Fingerprinting Hydrocarbons in a Contaminated Soil from an Italian Natural Reserve and Assessment of the Performance of a Low-Impact Bioremediation Approach

An environmentally friendly procedure suitable to restore a protected area was evaluated at laboratory scale. Soil contaminated by high molecular weight (C > 10) aliphatic hydrocarbons and by chromium was withdrawn from the study site and a qualitative study of soil hydrocarbon components was first performed in order to assess the potential source of contamination. To this aim, a number of characteristic diagnostic ratios of hydrocarbon components were derived by processing chromatographic data, and were used as indicators for distinguishing anthropogenic from natural hydrocarbons. Then, the efficiency of landfarming for soil remediation was tested by comparing the effect of a few selected amendments and by monitoring the fate of chromium. Soil microbial abundance and activity were also evaluated. Results showed that soil hydrocarbons were mainly of anthropogenic origin and land treatment allowed effective degradation by native microbial populations even in the absence of amendments. The investigated procedures had no effect on the mobilisation of chromium that remained in its stable form of Cr(III). Conventional land treatment may therefore be an effective and safe procedure for the removal of hydrocarbons even in the presence of chromium, and may be applied to areas where low-impact procedures are strictly required.     

Very-high-energy gamma rays from a distant quasar: how transparent is the universe?

The atmospheric Cherenkov gamma-ray telescope MAGIC, designed for a low-energy threshold, has detected very-high-energy gamma rays from a giant flare of the distant Quasi-Stellar Radio Source (in short: radio quasar) 3C 279, at a distance of more than 5 billion light-years (a redshift of 0.536). No quasar has been observed previously in very-high-energy gamma radiation, and this is also the most distant object detected emitting gamma rays above 50 gigaelectron volts. Because high-energy gamma rays may be stopped by interacting with the diffuse background light in the universe, the observations by MAGIC imply a low amount for such light, consistent with that known from galaxy counts.     

Rapid and extensive surface changes near Titan's equator: evidence of April showers

Although there is evidence that liquids have flowed on the surface at Titan's equator in the past, to date, liquids have only been confirmed on the surface at polar latitudes, and the vast expanses of dunes that dominate Titan's equatorial regions require a predominantly arid climate. We report the detection by Cassini's Imaging Science Subsystem of a large low-latitude cloud system early in Titan's northern spring and extensive surface changes (spanning more than 500,000 square kilometers) in the wake of this storm. The changes are most consistent with widespread methane rainfall reaching the surface, which suggests that the dry channels observed at Titan's low latitudes are carved by seasonal precipitation.     

Cloud images from the pioneer venus orbiter

Ultraviolet images of Venus over a 3-month period show marked evolution of the planetary scale features in the cloud patterns. The dark horizontal Y feature recurs quasi-periodically, at intervals of about 4 days, but it has also been absent for periods of several weeks. Bow-shaped features observed in Pioneer Venus images are farther upstream from the subsolar point than those in Mariner 10 images.     

Dynamics of Saturn's south polar vortex

The camera onboard the Cassini spacecraft has allowed us to observe many of Saturn's cloud features. We present observations of Saturn's south polar vortex (SPV) showing that it shares some properties with terrestrial hurricanes: cyclonic circulation, warm central region (the eye) surrounded by a ring of high clouds (the eye wall), and convective clouds outside the eye. The polar location and the absence of an ocean are major differences. It also shares properties with the polar vortices on Venus, such as polar location, cyclonic circulation, warm center, and long lifetime, but the Venus vortices have cold collars and are not associated with convective clouds. The SPV's combination of properties is unique among vortices in the solar system.     

Chemical and nutritional evaluation of two amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus)-based infant formulas

The objective of this study was to calculate, prepare and evaluate the Protein Efficiency Ratio (P.E.R.) and Net Protein Utilization (N.P.U.) of two infant formulas made with amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus). Both formulas were formulated to match a previously developed and tested soy-oats infant formula. No significant differences were found between the three formulas with respect to corrected Protein Efficiency Ratio (P.E.R.) and Net Protein Utilization (N.P.U.) values. Only the product made with the 1-R fraction of amaranth was found to have a significantly lower P.E.R. than casein.Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the Institute of Food Technologists, Anheim, California, U.S.A., June, 1990.     

The effects of human trampling on the microbiological properties of soil and vegetation in mediterranean mountain areas

Increased tourist activity and recreational use of wilderness and other protected areas has endangered zones of high environmental value. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of trampling intensity (low, high use trails and untrampled trails) and distance from the trails (on the trails, at 10 and 20 m from the trails) on the vegetation, chemical, physical and microbiological properties of a soil in Mediterranean mountain areas. Trail type and distance from the trail significantly influenced several parameters. High use trails showed lower values of plant cover and diversity of vegetation species, as well as soil respiration and some enzyme activities (phosphatase, β‐glucosidase and dehydrogenase) than low use trails. In addition, the effects of trampling spatially extended further from these high use trails than from low use trails. Statistical analysis showed that some microbiological (basal respiration, dehydrogenase activity and β‐glucosidase activity) and vegetal parameters (plant cover and diversity) may be established as a set of indicators for the evaluation of soil quality on these areas subjected to human trampling. We concluded that trampling significantly impacts on soil microbial processes and vegetal communities, and visitor should be restricted from entering ecologically sensitive areas due to the effects of trampling. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.