Reducing ammonia volatilization from compound fertilizers amended with zeolite

Ammonia volatilization is a direct loss of available nitrogen in agriculture. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of amending NPK fertilizer with different rates of clinoptilolite zeolite on ammonia volatilization, soil exchangeable ammonium, and available nitrate. Seven treatments evaluated were: 250 g soil alone (T1), 3.28 g ammonium nitrate (AN) without additive (T2), 44.6 g 5:3:2 formulated fertilizer + 31.77 g zeolite (T3), 44.6 g 5:5:5 formulated fertilizer + 26.36 g zeolite (T4), 37.17 g 6:6:6 formulated fertilizer + 18.92 g zeolite (T5), 22.30 g 10:10:10 formulated fertilizer + 4.06 g zeolite (T6), and 14.87 g 15:15:15 commercial fertilizer (T7). The ammonia loss was measured using close-dynamic air flow system method. Soil pH, exchangeable ammonium and available nitrate at the end of this study were determined using standard procedures. The mixture of formulated fertilizer and zeolite significantly reduced ammonia volatilization. Zeolite in the formulated compound fertilizers did not significantly affect soil exchangeable ammonium and available nitrate. Amending N, P, and K compound fertilizer could minimize ammonia loss.Keywords: Ammonium nitrate, zeolite, ammonia volatilization, soil exchangeable ammonium, soil available nitrat

Perbandingan Efek Klinis Terbutalin Dan Aminofilin Pada Status, Asmatikus

Pemakaian terbutalin intravena 0,25 mg tiap 6 jam sebagai salah satu obat pada regimen pengobatan status asmatikus (sebagai pengganti aminofil i n) dapat memberikan bronkhodilatasi yang cukup baik. Terbutalin yang diberikan secara intravena tidak menunjukkan selektifitas terhadap beta-2 reseptor secara murni yang nampak dengan adanya efek samping subyektif berupa palpitasi dan tremor yang lebih banyak (dijumpai pad a kelompok terbutalin (45 %), dibandingkan dengan kelompok aminofilin (5 %)

Caching Video-on-Demand in Metro and Access Fog Data Centres

This paper examines the utilization of metro fog data centres and access fog datacentres with integrated solar cells and Energy Storage Devices (ESDs) to assist cloud data centres in caching Video-on-Demand content and hence, reduce the networking power consumption. A Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model is used to optimize the delivery of the content from cloud, metro fog, or access fog datacentres. The results for a range of data centre parameters show that savings by up to 38% in the transport network power consumption can be achieved when VoD is optimally served from fully renewable-powered cloud or metro fog data centres or from access fog data centres with 250 m2 solar cells. Additional 8% savings can be achieved when using ESDs of 100 kWh capacity in the access fog data centres

Female and Male Gamete Mitochondria Are Distinct and Complementary in Transcription, Structure, and Genome Function

This article has been accepted for publication in Genome Biology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evt147. Published by Oxford University Press.This work was supported by the Leverhulme Trust as research grant F/07 476/AQ to J.F.A., by the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council as research grant NE/G005516/1 to C.H.L., and by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Research Grant 179835 to F.M

Metabolic compartmentalization in the human cortex and hippocampus: evidence for a cell- and region-specific localization of lactate dehydrogenase 5 and pyruvate dehydrogenase

BACKGROUND: For a long time now, glucose has been thought to be the main, if not the sole substrate for brain energy metabolism. Recent data nevertheless suggest that other molecules, such as monocarboxylates (lactate and pyruvate mainly) could be suitable substrates. Although monocarboxylates poorly cross the blood brain barrier (BBB), such substrates could replace glucose if produced locally.The two key enzymatiques systems required for the production of these monocarboxylates are lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC1.1.1.27) that catalyses the interconversion of lactate and pyruvate and the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex that irreversibly funnels pyruvate towards the mitochondrial TCA and oxydative phosphorylation. RESULTS: In this article, we show, with monoclonal antibodies applied to post-mortem human brain tissues, that the typically glycolytic isoenzyme of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-5; also called LDHA or LDHM) is selectively present in astrocytes, and not in neurons, whereas pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) is mainly detected in neurons and barely in astrocytes. At the regional level, the distribution of the LDH-5 immunoreactive astrocytes is laminar and corresponds to regions of maximal 2-deoxyglucose uptake in the occipital cortex and hippocampus. In hippocampus, we observed that the distribution of the oxidative enzyme PDH was enriched in the neurons of the stratum pyramidale and stratum granulosum of CA1 through CA4, whereas the glycolytic enzyme LDH-5 was enriched in astrocytes of the stratum moleculare, the alveus and the white matter, revealing not only cellular, but also regional, selective distributions. The fact that LDH-5 immunoreactivity was high in astrocytes and occurred in regions where the highest uptake of 2-deoxyglucose was observed suggests that glucose uptake followed by lactate production may principally occur in these regions. CONCLUSION: These observations reveal a metabolic segregation, not only at the cellular but also at the regional level, that support the notion of metabolic compartmentalization between astrocytes and neurons, whereby lactate produced by astrocytes could be oxidized by neurons

Recurrent governance challenges in the implementation and alignment of flood risk management strategies: a review

In Europe increasing flood risks challenge societies to diversify their Flood Risk Management Strategies (FRMSs). Such a diversification implies that actors not only focus on flood defence, but also and simultaneously on flood risk prevention, mitigation, preparation and recovery. There is much literature on the implementation of specific strategies and measures as well as on flood risk governance more generally. What is lacking, though, is a clear overview of the complex set of governance challenges which may result from a diversification and alignment of FRM strategies. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap. It elaborates on potential processes and mechanisms for coordinating the activities and capacities of actors that are involved on different levels and in different sectors of flood risk governance, both concerning the implementation of individual strategies and the coordination of the overall set of strategies. It identifies eight overall coordination mechanisms that have proven to be useful in this respect

Optimisation of irrigation water releases in the wet season using probable rainfall

Irrigation water has become scarce. The availability is decreasing due to the ever increasing demand for fresh water and the competition between the different uses of it. This scarcity persuades us to introduce improved management in irrigation schemes to get the optimum use of the available water. Sound scheduling of irrigation gifts is an important part of system management. Irrigation water releases are based upon two major factors: the crop water requirement; and the availability of water, from reservoir storage or run-of-the-river, and from rainfall. Crop growth stage and soil conditions can be translated into the evapotranspiration need, and seepage and percolation rates. The expected rainfall can be based on the seasonality of rainfall. The study concentrates on rice growing with emphasis on rotational water supply, even though the methodology could be adapted to other crops as well. Rice is grown mainly in tropical climates. The rainfall in the tropics shows a distinct seasonality. When rules for scheduling are developed, these are mostly based on dry season crops. Yet, saving water in the rainy season, by implementing strategies to use less irrigation water, increases the water availability for the dry season crop. The rules used to decide upon the irrigation gifts should incorporate the expected rainfall for the next irrigation interval. This study aimed at developing new rules and comparing them with existing rules for the supplementary irrigation of wet season rice crops. The formulated rules are used to simulate daily water balances of a unit field, which are then transformed into relative yields through the use of yield reduction functions for excess water and water stresses. Three equations to estimate evapotranspiration are discussed and compared. It was found that the latest method advocated by FAO is not yet fully developed and should not be used in its present form without suitable corrections of the crop coefficients.The expected rainfall computed by using the traditional method of 80% probability of exceedence was compared with rainfalls at other probability levels. Transition probabilities of weekly rainfalls were used as well to estimate the expected rainfall of the following irrigation interval. The formulated rules were also applied to three other rainfall records. The results of this application confirmed that a significant water saving -up to 60%, when compared with the usual practice- can be achieved by using a constant lower level of exceedence throughout the crop period, by having different lower levels of exceedence in different crop phases, or by using the transition probabilities of rainfall from week to week. From the point of view of water savings the two latter methods were found to be the better ones even though they have the disadvantage of requiring a more complex operation of the system

Stakeholder involvement in the decision making for development projects using 'educated trade-offs'

The premise of this research is that unless stakeholders are able to engage in educated (technically, economically, environmentally informed) trade-offs between the different uses/issues of a common resource, the stakeholder involvement in decision making will be emotional and not rational. The objectives of this research study are to develop and validate a decision making methodology based on 'Educated Trade-offs' for effective stakeholder involvement through participation and consultation, in development projects. The term 'Educated Trade-offs' means that stakeholders are able to engage in technically, economically and environmentally (including socially) informed (educated) decision-making between the critical uses/issues (trade-offs) of a resource. The research hypothesis is that with improved access to technical, economical and environmental information stakeholders can make rational decisions based on 'Educated Trade-offs' on competing resource uses/issues that affect them as interests of the multiple stakeholders for a resource is complementary than conflicting. The theoretical component of the research study involves the development of the five step 'Educated trade-off framework and two methods (models) for the stakeholder consultation sessions required in -the application of the framework for decision making in development projects. The case study application of the framework to a development project of the Ma Oya River Basin in the North Western Sri Lanka showed that the developed framework in application was robust and the methodology was validated by accepting the research hypothesis at 95% level of significance. The first step of the framework identified resource uses, impacted sections and stakeholders effectively. The second, third and fourth steps educated stakeholders in technical, economical and environmental spheres to make rational decisions, on development projects. A significant association was found in the responses of stakeholders between 'Pre' and 'Post' stakeholder education sessions concluding that the education session using 'Educated Trade-off framework is an effective tool in improving stakeholder decision making ability