Influence of Water Content and Plants on the Dissipation of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds in Soil

To devise effective procedures for the remediation of soil contaminated by VOCs, an improved understanding of their fate and transport mechanisms in soil is essential. To show the effect of plants on the dissipation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), two types of experiments, vial and column, were conducted. The results suggested that keeping the soil moisture content at field capacity is desirable for VOCs dissipation. All VOCs were dissipated quickly in unplanted columns than planted conditions in early periods of the experiment because more volatilization occurred in unplanted conditions. The plants could take up and retard volatile contaminants, and prevent contamination of ambient air. Although the time for acclimation for microbial communities to contaminants for enhanced biodegradation should be considered, phytoremediation is potentially a cost-effective remediation technique for soils contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs).     

Evidence for acidification of sensitive Scottish soils by atmospheric deposition

The Scottish soils most sensitive to acidification from acid deposition are peats and those derived from quartzite or Devonian and Torridonian sandstones. It is shown that the surface horizons of Calluna moorland podzols derived from these mineral parent materials behave in a similar way to peats, in that their pH depends upon cation exchange equilibria between H⁺ and Ca²⁺. The pH is therefore related, as might be expected from the ratio law, to the ratio [H⁺]:[Ca²⁺], and this relationship may be used to predict the effect of emission reductions or increases upon these soils.     

Bioactivity and analysis of biophenols recovered from olive mill waste

Biophenols have attracted increasing attention during the past few years due to their biological activities and natural abundance and are potential targets for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Olive mill waste (OMW) is rich in biophenols and typically contains 98% of the total phenols in the olive fruit, making value addition to OMW an attractive enterprise. The phenolic profile of OMW is complex, yet this complexity has not been fully exploited in the valorization of the waste. Most work on the bioactivity of OMW has focused on antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The analytical techniques used to identify and quantify active biophenols are also reviewed.     

Protein conformations in the plasma membrane

Infrared spectroscopy and optical rotatory dispersion have been used to test theories of structure of membrane protein. No evidence has been found to support the view that adjacent to the lipid there is a monolayer of protein in the beta-conformation. The extracted protein appears to be a fairly typical globular protein with a low a-helical content.     

Hybrid cemented/cementless total hip replacement in dogs: seventy-eight consecutive joint replacements

Objective: To evaluate the use of hybrid total hip replacement (THR), using a cementless acetabular component and a cemented femoral component. Study Design: Prospective case series. Sample Population: Client‐owned dogs (n=71). Materials and Methods: Consecutive clinical cases that had hybrid THR were studied. Radiographic features, pain scores, and lameness scores were recorded pre‐ and postoperatively. Longer term outcome was assessed by owner questionnaire. Results: Hybrid THRs (n=78) were performed in 71 dogs. Four cases (5%) had major postoperative complications; 3 were resolved after revision surgery, and 1 owner requested an explantation. No other major complications were identified on follow‐up radiographs (67 THR) at 12 weeks. On clinical follow up (77 THR) at 4 weeks, lameness had improved in 68, was unchanged in 8, and was worse in 1. Pain had decreased in 72, was unchanged in 4, and was worse in 1. At 12 weeks (69 THR) compared with preoperative status, lameness had improved in 67 and was unchanged in 2. Pain had improved in 68 and was unchanged in 1. Longer term follow‐up (mean, 16 months) was available for all hips. No further complications were reported. Owner satisfaction was good for 76 THRs and reasonable for 2. Conclusions: Hybrid THR can be performed successfully with a low complication rate and represents an alternative to either entirely cemented or cementless implantation.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peronosclerospora</Emphasis> (Oomycetes) reveals cryptic species and genetically distinct species parasitic to maize

Downy mildews are amongst the most widespread and economically important pathogens of cultivated grasses in the tropics and subtropics. Despite their importance, molecular methods, particularly DNA sequence analysis, have rarely been applied to either species identification or to the determination of phylogenetic relationships between species. Here we report the presence of several cryptic species in the genus Peronosclerospora. Further we confirm that maize can be parasitised by several species of Peronosclerospora, including P. eriochloae, which has not been reported previously as a pathogen of maize. The presence of 14 distinct phylogenetic lineages, including three that are parasitic to maize, highlights the current fragmentary knowledge on the diversity and classification of species within Peronosclerospora. Species identification in Peronosclerospora has been traditionally based on the host genus and a set of variable morphological characteristics, which has meant that the identification of species is often unreliable. This situation is primed for the application of molecular techniques for the identification of species. One of the lineages parasitic to maize in Australia has not yet been formally described and its distribution is not known. Future investigation including a broad sampling of downy mildews from maize and other cultivated and native grasses on a world-wide basis is a prerequisite to a re-evaluation of quarantine regulations aimed at restricting or limiting their spread.     

Asian-common strains of ‘<Emphasis Type="Italic">Candidatus</Emphasis> Liberibacter asiaticus’ are distributed in Northeast India,Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste

‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ is the most widespread of the three species of ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ that cause citrus greening disease (huanglongbing). To ascertain the phylogenetic relationships among Indian isolates that have higher diversity in the 16S rDNA than Asian isolates of this species, we collected symptomatic leaves from Northeast India, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste (East Timor) and detected ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ by PCR using primers specific for nusG–rplK genes and 16S rDNA. Phylogenetic analysis with 16S rDNA sequences and single nucleotide polymorphisms of the omp gene region revealed that the Northeast Indian isolates were genetically closer to Asian-common isolates from Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam than to Indian isolates reported previously. Thus, the Asian-common strains of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ are apparently also present in Northeast India.