Morphological and Chemical Properties of Plastic Residues in Composts

The relative quantity of plastic film residues and other man-made materials in composts prepared from municipal solid wastes (MSW), biosolids, yard wastes, and pine bark was evaluated utilizing light and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analyzer. MSW composts screened through a 4 mm screen contained significant but highly variable quantities of plastic film residues and other man-made materials that escaped detection with the unaided eye. The other composts were free of such particles. We conclude that the database for evaluation of man-made materials in MSW composts is inadequate and must be developed further

Soil Management Regimes for Plant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management Programs in Ornamental Landscapes

Author Institution (Herms and Stinner): Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University; Author Institution (Hoitink): Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University; Author Institution (Rose): Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State Universit

Long term study of the seismic environment at LIGO

The LIGO experiment aims to detect and study gravitational waves using ground based laser interferometry. A critical factor to the performance of the interferometers, and a major consideration in the design of possible future upgrades, is isolation of the interferometer optics from seismic noise. We present the results of a detailed program of measurements of the seismic environment surrounding the LIGO interferometers. We describe the experimental configuration used to collect the data, which was acquired over a 613 day period. The measurements focused on the frequency range 0.1-10 Hz, in which the secondary microseismic peak and noise due to human activity in the vicinity of the detectors was found to be particularly critical to interferometer performance. We compare the statistical distribution of the data sets from the two interferometer sites, construct amplitude spectral densities of seismic noise amplitude fluctuations with periods of up to 3 months, and analyze the data for any long term trends in the amplitude of seismic noise in this critical frequency range.Comment: To be published in Classical and Quantum Gravity. 24 pages, 15 figure

Application of COMPOCHIP Microarray to Investigate the Bacterial Communities of Different Composts

A microarray spotted with 369 different 16S rRNA gene probes specific to microorganisms involved in the degradation process of organic waste during composting was developed. The microarray was tested with pure cultures, and of the 30,258 individual probe-target hybridization reactions performed, there were only 188 false positive (0.62%) and 22 false negative signals (0.07%). Labeled target DNA was prepared by polymerase chain reaction amplification of 16S rRNA genes using a Cy5-labeled universal bacterial forward primer and a universal reverse primer. The COMPOCHIP microarray was applied to three different compost types (green compost, manure mix compost, and anaerobic digestate compost) of different maturity (2, 8, and 16 weeks), and differences in the microorganisms in the three compost types and maturity stages were observed. Multivariate analysis showed that the bacterial composition of the three composts was different at the beginning of the composting process and became more similar upon maturation. Certain probes (targeting Sphingobacterium, Actinomyces, Xylella/Xanthomonas/ Stenotrophomonas, Microbacterium, Verrucomicrobia, Planctomycetes, Low G + C and Alphaproteobacteria) were more influential in discriminating between different composts. Results from denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis supported those of microarray analysis. This study showed that the COMPOCHIP array is a suitable tool to study bacterial communities in composts

Storm surge variability and prediction from ENSO and tropical cyclones

Storm surges are among the deadliest natural hazards, but understanding and prediction of year-to-year variability of storm surges is challenging. Here, we demonstrate that the interannual variability of observed storm surge levels can be explained and further predicted, through a process-based study in Hong Kong. We find that ENSO exerts a compound impact on storm surge levels through modulating tropical cyclones (TCs) and other forcing factors. The occurrence frequencies of local and remote TCs are responsible for the remaining variability in storm surge levels after removing the ENSO effect. Finally, we show that a statistical prediction model formed by ENSO and TC indices has good skill for prediction of extreme storm surge levels. The analysis approach can be applied to other coastal regions where tropical storms and the climate variability are main contributors to storm surges. Our study gives new insight into identifying “windows of opportunity” for successful prediction of storm surges on long-range timescales

Large‐Scale Scour in Response to Tidal Dominance in Estuaries

Channel beds in estuaries and deltas often exhibit a local depth maximum close to the river mouth. There are two known mechanisms of large-scale (i.e., >10 river widths along-channel) channel bed scours: width constriction and draw-down during river discharge extremes, both creating flow acceleration. Here, we study a potential third mechanism: tidal scour. We use a 1D-morphodynamic model to reproduce tidal dynamics and scours in estuaries that are in morphologic equilibrium. A morphologic equilibrium is reached when the net (seaward) sediment transport matches the upstream supply along the entire reach. The residual (river) current and river-tide interactions create seaward transport. Herein, river-tide interactions represent the seaward advection of tide-induced suspended sediment by the river flow. Tidal asymmetry typically creates landward transport. Scours form when tidal flow is amplified through funneling of tidal energy. Scours simultaneously reduce the residual (river) current and the river-tide interaction contribution to sediment transport, thereby maintaining morphologic equilibrium. When tidal influence is relatively large, and when channel convergence is strong, an equilibrium is only obtained with a scouring profile. We propose a predictor dependent on the width convergence, quantified as SB, and on the ratio between the specific peak tidal discharge at the mouth and the specific river discharge at the landward boundary (qtide/qriver). Scours develop if (qtide/qriver)/SB exceeds 0.3. Scour conditions were found to occur globally across a range of scales, which allows its prediction in estuaries under future changes

Ornamental plants: a summary of research, 1990

Physical facilities and capital requirements for establishing a three-acre perennial container nursery in Ohio -1989 / Reed D. Taylor, Elton M. Smith, George P. Pealer -- Production costs of operating a three-acre perennial container nursery in Ohio - 1989 / Reed D. Taylor, Elton M. Smith, George P. Pealer -- Comparative costs of producing alternative plants in a three-acre perennial container nursery in Ohio – 1989 / Reed D. Taylor, Elton M. Smith, George P. Pealer -- Marketing and sales strategies practiced by Ohio nurseries / Reed D. Taylor, Elton M. Smith, W. Timothy Rhodus -- Evaluation of flowering crabapple susceptibility to apple scab in Ohio - 1989 / Elton M. Smith and Sharon A. Treaster -- Fertilizing trees in the landscape: an 18-year evaluation / Elton M. Smith and Sharon A. Treaster -- The influence of irrigation water temperature upon leaf abscision in Ficus benjamina and Dracaena marginata / Julia A. O’Bryan and John C. Peterson -- A two-year tolerance study of narcissus cultivars to selected pre-emergence herbicides / Elton M. Smith and Sharon A. Treaster -- Tolerance of clematis and wisteria to Ronstar and Devrinol / Elton M. Smith and Sharon A. Treaster -- Increasing efficiency of slow-release herbicide tablets / Elton M. Smith and Sharon A. Treaster -- Developing biorational pesticides for the landscape industry / David G. Nielsen -- Interactions between subdue and slow-release fertilizers at high temperatures / Y. Inbar, H. A. J. Hoitink, M. E. Watson, K. D. Cochran, E. M. Smith -- Evaluation of powdery mildew severity on deciduous azaleas at the Secrest Arboretum - 1989 / Kenneth D. Cochran and C. Wayne Ellett -- Winter damage, regrowth and vigor of old garden roses / Gary A. Anderso

Ornamental plants, 1979: a summary of research

An analysis of production costs for containerized nursery products / David E. Hahn, Jerry L. Robertson, and Elton M. Smith -- Monoterpene investigations with creeping juniper cultivars (Juniperus horizontalis Moench.) / Thomas A. Fretz -- Woody flora in Hokkaido adaptable to the north central United States / Makoto Kawase -- An evaluation of microfoam on plant quality following overwintering of container-grown woody ornamentals / Christopher F. Rizzo, Elton M. Smith, and Thomas A. Fretz -- Evaluation of winter barrels as a heat source in woody ornamental winter storage structures / Christopher F. Rizzo, Elton M. Smith, and Thomas A. Fretz_ -- Effective utilization of applied fertilizer in relation to multiple flushes of growth on 'Helleri' holly / C. H. Gilliam and R. D. Wright -- Tissue nitrogen changes during a growth flush on 'Helleri' holly / C. H. Gilliam and R. D. Wright -- Controlling winter annual and perennial weeds in field-grown Cotoneaster divaricata / Elton M. Smith and Sharon A. Treaster -- Evaluation of oxadiazon for weed control in container-grown nursery stock / Thomas A. Fretz and Wendy J. Sheppard -- A 10-year evaluation of flowering crabapple susceptibility to apple scab in Ohio / Elton M. Smith -- Fungicides for the control of diseases of ornamental plants: results of 1977 trials / C. C. Powell and James A. Chatfield -- An evaluation of fungicides on container-grown woody ornamentals during winter storage under microfoam / Christopher F. Rizzo, Elton M. Smith, and Thomas A. Fretz -- Resistance of maple cultivars and species to verticillium wilt: a preliminary report / H. A. J. Hoitink, T. D. Sydnor, and C. L. Wilso