and high chlorophyll content may be associated with high grain yield as well as oil content and high oleic acid content in sunflower. Leaf dry weight, biological yield, harvest index, specific leaf weight and relative leaf water content had direct positive effect on grain yield. The harvest index, specific leaf weight/plant, leaf area index and leaf area had indirect effects (through leaf dry weight) on grain yield. These traits are advocated as selection criteria for grain yield improvement in sunflower.

Dynamic Spectral Analysis of Jagged Mechanical Signatures of a Brittle Puffed Snack

AbstractThe instrumental evaluation of crispiness and crunchiness of dry and wet cellular foods is challenging. Available texture analysis methods do not always reliably predict sensory analysis results. Temporal sensory integration is suspected to be a key factor in the perception of crispiness and crunchiness. Thus, short‐time Fourier transform, continuous wavelet transform and Hilbert–Huang transform are proposed and applied as dynamic alternatives for analyzing multifracture events. The resulting time–frequency–magnitude spectra graphically show the degree of similarity between the samples. These representations contribute to an understanding of the dynamics of airy foods' jagged mechanical signatures, as demonstrated on corn starch extrudates. In most cases, they finally permit the recognition or discrimination of similarities and differences in the degree of brittleness, corresponding to a specific production process and water content. The analytical techniques should help to determine relevant and objective characteristics that correlate with sensory studies.Practical ApplicationsShort‐time Fourier transform, continuous wavelet transform and Hilbert–Huang transform help to understand the physical processes and the temporal evolution of the breakage behavior of foods. They are powerful tools for analyzing jagged mechanical and acoustic food signatures. Each method offers a different perspective, thereby enabling the exploration of unforeseen characteristics that could lead to better predictions of sensory‐felt crispiness and crunchiness. A food's dynamic fingerprint helps in recognition of similar products that belong to the same family, despite natural individuality, and aids the discrimination between different products. After relating classified food samples to their structure and consumer preferences, food structure design and quality control can be improved. The methods can be applied to multidisciplinary food texture studies that examine air‐conducted crushing sounds, bone‐conducted vibrations, dampening effects of muscles and fatty tissues, or chewing muscle and neural activities. This manuscript intends to make modern techniques of signal analysis more accessible to food scientists.

Tomato yield and water use efficiency – coupling effects between growth stage specific soil water deficits

To investigate the sensitivity of tomato yield and water use efficiency (WUE) to soil water content at different growth stages, the central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed in a five-factor-five-level pot experiment under regulated deficit irrigation. Two regression models concerning the effects of stage-specific soil water content on tomato yield and WUE were established. The results showed that the lowest available soil water (ASW) content (around 28%) during vegetative growth stage (here denoted θ1) resulted in high yield and WUE. Moderate (around 69% ASW) during blooming and fruit setting stage (θ2), and the highest ASW (around 92%) during early fruit growth stage (θ3), fruit development (θ4) and fruit maturity (θ5) contributed positively to tomato yield, whereas high WUE was achieved at lower θ2 and θ3 ( around 44% ASW) and higher θ4 and θ5 (around 76% ASW). The strongest coupling effects of ASW in two growth stages were between θ2 and θ5, θ3. In both cases a moderate θ2 was a precondition for maximum yield response to increasing θ5 and θ3. Sensitivity analysis revealed that yield was most sensitive to soil water content at fruit maturity (θ5). Numerical inspection of the regression model showed that the maximum yield, 1166 g per plant, was obtained by the combination of θ1 (c. 28% ASW), θ2 (c. 82% ASW), θ3 (c. 92% ASW), θ4 (c. 92% ASW), and θ5 (c. 92% ASW). This result may guide irrigation scheduling to achieve higher tomato yield and WUE based on specific soil water contents at different growth stages.

Influence on the physicochemical properties of fish collagen gels using self-assembly and simultaneous cross-linking with the N-hydroxysuccinimide adipic acid derivative

Collagen gels from Southern catfish (Silurus meridionalis Chen) skins were prepared via the self-assembly of collagen molecules and simultaneous cross-linking with the N-hydroxysuccinimide adipic acid derivative (NHS-AA). The doses of NHS-AA were converted to [NHS-AA]/[NH2] ratios (0.025–1.6, calculated by the [active ester group] of NHS-AA and [ε-NH2] of lysine and hydroxylysine residues of collagen). When the ratio < 0.05, collagen gels were formed by collagen molecule self-assembly, resulting in the opalescent appearance of collagen gels and the characteristic D-periodicity of partial collagen fibrils, the collagen gel ([NHS-AA]/[NH2] = 0.05) displayed a small increase in denaturation temperature (Td, 42.8 °C), remaining weight (12.59%), specific water content (SWC 233.7) and elastic modulus (G′ 128.4 Pa) compared with uncross-linked collagen gel (39.1 °C, 9.12%, 222.4 and 85.4 Pa, respectively). As the ratio > 0.05, disappearance of D-periodicity and a gradual change in appearance from opalescent to transparent suggested that the inhibition of NHS-AA in the self-assembly of collagen molecules was more obvious. As a result, the collagen gel ([NHS-AA]/[NH2] = 0.2) had the lowest Td (35.8 °C), remaining weight (7.96%), SWC (130.9) and G′ (31.9 Pa). When the ratio was 1.6, the collagen molecule self-assembly was markedly suppressed and the formation of collagen gel was predominantly via the covalent cross-linking bonds which led to the transparent appearance, and the maximum values of Td (47.0 °C), remaining weight (45.92%) and G′ (420.7 Pa) of collagen gel. These results indicated that collagen gels with different properties can be prepared using different NHS-AA doses.

HTO Washout Model: on the Relationship between Exchange Rate and Washout Coefficient

Washout coefficient λ is widely used as a parameter in washout models. These models describes overall HTO washout with rain by the first-order kinetic equation, while washout coefficient λ depends on the type of rain event and rain intensity and empirical parameters a, b. It was shown recently that variations of published data of washout coefficient are significant. Thus λ = 10−4 sec−1 for the light rain event (~ 1 mm-hour−1) while λ = 10−3 sec−1 for heavy rain (~ 25 mm-hour−1). Canadian standard recommends washout coefficient of 1.8-10−4 sec−1, German standard gives 3.5-10−5sec−1, while published Japan data varies from λ = (7.3 ± 4.1)-10−5 sec−1 at 2 mm hour−1 to λ = 4.6-10−4 sec−1 for the same rain intensity. This means that further investigations of HTO washout process are required. One of the issues is determining the useful relationship between macroscopic parameter of HTO washout λ and microscopic HTO exchange rate of HTO molecules in atmosphere and in the raindrop water. Approaches to address this issue have been presented elsewhere.It can be shown that the empirical parameters a, b can be represented through the rain event characteristics using the relationships for molecular impact rate, rain intensity and specific rain water content while washout coefficient can be represented through the exchange rate K, rain intensity, raindrop diameter and terminal raindrop velocity.

Habitat-specific responses of leaf traits to soil water conditions in species from a novel alpine swamp meadow community.

Species originally from alpine wetland and alpine meadow communities now coexist in a novel 'alpine swamp meadow' community as a consequence of wetland drying in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Considering the projected increase in the fluctuation of water supply from precipitation during the growing season in this area in the future, it is important to investigate the responses of the species that make up this new community to soil water availability. Using a transplant experimental design, we compared the response of leaf traits and growth to different water conditions for species grouped according to their original habitat of wetland or meadow. Twelve perennial herbaceous species, which form an alpine swamp meadow community in Maqu County in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, were used in this study and subjected to two water treatments, namely waterlogged and dry-down. Overall, significant differences in leaf production in response to soil water availability were found for these two groups, indicating strongly different effects of water availability on their growth. Furthermore, the meadow group had lower specific leaf area, leaf area and relative leaf water content, but thicker leaves than those of the wetland group, indicating significant habitat-specific differences in leaf morphology. Regarding physiological traits, the wetland group had significantly higher photosynthetic rates in inundated conditions, whereas for the meadow group the photosynthetic rate was greatest in cyclically dry conditions. Likewise, a similar pattern was observed for stomatal conductance; however, both groups achieved higher instantaneous water use efficiency during the dry-down treatment. The results of this study indicate that the composition of the alpine swamp meadow could be sensitive to changes in precipitation and might be changed substantially by future declines in water supply, as predicted by global climate change models for this region. This potential for compositional change of the community should be considered when management and conservation decisions are made.

Caracterização de Misturas de Óleo Diesel com Óleo de Pinhão Manso para Acionamento de Um Trator Agrícola

CHARACTERIZATION OF DIESEL OIL BLENDS WITH Jatropha OIL TO POWER A FARM TRACTOR The aim of this work was to characterize blends of diesel oil (OD) with jatropha oil (OPM) and evaluate the performance of the power output of an agricultural tractor. For characterization of the mixtures the following parameters were analyzed: specific gravity, viscosity, water content, acid index, sulfated ash, and oxidative stability. After analysis, the dynamometer tests indicatedthe performance of the engine fed with blends of OD and OPM, in different proportions. The main conclusions of this work were: only the results of sulfated ash meet the regulations of ANP No. 7, 2008, and the maximum power encountered, 31.93 kW, was observed for the blend of 25% OD and 75% OPM. The change of fuel caused variation in the torque and specific consumption of the tractor and for all mixtures studied the torque reserve was 1.75%, classified as bad.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DE MISTURAS DE ÓLEO DIESEL COM ÓLEO DE PINHÃO MANSO PARA ACIONAMENTO DE UM TRATOR AGRÍCOLA - DOI: 10.13083/1414-3984.v22n06a06

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, caracterizar misturas de óleo diesel (OD) com óleo de pinhão manso (OPM) e avaliar o desempenho da tomada de potência de um trator agrícola alimentado com estas misturas. Para a caracterização das misturas foram analisadas: massa específica, índice de viscosidade, teor de água, índice de acidez, cinzas sulfatadas e estabilidade oxidativa. Após as análises, verificou-se, por meio de ensaios dinamométricos, o desempenho do motor alimentado com misturas de OD com OPM, em diferentes proporções. As principais conclusões deste trabalho foram: somente os resultados das cinzas sulfatadas atenderam a ANP n°7 de 2008. A potência máxima encontrada, 31,93 kW, foi verificada na mistura contendo 75% de OPM . A mudança de combustível provocou variação no torque e no consumo específico do trator e para todas as misturas em estudo, a reserva de torque foi de 1,75%, classificada como ruim.

Evaluation of characteristics and in vitro antioxidant properties of RSV loaded hyaluronic acid–DPPC microparticles as a wound healing system

Resveratrol (RSV) was incorporated into microparticles by spray drying to treat chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers. RSV was chosen due to its defense mechanisms as the formation of free radicals delays the healing process. RSV was loaded into microparticles consisting of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and hyaluronic acid (HA), a polysaccharide naturally present within the skin, known to contribute to the healing process. Microparticles were evaluated in terms of production yield, size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, morphology, specific surface area, thermal properties and water content. Spherical and homogenous microparticles (span≤2) in a size range between 20 and 30μm were obtained with high encapsulation efficiency (≥97%). The effect of enzymes (hyaluronidase, phospholipase and lipase) on RSV release showed a dose-dependent pattern followed by a slow release stage. Cytotoxicity/proliferation and oxidative stress parameters (glutathione, oxidized glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase) obtained from human dermal fibroblast cell cultures revealed that formulations increased cell proliferation and the presence of RSV decreased oxidation in cells. RSV-loaded HA–DPPC microparticles appear as a promising formulation for wound healing due to synergistic effect of the ingredients.

Preparation and Swelling Characteristics of Hydrogel from Microbial Low Molecular Weight Poly(γ-Glutamic Acid)

In this paper, a novel low molecular weight poly (γ-glutamic acid) hydrogels were prepared by chemical method, and their preparation conditions such as poly (γ-glutamic acid) and crosslinker concentration, pH and temperature were studied. When poly (γ-glutamic acid) solution was 18%, pH 4.0, poly (γ-glutamic acid) was crosslinked to yield high water hydrogel with specific water content of 1328 times their dry volume depending on the preparation conditions.

Improving forecasting of strong convection by assimilating cloud-to-ground lightning data using the physical initialization method

Lightning network data can record lightning information (including location, intensity, and frequency) with high temporal resolution. Such data can provide a useful supplement to radar observations, which are limited in temporal and spatial coverage. It has been previously reported that in convective weather systems, the correlation between cloud-to-ground lightning and radar reflectivity is strong, which suggests the possibility of improving convection forecasting through assimilating lightning data. In this study, the benefits of assimilating lightning data are demonstrated by a series of experiments using data from a strong convection event that occurred in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, China, on 5 June 2009. Using a simple assumed relationship between flash density and reflectivity in the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) system, the lightning data were first converted into 3D lightning-proxy radar reflectivity, which was subsequently assimilated using the physical initialization method to adjust model variables (i.e., vertical velocity, specific humidity and specific cloud water content). For this case, the results show that convection forecasting is improved by assimilation of the lightning-proxy reflectivity using the physical initialization method. There was a significant improvement in the prediction of reflectivity, and this was maintained for about 3h. Assimilating multi-time lightning data with assimilation cycles can further improve forecasting accuracy.

Análisis del papel de los caracteres foliares de Cnidoscolus (Euphorbiaceae) en la defensa contra herbívoros y patógenos

The role of some leaf characters (specific area, thickness, trichome density, water content and latex production) on the defence against insect herbivores and fungal pathogens was analyzed in three species of Cnidoscolus (Euphorbiaceae). Foliar damage was examined in adults of the tree species C. spinosus and C. megacanthus, and the herbaceous species C. urens, in populations located in the Biosphere Biological Reserve of Chamela-Cuixmala (Jal.) and in the Huatulco-Zimatán region (Oax.), Mexico. Seedlings of C. spinosus were also analysed. We assessed the following leaf traits: specific area, thickness, density of trichomes on both sides of the leaf, as well as latex and hydric content. In the three Cnidoscolus species, levels of damage caused by grazer insects were higher than the ones caused by pathogens. The lowest level of foliar damage was detected in C. spinosus, but the levels of damage in seedlings were higher than those in the adults. The two tree species showed higher levels of damage by grazers than the herbaceous species. We only detected a direct significant relation between leaf thickness and herbivory levels in seedlings of C. spinousus. No other significant relations were found. This study suggests that the assessed leaf characters do not seem to play a key role in defence of these three Cnidoscolus species.

Interaction of Carbon Dioxide Enrichment and Soil Moisture on Photosynthesis, Transpiration, and Water Use Efficiency of Soybean

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is one of the most important oil and protein sources in the world. Interactive effect of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) and soil water availability potentially impact future food security of the world under climate change. A rhizotron growth chamber experiment was conducted to study soil moisture interactions with elevated CO2 on gaseous exchange parameters of soybean under two CO2 concentrations (380 and 800 μmol·mol－1) with three soil moisture levels. Elevated CO2 decreased photosynthetic rate (11.1% and 10.8%), stomatal conductance (40.5% and 36.0%), intercellular CO2 concentration (16.68% and 12.28%), relative intercellular CO2 concentration (17.4% and 11.2%), and transpiration rate (43.6% and 39%) at 42 and 47 DAP. This down-regulation of photosynthesis was probably caused by low leaf nitrogen content and decrease in uptake of nutrients due to decrease in stomatal conductance and transpiration rate. Water use efficiency (WUE) increased under elevated CO2 because increase in total dry weight of plant was greater than that of water use under high CO2 conditions. Plants under normal and high soil moisture levels had significantly higher photosynthetic rate (7% to 16%) favored by optimum soil moisture content and high specific water content of soybean plants. Total dry matter production was significantly high when plants grown under elevated CO2 with normal (74.3% to 137.3%) soil moisture level. Photosynthetic rate was significantly and positively correlated with leaf conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration but WUE was significantly negatively correlated with leaf conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration and transpiration rate. However, the effect of high CO2 on plants depends on availability of nutrients and soil moisture for positive feedback from CO2 enrichment.