Ressi experimental catchment: Ecohydrological research in the Italian pre-Alps

Ressi is a small (2.4 ha) forested catchment located in the Italian pre-Alps. The site became an experimental catchment to investigate the water fluxes in the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum and the impact of vegetation on runoff generation in 2012. The elevation of the catchment ranges from 598 to 721 m a.s.l. and the climate is humid temperate. The bedrock consists of rhyolites and dacites; the soil is a Cambisol. The catchment is covered by a dense forest, dominated by beech, chestnut, maple, and hazel trees. The field set up includes measurements of the rainfall in an open area, streamflow at the outlet, soil moisture at various depths and locations, and depth to water table in six piezometers at a 5- or 10-min interval. Samples of precipitation, stream water, shallow groundwater and soil water are collected monthly for tracer analysis (stable isotopes (²H and ¹⁸O), electrical conductivity and major ions), and during selected rainfall–runoff events to determine the contribution of the various sources to runoff. Since 2017, soil and plant water samples have been collected to determine the sources of tree transpiration. Data collected in the period 2012–2016 are publicly available. Data collection is ongoing, and the data set is expected to be updated on an annual basis to include the most recent measurements.     

Socio-political and ecological stresses on traditional pastoral systems: A review

Journal of Geographical Sciences - Pastoralism is a viable socio-economic system-shaped by landless and agro-pastoral communities in many pastoral regions of the world. This system is mainly based...     

Evaluating the production and bio-stimulating effect of 5-methyl 1, hydroxy phenazine on microbial fuel cell performance

The role of endogenous redox mediators has considerable importance in electron shuttling reactions and associated performance of microbial fuel cell. Single-chamber microbial fuel cell-II with dual air-cathode assembly (area = 18.84 cm²) supported highest bacterial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) density (6.7 × 10⁹) and active biomass [4.4 ± 0.3 mg cm^?2 (carbon content = 0.48 ± 0.1 mg cm^?2)] on anode thereby resulting in maximum production of redox metabolite, 5-methyl 1, hydroxy phenazine (301 ppm) and voltage (595 ± 5 mV) than similar cells with relatively less surface area of cathode. It was further revealed that 5-methyl 1, hydroxy phenazine production was positively correlated with chemical oxygen demand removal rate (77 ± 2.5%) and power generation (66.6 ± 2.2 mW cm^?2) efficiency of single-chamber microbial fuel cell-II. Maximum power density of 258 ± 4.5 mW cm^?2 was generated when reactor was supplemented with 2 ml crude extract of 5-methyl 1, hydroxy phenazine metabolite, whereas power output was about 229 ± 2.5 mW cm^?2 when reactor was bio-stimulated with 1 ml pure extract of 5-methyl 1, hydroxy phenazine. With this concentration, the electrochemical response of mixed culture biofilm (sediment) was enhanced by 99.3%. However, further increase in concentration of endogenous mediator proved to be limiting on reactor performance. Pyrosequencing and phylogenetic analysis on the basis of partial 16S rRNA sequences demonstrated both culturable and unculturable bacterial species in anodic biofilm and relative abundance of family Pseudomonadaceae was found to be maximum, i.e., 61.7% followed by Rhodocyclaceae 19.2%, Xanthomonadaceae 6.3% and Opitutaceae 3.18%.     

链状亚历山大藻组蛋白H3基因克隆与生长过程中的表达分析

链状亚历山大藻(Alexandrium catenella)是一种典型的产毒赤潮甲藻。甲藻曾被认为没有组蛋白,但近年来在多种甲藻中检测到全部四个核心组蛋白的活跃转录,而目前对甲藻中组蛋白表达模式与具体功能还缺乏深入的研究。本文报道了链状亚历山大藻组蛋白H3变体之一H3.c的全长ORF序列的克隆和分析;分析了链状亚历山大藻生长过程中组蛋白H3在基因和蛋白水平的表达。目前研究发现的链状亚历山大藻H3变体共三个,其中H3.b在N末端序列与其他物种差异最大,为链状亚历山大藻特有的H3变体。对数生长期的组蛋白H3在基因与蛋白水平上均活跃表达,但表达量并不会随着爆发性增长而显著变化,其中H3.b的基因表达在对数末期呈现上调;培养至衰亡期,各H3变体表达均下调,尤其在蛋白水平上呈现明显衰减。结合前期研究,本文认为链状亚历山大藻三个H3均为复制非依赖型(RI)变体,一些变体可响应伴随藻不断生长而逐渐增强的细胞密度等复杂胁迫,推测其参与某些表观遗传修饰,调控生长进程;而衰亡期基于H3的表观遗传调控受到抑制。     

Physico-chemical analysis of surface and groundwater around Singrauli Coal Field, District Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, India

The present study was carried out in Singrauli area of the north India to know the water quality at selected sites. Physico-chemical parameters like pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), bicarbonate, hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulfate, copper, iron, cobalt, manganese, zinc, and chromium were analyzed in 27 water samples. Locations selected for sampling were based on the preliminary field survey carried out to understand the overall impact of mining and industrialization on the surface and groundwater resources of Singrauli. Base map, drainage map, and land use/land cover of the study area were prepared from Survey of India topographic map 63 L/12 on 1:50000 scale and satellite data of IRS P6 LISS III 4th May 2010. Land use were categorized into 15 categories out of which major area occupied by open forest covers 20.33 %, uncultivated land 20.25 %, cultivated land 12.60 %, dense forest 11.00 %, and other categories cover 35.82 %. The results obtained are compared with World Health Organisation standards for drinking water quality. The physico chemical analysis shows alkaline nature of water, soft to moderately soft, TDS and total alkalinity exceeds the desirable limit. The major ions in water like calcium, and magnesium are within desirable limits, and sulfate and potassium exceed in limit at some locations, whereas sodium and chloride show higher values. The minor ions like copper and zinc show values within desirable limits whereas iron, cobalt, and chromium show higher values than the desirable limits which deteriorate the quality of water.     

Raw mix designing, clinkerization and manufacturing of high-strength Portland cement from the limestone and clay of Darukhula Nizampur, Nowshera District, North-West Frontier Province （N.W.F.P.）, Pakistan

This paper covers the detailed version of the potential raw material deposits at Darukhula and the adjacent areas of Nizampur, the manufacturing of high-strength Portland cement samples from the same material and comparison of the physical and chemical parameters for resulting cement with British and Pakistan standard specifications, which include compressive strength, setting time, consistency, lechatelier expansion, Blaine and insoluble residue. It was found that the raw material available in the study area meets the standard specifications and the area is feasible for the cement plant installation. The area can provide raw material which is quite sufficient for the running of a cement plant.     

Chemical study of limestone and clay for cement manufacturing in Darukhula,Nizampur District,Nowshera, North West Frontier Province （N.W.F.P.）, Pakistan

Limestone and clay samples were collected from Darukhula and adjoining areas of the Nizampur District Nowshera, N.W.EE, Pakistan, and analyzed for different parameters in order to search for new reserves of suitable material for the manufacture of different types of cements in N.W.F.P. It was found that the area under study contains three types of limestones, including high grade limestone, Darukhula limestone and siliceous limestone, which contain 53%, 49.03% and 45.19% CaO, respectively, and three types of clay, including maroon color, yellow to yel- lowish-green color and green color clay containing 57.76%, 65.47% and 61.24% SiO2, respectively. Chemical analysis of the limestone and clay samples collected from the deposits in the area under study showed that all the elements found in these samples are within the range of permissible limits for the production of high-strength Portland cement, sulphate resisting cement and white cement. This paper covers the detailed version of the potential raw material deposits at Darukhula and adjoining areas of the Nizampur District.