Biochar may improve soil hydrology by altering soil porosity, density, hydraulic conductivity, and water-holding capacity. These properties are associated with the grain size distributions of both soil and biochar, and therefore may change as biochar weathers. Here we report how freeze-thaw (F-T) cycling impacts the grain size of pine, mesquite, miscanthus, and sewage waste biochars under two d...

A commonly observed preferential association was quantified between mature native mesquite (Prosopis articulata) trees and the seedlings of six cactus species (Pachycereus pringlei, Opuntia cholla, Lophocereus schottii, Machaerocereus gummosus, Lemaireocereus thurberi, Mammilaria sp.) in a previously-disturbed area of the Sonoran Desert of Baja California, Mexico. We hypothesized that, in addit...

Peter F. Ffolliott is Professor, School of Renewable Natural Resources, 325 Biological Sciences East, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; e-mail: [email protected]. Gerald J. Gottfried is Research Forester, Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Phoenix, AZ. William H. Kruse is Range Scientist, Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service (retired), Flagstaff, ...

The utility of gum Arabic (Acacia Species) as film former (binder) in formulations was investigated. Some property such as blistering and scratch adhesion of the solutions of crude gum Arabic as a sole binder in formulations were investigated and compared to those of solutions of modified gum Arabic. From the work carried out, it was discovered that the quality of the film resulting from the so...

In this research, the uptake of Cu, Mo, Zn, As(III) and Cr(VI) by mesquite (Prosopis spp.) roots and shoots from two different sources was studied. The first source was seeds collected from plants grown in mine tailings in Arizona, USA (Seeds A) and the other source was seeds from a commercial vendor (Seeds B). In addition, the effects of above mentioned elements on plant growth and nutrient up...

Chewing of gum contributes to the maintenance of oral health. Many oral diseases, including caries and periodontal disease, are caused by bacteria. However, it is unknown whether chewing of gum can remove bacteria from the oral cavity. Here, we hypothesize that chewing of gum can trap bacteria and remove them from the oral cavity. To test this hypothesis, we developed two methods to quantify nu...

Recovery of cellulose fibres from paper mill effluent has been studied using common polysaccharides or biopolymers such as Guar gum, Xanthan gum and Locust bean gum as flocculent. Guar gum is commonly used in sizing paper and routinely used in paper making. The results have been compared with the performance of alum, which is a common coagulant and a key ingredient of the paper industry. Guar g...

Children have chewed gum since the Stone Age. Black lumps of prehistoric tar with human tooth impressions have been found in Northern Europe dating from approximately 7000 BC (Middle Stone Age) to 2000 BC (Bronze Age). The bite impressions suggest that most chewers were between 6 and 15 years of age. The Greeks chewed resin from the mastic tree (mastic gum). North American Indians chewed spruce...

This paper deals with the conjugation of durian seed gum (DSG) with whey protein isolate (WPI) through Maillard reactions. Subsequently, the functional properties of durian seed gum in the non-conjugated (control sample) and conjugated forms were compared with several commercial gums (i.e., Arabic gum, sodium alginate, kappa carrageenan, guar gum, and pectin). The current study revealed that th...

RATIONALE Recent research suggests that chewing gum may improve aspects of cognitive function and mood. There is also evidence suggesting that chewing gum reduces stress. It is important, therefore, to examine these two areas and to determine whether contextual factors (chewing habit, type of gum, and personality) modify such effects. OBJECTIVES The aims of the present study were: (i) to dete...