Soil Inoculation with Azotobacter

Following the discovery of the nitrogen fixing powers of the symbiotic bacteria in the soil, early investigators found that the power of utilizing the free atmospheric nitrogen was not confined to the symbiotic bacteria alone. They noted increases in soils which had borne no legumes and they found that fallow soils in particular increased appreciably in nitrogen content. These . facts stimulated researches which led to the discovery of many forms of bacteria which are able, when growing alone, to fix nitrogen from the air. The chief of these is now known as the azotobacter group

Growth and survival of eleven planted tree species on a reclaimed surface mine in West Virginia

Commercial forestry as a post-mining land use in West Virginia requires an average of 1.2-m or more of weathered brown sandstone and topsoil on the spoil surface after regrading to the final land topography. Commercially valuable hardwood trees are to be planted in this substrate, and survival and growth of these trees must be monitored over a 12-year bonding period. Success of the commercial hardwood planting is based on the growth of white pine ( Pinus strobus L.), which must achieve greater than 0.45 meters of average growth per year. At the Catenary surface mine in 2005, three, 2.8-ha plots were constructed: (1) 1.5-m of weathered brown sandstone, (2) 1.2-m of weathered brown sandstone, and (3) 1.5-m of unweathered gray sandstone. Half of each 2.8-ha plot was compacted, where dozer tracks completely covered the surface, while the other half had only one-pass from a dozer. In March 2005, eleven species of trees were planted into these plots. The objective of this research was to evaluate soil characteristics important to trees on these areas and to determine survival, volume, and percent change in height and diameter of each tree species. After one growing season, 91% of tree species survived on the 1.5-m brown sandstone, 87% on 1.2-m brown sandstone, and 98% on 1.5-m gray sandstone. On the non-compacted sides of each treatment, survival was \u3e99% across all species, whereas the compacted areas had 88% survival. Tree survival after three years had decreased to 67% on 1.5-m brown sandstone, 82% on 1.2-m brown sandstone, and 86% on 1.5-m gray sandstone. On the non-compacted areas, 78% survived while 79% survived across all compacted plots. Highest survival rate across all treatments was black locust at 100%, and lowest with Tulip poplar and White pine at 65% survival. Diameter and height were measured for trees and a volume was calculated by basal area (diameter squared) times height (D2H). Volume was greatest for Black locust with 792 cm3 and lowest for White pine at 36.1 cm3. Gray sandstone had the lowest volume across all species in all three plots with an average of 44.3 cm3 while 1.2-m brown sandstone had the greatest volume with 272 cm3. Percent height increase was greater on the brown sandstone treatment (86%) as compared to the gray sandstone treatment (17%). This trend continued with percent diameter increase which was 165% for brown sandstone and 62% for gray sandstone. Samples from all treatment plots showed the pH of the gray sandstone has continued to increase from an average of 7.9 after the first year to its highest level of 8.4 after the third year, while 1.5-m brown sandstone had an average pH of 5.5 and 1.2-m brown sandstone had an average pH of 4.5. Percent fines reached its highest proportion in the third year on both brown sandstone plots, while percent fines decreased on the gray sandstone plot between the first and second year (38% to 30%), but increased slightly to 33% by the third year.;In a fertility-leaching study, two leaching methods were used to compare brown and gray sandstone samples. These samples were repeatedly leached with Morgan\u27s extract to examine concentrations of Mg, Ca, P, and K through four leaching events. Two sieve sizes were also used to separate the sands from the clay and silt size particles. Comparison of extraction methods showed significant differences in Ca, K, and P. There were no significant differences for any element between substrates (brown and gray sandstone) or sieve size.;Key Words: strip mine reforestation, compaction, gray unweathered sandstone, survival, volume

Ecology and control of the trachoma vector Musca sorbens

The work described in this thesis was conducted In rural Gambia and builds a body of evidence Incriminating the fly Musca sorbens as a vector of the blinding disease, trachoma, which is caused by ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. Literature on hygiene promotion, environmental change and flies and trachoma is reviewed in the context of the SAFE strategy for trachoma control advocated by the World Health Organization M. sorbens was present throughout the year in trachoma endemic communities; was responsible for the majority of fly-eye contacts; C. trachomatis DNA was found on it; and trachoma transmission dropped when they were removed from the environment. In a large cluster-randomised trial communities receiving fly control with insecticide for six months had a mean reduction in trachoma prevalence of 56% (95% Cl 19-93%; P=0.01) compared to controls and 37% (4-70%; P=0.068) fewer new prevalent cases of trachoma. Breeding media choice experiments showed that isolated human faeces were the preferred larval medium for M. sorbens and were capable of supporting the production of large numbers of adults. However, other animal faeces were also able to support M. sorbens development. This suggested that a community-based strategy to reduce the quantity of human faeces on the soil surface by providing latrines would have the effect of reducing the population of M. sorbens, and hence reduce fly-eye contact and trachoma transmission. The provision of latrines gave encouraging results, which were not statistically significant; 30% less active trachoma than controls after six months (-22-81%; P=0.210) and 28% (-5-60%; P=0.146) fewer new prevalent cases. Provision of latrines warrants further investigation as a method to control trachoma, particularly when used in conjunction with other control methods. The potential role of fly control in the SAFE strategy for trachoma control is discussed

An Annotated Check List of the Land Mammals of Curry County, Oregon

Curry County merits study for several reasons. Very little work has been done on its mammalian fauna resulting in a limited number of specimens. In turn there is a sparsity of literature; that written is chiefly concerned with the genera Arborimus and Phenacomys. The location of the county places it in an area of scrambled geological history resulting in a diverse mixture of faunal and floral elements. Logging, agriculture, and grazing activities have altered and continue to alter the natural habitats. These interests have permanently changed both the floristic and faunistic composition of the county. The aims of this study are to prepare an annotated check list of the recent land mammals, exclusive of the order Chiroptera, of Curry County, Oregon; thereby drawing together all possible information concerning the mammalian fauna of the county and presenting this as a compact unit which will not only be pertinent to Curry County but will also be useful to anyone working on the mammals of a larger geographical region inclusive of the county, e.g. the mammals of Oregon

Distributions of TOP, TON and TOC in the North Pacific subtropical gyre: Implications for nutrient supply in the surface ocean and remineralization in the upper thermocline

We report measurements of total organic phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon (TOP, TON, and TOC) along a meridional transect in the eastern subtropical North Pacific. In the surface waters, TOP and TON comprise 83% and 98% of the total dissolved phosphorus and nitrogen pools, respectively. Between the equatorial region and the subtropical gyre, there is a distinct gradient in surface TOP of about 0.25 µM, but very little gradient in TON. TOC increases by nearly 30 µM across the same region. Meridional advection of TOP along its gradient via Ekman transport can provide 40-80% of the phosphorus necessary to supply present estimates of particulate phosphorus export from the subtropical gyre. Mass balance requires an additional input of nitrogen to the surface waters to fuel particulate nitrogen export. This input is likely supported by nitrogen fixation. As dissolved organic matter (DOM) is degraded along isopycnals that outcrop within the subtropical gyre, TOP and TOC are consumed more rapidly than TON. TOC and TON contribute 70% and 20% to organic matter remineralization along these isopycnals, respectively, and the C:N ratio for remineralization is 30 ± 10. In contrast, along isopycnals that outcrop to the north of the gyre, both TOC and TON contribute 30% to organic matter remineralization and the C:N ratio is 8 ± 1. Our results suggest that excess TOC, produced within the surface waters of the subtropical gyre during nitrogen fixation, is highly labile and dominates respiration along shallow isopycnals. Preferential remineralization of TOC relative to TON within the gyre results in a negative preformed nitrate signal in the upper thermocline, and may establish a feedback between upper thermocline DOM remineralization and surface ocean DOM production that maintains nitrogen fixation in the surface waters

CBT for people with intellectual disabilities : emerging evidence, cognitive ability and IQ effects

Historically people with intellectual disabilities have not been offered or received cognitive behavioural interventions that have been shown to be effective for mental health and emotional problems experienced by those without such disabilities. This is despite many people with intellectual disabilities having life experiences that potentially result in them having an increased risk to such problems. This paper discusses whether such therapeutic disdain is justified based on the evidence that is available and emerging concerning the application of cognitive behavioural interventions for this population. Issues concerning access to services, the ability of people with intellectual disabilities to engage in and benefit from the cognitive components of CBT, and the effect of cognitive abilities and IQ level on treatment effectiveness are explored in relation to this question