Knowledge of soil hydraulic and thermal properties is essential for studies involving the combined effects of soil temperature and water input on water flow and redistribution processes under field conditions. The objective of this study was to estimate the parameters characterizing these properties from a transient water flow and heat transport field experiment. Real-time sensors built by the ...

as a catalyst in chemical reactions an abrasive; and as an Electrokinetic properties of expanded and unexpanded perlite agent in mixtures for oil well cementing (1). samples have been investigated using the microelectrophoresis However, no studies about the surface interactions that technique. Perlite samples yield practically no isoelectric point in occur at the interface when perlite is incor...

Cadmium contamination in rice grains is one of the important issues in Asian countries. We have developed a novel bio-remediation system based on the symbiosis between leguminous plant and genetically engineered rhizobia. We designed two types of recombinant rhizobia, carrying two genes, synthetic tetrameric metallothionein (MTL4) and cDNA encoding phytochelatin synthase from Arabidopsis thalia...

The adverse effect of mineral dust on general health level of the population has been widely studied lately. The research interest has been mainly focused on the respiratory function of coal miners and workers exposed to silica and asbestos containing dust [1-3] because a significant increase in COPD independent of smoking has been observed [4-5]. Among the materials considered hazardous for wo...

Although urban community gardening can offer health, social, environmental, and economic benefits, these benefits must be weighed against the potential health risks stemming from exposure to contaminants such as heavy metals and organic chemicals that may be present in urban soils. Individuals who garden at or eat food grown in contaminated urban garden sites may be at risk of exposure to such ...

Mesotrione is an effective herbicide for volunteer potato control but is not selective in several crops, including onion and carrot. Studies were conducted in 2006 to evaluate the effectiveness of wiper-applied mesotrione for control of volunteer potato in a potato crop. Surprisingly, nontreated potatoes growing adjacent to mesotrione-treated plants exhibited bleaching symptoms resembling mesot...

abstract land use change, especially natural ecosystems transformation, has high effects on soil physico-chemical as well as biological characteristics and also, has effect on runoff and soil erosion. analysis of runoff and soil erosion dynamics can be useful in improvement of management proposals and quantifying runoff and soil erosion changes. so, this research was carried out to investigate ...

A total of 69 soil samples from 20 community gardens in New York City (New York, USA) were collected and analyzed for 23 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and black carbon. For each garden, samples were collected from nongrowing areas (non-bed) and from vegetable-growing beds, including beds with and without visible sources of PAHs. The sum of the US Environmental Protection Agency's 16 p...

The occurrence of d-Ala : d-Lac ligase genes homologous to glycopeptide resistance vanA was studied in samples of agricultural (n=9) and garden (n=3) soil by culture-independent methods. Cloning and sequencing of nested degenerate PCR products obtained from soil DNA revealed the occurrence of d-Ala : d-Ala ligase genes unrelated to vanA. In order to enhance detection of vanA-homologous genes, a...