Strategy for radioactive waste disposal in crystalline rocks

A strategy for waste disposal is proposed in which the repository would be situated in a crystalline rock mass beneath a blanket of sedimentary rocks whose ground-water flow characteristics are well understood. Such an approach exemplifies the concept of multiple barriers to the isolation of radioactive wastes from the biosphere. This strategy has the advantages that (i) ground-water flow within the sedimentary rocks can be investigated and modeled by conventional, well-under-stood theory and technology; (ii) under favorable circumstances, the flow system operates as an active barrier, so that a long migration path and extremely low flow rate to the biosphere can be assured; and (iii) since, in many locations, ground water is nonpotable, the possibility of future human intrusion can be minimized.     

Residues of the algicide endothal in water,soil and rice,after paddy field applications

In order to obtain residue data from the application of the algicide endothal in Italian rice paddy fields, two experiments were carried out using a 50 g kg^?1 granular formulation in a small pond and the same granular and two liquid formulations in actual paddy fields of the Italian rice growing area. Endothal decay in the pond water was very rapid, reaching residue levels of 0·01-1·02 mg litre^?1 in two days and 0·004-0·01 mg litre^?1 at the third day. The muddy soil of the pond was free from measurable endothal residues( <0·02 mg kg^?1). In the paddy-field waters, the endothal decay was slower, with an average half-life time of 3·3 days, independently of the type of formulation. The actual residues in water after 6 days ranged from 0·3 to 1·3 mg litre^?1 according to the initial amount of product applied, and, consequently, to the initial concentration in water. Rice samples collected at the normal harvest time from the two paddy fields, treated with three different formulations, showed no endothal residue at the minimum detectable level of 0·01 mg kg^?1.     

Self-organizing and stochastic behaviors during the regeneration of hair stem cells

Stem cells cycle through active and quiescent states. Large populations of stem cells in an organ may cycle randomly or in a coordinated manner. Although stem cell cycling within single hair follicles has been studied, less is known about regenerative behavior in a hair follicle population. By combining predictive mathematical modeling with in vivo studies in mice and rabbits, we show that a follicle progresses through cycling stages by continuous integration of inputs from intrinsic follicular and extrinsic environmental signals based on universal patterning principles. Signaling from the WNT/bone morphogenetic protein activator/inhibitor pair is coopted to mediate interactions among follicles in the population. This regenerative strategy is robust and versatile because relative activator/inhibitor strengths can be modulated easily, adapting the organism to different physiological and evolutionary needs.     

Residues of chlorpyrifos in various crops II. Residues after field treatments

Five agricultural crops were treated with OO-diethyl O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl) phosphorothioate (chlorpyrifos) granular or emulsifiable concentrate formulations at dosages from 0.5 to 6.0 kg (a.i.)/ha and at different periods before harvest. Chlorpyrifos residues were determined by gas chromatography after extraction and sweep co-distillation clean-up. Low residue levels were found. The average values in lettuce were 0.046 and 0.070 part/million, in sugar beet leaves 0.037 to 0.128 part/million and roots <0.005 to 0.038 part/million; no chlorpyrifos was detected in carrots, potatoes and cured tobacco leaves at the limit of the method (0.005 part/million).     

Influence of tricyclohexyltin hydroxide on fermentation,and its residues in musts and wines

Field and laboratory trials with tricyclohexyltin hydroxide (Cy₃SnOH) acaricide, were carried out on two varieties of grapevine, to examine the influence of residues on the must fermentation. Laboratory tests showed that Cy₃SnOH inhibits fermentation, for a period up to 2-5 days, only at very high concentrations (0.75-6.75 ppm). After this time, fermentation always starts again, so that in field tests, no delay in fermentation resulted. Analytical values for tin residues, obtained spectrophotometrically by using the catechol violet complex, showed residues to be quite high in musts from grapes treated 6 days before vintage (0.50–0.98 ppm Sn ? 1.63–3.14 ppm Cy₃SnOH), but very low in musts from grapes treated 30 days before vintage (0.04–0.07 ppm Sn ? 0.13-0.25 ppm Cy₃SnOH). It was also demonstrated that the acaricide and its degradation products go to the bottom with the lees during fermentation.     

Chemoreceptors in lepidoptera: stereochemical differentiation of dual receptors for an achiral pheromone

The racemate and optically pure enantiomers of 9-(2-cyclopenten-1yl)nonyl acetate have been synthesized and shown to mimic certain biological properties of (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate. European corn borers and red-banded leaf rollers respond differently to the racemate and to the enantiomers in precopulatory behavior bioassay. The responses demonstrate the presence of two stereospecific chemoreceptors, show the chiral character of these receptors, and define the conformation of carbon atoms 10 to 14 of (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate in these receptors.     

Determination of tricyclohexyltin hydroxide residues in apples and pears

Plictran (tricyclohexyltin hydroxide, Cy₃SnOH) residues in Stark Delicious apples and Passacrassana pears were determined. Field applications were carried out 7, 16 and 28 days before harvest. The analyses were carried out by two procedures: selective determination of the various Sn forms and determination of total Sn. The final spectrophotometric determinations were made as inorganic Sn using dithiol reagent. Average data obtained for apples were from 0.26 to 0.32 ppm of Sn (0.84–1.00 ppm Cy₃SnOH) and for pears from 0.12 to 0.30 ppm of Sn (040–0.99 ppm Cy₃SnOH). A residues half-life of 5–6 weeks for the apples and of 2 weeks for the pears was found.     

Zur Abhängigkeit des Nagerbefalls vom HCN-Gehalt der Knollen von Manihot esculenta Crantz

Studies on rodents damage in relation to Cyanogenic Glucosides content in tubers of Manihot esculenta Crantz Rodents are the major pests of Cassava(Manihot esculenta) and inflict heavy losses in the field. In order to explore the possibilities of controlling rodents by developing resistant varieties in relation to HCN content studies were undertaken at Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Trivandrum. In total 7 varieties were studied for extent of damage and tuber characters. The studies indicated that varieties, such as Ce 178, Ce 281 and Ce 96 having minimum concentration of HCN in rind were highly susceptible to rodent attack and were preferred over varieties, such as Ce 432 and Ce ll9, having higher concentration of HCN in the rind. Thus there is ample scope for evolving a cassava variety with higher concentration of cyanogenic glucosides in the rind and negligible quantities in the flesh to ward off heavy rodent attack, in the field.     

The UVA and aqueous stability of flavonoids is dependent on B-ring substitution

Flavonols such as kaempferol and quercetin are believed to provide protection against ultraviolet (UV)-induced damage to plants. Recent in vitro studies have examined the ability of flavonols to protect against UV-induced damage to mammalian cells. Stability of flavonols in cell culture media, however, has been problematic, especially for quercetin, one of the most widely studied flavonols. As part of our investigations into the potential for flavonols to protect skin against UV-induced damage, we have determined the stability of a series of flavonols that differ only in the number of substituents on the B-ring. We measured the stability of these flavonols over time to UVA radiation, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), and Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS) using high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV). The identification of the breakdown products of flavonols was accomplished by using a hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer coupled with liquid chromatography. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis (MS/MS) of flavonol photoproducts was confirmed by comparing with the known standard samples. We have determined that flavonol stability decreases with increasing B-ring substitution, suggesting that future investigation of potential photoprotective flavonols will need to be cognizant of this trend.     

Temporal changes in soil biochemical properties with seasons under rainfed land use systems in Shiwalik foothills of northwest India

The soil biochemical properties are sensitive to change in land use systems and seasons. The variations in soil management practices and soil moisture content affect the sustainability of the systems. To study the sustainability in lower Shiwalik, a total of 144 soil samples (0–0.15 m) were undertaken to monitor the changes in the soil biochemical properties under rainfed land use systems, i.e., agri-horticulture, agroforestry, cultivated and barren system and seasons, i.e., summer, rainy and winter. Among soil biochemical properties, soil microbial biomass carbon, soil microbial quotient, dehydrogenase activities, basal soil respiration, fluorescein diacetate and urease activities ranged from 77 to 122 μg g^?1, 0.023 to 0.027, 18.3 to 30.6 μg TPF g ^?1 h^?1, 13.2 to 22.7 μg CO₂-C g^?1 day^?1, 1.3 to 2.2 μg g^?1 and 5.83 to 6.38 μg NH₄-Ng^?1 h^?1, respectively. Among 15 soil properties, principal component analysis specified that four major soil properties, i.e., basal soil respiration, metabolic quotient, electrical conductivity and clay content contributed 73% of the soil quality index with contribution of 44, 13, 9 and 7%, respectively. Among seasons, the values for soil biochemical properties were higher in rainy season as compared to winter and summer season. In systems, agri-horticulture followed by agroforestry was the best systems in terms of sustainability in Shiwalik foothills of northwest India.