The Occurrence of Metals in Composted Municipal Wastes and Their Removal

The organic fraction of municipal wastes has been composted on the laboratory scale. In the obtained compost the content of cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc were determined, as well as the speciation i.e, the form of their occurrence, making use of Rudd's method of sequential extraction. The investigations also concerned the way of removing these metals from the compost by means of leaching with solutions of sulphuric and nitric acid, as well as by electrochemically separating the metals from the solution after the compost had been leached with sulphuric acid. It has been found that the application of the electrochemical method with varying pH values of the leaching solution within the range of 6.8–2.8 allows for the separation of 83.5% Cd, 55.0% Co, 65.4% Cu, 59.4% Mn, 70.3% Ni, 90.5% Pb and 56.2% Zn.     

An evaluation of anaesthetic induction in healthy dogs using rapid intravenous injection of propofol or alfaxalone

ObjectiveTo evaluate quality of anaesthetic induction and cardiorespiratory effects following rapid intravenous (IV) injection of propofol or alfaxalone.Study designProspective, randomised, blinded clinical study.AnimalsSixty healthy dogs (ASA I/II) anaesthetized for elective surgery or diagnostic procedures.MethodsPremedication was intramuscular acepromazine (0.03 mg kg^?1) and meperidine (pethidine) (3 mg kg^?1). For anaesthetic induction dogs received either 3 mg kg^?1 propofol (Group P) or 1.5 mg kg^?1 alfaxalone (Group A) by rapid IV injection. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (f_R) and oscillometric arterial pressures were recorded prior to induction, at endotracheal intubation and at 3 and 5 minutes post-intubation. The occurrence of post-induction apnoea or hypotension was recorded. Pre-induction sedation and aspects of induction quality were scored using 4 point scales. Data were analysed using Chi-squared tests, two sample t-tests and general linear model mixed effect anova (p < 0.05).ResultsThere were no significant differences between groups with respect to sex, age, body weight, f_R, post-induction apnoea, arterial pressures, hypotension, SpO₂, sedation score or quality of induction scores. Groups behaved differently over time with respect to HR. On induction HR decreased in Group P (?2 ± 28 beats minute^?1) but increased in Group A (14 ± 33 beats minute^?1) the difference being significant (p = 0.047). However HR change following premedication also differed between groups (p = 0.006). Arterial pressures decreased significantly over time in both groups and transient hypotension occurred in eight dogs (five in Group P, three in Group A). Post-induction apnoea occurred in 31 dogs (17 in Group P, 14 in Group A). Additional drug was required to achieve endotracheal intubation in two dogs.Conclusions and Clinical relevanceRapid IV injection of propofol or alfaxalone provided suitable conditions for endotracheal intubation in healthy dogs but post-induction apnoea was observed commonly.     

New Biomass Sources to Reduce Peat Dependence in Mediterranean Substrates: Validation of Morus alba L., Sorghum vulgare L., and Phoenix canariensis Pruning Wastes

The use of alternative materials to peat in soilless crop production, such as woody pruning wastes, has been reported by several researchers. In Mediterranean countries, several potential alternatives have been identified such as palm species or woody pruning wastes coming from different plant species. Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is a tree crop widely used in Europe for urban landscaping and to provide shade. Mulberry trees are pruned in sericulture two or three times a year to obtain a better yield of leaves. In an urban landscape, the trees are pruned once a year to form the canopy. Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare L.) is a cereal crop widely cultivated because it is considered the fourth most important summer crop in the world after soy, corn, and sunflower. It is one among the few resilient crops that can adapt well to future climate change conditions, particularly increasing drought, soil salinity, and high temperatures. After the harvest, the inedible parts of the plant, the stalks and leaves, are left over and must be disposed of, most of the time by burning. Palm trees in Spain, as in most of the European regions where palms are cultivated, are mainly used as ornamental plants in urban areas. One of the most commonly used palm tree in landscaping is the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis Hort. Ex Chavaud). These palm trees are pruned up to twice a year in this region, producing huge amounts of biomass that are disposed of in landfills. In this experiment, physical and chemical parameters were determined in the different particle sizes (<0.25, 0.25–1, 1–2, and 2–4 mm) of the raw residual materials from pruning activities of mulberry (Morus alba L.), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare L.), and palm (Phoenix canariensis) to evaluate their suitability for use as growing substrate. According to the results obtained, it can be concluded that the alternative materials for substrate preparation obtained from the pruning wastes of Morus alba (MAPW), Sorghum vulgare (SVPW), and Phoenix canariensis (PCPW) had suitable values of physical properties related to substrate porosity and wetting capacity. These materials also had high or very high total organic carbon (C) to total nitrogen (N) ratio values and low nutrient contents, except for potassium (K) in SVPW and PCPW.     

Investigations on the role of acid invertase and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase in potato clones with varying resistance to cold-induced sweetening

Fifteen potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) clones with varying resistance to cold-induced sweetening were analysed for vacuolar acid invertase (AcInv, EC 3.2.1.26) and UDP-Glc pyrophosphorylase (UGPase; EC 2.7.7.9) activities related to their ability to accumulate sugars following cold storage (4 C). The UGPase isozyme profiles for each clone were also determined. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated a 55 kD protein, in seven of the 15 clones, that reacted with UGPase antisera in addition to the 53 kD UGPase subunit previously reported. The UGPase activity of these clones was significantly lower than that of the “single subunit” clones. Basal AcInv activity showed a positive correlation to the Glc:Suc ratio across the clones that was moderately significant before and after cold temperature storage. The activity of UGPase, which limits the rate of Suc formation, was of secondary importance in limiting the rate of hexogenesis when vacuolar AcInv activity was excessive. It is suggested that with the potato clones from this breeding program that AcInv (and its inhibitor) plays a dominant role in the hexogenic pathway by regulating the hexose:Suc ratio. The finding of a new protein that is reactive with UGPase antisera may prove to play an important function in the regulation of Suc formation in potatoes.     

Consequences of cutting off distal ends of cotyledons of Quercus robur acorns before sowing

• Background   

Production of seedlings, especially in containers, requires simultaneous germination and emergence. Mechanical scarification often speeds up the growth of embryo axes, increases the percentage of germinating seeds and seedling emergence. Cutting off the distal ends of cotyledons is a mechanical scarification technique sometimes used in the container production of oak seedlings. However the consequences of this procedure for seedling development are little known. We wanted to determine these effects on development and metabolic changes of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings.     

Branch CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> efflux in vertical profile of Norway spruce tree

Branch CO₂ efflux of Norway spruce tree [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] was measured in ten branches at five different whorls during the growing season 2004 (from June till October) in campaigns of 3–4 times per month at the Beskydy Mts., the Czech Republic. Branch CO₂ efflux was measured using a portable infrared gas analyzer (LI-6250, LI-COR, Inc., USA), operating as a closed system. Branch woody-tissue temperature was measured continuously in 10-min intervals for each sample position during the whole experiment period. On the basis of relation between CO₂ efflux rate and woody-tissue temperature, a value of Q₁₀ and of normalized CO₂ efflux rate (E₁₀–CO₂ efflux rate at 10°C) was calculated for each sampled position. Estimated Q₁₀ values ranged from 2.12 to 2.89, and E₁₀ ranged from 0.41 to 1.19 μmolCO₂m⁻²s⁻¹. Differences in branch CO₂ efflux were found between orientations, east-side branches presented higher efflux rate than west-side branches. The highest branch CO₂ efflux rate values were measured in August and the lowest in October, which corresponds with woody-tissue temperature and growth processes during these periods. Branch CO₂ efflux was significantly and positively correlated with branch position within canopy and woody-tissue temperature. Branches from the upper whorls showed higher CO₂ efflux activity and seasonal dynamics than branches from the lower whorls.     

Assessing forest understory biomass in northwest Florida (USA) and its potential to meet the state energy needs

A stratified random sampling approach was employed to quantify total biomass across prevalent non-commercial forest understory species found in six counties of northwest Florida, USA. The moisture content (wet basis) and calorific values of these species were also measured. Total green biomass from forest understory species was estimated to be around 12 million metric tons, mostly comprised of Cliftonia monophylla (titi, buckwheat tree) and Cyrilla racemiflora (white titi, swamp titi). This understory forest biomass would be sufficient to generate about 28.8 million GJ of electricity or 1589.25 million liters of ethanol. A need was identified to determine the inventory of forest understory biomass at the state level and assess the overall sustainability of utilizing forest understory biomass for bioenergy.     

Increasing soy isoflavonoid content and diversity by simultaneous malting and challenging by a fungus to modulate estrogenicity

Soybeans were germinated on a kilogram-scale, by the application of malting technology used in the brewing industry, and concomitantly challenged with Rhizopus microsporus var. oryzae. In a time-course experiment, samples were taken every 24 h for 10 days, and the isoflavonoid profile was analyzed by RP-UHPLC-MS. Upon induction with R. microsporus, the isoflavonoid composition changed drastically with the formation of phytoalexins belonging to the subclasses of the pterocarpans and coumestans and by prenylation of the various isoflavonoids. The pterocarpan content stabilized at 2.24 mg of daidzein equivalents (DE) per g after ～9 days. The levels of the less common glyceofuran, glyceollin IV, and V/VI ranged from 0.18 to 0.35 mg DE/g and were comparable to those of the more commonly reported glyceollins I, II, and III (0.22-0.32 mg DE/g) and glycinol (0.42 mg DE/g). The content of prenylated isoflavones after the induction process was 0.30 mg DE/g. The total isoflavonoid content increased by a factor of 10-12 on DW basis after 9 days, which was suggested to be ascribable to de novo synthesis. These changes were accompanied by a gradual increase in agonistic activity of the extracts toward both the estrogen receptor α (ERα) and ERβ during the 10-day induction, with a more pronounced activity toward ERβ. Thus, the induction process yielded a completely different spectrum of isoflavonoids, with a much higher bioactivity toward the estrogen receptors. This, together with the over 10-fold increase in potential bioactives, offers promising perspectives for producing more, novel, and higher potency nutraceuticals by malting under stressed conditions.